Newbies going to New England with a few excursion questions...

My wife and I are going on our first cruise at the end of the month to New England.

We have some questions which I am hoping you could help answer:

1) Regarding Oli's trolley tomorrow in Bar Harbor the tours start at 10am and end at 2pm. We aren't sure if there is a reason to rush for the 10am tour if there is nothing to do after the tour. Any suggestions on what time to book Oli's tour? Is there something else to see in Arcadia/Bar Harbor other than the tour itself?

2) It isn't my intent to book a tour in Quebec. We were thinking of just walking the old city... Is this a mistake or is there a particular tour we should consider?

3) Newport. We haven't booked anything yet. Suggestions/ideas?

We really could use your input.

4) Boston - What do you suggest? We haven't explored the city before...

Thanks

Anthony & Nancy

My wife and I are going on our first cruise at the end of the month to New England.

 

We have some questions which I am hoping you could help answer:

 

1) Regarding Oli's trolley tomorrow in Bar Harbor the tours start at 10am and end at 2pm. We aren't sure if there is a reason to rush for the 10am tour if there is nothing to do after the tour. Any suggestions on what time to book Oli's tour? Is there something else to see in Arcadia/Bar Harbor other than the tour itself?

 

2) It isn't my intent to book a tour in Quebec. We were thinking of just walking the old city... Is this a mistake or is there a particular tour we should consider?

 

4) Boston - What do you suggest? We haven't explored the city before...

 

Thanks

 

Anthony & Nancy

Bar Harbor - charming village with neat little shops and a lot of places (West St Cafe, etc.) have wonderful New England seafood for late lunch. Or get a coffee or ice cream and take a walk in the town park and just enjoy the scenery!

Quebec - been there many times and if you only have a day, you don't need a tour.. lower and upper town very walkable (uneven pavement); there's funicular to get to upper town if you don't want the climb! You can always take a carriage ride if weather's a bit inclement and see old upper town that way.. Just get a map at visitor center and explore. Also lots of great little bistros, restaurants for lunch. Ancient Canadian in 300+ yr old house has great fixed price menu with Quebecois food

Boston - you can do the trolley tour and just get off and on where you please... they will have pick up point near cruise terminal which isn't downtown.

Thanks for responding.

If I understand you correctly:

Bar Harbor: Take the 10am Oli tour and have lunch afterwards in town where the trolley drops you off at the end of the tour...?

Quebec: We are in the city for 2 nights. My bad. Does that change your opinion about if there is a recommended tour?

Boston: Sounds like the freedom trail/trolley is the way to go?

Newport:

some suggestions –

Visit one or more of the Newport Mansions: http://www.newportmansions.org/

Walk on Cliff Walk: http://www.cliffwalk.com/ & http://www.cliffwalk.com/sect1.htm

Visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame - http://www.tennisfame.com/

Visit Fort Adams State Park: http://www.fortadams.org/

Visit restored Rose Island Lighthouse - http://roseislandlighthouse.org/

Visit St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church (1852), corner of Spring Street and Memorial Boulevard, where Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and John F. Kennedy were married

Here’s a link to a very complete guide for Newport: http://www.captainvic.com/top100/capvt100.htm

Visit Touro Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in America: http://www.tourosynagogue.org/

Bar Harbor:

some suggestions:

take independent tour of Acadia National Park;

have a lobster lunch at a restaurant along the harbor front;

walk the town;

walk the Bar Harbor Shore Path: http://www.acadiamagic.com/ShorePath.html

walk to Bar Island (only doable at or near low tide): http://www.acadiamagic.com/BarIsland.html

SBtS

Thanks for responding.

 

If I understand you correctly:

 

Bar Harbor: Take the 10am Oli tour and have lunch afterwards in town where the trolley drops you off at the end of the tour...?

 

Quebec: We are in the city for 2 nights. My bad. Does that change your opinion about if there is a recommended tour?

 

Boston: Sounds like the freedom trail/trolley is the way to go?

Agree re Bar Harbor and Boston.

Overnight in Quebec City? Hmmmmm..... assuming you have almost two full days, I'd try to go to Ancient Canadian for lunch one day (I think fixed price menu is good till 4:00) or for dinner the overnight evening.. at least there or La Lapin, Bistro Sous Le Fort = one of the old town restaurants for dinner since there are so many.

If you have most of a second day a visit to St Anne de Beaupre, Montmorency Falls and perhaps a drive to Ile de Orlean? You could do tour but Enterprise has several car rental locations in Quebec City and they'd bring car to you.. I navigated this speaking no French with a 12 yr old 30 years ago and have been back several times.. it's not far, well marked and you will do fine w/ no French. This is great website: http://www.quebecregion.com/en. You could also, I'm sure, pick up a tour with a local to St Anne and the Falls from the ship.