Road Trip USA: New England

I had 21 days to drive New England this Fall with no set itinerary and needed a good guide. I wanted to avoid the Interstates and get a feel for the places I visited. This book never left my side. I solo drove three of the book's routes: the Coastal New England route from Mass to northern Maine (rte 1), the Great North Woods route (rte 2) from New Hampshire to Vermont, and the Green Mtns, Berkshires route (rte 7) from Vermont to Danbury, Conn. This book got a page-by-page workout as I developed my daily plan then adapted if something caught my eye. It was used in conjunction with Frommers New England's Best-Loved Driving Tours, which I found equally useful. This book is out-of-date on lodging prices, as expected, since publication in 2001. Also, a few recommended sites/motels have gone bust. On the plus side, its practical route layout combining scenic sites, historical/cultural sites, towns(with history/tips), affordable eateries, spot-on descriptions and personal perspective was invaluable. Buy this book and start exploring.

I am enamoured with this book! I am planning my first trip to New England in August and this book makes usually dull trip preparations exciting. Jensen sets out 5 separate road trips through New England, including a coastal route, several mountain routes, the Cape Cod trip, and an Appalachian trail route. We are planning to take the coastal route 1 and then route 3 through the White Mountains in New Hampshire.So far, all of Jensen's advice has been excellent. His lodging suggestions are affordable and up to date. He makes a point to highlight historic and unusual places that are representative of New England. I can't wait to go on the trip and report back!Edited: Just got back from the trip and it was fantastic. A few highlights--The Maine Idyll Motel (a group of log cabins in Freeport Maine); Acadia National Park; Camden, ME; and all of the roadside diners and blueberry picking. Enjoy your trip!