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[Huntermom]

I have found the secret to seeing moose is to not be looking for them. They tend to wander on the roads or side of the roads so you need to be careful when driving. We have signs that say "brake for moose", which I find peculiar. Is someone not going to slow down or stop if there is a moose in the road. I actually debated this with the guy in the office next to me, who has sped up to pass a moose on the highway and felt in his case it was the safer alternative.

I know you are coming in the summer. I wish it could be in the fall. To me, no place is more beautiful than New England in the fall.

If you are going tot he MMuseum of Science in Boston, let me know. I have some planetarium passes we will probably not use -probably not enough for your whole family but I think 4.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by B.M.

Connecticut- Gillette Castle State Park
want to travel over the East Haddam swing Bridge

Mystic Seaport would be a good place to see, IMO.

Massachusetts- Cape Cod National Sea Shore
Six Flags New England
Fenway Park, Boston

I'd add Sturbridge Village as a good place to go - Home | Old Sturbridge Village

Also, in Boston proper, there's the Freedom Trail (a 2.5 mile walk through Boston that hits allthe major historical sites, including Paul Revere's home) - The Freedom Trail

The Museum of Science is pretty cool - Home | Museum of Science, Boston

So is the New England Aquarium (and you might want to consider a Whale Watch - a day cruise out on the ocean) - New England Aquarium Home

Faneuil Hall (you can pronounce it any of three ways: fannel, fan-yell, or fan-yule) and the Quincy Market are worth stopping by - Faneuil Hall Marketplace | Shop, Dine & Experience

As is the Holocaust Memorial, which is a block or so away from Faneuil Hall - The New England Holocaust Memorial | Boston, Massachusetts

There is also, of course, the Public Gardens (with Swan Boat rides) - Public Garden | City of Boston

And, a perennial favorite when I was a small boy, the Franklin Park Zoo - Zoo New England

Outside of Boston, you should ponder visiting Hammond Castle - http://www.hammondcastle.org/common/...av=AA&page=A91

Maine- Acadia National Park

You may wish to swing by Old Orchard Beach if you want a couple days' break from driving about - Old Orchard Beach Maine Vacation, Oceanfront, Lodging, Dining, Family, Resorts

Also, the Nubble Light in York, ME, is worth seeing along the way - New England Tourist Attraction - Nubble Lighthouse - York Maine

New Hampshire- Mount Washington Auto Road
Moose Alley Scenic Drive

More sights to consider while you're in and around the White Mountains area:

• Lost River - Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves | Unbeatable Adventure and Scenic Wonder
• The Flume Gorge - The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation : Flume Gorge & Visitor Center
• Polar Caves - Home • Polar Caves Park
• Clark's Trading Post - Clark's Trading Post and Family Fun Park - Trained Bears, Train Rides, Segways, climbing tower and the best in family entertainment in Lincoln, NH

...

There, that should be enough for now.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

We have signs that say "brake for moose", which I find peculiar. Is someone not going to slow down or stop if there is a moose in the road.

Yep. There are people who don't realise how large and powerful Moose can be. And how have no idea how surprisingly aggressive a moose can get.

[B.M.]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

I have found the secret to seeing moose is to not be looking for them. They tend to wander on the roads or side of the roads so you need to be careful when driving. We have signs that say "brake for moose", which I find peculiar. Is someone not going to slow down or stop if there is a moose in the road. I actually debated this with the guy in the office next to me, who has sped up to pass a moose on the highway and felt in his case it was the safer alternative.

I know you are coming in the summer. I wish it could be in the fall. To me, no place is more beautiful than New England in the fall.

If you are going tot he MMuseum of Science in Boston, let me know. I have some planetarium passes we will probably not use -probably not enough for your whole family but I think 4.

I can assure you we will "brake for moose". .

I've heard great things about New England in the Fall as well.... maybe one day we will be able to make a return trip.... although likely many, many years from now

It does not look like we will be making it to any museums in Boston... There is so much to see there.... For now, we are planning to do a tour of Fenway Park, the Swan Boats, Freedom Trail, and Harvard Square.... I have a feeling that will do us in both time and energy wise given our limited time there...

