Lizzy's Sweet Kitchen

Last fall, I went to the Northeast with some of my favorite gals.
We ate our way through every New England state—except Connecticut (somehow we missed that one!). It was my first time in the Northeast, and we had the best time. Now, the Northeast will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Road Trip Summary

1. October 19
   • Flew into Boston Logan International Airport
   • Headed straight to Salem, MA
   • Stayed the night at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Seabrook by IHG in Portsmouth, NH.
2. October 20
   • Drove to Bar Harbor, ME.
   • Stopped mid-day in Portland, ME.
   • Visited L.L.Bean.
   • Stayed the night at the Anchorage Motel in Bar Harbor.
3. October 21
   • Spent the day in Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.
   • Stayed again at the Anchorage Motel.
4. October 22
   • Drove to New Hampshire, spent the second half of the day near the White Mountains.
   • Drove the scenic highway through the White Mountains (Franconia Notch Mountain Pass).
   • Stayed the night at Woodstock Inn Brewery.
5. October 23
   • Drove to Vermont.
   • Visited Burlington and Stowe, VT.
   • Had dinner at Von Trapp Brewing Bierhall & Restaurant.
   • Stayed the night at Best Western Plus Waterbury.
6. October 24
   • Explored Southern Vermont.
   • Visited the Von Trapp Farmstand, took the Ben & Jerry’s tour, stopped at a maple farm and a country store.
   • Stayed the night at The Pointe at Castle Hill Resort.
7. October 25
   • Drove to Plymouth, MA, then ended the day in Rhode Island.
   • Visited the Plymouth Museum.
   • Stayed the night at Kara’s friend’s place.
8. October 26
   • Explored Boston.
   • Went to Boston Public Market, walked the Freedom Trail, and visited the Boston Tea Party Museum.
   • Stayed the night at Hampton Inn Boston – Logan Airport.
9. October 27
   • Flew home

Salem, MA

I flew into Boston from Denver, and we went straight to Salem, MA. We were just one week out from Halloween—perfect timing to experience Salem and its witchy history.

Now, I might be bursting someone’s bubble by saying this, but Salem wasn’t quite what my friend Rachel and I expected. Our other friend Kara had been there before, so she knew what to expect. The photo above shows a house from the witch trial era, but honestly, only a handful of historic houses remain. Salem is actually a very developed, modern town.

We explored some witch-themed shops, but it definitely wasn’t the small, spooky “cornfield town” we imagined. (I know—I can hear the laughter from here. But Rachel and I really thought it would feel like a haunted village!)

This was my first time in the Northeast, and no, the show Agatha All Along did not prepare me for the modern vibe. That night, we went on an amazing tour linked here: History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour. They shared rich history from the witch trial era and led us around the city. If you go to Salem, I highly recommend taking a tour—it really helps you feel immersed in its past.

Personally, I’m so glad I went, especially in October. But for me, Salem is a one-and-done destination.

Maine

What can I even say in a short post about a state that completely won my heart? We had a few key stops in mind for Maine: L.L.Bean, Portland, Bar Harbor, and Acadia National Park.

We started in Portland, Maine’s largest city. We headed straight to the Old Port waterfront. Since we were only doing lunch here, we wanted to go where the action was. We ate at Luke’s Lobster, and let me just say—this was the best lobster roll of my life.

Now, I’m no lobster roll connoisseur. In fact, this might have been my first memorable one. I got mine warm (with butter), and it was absolute perfection—perfectly toasted buttery roll, thick juicy lobster. I would easily give Luke’s 5 out of 5 stars. After lunch, we strolled around Old Port and shopped at some charming seaside boutiques.

After Portland, we drove to L.L.Bean. If you’re a fan like we are, this stop is a must. It’s basically an L.L.Bean campus, with about five different stores. We focused mostly on the outlet and main clothing store.

We all bought personalized L.L.Bean tote bags right away—there was a queue for embroidery, which took about two hours, so we shopped while we waited. I didn’t need much since I had just visited an L.L.Bean in Colorado the week before to celebrate finishing a certification.

Some of my favorite things at L.L.Bean are their performance synthetic base layers and cozy lounge wear. I ended up buying their Women’s Wicked Plush Robe (in a discontinued color!) and, of course, my Boat and Tote. I still use it almost daily—it’s sturdy and cute.

Tip: Check out the outlet first—you might find something you love for a much better price. The stores are all within walking distance, like an outdoor mall.

Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park

After a five-hour drive, we made it to Bar Harbor and checked into the Anchorage Motel. It wasn’t the fanciest, but it was the best bang for our buck—especially for something walking distance to downtown.

We woke up early the next morning to catch the sunrise over Acadia National Park. We didn’t score tickets for Cadillac Mountain sunrise (they sell out fast), but honestly, the view from the coastline was equally magical. Here are some pictures of sunrise.

We hiked the Gorham Mountain Loop (3 miles, 550 ft elevation, rated moderate on AllTrails). It was peaceful that morning, with stunning views of the coastline and forest. We highly recommend it!

Later, we drove around the park until our time slot for Cadillac Mountain. This is the most crowded part of the park, but for good reason—the 360-degree views are jaw-dropping. I FaceTimed my family to show off the fall colors and they were blown away.

Afterward, we headed back to Bar Harbor for lunch at The Thirsty Whale Tavern. I had the fish and chips—good, satisfying food, though not mind-blowing. Then we shopped for souvenirs and rested with hotel naps.

For dinner, we ate at Side Street Café, another solid but not standout place. Still, it hit the spot after a long day!

New Hampshire

The next day was a big driving day as we made our way through the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The scenic drive was absolutely breathtaking. We stopped several times along the way to snap photos and take in the beauty.

The White Mountains scenic drive was absolutely breathtaking. We stopped a couple of times throughout the drive to take pictures. It was such a beautiful way to experience New Hampshire.

Next, we went to Flume Gorge in Lincoln, NH, and hiked the Flume Gorge Trail. This trail is 2.2 miles long with a 462 ft elevation gain and is rated moderate on AllTrails. Overall, we loved this trail! It was a great opportunity to decompress, take in nature, and have meaningful conversations.

That night, we stayed in Woodstock at the Woodstock Inn Brewery. We had dinner at the on-site restaurant. Honestly, the food and beer were just okay, but the staff was extremely friendly, and breakfast was included à la carte the next morning. The rooms were cozy but perfect for just sleeping. The beer lover in me was still thrilled that we stayed at a brewery. Overall, we liked the hotel and appreciated the hospitality.

Vermont

The next day, the goal was to drive to Vermont. We decided to head to Burlington, since it’s the biggest city in the state. The drive into Burlington was stunning—fall colors were at their peak, and the leaves along the highway were absolutely beautiful.

We visited Church Street Marketplace, one of the city’s main attractions. It reminded me of Pearl Street in Boulder, CO in terms of layout and vibe. Personally, I didn’t have a great experience here and wouldn’t recommend it. After a short visit, we pivoted and had lunch at Citizen Cider. They had amazing cider flights—highly recommended if cider is your thing. I honestly can’t remember the food very well, but I know it was solid overall. Burlington was the one stop on this trip I didn’t enjoy, but of course, everyone has a different experience.

Since we finished early in Burlington, we decided to visit a maple farm—Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks. Maple farms are the gems of Vermont! This one was easy to reach from the highway, had beautiful scenery, and offered delicious maple cream soft serve.

After that, we headed to downtown Stowe, Vermont, since we had extra time and wanted to go to Von Trapp Brewing Bierhall & Restaurant for dinner. I can’t say enough good things about Stowe. It completely captured the Northeast charm I was looking for—picture-perfect streets, mom-and-pop shops, and friendly people. I popped into a shop called The Country store on Maine and wanted to buy everything in it. If you’re ever in Stowe, I highly recommend visiting!

As mentioned, we had dinner at Von Trapp Brewing Bierhall & Restaurant. The Von Trapp family is famous from WWII history—if you’re unfamiliar, I highly recommend learning about their incredible story. The food at the Bierhall features Austrian-inspired dishes. I ordered the Bratwurst, Knackwurst, and Bauernwurst plate. It was absolutely delicious and super filling.

That night, we stayed at the Best Western Plus Waterbury. It was in a great location, had clean and comfortable rooms, and included free breakfast.

The next morning, we had a Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour booked for mid-morning. With some time to spare, we visited the Von Trapp Farmstand. We picked up some cheese and discovered my new favorite crackers—Rustic Bakery Sourdough Crackers. The Von Trapp family now lives a quiet farm life in Vermont, and it was really fun to try some of their local products.

Then came the Ben & Jerry’s tour—and let me just say, if you love ice cream, this is a must-do in Vermont! The tour gave us a great behind-the-scenes look at this iconic American brand. We got a sample of ice cream, saw the packing process, and learned about the company’s history. The tour guides were awesome, too. Of course, we also grabbed some ice cream afterward.

