Taking either 89/95 or 2 will take you about the same amount of time. 89/95 will be all highway, Rt. 2 will take you through many small towns. The higher speed of the highway route will be offset by the extra mileage.


If you take Rt. 2, spend some time in north-east Vermont and northern New Hampshire. Route 2 will take you right through Cabot Vermont (where Cabot cheese is made). The Creamery (a restaurant) in Peacham/Danville is right on Rt. 2, and they have very good (if slightly pricey) food. Their service isn't quick, but they're very good. In Saint Johnsbury, you can see the weather station where most of the Vermont weather forecasts ("Eye on the Sky") are produced, and if you catch a planetarium show there's a good chance that Steve Maleski (again from Eye on the Sky) will be the one running it. There's an excellent Thai restaurant, Kham's, in St. Jay as you head towards the mall on Route 5.

If you get on 93 south (it starts in St. Jay), you can cut down to Rt. 302 in New Hampshire. Along 93 you'll hit Littleton, NH, which is a very nice town. They have a very nice walkable/rideable downtown, with very good restaurants and stores. There's a bookstore/toystore that's very nice, very kid friendly.

The stretch of road between St. Jay and Littleton can be awesomely beautiful.

93 will also take you through Franconia Notch, where the Old Man of the Mountain used to be. I don't remember if this happens before you get to 302, though.

302 will, I believe, take you past Mt. Washington. I've never been up it, but I hear it's very nice. It's pretty expensive to drive up, and you need good brakes for the ride down. You can also hike up, or take a cog-train.