Travel destination within around 4 hours drive of Burlington, VT

[Anonymous]

We would like to visit some relatives in Burlington, VT later this summer for a few days and then extend our vacation to somewhere within a few hours drive of there. Ideas I had were Quebec City, somewhere in the "Finger Lakes" (which frankly I'm not totally sure what that even means) or maybe even coastal Maine. Open to other suggestions. We plan to fly to VT, do a one way car rental, and then fly home from the new destination, spending 3-4 days in each of the two locations. It would be two parents and two teens who don't mind short easy hikes and nature but still need decent hotels and food and other things do besides just hike or kayak. I'd love wherever we go to be scenic and beautiful.

I know we have a lot of New England experts on this board so I'm hoping you have some thoughts on this! Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Stowe

[Anonymous]

If you don’t have a compelling reason to go to the finger lakes, skip it.

Montreal or Quebec City for something different. You can get your scenic and beautiful in day trips from Burlington.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Lake George and fly out of Albany?

[Anonymous]

Montreal, Portsmouth NH, coastal southern Maine, or a combo of Lake Placid and Saratoga Springs would all work. Newport RI is about 4.5 hours from Burlington so add that to the list too. L

The finger lakes are a bit far for what you have in mind - the drive from Burlington to Ithaca is closer to 6 hours, and you would be spending another 45 min - 1.5 hrs in the car to other destinations in the area.

[Anonymous]

There aren’t a ton of airports up there, so not sure how realistic this plan is. Saratoga Springs is very nice and has good restaurants. Stowe and Montpelier are cute. Portsmouth NH is charming.

[Anonymous]

If you want to spend 4 days in the other spot you could do bar harbor or nearby.

More than four hours but different than Burlington.

[Anonymous]

I love your Montreal idea, except that it’s unlikely (or extremely expensive) to do a one way car rental where the car is left in a different country.

[Anonymous]

Portsmouth NH and coastal Maine then fly home from Boston or Manchester NH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Portsmouth NH and coastal Maine then fly home from Boston or Manchester NH.

Or Portland

[Anonymous]

Bar Harbor is further than four hours from Burlington, but it is lovely. If you can round trip it, go to Montreal/Quebec City - only 3-4 hours from Burlington and easy border crossings.