After the tour, we started making our way back toward Boston, but we didn’t want to do the entire drive in one night. So, we planned a few fun stops along the way.

First, we went to Sugarbush Farm, near Woodstock, VT. This farm was so charming! It’s a small, family-run operation with cheese and maple syrup for sale, an old-fashioned maple barn, and even some animals to visit. The cheese was incredible—I highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area.

Next, we visited The Vermont Country Store in Rockingham. This place was huge and full of unique items. It was a great way to explore more Vermont-made goods, and it didn’t feel touristy or gimmicky. I ended up buying a Vermont winter puzzle and an apple cider donut—both amazing!

That night, we stayed at The Pointe at Castle Hill Resort. It was nice overall, with friendly staff. However, we later realized it was mainly a ski hotel, and we think we were the only guests there. It gave us a slightly eerie “Shining” vibe, but that was all in our heads—we were totally safe and well taken care of.

Drive to Massachusetts and End the Night in Rhode Island

This was a big driving day for us. We got up early and drove from Vermont to Massachusetts. Our first stop was the Plimoth Patuxet Museum — and it was fantastic! I can’t recommend this place enough for people who love history. It was fascinating to interactively step into the world of both Native Americans and Pilgrims and see how they lived at that time. We spent a good amount of time enjoying the outdoor exhibits and taking everything in.

Afterward, we drove around Plymouth and saw Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower II (currently under restoration), and the Statue of Massasoit. For lunch, we ate at East Bay Grille, which was located right on the water. The views were beautiful, and the staff was fantastic. I had a cold lobster roll — it was delicious, but I realized I prefer warm lobster rolls more!

Next, we made our way to Providence, Rhode Island, where we stayed at Kara’s friend’s place. On the way, we decided to take a detour to Newport since it was nearby and we had some time to kill. We mostly drove around Newport, admiring the stunning mansions and scenic shoreline.

Later, we returned the rental car at the Providence Airport, where Kara had originally picked it up earlier in the week. We ended the night at Maddy’s apartment and went out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant. It was a great way to wrap up a long day — good food and great company.

Boston

The next morning, we hit the ground running — it was our last full day of the trip, and we spent it exploring Boston. I had never been before, but my friends Kara and Rachel had, so they already had a sense of what they wanted to show me.

We took the train from Providence to Boston, which was simple and convenient. Once we arrived, we headed to our airport hotel to drop off our bags and freshen up, then took an Uber into downtown. Since we knew we’d be walking most of the day, we figured it was better to return the car early and avoid dealing with Boston parking.

Our first stop was Quincy Market. It definitely had a touristy feel, but I think it’s worth visiting at least once. I enjoyed a cup of chowder and had fun checking out all the different food vendors. I love visiting markets like this when I travel — it’s a fun way to explore the local food scene.

After that, we started the Freedom Trail. This 2.5-mile trail connects 16 historically significant sites in Boston and is a great way to see the city in a day. As a history lover, I thought it was an awesome experience. We didn’t make it through the entire trail but saw quite a few major sites, including:

• Paul Revere’s House – We did a museum tour here, and I learned a lot more about Paul Revere than I knew before.
• Old North Church
• Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
• USS Constitution – This was absolutely amazing and probably my second favorite stop of the day. The history and restoration of the warship were fascinating, and going aboard was truly breathtaking.
• Bunker Hill Monument – We saw it from a distance.

We also stopped by the famous Mike’s Pastry. In my opinion, it was just okay. It was fun to browse all the pastries, but I don’t think I’d go back — the baked goods didn’t quite live up to the hype.

Later in the day, we toured the Boston Tea Party Museum, which I highly recommend. The actors and guides were fantastic and kept everyone engaged the whole time. There were even a few interactive moments throughout the tour, which made it extra fun.

To end our night, we headed to the Long Wharf area for dinner at Chart House. They were hosting a party, so the only seating available was outside — and it was freezing. Honestly, I wouldn’t go back. It ended up being our most expensive meal, and the food was just okay.

We took an Uber back to our airport hotel, Hampton Inn Boston – Logan Airport, and spent our final night together. The hotel was fine, especially considering how pricey Boston accommodations can be. It was convenient that they had a shuttle to the airport. That said, the hotel was pretty loud — if we hadn’t had my white noise machine, it would’ve been tough to sleep. Definitely a chaotic place to stay.

Overall

This trip was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience with some of my closest friends. I highly recommend exploring what New England has to offer, especially in the fall — the most beautiful time of year for the region. I can’t wait to return someday and share it all with my husband.