A sincere thanks for the offer to help out with the tickets though! A shame we can't put them to use...

Originally Posted by Pax

Mystic Seaport would be a good place to see, IMO.

I'd add Sturbridge Village as a good place to go - Home | Old Sturbridge Village

Also, in Boston proper, there's the Freedom Trail (a 2.5 mile walk through Boston that hits allthe major historical sites, including Paul Revere's home) - The Freedom Trail

The Museum of Science is pretty cool - Home | Museum of Science, Boston

So is the New England Aquarium (and you might want to consider a Whale Watch - a day cruise out on the ocean) - New England Aquarium Home

Faneuil Hall (you can pronounce it any of three ways: fannel, fan-yell, or fan-yule) and the Quincy Market are worth stopping by - Faneuil Hall Marketplace | Shop, Dine & Experience

As is the Holocaust Memorial, which is a block or so away from Faneuil Hall - The New England Holocaust Memorial | Boston, Massachusetts

There is also, of course, the Public Gardens (with Swan Boat rides) - Public Garden | City of Boston

And, a perennial favorite when I was a small boy, the Franklin Park Zoo - Zoo New England

Outside of Boston, you should ponder visiting Hammond Castle - Welcome to Hammond Castle

You may wish to swing by Old Orchard Beach if you want a couple days' break from driving about - Old Orchard Beach Maine Vacation, Oceanfront, Lodging, Dining, Family, Resorts

Also, the Nubble Light in York, ME, is worth seeing along the way - New England Tourist Attraction - Nubble Lighthouse - York Maine

More sights to consider while you're in and around the White Mountains area:

• Lost River - Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves | Unbeatable Adventure and Scenic Wonder
• The Flume Gorge - The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation : Flume Gorge & Visitor Center
• Polar Caves - Home • Polar Caves Park
• Clark's Trading Post - Clark's Trading Post and Family Fun Park - Trained Bears, Train Rides, Segways, climbing tower and the best in family entertainment in Lincoln, NH

...

There, that should be enough for now.

Originally Posted by Pax

Yep. There are people who don't realise how large and powerful Moose can be. And how have no idea how surprisingly aggressive a moose can get.

Thanks for the links! We are hoping/planning to check out both the Swan Boats and the Freedom Trail....

I'll have to take a good look at some of the others you posted, as many I had not heard of....

Thanks again!

[B.M.]

Originally Posted by Katara81

I should have read your OP more thoroughly, OP, as I also missed that you're doing the GSM Natl. Park. I'm not well acquainted with the areas of the park that pass into NC, but can give a few suggestions (note that the main "tourist" areas of the park are mostly over the border into TN). Make sure you do the loop road around Cades Cove, hopefully there will be lots of wildlife around (I've seen bear most often in summer, so maybe you'll get lucky). Do you plan on any hiking? The hike to Laurel Falls is good for starters, and if you're a serious hiker the climb up Mt. LeConte is supposed to be amazing (I am not a serious hiker, but have many friends who are ). It will be very hot in TN/Western NC in summer, so try to schedule a tubing or white-water rafting trip to cool off - the Nantahala River is right on the edge of the GSMNP and is a great place to raft if you're a beginner. If you want more of a challenge, the Ocoee River is south of the GSMNP and is a world-class place to raft (the white-water events of the Atlanta Olympic games were held there).

If there's any other specific questions about that area, let me know.

Are you familiar with their campgrounds by chance? They have ten campgrounds within the park, but only about half of those allow reservations.... But I'm having trouble figuring out which one to chose from or even how to tackle this park at all.... It is HUGE!. They have a map on their website.... but I'm really struggling to navigate it.... It's hard for me to tell where we would be entering at.... We will be coming in from NC. I was thinking it would be easiest to camp near our entrance.... so that we can set up camp upon arrival before venturing out.... but I just can't tell from the map where we enter to figure out which campground we should chose....

If, and I seriously meant IF I am looking at the map correctly we would enter near Cataloochee and Cosby campgrounds.... Cosby appears to be more towards the TN side of the park, but still near the NC entrance.... But I'm really not sure where the entrance is, I'm almost just guessing....

If you have any suggestions/thoughts; I'd love to hear them...

