Confirmed my Vacation Plans-3 weeks in New England- Yippeeeee

[floridaguy]

No schedule, No intenerary, just chilling like Bob Dylan :smoke:

Home base will be Portsmouth, NH on the Atlantic coast.
Day trips to Maine, Vermont, Martha's Vineyard, Marblehead(for a little sailing), the mountains, and some hiking to nowhere at some place I haven't seen yet. Oh yeah, and a least at couple day bike trip. Of course I'll be volunteering for either ACT or the Kerry campaign. You didn't think I could take time off from the Revolution did you? As a bonus, my friend that I'm visiting is both a gourmet chef and a massage therapist.

I hope you all get a similar break to re-charge your batteries. I've been at it non-stop sense Clark announced. The day after he announced, I drove about 200 miles to see him in Hollywood. It was just a couple weeks ago I made a 400 mile trip to volunteer at the Kerry-Edwards rally in St. Pete.

Must re-charge batteries . . . .

[nuxvomica]

1. Nice area. I was in Dover just two weeks ago

Make sure you go kayaking on that river who's name escapes me now and visit the Sleepy Hollow cemetery in Concord, MA. It is a very cool place and Emerson, Alcott, Thoreau, et al are buried there.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. Concord River? Charles River?

You can rent kayaks on the Concord River...

[nuxvomica]

3. I think it's the Pisqatua River

It empties into the ocean at Portsmouth and you can kayak there as long as you look out for the boat traffic.

[NewHampshireDem]

10. Piscataqua ... but close enough.

I prefer to park at Odiorne and put in below the mouth of the river. From there you can paddle up into Portsmouth if you want or paddle around some of the little islands.

http://www.nhstateparks.org/ParksPages/Odiorne/Odiorne.html

[The Spirit of JFK]

4. Woodman's in Essex...fried clams!

Some of the best I have had in New England.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. And The Clam Box in Ipswich

A nice little treat after spending the day at Crane Beach.

[trof]

6. If you can, visit The Basin, near Franconia Notch, NH.

The Basin, a large pothole in the Pemigewasset River, 30 feet in diameter and 15 feet deep began 25,000 years ago at the end of the Ice Age. The rock formation in the stream bed at the outlet is known as "The Old Man's Foot." Henry David Thoreau visited this spot in 1839 and later wrote, "this pothole is perhaps the most remarkable curiosity of its kind in New England."
http://spas.about.com/library/weekly/aa080303d3.htm

Hiking trails to falls at the top. Huge granite slabs/pools/falls in the bed of the Pemigewasset all the way up.
The most beautiful place in NH.

[floridaguy]

7. Thanks for all the great tips!

Please keep them coming.
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: Three weeks!Oh boy, Oh boy

[peacefreak]

8. Go a little north on Rt. 1 to York

and go to Flo's for a couple of hot dogs. (sauce, mayo & a little celery salt):9

[NewHampshireDem]

9. I hope you enjoy yourself!

The Portsmouth area has a lot to offer.

The ride up to Portland, ME is worth it. Great little city with lots of nice shops, restaurants, and a terrific little art museum. From there its about 15 minutes up to LL Bean, too.

Definately do the drive down Rte. 1, hit Marblehead, and Gloucester, too. The Clam Box (on Rte. 1) is a great stop--but I prefer Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery, ME, myself. :)

I'm going to put in a plug for a friend of mine ... if you like improv, check out

http://www.strangerthanfiction.us/

They'll be doing shows every Tuesday night at the Players' Ring theatre ... you can also catch him in Cambridge with his other troupe

http://www.thetribepresents.com/

The show in Cambridge is a great way to cap a trip to Boston! (hint, hint!)

There are so many great things to do in the area, I don't know what else to say ...

If you need some suggestions for hikes (or anything else), let me know. :) (Feel free to PM me if you prefer.)

[NewHampshireDem]

11. And a little something to whet your whistle!

http://www.portsmouthnh.com

[floridaguy]

12. Thanks again for all the tips and info

I'm giddy like a kid before Christmas. I would appreciate any contact info for New Hampshire or Kerry groups. I'll be staying mostly in Portsmouth but moving around. I do have a contact in Manchester through ACT.

Any other area favorites would be appreciated. I'd like to do a coastal bike ride. Any info or ideas?

[NewHampshireDem]

13. There are paved trails at Odiorne Point ...

and from there you can get onto Route 1A, down past Rye Beach, Hampton, Hampton Beach, etc. There is actually a very wide bike/breakdown lane along the route and it is fairly flat. Speed limit most of the way is 35 mph (I believe).

You might also find some good riding areas around York, ME. Not quite so flat, though, and some of the road a quite narrow. However, I do see many riders through there.

Oh, if you need to rent a kayak or want a guide, this place is great:

http://www.portsmouthkayak.com/