We were gone a little over 2 weeks in September. The GT ran perfectly and used no oil at all during the 3,300+ miles trip. The car's computer showed us getting 25.0 mpg and my wife's final calculations with receipts, etc came out to 24.1 mpg. I'm in awe at that mileage with a 400+ HP engine and A6 tranny. Zero complaints here.
We started off in Mystic CT and went to the various museums, the famous Mystic Pizza (movie w/ Julia Roberts) and nearby Stonington. Great weather and outstanding food everywhere.
Next up was Mt Washington in NH where my wife always wanted to check out the famous Omni grand hotel. It was horribly expensive but for two nights we know now what it feels like to be wealthy. Crazy good food with prices to match. Unreal weather with great visibility of Mt Washington which is known for it's insane weather conditions. It was freezing on top with high winds even on the best day we visited.
The Maine coast was up next and this area was our least favorite of the vacation. Too much traffic and our motel was a letdown after the NH experience. We really enjoyed visiting the lighthouse seen in Forrest Gump when he did his run around America. The top of the Penobscot River bridge was also very cool. Acadia NP sucked this time as you could not go to the top section without a reservation in advance. Still good views in spots but we have done it before.
A highlight was next with New Bedford, MA and visiting the whaling museum and doing a harbor tour. So much is based on the Moby Dick days and we walked in the ghost of Herman Melville when he sailed from New Bedford.
Cape Cod and mostly Provincetown was our last leg of the vacation. I've always enjoyed this area since spending a few summers here during my teens in the late 60's before the family moved to Florida. The real hippie days during the Woodstock era. Many memories.
On the way home we stopped and enjoyed a day at Knoebels Park in PA. We were rained out on the way up but had wonderful weather on this day.at the end. I did a follow-up about Knoebels in a separate thread.
Photos below with some writing under each.


Lighthouse in CT


Stonington CT


Charles Morgan whaling ship in Mystic CT


The famous pizza was really good!


Outside sign


The Omni at Mt Washington in NH


This was 1/2 a pastrami sandwich at the Omni. Insanely good!


Entrance area.


Incline railway at the top of Mt Washington


My wife was cold and fighting the wind at the summit.


Acadia NP in Maine


Visiting the Owl's Head museum


Mostly real old cars at the museum.


View from the top of the Penobscot River bridge tower.


Marshall Point lighthouse in Maine where Forrest Gump scene occurred.


Along the New Bedford waterfront


Our harbor tour was an hour full of history.


Famous New Bedford statue


Nauset Lighthouse on Cape Cod


Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown where the Pilgrims landed in 1620.


Arriving in P-town on beach road 6A


The famous MacMillan pier


Looking out to the MacMillan pier

 

looks like a great trip, thanks for the pics!

as a life-long newenglander I have been to many of those places, but I don't remember most of them ... only another year or so until I retire and then I hope to take some cool road trips like this; might as well start near home

 

Thanks for posting those very awesome pictures of your New England trip, Dave... I've never been anywhere close to the New England states before, but now that I've seen all the beautiful scenery, costal and historical landmark pics you provided, I would most definitely enjoy visiting there someday for sure... Meanwhile, thanks once again

 

You definitely need to do that Rocky those states are beautiful!!!

 

...and the roads are in the best condition we have ever experienced up there. I-95 in the past was usually a bumpy chassis killer but this trip was smooth as can be. Finally they did some work on this interstate which made the driving about 50% better. The other 50% is still rough with the traffic and crazy drivers. There seems to be no one driving the speed limit. The traffic in the slow right lanes is about 10 mph below while the left passing lanes are filled with 20+ mph over the limit Drivers tailgating you at every moment.. No happy spot or middle ground at about 65-70 mph speed limits..

 

Unfortunately in your travels probably the biggest % of horrible roads was here in good old PA! Especially where I live the Amish horse and buggies destroy our roads! They literally grind ruts/channels into the roads which cause tram lining and very squirrely behavior by a solid rear axle car!

 

Pretty cool pics!

 

No question about the beauty of the New England states, Gary and yes, my wife and I most definitely must make a plan to take a road trip there... However, I won't be able to take the Mustang because of the restrictions of having a classic car registration which in PA only permits traveling to classic car meets and car show events.

I have yet to find a smooth road here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as there's always road construction projects going on no matter what section you happen to be... As for those tailgaters you brought up, we only encounter those on local roads, mostly during rush hour traffic which unfortunately is pretty much all day long around here anymore...

Trust me, Gary, the roads here in southwestern, PA is just as horrible...

 

A few more to share.


Mt Washington NH with Omni hotel in background


Acadia National Park in Maine


More New Bedford MA waterfront


Sure is quiet on a Sunday in New Bedford.

 

God Bless You Dave!

With All The Drama In My Life Over The Years, Such As My Son Having Cancer Twice & Losing Him, The Wife & I Only Got One Vacation Which Was a Hawaiian Cruise I Won For Sales Quota's Met Selling Ford Powertrain Products in the Early 2000's. It's Unlikely Due To Health & Financial Issues We will Ever Have Another. I Get a Little Taste of The Adventure & Flavor of The Area Visited With Your Road Trips!

I Can Almost Smell The Sea Air & Taste The Local Foods form Your Pics!

Thank You!

Your Friend!
Kc

 

Your Mustang sure looks as though it's part of the New England scenery, Dave... Thanks for sharing once again

 

I grew up in southern Massachusetts from ages 6-13. Visited the Whaling museum several times. Still have a whale paperweight from the gift shop on my desk upstairs.

 

That's so cool! If I lived in MA or along the ocean my home would be filled with nautical items and themes. As it is I have a maritime theme in my bathroom. The theme would look out of place here in the mountains but in the bathroom no one sees it but me.
The whaling museum in New Bedford is just wonderful. I know it was actually a bad thing for the whales naturally but there is something about the whaling part of our history that is so fascinating. Herman Melville brought it all to life of course with Moby Dick. I have read that novel so many times along with his other works when he sailed the oceans leaving from either New Bedford or Nantucket.
Here are some of the photos we took inside the museum if interested. A little written under each.

Yours truly in front of the museum


These skeletons take up huge space


Main room w/ blue whale skeleton


Various harpoons


Wonderful display of actual ships figureheads


Half size replica of a whaling vessel


Actual barrels once used for the whale oil


Scrimshaw before it was banned. Works of art.

 

Dave! Those museum photos of MA you just recently posted are making it that much more tempting in planning to take a road trip out there...LOL

 

^^ That's great! This will probably interest very few but that last scrimshaw photo with the whaling scene was used often, even on the oil cans issued by the old whale oil company of William Nye out of New Bedford. Of course I have one from my oil can collection including this very old lead spout version..

 

Oh brother, that looks like you kids had a great time. The new Englnad area is one of the most beautiful area we have visited. I had to laugh at the car picture with your wife looking down unconcerned. I have quite a few just like that with my dearest having the look of, "oh Lord, he's taking another picture of the car". LOL

 

I finally found one of her looking at something else on the side.

 

Nice pic!

 

Another very awesome scenery pic... Thanks for sharing, Dave

 

Totally get what you mean about the Maine coast; the traffic can take away from the charm, especially during peak season. I had a similar experience with Acadia—beautiful but feels like you need to plan everything down to the minute these days. New Bedford sounds fascinating though—I’ve always wanted to check out the whaling museum, especially being a fan of Moby Dick.

Cape Cod is such a nostalgic place, and Provincetown has this energy that’s hard to beat. Ending at Knoebels was such a cool way to wrap things up, classic and fun. If you’re planning your next getaway, you can {Spam Removed} for ideas.