[pamcarey]

Wow, sounds like an amazing trip! So many great suggestions from other PP, I started taking notes for myself. I don't know if it's been suggested, but I love the Kancamagus Highway in NH... very scenic! I'm going to disagree with some previous posters and say that Six Flags New England would be a nice stop for your kids, especially considering that you get in for free. It's certainly no WDW, but it's got some great rides. If you like thrill rides, don't miss Bizarro, my all-time favorite roller coaster, or Batman, which is a close second. You could definitely make this a half day stop and just do the big rides. I can't wait to read this TR!

[B.M.]

Originally Posted by pamcarey

Wow, sounds like an amazing trip! So many great suggestions from other PP, I started taking notes for myself. I don't know if it's been suggested, but I love the Kancamagus Highway in NH... very scenic! I'm going to disagree with some previous posters and say that Six Flags New England would be a nice stop for your kids, especially considering that you get in for free. It's certainly no WDW, but it's got some great rides. If you like thrill rides, don't miss Bizarro, my all-time favorite roller coaster, or Batman, which is a close second. You could definitely make this a half day stop and just do the big rides. I can't wait to read this TR!

Thanks for the suggestions!

I'll check into the Kancamagus Hwy; never heard of it....

And glad to hear a good review of the New England Six Flags! Like you mentioned; we do get in for free- so we will just make the most of it and have some other nearby attractions to check out on hand as well...

[Katara81]

Originally Posted by B.M.

Are you familiar with their campgrounds by chance? They have ten campgrounds within the park, but only about half of those allow reservations.... But I'm having trouble figuring out which one to chose from or even how to tackle this park at all.... It is HUGE!. They have a map on their website.... but I'm really struggling to navigate it.... It's hard for me to tell where we would be entering at.... We will be coming in from NC. I was thinking it would be easiest to camp near our entrance.... so that we can set up camp upon arrival before venturing out.... but I just can't tell from the map where we enter to figure out which campground we should chose....

If, and I seriously meant IF I am looking at the map correctly we would enter near Cataloochee and Cosby campgrounds.... Cosby appears to be more towards the TN side of the park, but still near the NC entrance.... But I'm really not sure where the entrance is, I'm almost just guessing....

If you have any suggestions/thoughts; I'd love to hear them...

I am not a camper unfortunately, so I'm no help with the campgrounds themselves. The main eastern entrance to the park is at Cherokee, NC, quite aways south of Cosby. I'm not well acquainted with that area, but I took a look at the map, and it looks to me like you would come from Asheville, NC, and cut through Maggie Valley to the Blue Ridge Parkway, ending up at the Oconaluftee Visitor's Center in the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Newfound Gap Road would then take you into the park. I've only been that way once before (decided to come the scenic route between Biltmore and Gatlinburg) and it's been around 10 years ago, so I'm not much help on particulars unfortunately, but that would be my suggestion on which way to enter the park. It appears that coming in that way puts you closest to the Smokemont campground, which does accept reservations.
Now if it is more convenient for you travel-wise to enter at Cosby, that is fine too, but be aware that you will have to pass through (or close to, if you can hit the bypass from that direction, not sure on that) the summer tourist traffic in Gatlinburg if you're coming down 321. It appears to me that you would bypass all that if you came from Cherokee (of course you'll hit lots of tourists in the park itself as well, but Gatlinburg is just a huge traffic jam in summer).

Is that any help to you? Let me know if there's anything else I can help clarify.

[B.M.]

Originally Posted by Katara81

I am not a camper unfortunately, so I'm no help with the campgrounds themselves. The main eastern entrance to the park is at Cherokee, NC, quite aways south of Cosby. I'm not well acquainted with that area, but I took a look at the map, and it looks to me like you would come from Asheville, NC, and cut through Maggie Valley to the Blue Ridge Parkway, ending up at the Oconaluftee Visitor's Center in the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Newfound Gap Road would then take you into the park. I've only been that way once before (decided to come the scenic route between Biltmore and Gatlinburg) and it's been around 10 years ago, so I'm not much help on particulars unfortunately, but that would be my suggestion on which way to enter the park. It appears that coming in that way puts you closest to the Smokemont campground, which does accept reservations.
Now if it is more convenient for you travel-wise to enter at Cosby, that is fine too, but be aware that you will have to pass through (or close to, if you can hit the bypass from that direction, not sure on that) the summer tourist traffic in Gatlinburg if you're coming down 321. It appears to me that you would bypass all that if you came from Cherokee (of course you'll hit lots of tourists in the park itself as well, but Gatlinburg is just a huge traffic jam in summer).

