I've spent a lot of time in Boston. Next month we're going to fly in and out of there, and plan to drive around VT, NH,ME, and maybe RI. 2 big questions:

1. What are the must do's? (Is Acadia likely to be very crowded?)

2. Will we be able to find lodging without having a reservation, thus allowing for ample flexibility? (Of course, we're booked for the first night in Boston.)

Thanks

2. Will we be able to find lodging without having a reservation, thus allowing for ample flexibility? (Of course, we're booked for the first night in Boston.)

Mid-September is close, as far as peak leaf-peeking season. Usually the peak periods run mid-late Sept for northern NE, late Sept-early Oct for central NE amd early-late Oct for southern NE.

As such, in large towns (Boston, Springfield, Hartford, Providence, etc...) you may not have much of a problem with rooms. But if you try in a small town (Rutland, White River Junction, Conway, Bath, etc...) during those times, you may have a problem finding rooms! And if you do, the prices may be up "for the season"! :eek:

Acadia mid September should be both lovely and not that crowded. Even if the leaves aren't changing when you arrive, MDI (Mount Desert Island) is breathtaking and worth the drive especially if you haven't been there before.

The Maine coast and inland NH/VT are two different cases after Labor Day.

The Maine coast is beautiful and much less crowded post-season, but a lot of attractions and seasonal inns and some restaurants close up shop too. My mom lives in the Boothbay Harbor area, on the way up US1 to Acadia, and Boothbay gets pretty quiet after about September 15. No more lobster sundown cruises, etc. You should have no trouble finding places to stay, though note that name-brand hotel chains are pretty thin on the ground north of Freeport/Brunswick or so.

In New Hampshire and Vermont it's getting into prime leaf-peeping season and everything is open, booked and sometimes very expensive. You will have lots of company; I would not roll into Woodstock or St. Johnsbury on a Friday night in October and expect to take my pick of lodging options. It's the best time of year there, though, and a great choice for a motoring holiday.

In Maine at that time of year you'll get rustic isolation. NH/VT give you more elegance and options with your scenery.

In Maine at that time of year you'll get rustic isolation. NH/VT give you more elegance and options with your scenery.Maine will certainly provide rustic beauty and a wonderful quietness found after Labor Day but don't think that elegance has gone out the window. Places like the Black Point Inn and Inn by the Sea (both outside of Portland) are wonderful in September and quite elegant. On MDI, the Asticou Inn at Northeast Harbor is lovely and only a few minutes from an Acadia entrance. Plus lobster shacks stay open until Columbus Day! We had our pick when we went to Acadia a few Septembers ago of great lobster shacks which were open and not crowded at all. The best was Thurston's in Bernard which is right near Bass Harbor.

So we are going up to Northeast Harbor next weekend for a wedding. We'll be there Saturday in the afternoon through Monday in the AM. I am trying to figure out what 2 things we must do while we are there. Like a hike in Acadia, or something else? We'll have a car. Any suggestions?

So we are going up to Northeast Harbor next weekend for a wedding... I am trying to figure out what 2 things we must do while we are there. I would drive up Mt. Cadillac for a sunrise or sunset. Also rent bikes in Bar Harbor and ride the one-way scenic road around Acadia National Park.

So we are going up to Northeast Harbor next weekend for a wedding. We'll be there Saturday in the afternoon through Monday in the AM. I am trying to figure out what 2 things we must do while we are there. Like a hike in Acadia, or something else? We'll have a car. Any suggestions?Drive to the seawall and walk around. Look at any map of the island and you'll see how easy it is to drive there. Visit Bass Harbor Lighthouse and then after that, if you have the time and a meal free of the wedding festivities, go to Thurston's Lobster Pound in Bernard as it's only minutes from Bass Harbor Light. Enjoy the best lobster in the world; it's straight from their boats. I also agree with BearX220 in that you should drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain.

Acadia is certainly a wonderful place, and quite uncrowded after Labor Day. But in terms of fall colors, head inland. The Atlantic Ocean prevents the swings in temperature that you see further inland--neither as hot in the summer nor as cool on those nights that are crisp and frosty further inland. This has a major effect on color intensities. I used to live in the Boston area and the change you saw heading 40 miles inland was substantial. If you are there at the right time, you'll see some color in Acadia, but not like you'll see in more mountainous areas.

I live in Central Vermont and peak here is usually the second to third weekend in October, rarely mid-September. For color at that time of year, you need to go much further north. Bethel Maine is a wonderful town in the White Mountains and there are many fabulous drives and hikes in that part of the state. Fall comes much earlier to these mountains, New England's highest. I'm pretty sure that Vermont has a hotline and website that gives up to the minute fall color information and will tell you where colors are best.