Need advice from New Hampshire CSers

[Dave1982]

I just agreed to take over my motor car club, and one of the things we've been trying to do (the club is relatively new and small) is arrange a fall foliage driving tour. I was thinking of the Kancamagus Highway as an excellent route to drive, not only for the view, but for the driving itself as well.

The trouble is, it's been a few years since I've been there, and I don't remember what's in that area. If we decide to do this, I'll undoubtedly have to do a little scouting in the area, but in the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions for what else might be in the area as far as sights/restaurants/shopping? I thought that at the Conway end of the Kanc there were outlet stores, but my mother thinks they're further north, into North Conway. And I have no recollection of what sort of restaurants are in the area.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, I know that area will likely be swarming with Leafers.

[draggar]

Go west to east so you end up in the Conway area. It's been a long time but there isn't much on the highway - pack some picnic lunches but Conway would be a nice area to walk around and shop (maybe even eat).

The highway has a lot of stops along he way for resting, picnics, and just plain sight seeing. I think you can take 93 all the way to the highway.

You can also take 302 from Conway over yo Sebago Lake (in Maine) and take 302 / 202 down to Portland, ME.

Or, from Conway you can take 16 all the way down to Portsmouth, NH.

Are you planniing on doing it all in one day or a couple of days?

[Dave1982]

Almost certainly one day. Right now this isn't even a sure thing anyway; I'm just investigating the possibility.

Thanks for the input.

[KiaKat]

You could also go along 89 to Hopkinton, pick up 103 through Contoocook, then you have two options. Either grab 127 through Andover and Franklin, or 114 into Sutton to pick up Rt 11 into Andover. Then either grab 127 through Franklin and Sanbornton to get Rt 132 and pick up Rt 93 in New Hampton (or take Rt 104 over to Rt 3), or continue on 11 through Franklin and Tilton and into Laconia and Bristol, it's mostly gorgeous and not terribly traveled. 11 takes you over to the Lakes Region, around Winnesquam and to Winnepesauki. That also connects you back to Rt 3, which parallels 93, but is much prettier and often lower in tourist traffic. They always seem to want to stay directly on 93. That would put you directly onto 112 (the Kanc) at Lincoln, and you could take that across to Conway/N. Conway.

Wow. That was confusing. Did it make any sense?

One thing those paths would do is put you in close proximity to a lot of restaurants. Warner, Tilton, Laconia, and Lincoln all have a decent number of nice little restaurants and diners. Pick a town, I can probably give you a couple places to stop.

Though it has been a *long* time since I've done that drive. Used to use it to avoid the traffic on 93 on my way to school, or on my way to hike the White Mountains.

Which is another option, if you're looking for something to do. Pick a mountain and hike it. There are a lot of medium-difficulty mountains all over the state, and not all of them are in prime Peeper territory. Kearsarge is easy enough to do it in a couple hours, and if you time it right you can hit the Warner Fall Foliage Festival. Monadnock is another one, but that's pretty far south, the only thing down there is that chocolate factory in Wapole.

OH! Just thought of another idea. Take 93/3 through the Notch, hit the tourist attractions (The Flume, Old Man, The Basin, etc) then get off, take 3 to 302, head over to Mt. Washington and Bretton Woods. Then you can take that down through Crawford Notch and into North Conway and back along the Kanc.

I really hope all of that wasn't too confusing. I forget how complex the back routes can be through central NH.

[Dave1982]

Wow. That was confusing. Did it make any sense?

Um....sort of. I think I can decipher those routes and figure out if one would work.

Since this is intended to be a day-trip type event, and some people may be coming from relatively far away, I'd like to keep it relatively short. The Kanc itself takes about an hour, so I'd say probably no more than 2, maybe 3 hours total driving time as part of the "main event"

[draggar]

When I lived in NH I did that drive (from the SE corner) in a day. It was an extremely long day.

If you're coming form MA, even if you're going straight up 93, you're looking at a 5-6 hour drive at least (drive up, across the highway, then back). If I remember correctly, it is more than an hours drive just to get to the highway. Plus, you want to factor in stops (lunch, rest stops, touristy stops etc.).

I also once did Mt Washington in a day and that was also a very long day (we didn't go to the top, though).

[KiaKat]

That's actually why I was suggesting the back roads. 93 on its own, during the height of Tourist Season (but WHY can't we shoot them if it's Tourist Season?), is an awful place to be, especially as you get further up. If you hop off it before you hit the Notch, and use 3 to get over to 112, then you can skip the worst part of the traffic. 93 narrows and reduces the speed limit around the Notch, so things can get hairy.

[Dave1982]

When I lived in NH I did that drive (from the SE corner) in a day. It was an extremely long day.

I know.

I think I was unclear. What I meant was, once we get to the Kanc (or whatever the starting point of the actual Tour itself ends up being) I don't want to be driving more than a couple hours. That's because - as you said - it'll be a long day when you factor in the time it'll take to drive up to that area, then back home. Yet another reason to do a test run.

[Cat]

North Conway......droooooollllll.......I'd kill for a cup at the Met now......

soon....soon I will go back....and I won't return

[draggar]

I know.

I think I was unclear. What I meant was, once we get to the Kanc (or whatever the starting point of the actual Tour itself ends up being) I don't want to be driving more than a couple hours. That's because - as you said - it'll be a long day when you factor in the time it'll take to drive up to that area, then back home. Yet another reason to do a test run.

Yes, but it is a great drive if you go up 93, head across, then spend the night in Conway. Then, the next day you can head down the NH/ME border and spend some time in Rochester, Somersworth, or Portsmouth (great food there - try the Muddy River Smokehouse or the Gaslight Company in the "historical" part of town) or you can head into Maine towards Sebago Lake (some god food there) and over to Portland, then down 95.

[Dave1982]

Any idea approximately when peak foliage is in that area? Early October?

[draggar]

Maybe about 1-2 weeks before you hit yours, if you're in central Mass but it's been a long time since I've been there ans NEVER went during foliqge season.

[Cat]

I'm going back to NH next months....squeeeeeee!!!!!

[KiaKat]

Peak season here is typically around Columbus Day weekend.

There are a number of places that track foliage, primarily Weather.com, though I think ConcordMonitor.com has a map they update either daily or weekly. If you're not planning for this year, keep an eye out and see what the maps say. I think there's about a two-day difference between southern and northern NH.

I'm up here right now, enjoying the silence (well, except for the bird calls...) and the wonderfully cool weather (is 61F right now, at 10:20am).

[Sandman]

Go west young man! Check out the Berkshires!