As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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My mother and father in-law are looking to go to the East Coast this year for vacation. We have never been in the Northern section and would like to know of some things touristy and non-touristy to do in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. We want to know what a local would take their family to go see.
They really like looking at natural things, and historic locations.
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In Maine there are many things to see and the ones i have been to:
Ogonquint ME
Perkins Cove
Wells Beach
Old Orchard Beach
Kennebunkport Me ( President Bush Sr.'s home is here)
I'm sure there are lots of things to see but those are where i have gone!
In Vermont:
The Vermont Teddy Bear Co.
Ben and Jerry's ice cream (yummo)
Visit Vermont's oldest covered bridge in Middlebury (Pulp Mill Covered Bridge built in 1808)
In New Hampshire:
Travel up Mount Washington via the Cog Railway
In Maine:
Enjoy a fresh from the sea Maine Lobster in Bar Harbor after a whale watch
Go "moose spotting"
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I worked near Rockport ME one summer. I loved that area, and it's an easy drive to Bar Harbor from there. I also visited a family in the Dammerascotta (I know I've spelled that wrong) and liked it there too. I haven't visited the other states mentioned.
The White Mountains in NH are beautiful, with plenty of things to do! I love the Ogunquit/Wells area of Maine! In Vermont there is also the Green Mountain Flyer, which is a scenic train ride that is nice on an old train.
We love Rockport, Mass. ..... not too far from the NH border. Also a must see is Bar Harbor, Maine and Acadia National Park right next door. We took the Lobster Boat tour once and had a blast! There is also a schooner that you can ride on, also very nice. Have fun!
I spend so much time up here, you'd think that I'd have all kinds of suggestions for things to do in New England, but I don't! I'm a Portland girl, I love the Eastern Prom, Victoria Mansion, Longfellow House, Casco Bay, Two Lights, and the Old Port.
The Yarmouth Clam Festival is in July, and the Common Ground Fair in Unity is in September. Blue Hill is gorgeous and secluded and used to have a jazz community. Portsmouth NH is nice for a walk-around and shopping.
Depending on how much time you have, you may need to narrow your trip to one or two of the states. There are tons of things to do and see, especially if you want to spend time exploring the natural beauty of Northern New England.
Also if you can come in the fall, the foliage is magnificient.
My children have grown up in Northern New England, so they are true locals. My middle son works each summer in the White Mountain National Forest on environmental biology studies so here are some of the resources we used when he was growing up. The books are readily available in chain bookstores
Best Hikes with Children in NH, Vt. and Me. WAteralls in the White Mountains Nature Hikes in the White Mountains
There is also a book
Fun with Family in Vermont and NH
which I've conssidered as a gift. I haven't used it but it looked good.
You can easily spend 2 weeks exploring the White Mountains. My kids loved the Flume, a beautiful and cool hike. They also liked Old Man of The Mountain, but he came to a unexpected demise a few years ago. We would take an annual canoe trip on Lake Umbaggog in Errol. There are eagles on the lake and often moose on the sides of the roads.
The White Mtns. are also home to some less nature oriented activities like Story Land and Santa's Village, which my kids never went to, but others have told me their children loved and they were very reasonably priced.
Mount Monadnock is a classic local day hike, although not in the White Mountains.
There is also an Indian Museum at Mt. Kearsage (a good day hike) and if you climb Mt. Major, you are rewarded with a stunning view of Lake Winnepisaukee, destination in itself.
In Maine, my children loved the Rachel Carson Nationals Wildlife Refuge.
I agree with Diane that a canoe trip on Lake Umbagog is a great trip. The great north woods of NH is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. Totally natural and non-touristy. My dad lives in Errol, and we go 4-5 times a year. Other places I would include is the Flume, and a van ride to the top of Mt Washington. In VT, Lake Champlain area is beautiful (and a trip to the Ben & Jerry's factory is a must), Quechee Gorge is nice... and in Maine, Acadia National Park, a Sail Boat ride out of Campden, and Oqunquit are my favorite things to do.
Here's what I take my friends to see when they come to Maine. I stay away from most "touristy" things, but if you wait until after Labor Day, most of the tourists leave (and don't come back until October for the foliage).
Popham Beach State Park (the most gorgeous, undeveloped beach in Maine)
Grafton Notch State Park (easy trails, beautiful foliage)
Bradbury Mountain State Park (easy trails, views of the ocean to the east and the White Mountains to the west)
LLBean Walk-On Adventure: the biggest sporting bargain in Maine. You can try kayaking, archery, fly casting, or clay shooting (in the winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.) The lessons run 1.5 to 2.5 hours and they are all taught by experienced professionals. Everything is included: transportation, equipment, and lesson for only $15! You sign up and meet at the retail store in Freeport. The only drawback: you can't reserve in advance.
Portland Museum of Art: a beautiful museum with lovely collections in downtown Portland. It's FREE every Friday night from 5:00 to 9:00, which is plenty of time to see it all.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me!
Another good place in Portsmouth is Strawberry Banke. It's a living history museum, and is right across the harbor from the country's oldest working dry dock--Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. You can also take a whale watch cruise right out of Portsmouth, and tour the USS Albacore, a restored WWII era submarine. There is also terrific outlet shopping up in Kittery, ME not to mention all the beautiful beaches. Oh, and did anyone mention the Children's Museum in Portsmouth? That's a full day in itself!
Have a terrific time!
There is SO much to see up here. It all depends on when they are coming and what they want to see.
I love the drive alone US Route 2 in Maine and NH - I haven't spent much time in VT. It's mostly views.
I spend a lot of the Long Lake - Sebago Lake area. Very nice area where you can find quiet inns or lots of things to do - a bit less crowded than the coastal areas.
Late Spring and early fall is a great time to go to beat the crowds but not be overwhelmed by the weather (hot or cold).
Then there's Massachusetts - the North Shore coast is great (also where I'm from). Many places to stay/ things to do in Newburyport, Rockport, Gloucester, Essex, etc. Whale Watching from Gloucester is great - not too long on the boat before getting to the whales and the boats will be able to tell you what they've been seeing during the season for whales. There are also many great beaches and the local hotels sometimes provide parking passes for their guests. It's also where Perfect Storm was filmed - but don't expect the Crow's Nest to be anything like it was in the movie. I think staying in Gloucester is a great base location. You can easily take the train to Salem or Boston without dealing with traffic or the craziness of staying there. Maine and NH locations are a couple hours drive away (ie Kittery, ME/ Portsmouth, NH/ Providence, RI are only and hour or so away by car).
Also western Mass can be a great place.
I suggest Cape Ann Vacation - New England Travel Guide North of Boston, MA as a place to start. Many people don't think of Gloucester/ Cape Ann when visiting the coast. Ok, if you haven't guessed... I'm from Gloucester
Happy planning!
Amy
PS - my cousin used to work for the Cog Railway. You might want to opt for the Mt Washington Auto Road instead... unless they have done renovations.
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Amy, I have many fond memories of Long Beach and Pebble Beach in Gloucester. When I was young, my family went to Long Beach every single Sunday in the summer. I am from Walpole.
If you do decide to go to Northern Massachusetts, spend some time at Plum Island-it's another beautiful place.
I'm sure you're overwhelmed with options so you might want to look to limit yourself to a geographical area-for example do a coastal tour. I noticed you are from the mid-west so if your kids haven't been to the ocean, I'd make sure they spend at least a day at the beach, even if you come in the fall or winter.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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I'm a Portland girl, I love the Eastern Prom, Victoria Mansion, Longfellow House, Casco Bay, Two Lights, and the Old Port. 
New England Vacation...
Amy
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