Big road trip planned, need some suggestions

[breeves2245]

First week of October I'm cranking up the Ram 1500 and heading to Maine. Below are the tentative large towns I will go through. Trying to vary it up with a different route going/returning.

Anyway, activities will be some golf, micro breweries, museums/attractions, etc. But then I thought why go all that way and not do a guide trip for fishing. The buddy I am visiting in Maine has one trip booked.

Figure a few of ya'll here may have some suggestions on guides/lakes along the way. Maybe one guided trip going and one coming back. Smallmouth or something other than largemouth.

Here are the towns I'll be going through.

Going	Returning
Springfield, MO	Hartford, CT
St. Louis, MO	Greenwich, CT
Indianapolis, IN	Allentown, PA
Columbus , OH	Harrisburg, PA
Cleveland, OH	Hagerstown, MD
Buffalo, NY	Morgantown, WV
Syracruse. NY	Charleston, WV
Albany, NY	Lexington, KY
Worcester, MA	Louisville, KY
Portsmouth, ME	St. Louis, MO
Thomaston, ME	Springfield, MO

[jcuts9]

Harrisburg PA great wings at Underdogs by Bass Pro

Tröegs Independent Brewing

· Sandwiches · 200 E Hershey Park Dr, Hershey, PA 17033

If Hershey Park is open hit that

not in Allentown, but in between stop in Cabela's. Bass Pro in Harrisburg is really nothing but what you need. Cabela's is for need and show.

[BigFishSteve]

Have you been to Gettysburg before?

[bassnpro1]

A rafting guide trip down the New river in WV for smallmouth is pretty awesome.

[bhougham]

If you can, I would avoid Interstate 70 between Effingham Illinois and Casey Illinois. Major road construction that leads to what seems like daily closure's and accidents.

[breeves2245]

Have you been to Gettysburg before?

No, but I will definitely give that some consideration.

[ChampioNman]

You could stay on the Mass Pike from Woosta to Springfield MA, and visit the Basket Ball hall of fame and get a Pizza at Red Rose Pizza and then hit the casino then get on I -91 to Hartford, they have some great Italian food in the South End.

[woo602]

If you are heading from Allentown to Harrisburg, I would suggest a stop at Susquehanna Fishing Tackle, just a 15 minute detour off of I-78. The owners George & Mike are very knowledgeable and their inventory is better than BPS or Cabelas.

[Javelin389]

If you're going thru Buffalo, I'd venture a little further and hit Niagara Falls.

[jerzia]

If you are going through Syracuse, 1:45 north and you could be in Chaumont Bay area of Lake Ontario. A good friend guides up there if you want to inquire. https://www.nynorthcountrybassin.com/ Bill Lortz, great guide!

[basscat21]

Albany, NY

Lexington, KY

while on RT 88 near Oneonta NY. Brooks Chicken- a chicken BBQ that is regional to central NY..... also called State Fair chicken or Cornell Chicken

https://brooksbbq.com/restaurant/

[Fireball]

Here's a very nice hotel right off the NYS Thruway that is just east of Buffalo. By your itinerary you will be driving right by this hotel. Less than 1 mile is Anchor Bar where chicken wings began. The original Anchor Bar is in the city but you will get the same wings at their suburban site.

Also about 4 miles away is Duff's where MANY folks prefer to eat their wings. Try Beef on Weck while here. Look up the Boston Hotel in LANCASTER, NY if you like a dive bar with cheap seafood, it's about 2 miles from the hotel.

Niagara Falls is about a 40 minute ride out of the way from the hotel if you care to visit. Also in October Da Bills will be playing and that's about 30 minutes from the hotel. Of course there are MANY other restaurants and hotels in the same area.

https://gardenplacehotelbuffalo.com/

[btlsranger]

If you are going to Maine, make sure you go to Acadia for at least a day. One of my favorites of all the places I have visited.

[jerzia]

Albany, NY

Lexington, KY

while on RT 88 near Oneonta NY. Brooks Chicken- a chicken BBQ that is regional to central NY..... also called State Fair chicken or Cornell Chicken

https://brooksbbq.com/restaurant/

My wife is from there and is visiting her mom now, and yes a supply of Brooks will be making it's way home!

[BP in ME]

You're the guy going to Spruce Head, right? Or am I thinking of someone else? Either way, I'd recommend Owls Head Transportation Museum if you like old cars, planes, etc. If you want to know more about old ships and whaling, etc. I'd go to one of the maritime museums in either Bath or Searsport.

Someone mentioned Acadia. That's worth seeing but it's the better part of 2 hour drive. If you do go, you'd pass right by Fort Knox and the observatory which are worthwhile if the weather is nice. That's a long day though to do the fort and park in one trip. In the other thread I mentioned visiting Camden and Mt Battie which is not far from Spruce Head.

BTW Portsmouth is in NH. I recommend stopping at the liquor store to stock up for the week at better prices than in Maine

[breeves2245]

Yes, I'm the Spruce Head Island trip guy. I really appreciate these suggestions and will put them to use. I tried using the Roadtrippers trip planning app, but ya'll do a better job!

[jbassman87]

Can't help with any suggestions, but have a great, safe trip and let us know how it went when you get back.

[tcesni]

If you are heading from Allentown to Harrisburg, I would suggest a stop at Susquehanna Fishing Tackle, just a 15 minute detour off of I-78. The owners George & Mike are very knowledgeable and their inventory is better than BPS or Cabelas.

I second this suggestion and add a lunch stop at the Brass Compass in Rockland, Maine for a lobster BLT.

[ECobb91]

I’d suggest making another stop around the Utica area for chicken riggies, Utica greens, tomato pie and half moons!

If you’re into history, this area has the Fort Stanwix national monument from the French and Indian/revolutionary war, battle of oriskany battlefield, General Herkimer museum.

I live about 5min off the Thruway and 30min from cooperstown. if you’re into baseball the hall of fame is about a 40min from Exit 30. Along the way the way there’s the Fly Creek cider mill that’s been open since the 1860s and there’s a lot of breweries around there like Ommegang, Red Shed, and Council rock. Ommegang is the nicest, Council Rock has the best food. There’s also a ton of restaurants in Cooperstown itself too. Otsego lake is right in town and I believe Kyle Patrick (BASs opens angler) guides on the lake

[Treker47]

Don't forget to have an Italian sub from a local Mom and Pop store while in Maine.