Day Two: In the morning we caught a ferry across Lake Champlain to Vermont. We stopped at a little roadside stand of someone selling Vermont Maple Syrup. We taste-tested everything - twice, I think. Then we bought some stuff and hit the road again. Me, my mom, and lots of sugar - who needs gas? We could have pushed the van for the next hundred miles.
Next stop, Castle in the Clouds! We had been there before, but it's definitely worth a second trip. From the Castle Springs web site - "The Lucknow mansion was built by Thomas Plant in 1913 to last for centuries. This majestic home features walls of granite stone from the mountain itself, a landmark Spanish red slate roof with a gentle Oriental slope and various structures of English, Norwegian, Swiss chalet and Japanese design." I highly recommend you visit this place is you ever have the opportunity. Especially in the fall. Words cannot describe the breathtaking view from atop a mountain, surrounded by 6 other mountains in peak leaf-changing season. If it was at all logical to have our wedding there, I would do it in a heartbeat!
From there, mom decided she wanted Maine lobster for dinner, so off we went to Maine. We got into (I forget what city) at about 8pm and found a little restaurant by the wharf. Mom got her lobster and was very happy. We debated about trying to find a place to spend the night there but decided it didn't look like there would have been much to do in the morning and headed out again. I think we ended up staying in some scary little motel in Massachusetts somewhere.
Day Three: Our first stop for the day was Gloucester, MA. If you've ever seen the movie The Perfect Storm, that's where they set out from. It's a cute little town. We just wandered around doing some site-seeing and stuff, then headed for Salem, MA. Keep in mind that it's the beginning of October, when most of the country is gearing up for Halloween and we decided to head to a town known for it's witchcraft history. Yes, it was a very interesting day. Anothing thing I'd recommend to anyone who can do it. Not so much centered on the old concept of witchs as "satan worshippers" or some such thing, nonetheless it does boast its share of witchy things with green faces and warty noses. Most of the exhibits around town are centered on wicca, the modern incarnation of what used to be known as witchcraft. Very interesting and informative stuff. (side note: if you're interested in this kind of stuff, check out A Mystical Grove.)