In case you stay in New England, you might be fortunate to have quite a lot of totally different trip choices accessible only a quick distance away. Typically, with household, it is onerous to get away for per week, so an extended weekend (or perhaps a common weekend) is a a lot simpler choice.
Not solely are there so many nice weekend getaways in New England for households, however there are additionally fabulous New England household resorts to remain at. Planning a household weekend getaway in New England? Listed below are the most effective weekend getaways in New England – with charming small cities and enjoyable actions good for household journey.
Disclosure: We have stayed at a few of these places and motels for gratis for assessment. We have additionally ridden the Amtrak Downeaster for gratis. All opinions are my very own. This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order or click on by considered one of these hyperlinks might lead to a fee paid to us.
Household Weekend Getaways in New England
Portland, Maine
We have traveled to Portland, Maine, on quite a few events and have all the time loved our stays. There may be a lot to do, together with boat journeys on Casco Bay, procuring, and museums. There are additionally many incredible eating places to take a look at.
You may most likely wish to keep within the Previous Port part of Portland, which is full of retailers and eating places. You will not even want your automobile for many locations. If touring from Boston (or North of Boston), you may take the Amtrak Downeaster prepare, which matches proper into Portland.
Listed below are another issues to do in Portland, Maine:
- Portland Science Middle
- Portland Head Lighthouse
- Portland Museum of Artwork
- Scenic boat excursions
See motels in Portland, Maine, right here.
Freeport, Maine
Freeport, Maine, is greatest identified for being the headquarters of LL Bean. The flagship retailer is value a go to, particularly with children. You may simply spend a number of hours there, and quite a few issues attraction to children, particularly throughout the Christmas vacation season.
The Freeport space additionally provides many outlet shops and eating places to get pleasure from. You may park your automobile and stroll round to the varied retailers. In case you plan to go to Portland, Maine, driving to Freeport is straightforward. The Amtrak Downeaster prepare additionally travels to Freeport, in order that’s an choice if you happen to choose to not drive.
Whereas there, you may additionally wish to go to Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park and Wolfe’s Neck Farm. Throughout our fall go to to Freeport, Maine, some time again, we attended a wonderful harvest competition at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park. Check out their web site to see if there’s an occasion that coincides along with your go to.
We stayed on the Hilton Backyard Inn, an inexpensive place to stick with household.
Stowe, Vermont
Even if you happen to aren’t a skier, Stowe, Vermont, is a good place to go to with children. We usually see in the summertime, once we can benefit from the stunning climate. There are additionally a number of incredible spas (we benefit from the spa at Stoweflake).
When visiting Stowe, I like to recommend driving by Waterbury, Vermont. There, you may discover the Chilly Hole Cider Mill, the place you may see cider being made. Do not miss the apple cider donuts. In fact, you may additionally wish to cease and tour the Ben and Jerry’s Manufacturing facility and seize an ice cream cone on the Ben and Jerry’s Cone Store.
Simply previous Stowe is Smugglers’ Notch, the place you may discover the well-known Smugglers’ Notch resort. This four-season resort is good for households, providing a spread of wonderful actions.
See motels in Stowe right here.
The White Mountains, NH
Like Stowe, the White Mountains of New Hampshire is a good trip vacation spot each within the winter and the summer season (in addition to within the fall, when you may benefit from the attractive fall foliage).
You may have the choice of staying in a couple of totally different places within the White Mountains. We like to remain in Lincoln, NH, close to Clark’s Buying and selling Publish, and North Conway, New Hampshire, close to Story Land.
You can too keep in considered one of these spots and drive to the opposite—they’re simply an hour aside. There are a number of motels and trip houses which you could keep in, together with the Mountain Membership at Loon. There are even a couple of family-friendly mattress and breakfasts.
Actions within the White Mountains embody:
- Loon Mountain
- Cranmore Mountain
- Attitash Mountain
- Story Land
- Santa’s Village
- Whale’s Story Water Park
See motels within the White Mountains right here.
Mystic, CT
Mystic, Connecticut, is a good vacation spot for households. I advocate staying on the Hilton, which is conveniently situated within the coronary heart of the motion. There are various family-friendly actions to get pleasure from in Mystic, together with visits to Olde Mistick Village and Mystic Seaport. There’s additionally the Mystic Aquarium, my favourite aquarium within the space. While you’re there, you may wish to try the enjoyable and interactive beluga whales.
Mystic is a brief drive from Boston, however can also be on the Amtrak prepare route from NYC to Boston. In case you keep on the Hilton, you may stroll to Olde Mistick Village and the Mystic Aquarium, however you would want to drive to Mystic Seaport.
See motels in Mystic CT right here.
New Haven, CT
Most individuals consider New Haven as the house of scrumptious pizza and Yale College, however it’s additionally an excellent vacation spot for households. We actually benefit from the Yale Peabody Museum of Pure Historical past and the (free!) Yale Artwork Museum.
While you’re there, you may wish to eat your method by New Haven. The realm boasts many fabulous eating places, together with a number of scrumptious pizza institutions. If your loved ones loves meals, I like to recommend taking a meals tour to discover all the new spots.
