Too late, too expensive for this year, but maybe the next? Little Italy and Autumn...

[John Kasaian]

...Leaves

I don't keep a bucket list, but there are things I'd like to do.
One is to take my bride to see NYC(she's never been there) and I really would like to experience the Feast of San Gennaro, Patron Saint of Naples, celebrated in Manhattan's Little Italy.

I'm a sucker for festivals and Italian food so this trip could be a trifecta of sorts, but wait!
The Feast of San Gennaro is in late September, and New England with it's famed foliage is so close, so I'm thinking "why not?"
In late September, I've read, colors might be turning in Maine or Vermont. I have relatives in MA I haven't see in decades and MA is on the way up(or back) if NYC is our "base"so this notion is turning into a logistical conundrum. The biggest obstacle, besides money, is if my bride can get the time off from work(she's a teacher's aide)

Obviously this year is out of the question but next year isn't, or perhaps in a future year after she retires, even though my 5x7 Speeder is tugging at my sleeve right now urging me to GO! in a way only Speed Graphics seem capable of doing.

This will take a lot of planning. My big issue so far is I don't want to drive in NYC or Boston (I've driven in Boston before---never again) so I'm think of taking Amtrak "up North" hitting Boston on the way and renting a car in New Hampshire, Vermont or Maine.
But which Amtrak? There are a bunch of Amtraks that so from NYC Northbound.

Any suggestions?
Any suggestions about other sights to see during late September, early October in New England?

[jp]

I have stayed in NJ and taken commuter rail to NYC
I have taken the bus such as peter pan or greyhound buses to NYC from Worcester MA

Here's a foliage forecast; looks like Sept is OK for inland / mountain areas.
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/morning-report/maine-fall-foliage-forecast-travel-tourism/97-c8bfceda-eebd-4720-9296-b03491b3c290

If you fly/train/bus into Boston, you may wish to take the commuter rail to a suburb. The Airport in Boston is separate from the public transportation hubs of North Station and South Station, but there is public transportation between those places.
The airport isn't part of the downtown, so if you rent a car at the airport, you may be able to avoid much of the traffic problem that is Boston.
If you use Jet Blue to fly in, you could also take Cape Air (same terminal) for about $100 to a smaller rural airport and rent a car from their and avoid city driving altogether. The Amtrak to Maine is also good and starts at North Station. You should be able to rent a car at one of it's stops heading north. It can be very scenic in Maine, but it won't be leaf season on the coastal route, but it's still worth doing.

[John Kasaian]

I have stayed in NJ and taken commuter rail to NYC
I have taken the bus such as peter pan or greyhound buses to NYC from Worcester MA

Here's a foliage forecast; looks like Sept is OK for inland / mountain areas.
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/morning-report/maine-fall-foliage-forecast-travel-tourism/97-c8bfceda-eebd-4720-9296-b03491b3c290

If you fly/train/bus into Boston, you may wish to take the commuter rail to a suburb. The Airport in Boston is separate from the public transportation hubs of North Station and South Station, but there is public transportation between those places.
The airport isn't part of the downtown, so if you rent a car at the airport, you may be able to avoid much of the traffic problem that is Boston.
If you use Jet Blue to fly in, you could also take Cape Air (same terminal) for about $100 to a smaller rural airport and rent a car from their and avoid city driving altogether. The Amtrak to Maine is also good and starts at North Station. You should be able to rent a car at one of it's stops heading north. It can be very scenic in Maine, but it won't be leaf season on the coastal route, but it's still worth doing.

Thanks! I'll plan on hitting the inland areas ( New Hampshire and Vermont?) at least for planning purposes then.

[Tin Can]

All I know is, eat lobster in NYC which seems to get the best and lowest price

I was in Halifax looking forward to lobster when I found it to be more expensive than Chicago and they had only 1 claw cull, which are culled before shipping

At least that was my experience in 2010

Yesterday Sam's club in middle America had frozen 2.5 lb of 2 tails for $55. I didn't trust them as I have bought garbage lobster before.

No sale

[jp]

Lobster is best enjoyed on the coast of Maine or eastern Canada. I would not buy Sams club lobster either, it might not even be lobster.

Lobster prices vary greatly according to time of year. Culls should be cheaper as they are less desirable for shipping/export and are used locally. Claws are the only part of lobster I like, so I would not buy one with a missing claw.

[Jac@stafford.net]

When I was a kid in Rhode Island in the 40s, I used to walk from home across sand dunes (now suburban sprawl) to the ocean and stand by a pier as lobster gatherers would sometimes (I never figured their schedule) bring in their basket catches. Being a shoeless, raggedy, tow-head sometimes they would toss me a couple. When I got home my grandma said once, "Lobster again?" She liked flounder, fluke. I made a spear and went forth. Grandma was happy then and that was all that was really important.

[HMG]

I would also check the buses between NYC and Boston (Megabus is one example). Probably cheaper and more reliable. You don't want to fly out of La Guardia right now but, if flying into Boston and renting a car for a few days, consider taking subway (the T) into Boston or Cambridge and renting a car there. You can still return it to Logan and avoid the high airport fees. Also look into flying into Manchester NH or even Portland ME (which shouldn't be missed anyway).

