I just realized this entry never posted! It’s been in draft mode since August. Blog fail! Let’s try this again…
Back in August, I had to make a quick trip to Concord, NH for a work trip. For once my husband’s work schedule allowed for him to join me! With the kids safely tucked in at Gran’s house, we flew to Boston Wednesday morning and headed straight for Maine. If you’ve never been to Maine, you really have to add it to your list! My husband and I both agree that Maine is in our top 5 favorite places to visit. It is just so beautiful and peaceful there!
It was a slightly cool, misty, and overcast day, but still perfect for a trip to the beach. It only takes about an hour and a half to drive from the Boston airport to the beaches in Maine. Originally we had planned to go to the Ogunquit Beach, but there was an accident holding up traffic. So we rerouted and went to the Yorks. I’m so glad we did! We hadn’t been to this beach before, and it was such a cute little coastal town. We started with a visit to the Nubble Lighthouse and then lunch by the beach at Stones Throw, a cute little beach restaurant. It was a little chilly outside, so they had the patio heaters running (even though it was August!). TIP – If you ever go to Maine, make sure you always have a jacket. It is cool there, even in the summer…especially for us visiting southerners.
After lunch we started our drive to Concord, NH. This is just over an hour’s drive if you take the interstates. We decided to take the more scenic route, which extended the drive to about an hour and a half. It was worth it though. You get to see so much more of the little towns along the way. We spent two nights in Concord while I was working. To be a state capitol, it is really a cute little town. You can easily (and safely – in my opinion) walk around the town. In fact, I hosted a 5k event for my employees there and we walked a 5k circle to the NH State Capitol Building and back to our office.
While in Concord, dinner at the Common Man is a must. It is probably the most popular restaurant in the entire town. It’s an old house that has been converted to a restaurant. The main floor is a traditional restaurant, but the upstairs has a bar and live music. It’s a nice place to grab some dinner and relax after a hard day’s work.
The next morning, we left Concord and headed south to Boston, but not without a stop in Portsmouth, NH for lunch. This quaint little port city is situated right on the water and has a great downtown area. It is perfect for eating seafood and shopping…especially since NH doesn’t have any sales tax! The have lots of jewelry stores downtown, ladies…
After some delicious fish tacos at Harpoon Willy’s, we continued out drive down to Boston. We went ahead and returned the rental car to the airport for two reasons. One, it’s was one less thing to do before our flight, and two, Boston is a very walkable city. You can walk, take the ferries, or grab a cab easily. No need dealing with parking issues.
We spent the next 24 hours walking all over Boston! We mainly stayed along the waterfront for dining options. (Plus it is a good way to orient yourself to the city.) Although, no trip to Boston is complete without a stop at Faneuil Hall to see the live music, shopping, and Quincy Market. There is also a “Cheers” restaurant there, so you can stop by to see Norm and the gang too.
No two trips to Boston are ever the same because there is just so many things to do there!