Learn opinions of New Haven motels right here.
Boston, MA
You may spend a weekend in Boston, however you may wish to return for a for much longer go to. There’s sufficient to do this you could possibly simply keep for per week. I like to recommend visiting within the fall when the climate is crisp and funky. Nevertheless, there’s all the time one thing nice to do no matter while you go to.
Our favourite actions in Boston are the Boston Museum of Science, Fenway Park (take a tour if you cannot catch a recreation), the Boston Kids’s Museum (for youthful children), and the Duck Excursions. You may additionally wish to stroll by the Boston Public Backyard and the Boston Widespread.
In case you’re visiting in the summertime, I like to recommend visiting the Boston Harbor Islands. This state and nationwide park is a part of the town. Select which island you wish to see, and you may take a ferry there. It is good for a day away.
Learn extra about the place to remain in Boston right here.
Cape Cod, MA
Cape Cod is among the good summer season trip locations. We love the Sea Crest Seaside Resort, which is true on Previous Silver Seaside, and Ocean Edge Resort. There are additionally quite a lot of seaside houses accessible for weekly leases.
In your technique to the Cape, contemplate stopping in Plymouth to go to Plimoth and Paxtuxet Museums. There are various nice Cape Cod cities to remain in and see, all the best way to the coastal city of Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod.
Cape Cod is mostly greatest to go to in the summertime. It slows down after Labor Day. Nevertheless, I often love visiting the Cape in late summer season as a result of all of the crowds are gone, and the climate can nonetheless be good. Do not miss all of the recent seafood you will get, together with lobster rolls and oysters.
Learn Cape Cod lodge opinions right here.
Newport, Rhode Island
I spent my summers working in Newport, RI, and it is nonetheless considered one of my favourite locations. Along with eating places and retailers, there are some enjoyable mansions to go to. My children particularly beloved visiting the Breakers, which provides a children’ tour. We advocate staying on the Resort Viking.
Listed below are some issues that you’re going to get pleasure from in Newport:
- Newport Mansions
- Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame
- Fort Adams State Park
- The Norman Chook Sanctuary
- Crusing tour/speedboat
- Newport Gulls baseball recreation
- Cliff Stroll
- Trolley Tour
- Procuring on Thames Avenue/Brick Market
- Seashores
See motels in Newport, RI right here.
Rockport, MA
Surprisingly, I hadn’t visited Rockport, MA, till only a few years in the past. It is a enjoyable place, with quaint retailers, stunning surroundings, and scrumptious seafood. Head to Bearskin Neck, the city part with retailers and eating places. You may must discover a parking spot, stroll across the space, or select a lodge or inn in Bearskin Neck. I particularly love getting seafood in Rockport – it is so recent and scrumptious.
Those that get pleasure from being on the water may hire kayaks and discover. You should definitely take a photograph of Motif #1, an iconic outdated fishing shack that is among the most recognizable buildings in America.
If you wish to spend time on the seaside, head to close by Gloucester. You may discover some fabulous seashores there, together with Good Harbor Seaside and Wingaersheek. Each are nice for households.
See motels in Rockport right here.
Block Island, Rhode Island
Block Island is a small island off the coast of Rhode Island. It is accessible in a number of methods, together with a ferry from Level Judith, RI, Newport, RI, Fall River, MA, New London, CT, and Montauk, NY (most of those companies run seasonally). The island is a pleasant, quiet escape from the mainland. Actions embody biking, procuring, parks, and seashores. The island provides quite a lot of lodging, together with inns, motels, mattress and breakfasts, and residential leases.
See motels on Block Island right here.
Portsmouth New Hampshire
Portsmouth is true over the Massachusetts border in New Hampshire. This seaside city options retailers, eating places, museums, and extra. Households will love a visit to Water Nation, a water park with quite a lot of slides for youths.
In case you get pleasure from outlet procuring, contemplate driving to Kittery, Maine, only a few minutes over the Maine border. You may discover a complete avenue lined with varied outlet malls, together with Underneath Armor, Crate and Barrel, and Lululemon. We often attempt to go to a minimum of annually as a result of there are such a lot of nice offers.
See motels in Portsmouth, NH right here.
Martha’s Winery, MA & Nantucket, MA
I really like the islands in Massachusetts. They’re a brief distance away, however nearly really feel like one other nation. The tempo is a lot extra relaxed. Each supply nice household resorts, retailers, eating places, and beautiful seashores. Martha’s Winery and Nantucket are accessible through airplane or ferry, however make reservations nicely upfront. They are often very busy throughout peak season.
The summer season is mostly the most effective time to go to each islands. Nevertheless, Nantucket can also be a beautiful place to go to throughout Christmas. The island hosts the Nantucket Christmas Stroll weekend annually, the place you may see Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrive on a ship. You may additionally have the ability to see the Competition of Timber on the Whaling Museum, take heed to carolers, and achieve this way more. We visited as soon as throughout the stroll and beloved it.
See motels on Martha’s Winery right here and Nantucket right here.
What are your favourite locations for New England household weekend getaways?
See extra New England holidays right here.