Be aware that in addition to the T, which doesn't get you very far out, there is commuter rail which goes out much further.

Driving in Boston traffic can be healthy exercise if there is two of you. One can drive on the highway and the other can walk alongside the car. When the walker gets tired, you switch positions. And, of course, you both arrive at your destination at the same time.

I think you might find late September to early for peak foliage, even in most of Maine. So you may have to take her twice (once for the festival, once for the foliage). But I'm sure she's worth it.

[Alan Klein]

NYC has great Italian food all year. Little Italy doesn't shut down either. So if you can miss San Gennaro, schedule everything later in October to catch both the foliage and the food.

[Jim Andrada]

Oh come on!!! Driving in Boston is a piece of cake. It's where I learned to drive so here are a few rulles of the road that most "furriners" ie not from Boston don't know.

Pedestrrians belong on the sidewalks. If you encounter one in the street (trying to cross for example) it's your duty to chase them back onto the sidewalk.

"One Way" just means "Only drive one way at a time".

The designer of Boston roads was the same guy who invented the Mobius strip. No matter where you try to go you'll find yourself passing the same place repeatedly with no progress toward your actual destination.

When the GPS gadget says to turn right you'll inevitably be presented with about 3 to 5 possible right turn opportunities. Doesn't matter which one you take because you should turn left.

Just because the GPS system thinks there's a bridge doesn't mean it's still there. Might have been torn down any time in the last 100 years but the maps were never updated.

Never try to go around the block to get back to where you were 3 minutes ago.Just back up! There's a strange paranormal force field that makes it impossible to go around a block. Better to just keep driving straight because there are a few warped spots in the local space time continuum that will take you back to where you were whether you want to go there or not.

The GPS will always go dead as soon as you enter the underground expressway so just take any exit that appeals to you and play it by ear from there.

If you're on a main street don't expect the name of the street you're on to be written on street signs at intersections unless it's an intersection with another main street (no joke about this one)

Man up, rent a car, have fun. Remember it's about the trip rather than the destination.

[John Kasaian]

Oh come on!!! Driving in Boston is a piece of cake. It's where I learned to drive so here are a few rulles of the road that most "furriners" ie not from Boston don't know.

Pedestrrians belong on the sidewalks. If you encounter one in the street (trying to cross for example) it's your duty to chase them back onto the sidewalk.

"One Way" just means "Only drive one way at a time".

The designer of Boston roads was the same guy who invented the Mobius strip. No matter where you try to go you'll find yourself passing the same place repeatedly with no progress toward your actual destination.

When the GPS gadget says to turn right you'll inevitably be presented with about 3 to 5 possible right turn opportunities. Doesn't matter which one you take because you should turn left.

Just because the GPS system thinks there's a bridge doesn't mean it's still there. Might have been torn down any time in the last 100 years but the maps were never updated.

Never try to go around the block to get back to where you were 3 minutes ago.Just back up! There's a strange paranormal force field that makes it impossible to go around a block. Better to just keep driving straight because there are a few warped spots in the local space time continuum that will take you back to where you were whether you want to go there or not.

The GPS will always go dead as soon as you enter the underground expressway so just take any exit that appeals to you and play it by ear from there.

If you're on a main street don't expect the name of the street you're on to be written on street signs at intersections unless it's an intersection with another main street (no joke about this one)

Man up, rent a car, have fun. Remember it's about the trip rather than the destination.

https://youtu.be/e8TUwHTfOOU ROFLMAO!

[jp]

Jim's assessment of Boston driving is correct. We call such drivers "massholes" ; a friendly term of endearment; no offense at all. I learned a little bit of that driving living in Worcester MA for two years. Parking can be expensive in Boston too, but if you're just starting or ending a trip it won't be an issue.

I've been stuck on those Boston mobius strips trying to get around the block a few times. It's worse when you had to go pee an hour before and are still holding it as you enter Boston and get stuck going around trying to find some destination. But everything is slow from a traffic jam.

The worst "Take this turn" GPS/satnav ambiguity is when I was driving back to Heathrow airport. There's a big roundabout with a model plane in the middle I think. You come out of a tunnel with no GPS and then the GPS gets signal a few seconds late and directs you to turn here and you can't easily count the exits due to the traffic and lack of street signs. I had to go through that a few times to get to the right exit to return my car.

[Renato Tonelli]

Oh come on!!! Driving in Boston is a piece of cake. It's where I learned to drive so here are a few rulles of the road that most "furriners" ie not from Boston don't know.

Pedestrrians belong on the sidewalks. If you encounter one in the street (trying to cross for example) it's your duty to chase them back onto the sidewalk.

"One Way" just means "Only drive one way at a time".

The designer of Boston roads was the same guy who invented the Mobius strip. No matter where you try to go you'll find yourself passing the same place repeatedly with no progress toward your actual destination.

When the GPS gadget says to turn right you'll inevitably be presented with about 3 to 5 possible right turn opportunities. Doesn't matter which one you take because you should turn left.

