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Begin with a good map.
Everyone is saying North Conway, but that means a lot of traffic and outlet shopping. But I live in NH and it's the last place I'd go. And reservations will be impossible. Despite claims that North Conway is only 2 hrs from Boston, that's not during leaf peeping season. On Rte 16, coming up from the south, it can take 30 mins to go 5 miles south of Conway. And while it is a wonderful road and very scenic, the Kancamagus Highway from Conway to Lincoln tends to be very crowded. If you can deal with traffic it is a great road, though.
Other options:
Head up around Lake Sunapee (90 mins from Boston) and work your way up to Hanover on back roads (most tourists don't go this way). Take I-93 to Manchester, get off on 101 west, then Rte 114 to Goffstown and follow that up to the lake. Have lunch in New London. I think the chair lift at Mt. Sunapee is running for ride to the top. Head up to Newport and then Hanover. Do this instead of I-89, as it gives you more 2-lane and less interstate.
Then from Hanover go north on any number of two-lane roads from Hanover and then work your way east back to I-93.
A bit further up I-93 is Newfound Lake, (exits 23-26) on I-93. This is the west side of I-93. Great back roads, good views, especially around Campton. Some people tell you to go to Lake Winnepesaukee (east side of 93) but it also tends to get crowded.
Further north, Franconia Notch is about 2:15 hours straight up 93 from Boston. This is where the Old Man of the Mountain used to be. Very dramatic terrain. Head above the Notch to Twin Mountain, go east on Rte 2 and then go south thru Carter Notch or Pinkham Notch, both of which take you into North Conway, but you come in from the good side. Avoid the outlets by taking (IIRC) Bear Notch Mountain Road around the outlet strips.
If the little kid can do a longer run, stay on Rte 2 to Gorham/Berlin, then go north on Rte 16 along the Androscoggin River up past Errol. Go west from Errol to Dixford Notch then west to Rte 3. Go south on 3 which turns back into I -93. This is well off the regular tourist routes.
And on all the two-lanes in the northern part of the state, watch for moose. And brake if you see them. They can be a tad unpredicatable.
Whatever you do, have fun and have a safe ride. Watch the foliage maps in the paper, and NH may even have this info on their website. It hasn't been cold yet, so the leaves seem to be running a bit late here in Southern NH. But up north it is usually all over by mid-Oct.
Noel
posted by 69.163.4...
, Wed, 15 Sep 2004 13:52:01, Wed, 15 Sep 2004 19:52:36
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