Is that any help to you? Let me know if there's anything else I can help clarify.

Thanks! That really does help me tremendously! You are correct, we will be coming from Asheville... so, it sounds like I wasn't seeing the map correctly/where our nearest entrance would be.... You have definitely pointed me in the right direction; thanks again!

[Katara81]

Originally Posted by B.M.

Thanks! That really does help me tremendously! You are correct, we will be coming from Asheville... so, it sounds like I wasn't seeing the map correctly/where our nearest entrance would be.... You have definitely pointed me in the right direction; thanks again!

No problem. Also, by going through Maggie Valley/BRP, you also get to avoid the rock slide areas. The Appalachians are falling apart unfortunately, and one of the worst places is just west of Asheville, right on I-40. They had one the end of August, and were sending travelers nearly an hour north of Asheville to catch I-75 since they had to shut the westbound down. You'll avoid that, and get a much prettier drive by getting off I-40!

[poohmaine]

I was born and raised in Massachusetts and have lived in Maine for 23 years. If you have any questions about the Cape Cod National Seashore or Acadia National Park, do not hesitate to email me.

I would like to suggest a few more places in Maine you may enjoy. Popham Beach State Park (Phippsburg) has the most beautiful, pristine, undeveloped beach in all of Maine. At low tide, you can walk out to rugged Fox Island. It's worth going out of your way to get there.

Also, if you have a clear day, go to Camden Hills State Park (Camden) and climb or drive to the top of Mount Battie. The view is magnificent. You can see the curvature of the Earth, Camden Harbor far below, and all the way to Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.

[lauriep]

Originally Posted by poohmaine

I was born and raised in Massachusetts and have lived in Maine for 23 years. If you have any questions about the Cape Cod National Seashore or Acadia National Park, do not hesitate to email me.

I would like to suggest a few more places in Maine you may enjoy. Popham Beach State Park (Phippsburg) has the most beautiful, pristine, undeveloped beach in all of Maine. At low tide, you can walk out to rugged Fox Island. It's worth going out of your way to get there.

Also, if you have a clear day, go to Camden Hills State Park (Camden) and climb or drive to the top of Mount Battie. The view is magnificent. You can see the curvature of the Earth, Camden Harbor far below, and all the way to Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.

I agree with all of this! I lived in Camden for years and the view from Mt Battie, especially when the schooners are sailing, is beautiful enough to make you cry.

[bsblady01]

when you are in nyc if the Yankees are in town you should take your kids to a game. I see you are planning to hit upstate new York the lake George area has lots of stuff going on during the summer if you have time you should take your kids to lake placid home of the 1980 winter games you can take a summer bobsled ride and go on a bike ride on whiteface mount

[Canada Amy]

if you do make it to the white mountains, Santa's Village is our favourite theme park for nostalgia. we've gone every year for the last 6 years. it is very clean and friendly. appeals to kids up to age 12 tops, though.

we went to Canobie Lake Park near NH/MA border 2 summers ago. enjoyed our day, but it was definitely on the cheesy / dirty side and we couldn't help but think how there is no comparison to Disney.

but why stop in Maine when you can croos the border to New Brunswick???

[Huntermom]

I will second the New Brunswick recommendation. We loved Grand Manan. I also recommend Hopwell Rocks, but they are quite a drive from the border.

My experience with New Brunswick is it was affordable, always meticulously clean beautiful and has some of the nicest, friendliest people around. We had much better customer service than Disney. One restaurant even stayed open late for us, when we said we would be getting back late and tend to be late dinner eaters anyway. and they did it several times.

I also love Quebec City and Montreal. You get to experience French culture and living in two lovely cities.

And when my kids think Canada, they think poutine. I can skip it, but they love it.