All three of the northern New England states maintain excellent tourism information offices and kiosks throughout their key areas.

If you're a highly organized traveler, call or e-mail in advance and ask for information to be mailed to you before departure; I have provided plenty of local tourism and chamber of commerce addresses and phone numbers. (If you're like me, on the other hand, swing by the office when you reach town -- and hope it is open.)

All three state tourism offices are happy to send out loads of maps and free visitor information packets to travelers who call, write, or e-mail them. Here's the contact information for each state's tourism authority:

  • Maine Office of Tourism, #59 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 (tel. 888/624-6345 or 207/287-5711; www.visitmaine.com)

  • New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development, 172 Pembroke Rd. (P.O. Box 1856), Concord, NH 03302 (tel. 800/386-4664 or 603/271-2665; www.visitnh.gov)

  • Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, National Life Building, Sixth Floor, Drawer 20, Montpelier, VT 05620 (tel. 800/837-6668 or 802/828-3237; www.travel-vermont.com)

For incredibly detailed maps, consider purchasing one or more of the DeLorme atlases, which depict every road and stream, along with many hiking trails and access points for canoes. DeLorme's headquarters and map store (tel. 800/561-5105 or 642-0970) are in Yarmouth, Maine, open 9:30am to 6pm daily, but their products are available at bookstores and convenience stores throughout the region.

Destination: Northern New England -- Red Alert Checklist

  • Did you make sure to book advance reservations for popular tours (such as Frank Lloyd Wright's Zimmerman House in Manchester, New Hampshire) and restaurants that you don't want to miss?

  • Did you make sure your favorite attractions are open? Especially if you're traveling early or late in the season, it's best to call ahead for opening and closing hours if you have your heart set on seeing certain places. I have also listed opening seasons of attractions, restaurants, and hotels in this guide.

  • Do you have a safe, accessible place to store money?

  • Did you bring identification that could entitle you to discounts, such as AAA and AARP cards, student IDs, and so forth?

  • Did you bring emergency drug prescriptions and extra glasses and/or contact lenses?

  • Do you know all your credit card and bank-card PINs?

  • If you have an e-ticket for a flight, did you bring additional documentation?

  • Did you leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home?

  • If you will rent a car, have you checked your auto insurance and credit card policies ahead of time to find out if they cover liabilities arising from rentals? You might be able to save money by declining the extra insurance (collision damage waiver) that will be offered by the rental agency.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.