New England Discovery (Self-Drive)

Meet your driver and private vehicle and enjoy an insider’s look at the dazzling art studios and fascinating pieces of work that these talented studio owners have created. Begin your walking tour at The South End area, home to a superb group of collections, which you will meet and tour first hand. Best of Boston will select three of the studios from the below for you to visit:

Joyce Roessler / Roessler Glass: Joyce has been working with hot glass since 1978, and since 1992 has focused on bead making and glass jewelry design. In the jewelry line she uses only her own beads, sterling silver or gold findings and goldleaf to accentuate the glass.

Michele Mercaldo Contemporary Jewelry Design: Michele’s jewelry studio and showroom is active with three different types of work: production jewelry, wedding band commissions and custom work. When designing, simplicity and clarity are of the utmost importance. Michelle’s work has become more refined and delicate through the use of marriage of metals and the introduction of finer materials such as 18k gold, platinum, pearls and diamonds.

Peggy Russell / IRO Design: Iro Design has been creating beautiful and unusual handpainted silk accessories for the home and body since 1986. Bold patterns and colorful images are the hallmark of their products. They produce each and every piece by hand, working with hand mixed dyes on silk fabric and cotton denim dropcloth.

Linda Cordner / Encaustic Painting: Working in the ancient technique of encaustic - which means to paint with heated wax - Linda takes advantage of the translucent nature of wax to create paintings that are luminous and have a depth to them not achieved in other mediums.

Marie Galvin / Galvanized Headwear: Marie’s mission is to create unique handcrafted headwear, providing multiple expressions for the women who wear them. The Collections are original and hand constructed, employing the use of wool, felts, opulent fabrics and exotic feather trims.

Tap into your sense of adventure with the flexibility of your own daily rental vehicle. Your rental includes free unlimited mileage. 

Tap into your sense of adventure with the flexibility of your own daily rental vehicle. Your rental includes free unlimited mileage. 

Depart Boston and proceed to Kennebunkport, one of Maine's most popular summer vacation destinations. Experience the tranquility and enjoy the beauty of this quiet seaside village with its charming shops and galleries, country grocery store, lobster pounds, fish markets and the numerous restaurants known for their fabulous fresh seafood. After having your fill, enjoy a peaceful walk at Goose Rocks Beach. This beautiful and pristine three-mile-long beach boasts sand dunes and wonderful views making it a favorite of walkers of all generations. Continue to Freeport, a beautiful coastal Maine village, where an overnight stay has been arranged.

Tap into your sense of adventure with the flexibility of your own daily rental vehicle. Your rental includes free unlimited mileage. 

This morning enjoy some of Freeport’s treasures before continuing to North Conway. Freeport was founded in 1789 and is home to well-known Pettengill Farm and Wolfe's Neck Farm, both offering nature walks and guided tours. The Wolfe’s Neck State Park contains varied ecosystems, including climax white pine and hemlock forests, a salt marsh estuary, the rocky shorelines on Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River. As you continue to North Conway, drive through the White Mountains which is a perfect area for outdoor activities. The mountains provide exceptional hiking and mountain biking opportunities as well as water activities such as kayaking, canoeing and boat tours. For the next two nights you will stay in this beautiful area, at Merrill Farm Resort.

Tap into your sense of adventure with the flexibility of your own daily rental vehicle. Your rental includes free unlimited mileage. 

The Merrill Farm Resort is located on the banks of the crystal clear Saco River, in the heart of the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire. This wonderful New England bed & breakfast is found nestled among seven acres of beautiful trees and lovely landscaping. Its rustic, warm, and tranquil country charm will make you feel at home. During your free time, enjoy the White Mountains’ natural beauty. Cannon Aerial Tramway, Conway Scenic Railroad, Wildcat Mountain Gondola and Hobo Railroad are great avenues for touring the countryside, while Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves and Polar Caves Park offer up-close encounters with the area's natural features.

Tap into your sense of adventure with the flexibility of your own daily rental vehicle. Your rental includes free unlimited mileage. 

Leave the White Mountains behind and drive toward Essex. On your way, you will first pass Waterbury where you can visit Vermont’s icon, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. Take a brief tour of this delicious plant which affords visitors an elevated view of the factory floor, a video depicting their humble beginings, and a "taste test" of samples from whatever ice cream flavors the plant produced that day. Afterwards, stop by the gift shop and the popular "Flavor Graveyard". Once you are able to tear yourself away from all that scrumptious ice cream, continue to Vermont. Because Vermont is the largest producer of pure maple syrup in the U.S. and was the first state to establish a maple law you can visit some Maple Syrup farms on your way. To show you some of Vermont’s culinary aspects, you can visit some of the wineries as well.

The overnight will take place at the Inn at Essex which is nestled in the panoramic Green Mountains. Here you will enjoy a memorable culinary experience by attending the Cook Academy. Enjoy a low-pressure, hands-on culinary experience where you can learn new techniques or hone the skills you already have. You'll work alongside one of the chefs as you prepare a delicious meal using local Vermont ingredients. Classes include a three- or four-course meal paired with a glass of wine.

Tap into your sense of adventure with the flexibility of your own daily rental vehicle. Your rental includes free unlimited mileage. 

Depart Essex this morning and drive through the Green Mountains. The Green Mountains, a signature symbol for the state of Vermont, are a premier, four-season travel destination. Hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and viewing the maple leaves, resplendent in their changing fall colors, are just a few of the favored activities. Experience the Vermont Cheese Trail by visiting 8 cheese-making members who produce over 60 varieties of award winning artisan and farmstead cheese. An overnight stay has been arranged here.

Tap into your sense of adventure with the flexibility of your own daily rental vehicle. Your rental includes free unlimited mileage. 

Today, as you return back to Boston, you can visit The Boston Beer Company, the leading brewer of handcrafted, full-flavored beers. Tour the facilities where founder and Master Brewer, Jim Koch, brews Samuel Adams® beers using the time-honored, traditional four-vessel brewing process, and the world's finest all-natural ingredients. With 18 distinctive, award-winning styles of beer, Samuel Adams offers discerning beer drinkers a variety of brews, taste them for yourself!

Drop off your car at the airport today.