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Live Free or Die - Self Drive Motorcycle Tour
offered by supplier M19618 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 8
day(s)
Group Size: 1
- 2
people
Destination(s):
Maine
Specialty Categories:
Motorcycle Tours
Season: March - November
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 2349 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 3349 US Dollar (USD)
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Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Manchester Arrival. Today you arrive at Manchester Airport and transfer to your hotel. Overnight.
Day 2: Manchester - Stowe. This morning you will pick up your motorcycle and your exciting trip from the mountains to the ocean through New England can begin. “Live Free Or Die” is the feisty motto of tiny New Hampshire, the state that hits every four years when its political primaries launch the horse race for the White House. During the presidential campaign’s opening stretch, locals have to turn into hermits to avoid having their votes solicited by every candidate running and their opinions polled by every reporter. Despite its apparent brevity, New Hampshire provides a hearty sampling of the topographic spectrum from its start at New England’s highest rolling farmland of the Connecticut River Valley. Manchester, like its namesake in England, was a major 19th century cotton producer. Although its massive amoskeag mills closed in the 1930’s, it remains the largest city in the state and is now notable mainly for the paintings in the Currier Museum of Art. From Manchester you take Route 101 west towards Keene and then follow Route 9 to Wilmington, a picturesque village. You have entered the state of Vermont, the quintessential New England! In Wilmington you pick up Route 100 and ride north to Plymouth Union, then get on 100A to Woodstock, which remains an exceedingly well-preserved example of small-town New England. From Woodstock follow Rte 4 until you hit SR 100 north and you are on your way to Stowe, a world-famous historic village, nestled beside Vermont’s highest peak, majestic Mt. Mansfield. Overnight.
Day 3: Stowe - North Conway. From Stowe you take SR 100 up to Morrisville, where you enter SR 15 east towards St. Johnsbury, the industrial, retail and cultural center of the area of Vermont. Continue on Route 302 to Littleton, which is the largest town on the western end of Route 302 – this is a place that seems to be locked in the 1950’s. You continue south to Lincoln and will ride the famous Kancamagus Highway (Hwy 112) – this is one of the most incredible rides in the White Mountains. Enjoy a most excellent ride, which will take you over the crest of the peaks, giving grand vistas over an almost completely undeveloped landscape. Note: Alternatively you can just stick with Route 302 out of Littleton – a mighty pretty ride too! You can enjoy fantastic views of the White Mountains with Mount Washington, the star attraction of the White Mountain’s Presidential Range. At 6,288 feet this is the highest point in the northeast – called “Agiocochook” by Native American Indians and believed to be the home of the Great Spirit. Today’s destination is North Conway, home to New Hampshire’s most scenic railroad, and the commercial center of the Mount Washington Valley recreation area. Overnight.
Day 4: North Conway - Greenville. Leave North Conway on Route 16 north towards Gorham, the gateway to the Great North Woods. Here, you pick up US 2 and after a few miles you are in Maine, the state famous for lobstering, picturesque coastal cities and beautiful lighthouses. Follow US 2 all the way up to Skowhegan – the Abenaki Indians called this island in the Kennebec River “a place to watch” as they looked for salmon in the depths below the falls. Continue on US 201 north to Bingham, SR 16 to Abbot Village and then ride a few miles north to Greenville, at the south end of Moosehead Lake. Nestled among tree covered mountains, Moosehead Lake is the largest lake east of the Mississippi in one state. While here, you might want to join a cruise to Mount Kineo, a historic American Indian gathering place in Moosehead Lake. Overnight.
Day 5: Greenville - Bar Harbor. Today you are heading for the coast and from Greenville take SR 6/15 until you reach Route 15 south, follow the signs to Bangor. Located at the head of tidewater and navigation on the Penobscot River, Bangor is the principal retail, cultural and commercial center for eastern and northern Maine – a nice stop for lunch en route. You continue your ride on US 1A towards Ellsworth and then pick up SR 3 to Bar Harbor, a place with a special mystique. Bar Harbor lies at the entrance to Acadia National Park on Mountain Desert Island and the beauty of sea, mountain, lake and forest have made this region well-known as a resort. This town began life as an exclusive resort, home to the Vanderbilts and Astors, the great fire of October 1947 that destroyed their opulent cottages ended all that. In its heyday, one of the town’s sights was the “Indian Village”, a summer encampment where Native American Indians came to sell goods to tourists. The best attractions here are outdoor activities, such as deep-sea fishing charters, windjammer cruises, island cruises, kajak rentals, or whale watching excursions. Overnight.
Day 6: Bar Harbor - Kennebunkport. You leave Bar Harbor and get on Route 1 south, which follows the entire coast of Maine – you are riding one of the most striking coastlines in America. En route you should make a stop in Camden, a beautiful harbor town with a dramatic scenery – here, the Appalachian Mountains meet the Atlantic, and the confluence makes a dramatic setting. As you continue riding south you get to Rockland, which is the world’s largest distributor of lobsters. The first weekend in August the annual Maine Lobster Festival is being held here. Between Rockland and Brunswick, several peninsulas hang off the coast like icicles. We suggest riding south on Route 131 to Port Clyde, a part of Maine that’s relatively tourist-free. From here, you can actually catch the mail boat to Monhegan Island from May through October. Monhegan has been home to the Wyeth family for years, and artists from around the world come here to draw and paint.There are no vehicles allowed on this island, so you would have to set off on foot and hike down seldom-walked trails to visit galleries in the artist’s colony, and meet true lobstermen. This is a great place to get your creativity in gear and peace in your heart! After this nice little side trip you head back to Rockland and continue on Route 1. After a few miles you reach Boothbay Harbor, a picturesque seaport that retains the atmosphere of an Old New England. Today’s destination is Kennebunkport, a popular summer resort and a favorite among artists and writers who have found both its history and quaint setting conducive to creativity. Overnight.
Day 7: Kennebunkport - Manchester. You are leaving the coast this morning and head back inland. From Kennebunkport follow Route 1 to Hampton, settled in 1638 and one of New Hampshire’s earlier towns. It was first called Winnacunnet, meaning “beautiful place of pines”. Here, you pick up SR 101, the Hampton Expressway, which will take you all the way into Manchester. Back in Manchester it will be time to return your bike and transfer to your hotel. Overnight.
Day 8: Manchester Departure. Today your wonderful trip will end with your departure flight back home.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices:
- 1 person, 1 room, 1 vehicles: $2349
- 2 people, 1 room, 1/2 vehicle: $2499/$3349.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Maine
Outdoor: Land Rambler
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, ext: 19618