Just because the GPS system thinks there's a bridge doesn't mean it's still there. Might have been torn down any time in the last 100 years but the maps were never updated.

Never try to go around the block to get back to where you were 3 minutes ago.Just back up! There's a strange paranormal force field that makes it impossible to go around a block. Better to just keep driving straight because there are a few warped spots in the local space time continuum that will take you back to where you were whether you want to go there or not.

The GPS will always go dead as soon as you enter the underground expressway so just take any exit that appeals to you and play it by ear from there.

If you're on a main street don't expect the name of the street you're on to be written on street signs at intersections unless it's an intersection with another main street (no joke about this one)

Man up, rent a car, have fun. Remember it's about the trip rather than the destination.

This I've got to save for future reference! Hilarious.

The 'real' Little Italy of New York is in the Bronx, on Arthur Avenue:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Avenue

The historically older one on Mulberry St. is a mere shadow of its former self - mostly restaurants for tourists who don't know a cannoli from guacamole :)

[Richard Wasserman]

All the descriptions of driving in Boston are spot on, I've had many fun adventures there. A few years (pre-GPS) ago my wife and I had hotel reservations downtown and found it impossible to get there. We could see the hotel, but it felt as if no streets actually went to the building. Just because you're on a one way road don't make the silly assumption that it will be heading in the same direction on the other side of the intersection you've just pulled up to. Nope, not only names change, but east-bound becomes west-bound. We finally asked a cab driver for directions to the hotel we were about 4 blocks from, and he said to be sure to write them down because it was going to be complicated—it was. Then there was the time I had to get to the airport and it was in the middle of the Big Dig where nothing went any where and no faster than the speed of a fast caterpillar. Our son recently moved there and owns a car, but mainly walks or takes public transportation being smarter than his father.

[Tin Can]

I will never drive in Boston...

I promise!

[Jim Andrada]

No no no - Go for it - it's one of the last places you can experience true transportation chaos. Little by little REAL Boston driving is fading away, soon to only exist in the oral history department. The decline started with the silly idea of building a second tunnel to connect with Logan Airport. The eleven lanes of aggressive drivers merging to two lanes in 100 feet at the entry to the Sumner tunnel had to be experienced to be believed. Today things are tame by comparison. Have the experience while you still can.

It was when the North End really was Little Italy - you never heard English spoken in the back streets and at Easter the Pascal Lambs were hung out over the street. I still remember when Fanuiel Hall had a real meat market with halves of beef hanging out in the open on hooks and the tunnel to the airport was only a single tube with one lane each way for a 10 (or was it 5?) cent toll.

[tonyowen]

In the 1970s we travelled to Yale [where we stayed with friends on the academic staff and saw 'Deep Throat'] from Toronto. We also drove into Boston and had difficulty finding our way around the city. The other 'notable' thing was the lack of public toilets as in Rome [Italy].
Regards
Tony

[jp]

Most cities in the US have little for public toilets. You go to the bathroom at the business you have a meal at or place you are visiting. Otherwise the only public bathrooms are at rest stops on interstate highways (perhaps closer to your motorway), major public transportation terminals, and parks where someone might visit for a long time.

[David Schaller]

Just FYI, I was just in northern NH, where it was peak foliage over the weekend, i.e., the last weekend of September. Driving back yesterday it was peak foliage in the Green Mountains of Vermont. So for your planning purposes, if you make it out of Boston and head north, the last week of September or the first week of October should be prime leaf-peeping, and Columbus Day weekend will be too late. The whole area is due for the first freeze tonight.

[Tin Can]

When I was last in London, 2001, there was also nowhere to pee.

But it was normal to see an old drunk peeing just below the window of a fancy restaurant I was dining in.

Same year I was stuck on the Tube with a beautiful young companion. I was dancing in agony for at least an hour. Finally on the street, i excused myself and peed in a dark corner.

Paris in 1975 had street pissoirs which were/are gone? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pissoir

I used them, women did not.

1999 I was in downtown Chicago a lot. Pissing also a problem. I tried to organize a http://thedaleycenter.com/ protest,. I wanted to get a line of people maybe 50 to line up and pee in their clothing.

Inspired by a famous life size print by Tony Tasset. I Peed in My Pants, 1994 (https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/I-Peed-in-My-Pants/C0AF4A7324BB17F6)


Most cities in the US have little for public toilets. You go to the bathroom at the business you have a meal at or place you are visiting. Otherwise the only public bathrooms are at rest stops on interstate highways (perhaps closer to your motorway), major public transportation terminals, and parks where someone might visit for a long time.

[tonyowen]

at rest stops on interstate highways (perhaps closer to your motorway)

Its okay, I'm at least bilingual having lived in and/or visited many American and Canadian cities, towns and hamlets. My comment about Boston was its lack of those facilities compared with other North American places. Further, it is the French auto routes and German autobahns that compare well with North American interstate highways. The UK's motorway system is abysmal in terms of facilities and cleanliness.
Regards
Tony

[Cryptogenic]

You can find great Italian Food in NYC.