Monty,
I spent quite a bit of time in my youth visiting the upper New England states. My grandmother had a little cottage on a lake in East Hampton, Ct. where I spent my summers. She had some close friends that we visited frequently in both Me. and Vt. to go camping.
Its been many years, but I loved the beautiful countryside. If you're serious about hosting a gathering next year, I will definitely try to work out the travel. Its been a long time since I've tackled a 10-12 hour road trip, but I believe this one would be well worth the effort. Both my camera and my appetite will surely enjoy the workout!
Cheers,
Brian