Southern New York/New England Dining

[PHLBOS]

 

Since I've driven the Delaware Valley to/from New England trek for nearly 22 years, I have to ask: unless one is making a stop in NYC, why would anyone use the GWB?  Its toll is significantly higher ($12 cash, $7.50-$9.50 EZPass) and one is definitely more prone to traffic jams than the Tappan Zee.

Why? I'm surprised to see that question asked on a road geek forum! The interchange at the east end is reason enough, if the bridge itself doesn't thrill you.

(And I do understand toll avoision...I live in the Bronx and I never use the Henry Hudson Bridge to get to Inwood, because I can almost always tolerate the extra traffic on the Broadway or University Heights Bridges in lieu of paying a toll to get across the measly Harlem River. Or take the 1 train.)

As I stated earlier, unless one is either heading to or from that area, or is specifically wanting to venture a particular interchange (per your & PennDOTfan's posts); the significantly higher tolls and the extra traffic make using the GWB as part of a long-distance, through-traffic route a non-starter IMHO. 

PennDOTfan has and mentioned his reasonings behind his routings and one of those reasons involved an item (the old button-copy 9A sign) near the area, which I can agree with and respect.   

Bottom line: if one does not have the time to spare during the long trip, avoid going through NYC.  That's all I'm saying.

[Ian]

Traveling on I-84 in the Western part of CT and looking for awesome grinders... Nardelli's is the place to go. locations in Danbury or Waterbury (but don't go on Sundays, because the door will be locked and you'll go away hungry).

I can recommend Valenti's Giant Grinders in East Hartford.

Both sound like nice places!

As I stated earlier, unless one is either heading to or from that area, or is specifically wanting to venture a particular interchange (per your & PennDOTfan's posts); the significantly higher tolls and the extra traffic make using the GWB as part of a long-distance, through-traffic route a non-starter IMHO. 

PennDOTfan has and mentioned his reasonings behind his routings and one of those reasons involved an item (the old button-copy 9A sign) near the area, which I can agree with and respect.   

Bottom line: if one does not have the time to spare during the long trip, avoid going through NYC.  That's all I'm saying.

I really do appreciate you giving me your opinions on the route through New York and your respect of why I chose to take the route that I plan on taking. I can understand you discouraging me from taking the GWB, because we have been stuck in awful traffic there before. Unless I really want to take this GWB/Henry Hudson Parkway/Cross County route again, this will probably be a one time only deal, and future trips up to New England will probably involve taking US 9W and the Tappan Zee Bridge. I did try the route that I am taking last December, and it seemed to be pretty fine with not a lot of traffic, even though it did have one extra toll for the Henry Hudson Bridge.

[empirestate]

As I stated earlier, unless one is either heading to or from that area, or is specifically wanting to venture a particular interchange (per your & PennDOTfan's posts); the significantly higher tolls and the extra traffic make using the GWB as part of a long-distance, through-traffic route a non-starter IMHO. 

PennDOTfan has and mentioned his reasonings behind his routings and one of those reasons involved an item (the old button-copy 9A sign) near the area, which I can agree with and respect.   

Bottom line: if one does not have the time to spare during the long trip, avoid going through NYC.  That's all I'm saying.

Yup, I totally get all that. Guess I was just misled by your asking "why", since there are certainly a lot of folks on this kind of forum who would answer "because it's there". But from the following exchanges I see we're of the same spirit on this. :-)

[D-Dey65]

I really have to recommend the canteen at Captree State Park. Do not spend one day of your life without ordering a serving of the french fries. In fact if you have to go there just for the fries, do it.

[fyrdog]

When you are near Hartford I would recommend any of the following:

Dakota's I91 Exit 24 Rocky Hill

SS Chowder Pot in Hartford near Brainard Airport. I91 exit 27

Rien's Deli in Vernon I84 exit 65 -  Side note not to cause debate I like rein's deli very popular local as well as with NY Cars that frequent the place.

Pancho Loco's Vernon exit 64

In Manchester CT Exit 62 or 63 near the Pavilion Buckland Hills Mall there are several chain restaurants...Fridays, Olive garden, Buffalo Wild Wings, Out Back Steak House, Red Robin, Texas Road House, there are more.

Papa T's Tolland Exit 68 Small mom and pop place

In Strubridge, MA try the Publick House. I84 exit 2?

If you are entering Hartford via I91 you would take I84 West instead of East to get to Gold Roc. It is about a 10 minute diversion. If you you are thinking of that try the Rain Forest Cafe in West Farms Mall. It a kinda Disneyesque experience dinning in the jungle with thunder claps and bird song.

I live local and have eaten at all these places. While there are more these are easy off the Highway.

[relaxok]

If you really want a beautiful drive and to take your time, get off the Merritt (or 95 or 84 for that matter) at US-7 and take it all the way up through Wilton, Ridgefield, Danbury, New Milford, Kent, Cornwall, Salisbury then Sheffield, Great Barrington and Stockbridge, Mass. (to the Mass Pike).   No doubt out of the way for you but sometimes out of the way is where the good stuff is

[wytout]

If you really want a beautiful drive and to take your time, get off the Merritt (or 95 or 84 for that matter) at US-7 and take it all the way up through Wilton, Ridgefield, Danbury, New Milford, Kent, Cornwall, Salisbury then Sheffield, Great Barrington and Stockbridge, Mass. (to the Mass Pike).   No doubt out of the way for you but sometimes out of the way is where the good stuff is

And when you get on the Mass Pike at exit 2 after that little excursion you can see the brand new EZ PASS ONLY MUTCD compliant purple signage that is popping up from West to East to replace the old Commerce Bank FAST LANE signage.  I was up there Friday night and noticed that. couldn't grab pics unfortunately..

[deathtopumpkins]

Commerce Bank FAST LANE signage.

*Citizens Bank

[wytout]

Commerce Bank FAST LANE signage.

*Citizens Bank

Whoops... Citizens bank... Commerce insurance.... they've been plastered all over mass highways for so long it's easy to transpose them on the fly.
lol

[deathtopumpkins]

Commerce Bank FAST LANE signage.

*Citizens Bank

Whoops... Citizens bank... Commerce insurance.... they've been plastered all over mass highways for so long it's easy to transpose them on the fly.
lol

This state sure does love to name things after banks and insurance companies...

[Alps]

If you really want a beautiful drive and to take your time, get off the Merritt (or 95 or 84 for that matter) at US-7 and take it all the way up through Wilton, Ridgefield, Danbury, New Milford, Kent, Cornwall, Salisbury then Sheffield, Great Barrington and Stockbridge, Mass. (to the Mass Pike).   No doubt out of the way for you but sometimes out of the way is where the good stuff is

The best stuff on US 7 is off of US 7. There are a couple of covered bridges within view, and a great arch on 7/CT 4 that you need to get beneath on the road next to the river. In Mass, you'll be bored if you stay on 7, but try roads like 41 and 43 and find some older or error signs.