Tasteless Scenic Vacation

I%26#39;m considering making a trip to New England and I%26#39;m interested in any tacky resort-type areas that are near places of natural scenic beauty. I%26#39;m thinking of places that are sort of on the order of Gatlinburg,TN or Wisconsin Dells. At the moment I%26#39;m thinking I%26#39;ll fly into Boston and then drive up towards New Hampshire. Maybe I%26#39;ll head over towards Vermont, or I might go into Maine, but it all kind of depends on what kind of info I get here.

Tasteless Scenic Vacation

When do you plan on traveling? Depending on the time of year, there%26#39;s different places to recommend. Anywhere in the northern New England states you%26#39;ll be near ';scenic beauty.'; Do you want to near the mountains or the ocean?

If you make a trip, I%26#39;d come in the fall. You can%26#39;t beat the White Mountains of NH and there%26#39;s so much to see.

Tasteless Scenic Vacation

I%26#39;ve never heard of the 2 places you mention, but I can tell you what to see in New England. Absolutely go to Maine. Ogunquit, ME is one of my favorite places in the world... beautiful beaches and rocky coastline, it%26#39;s on the very southern tip of Maine. Hampden Beach (in NH) is cool but very crowded in the summer. If you want to go more North, Bar Harbor is awesome and Acadia National Park is amazing. I%26#39;ve been to quite a few places in both New Hampshire and Vermont, and quite honestly, although the White Mountains in NH are cool those states don%26#39;t even compare to Maine. Oh and if you like seafood, actually even if you don%26#39;t, get it while you%26#39;re in Maine. I%26#39;ve had it all over the country and no seafood anywhere, not even on the coasts of CA or FL, is anywhere near as delectable as that of Maine. THe lobsters and other shellfish are to die for. Just note New England is obviously best enjoyed in warm weather, and if you want to see foliage come in October. In Oct, Maine will be pretty chilly but not so cold that you won%26#39;t be able to enjoy the beauty. Also, Salem is a great city to visit and it%26#39;s right near Boston. Have you ever been to Boston? Go on a Duck Tour. They are really fun and you get a brief historic insight on the city. If you want more info let me know!

Thanks to both of you for responding. Laurie11: If I come it will probably be in summer.I%26#39;ve heard the roads are crowded in the fall with people looking at the foliage, and I don%26#39;t like crowded roads. Besides, I imagine the amusement parks will be closed by then, and they%26#39;re as important to me as the scenery. If I have three days for the roadtrip, can I see the Maine coast AND the White Mtns., allowing for a leisurely driving pace? That is, no more than a hundred miles a day? And, one more thing, what%26#39;s Weirs Beach like? I get the impression it%26#39;s nice and tacky. GoneTil9: Acadia sounds right for scenery, but I%26#39;ve heard Bar Harbor is rather tony. I%26#39;m more into Coney Island, blue collar-type rialtos.(Salem sounds like my kind of place.) I%26#39;ve never heard of Hampden Beach, what%26#39;s it like?

Hampton Beach does run to the tacky side. Also Old Orchard Beach in Maine, very tacky. Weirs Beach is similar, but in the lakes region of New Hampshire. Lake Winnepesauke has plenty of tacky areas.

Once you get up into the White Mountains, most of the land is part of the White Mountain National Forest which limits the amount of pure tack. There are a few funky, touristy spots in towns in the region though. Clark%26#39;s Trading Post in Lincoln with it%26#39;s trained bears. Six Gun City in Jefferson. Also Santa%26#39;s Village (more for the kiddies).

I think you might find the type of fun atmosphere you%26#39;ll enjoy at the aforementioned beaches, and still be close to some natural scenic beauty.

You could definitely do the White Mountains and the Maine coast in three days. Well at least you could see them. And, I%26#39;ve never seen ';crowded roads'; with people looking at the foliage, honestly... I don%26#39;t know what that person is talking about! Especially to the north. I would be very surprised if you ran into a problem like that. But in any case, sounds like you want to go in the summer so it won%26#39;t matter.

And, lots of amusement parks are open through October. I know Six Flags New England (Agawam, MA) is.