| Thanks for al of the advice. I was actually looking for more than just a place to eat and sleep. Something to kind of tack on to the vacation. I was hoping there would be somewhere worth stopping and spending an extra day. Sounds like Portsmouth could be the answer. |
| We spent a few days in Boston to break up the drive to Acadia. |
To add, we didn’t find the traffic to be problematic. We parked the car and did the rest of our exploring on foot or with Uber. Not sure where one stays with a dog though - we just stayed at a hotel downtown. |
| Stopping in Mystic does add little bit of time, but I think its worth it. We really enjoyed the Seaport Museum, and took a day cruise out of the port. You can also go to New London & the Submarine Museum. |
| We stopped in Boston but we had friends there. |
Or Portland? |
Are they the makers of boom sauce? Are they really better than hill farmstead? |
If OP is looking for more than just a quick stop, I agree Mystic is a good place. But like a PP warned, traffic in that area suuuuuucks. |
Traffic sucks and it’s not at all on the way to Maine. |
Depending on your route, stopping in Shelburne Falls and going to the potholes could be really fun if you are traveling with kids. |
| Westerly, RI has really nice beaches and is just past Mystic off 95. I think you are right to avoid Boston. Providence, Newburyport, or Portsmouth are better bets if you want a small city. You could stop at Hampton Beach in NH-it is the antithesis of Acadia. |
We did Portland. Was nice to walk around the Seaport and they have lots of really good food options. We stayed a couple of days in NYC in the backend. |
If you end up in Portsmouth, I like Odiorne State Park and New Castle for outside stuff. Portsmouth has been a foodie town since the 70s. |
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We stayed near the traffic circle in Portsmouth (not downtown) over the winter break at the Fairfield Inn. It was $53/night with a free breakfast. Not sure what the summer rates are, but it worked out great for us. It would be perfect for a one-night stop.
If you spend some time in Portsmouth there are great restaurants and coffee shops, history (Strawbery Banke and other historical buildings), a nice park with summer concerts/plays, and more. |
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Portland, ME is another great stopover. Great food and some parks.
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