We’re so fortunate to reside in Massachusetts as a result of there are such a lot of improbable locations to go to in New England, that are only a quick automotive journey away. We will drive in a single path to see a number of the finest sandy seashores in the US, and we are able to drive in a unique path to see stunning mountains. There are such a lot of nice locations for New England holidays with children, together with cities and seaside cities.
With so many trip choices, you might simply do one thing completely different every season. There are a lot of choices for household enjoyable – out of doors actions, climbing trails, museums, seashores, and rather more. This previous winter break, we spent our break visiting Boston, Portland, and New Haven – all only a fast drive away from one another.
Whether or not you reside in New England or are planning to go to a couple of completely different places throughout your New England household trip, listed here are some locations to go along with children and a few concepts of sights to go to.
If you would like New England household resorts, try this publish. Now we have additionally individually reviewed a number of the finest locations to go to in New England on this web site.
Notice: We skilled a few of these New England holidays and sights throughout media journeys or hosted stays/media charges and have additionally paid our personal method many occasions. Affiliate hyperlinks are included—should you click on/buy via an affiliate hyperlink, we could make a small fee at no further price to you. All opinions are my very own.
Locations to Go in New England With Children:Â New England Household Trip Concepts
Maine
We don’t appear to go to Maine practically sufficient, and it’s only a fast drive from the Massachusetts border. Each time I go to, I simply adore it. Kittery, Maine, simply over the New Hampshire border, affords a lot of nice retailers in addition to scrumptious seafood eating places.
Kittery can also be close to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, one other nice waterfront vacation spot. It’s straightforward to go to each on the identical journey. It could appear stunning that the three states are situated only a few minutes from one another, however that is the case proper on the shoreline.
For among the finest summer season Maine household holidays, go to the all-inclusive Migis Lodge, situated on Sebago Lake. It’s a luxurious household trip spot that’s rustic and enjoyable. Households return 12 months after 12 months, and with good cause: It’s a particular place. We loved a media keep there some time again, and my children nonetheless discuss it.
In fact, you possibly can’t miss the unique LL Bean retailer in Freeport, Maine. There are different outlet retailers in Freeport as effectively, in addition to a gorgeous state park. It’s an ideal place to go to for back-to-school or vacation purchasing.
For a enjoyable trip at any time of 12 months, go to Portland, Maine, with children. You’ll take pleasure in scrumptious meals, nice purchasing, stunning views, and enjoyable sights. Though chances are you’ll consider it as a summer season trip spot, we often go to through the winter and nonetheless adore it. You’ll need to spend no less than two nights there as a way to benefit from the eating places and sights.
Portland has some nice museums, particularly for households. When you’ll in all probability must drive to these places, the downtown Previous Port space is extraordinarily walkable. You may as well take the Amtrak Downeaster practice from Boston to Portland.
When visiting Portland, you possibly can take a fast journey to the attractive Portland Head Mild, which is situated in Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. When you can’t go up within the lighthouse, it’s stunning to see. Just a little bit additional away is the Nubble Lighthouse in York, Maine.
Visiting through the summer season? The quintessential seaside city of Ogunquit affords enjoyable retailers, scrumptious eating places, and a improbable seaside. Keep at one of many close by inns and stroll all over the place for one of the best expertise. There may be a number of site visitors in the summertime, so it’s finest to stroll when attainable.
Acadia Nationwide Park and the close by city of Bar Harbor are additionally standard Maine trip spots – particularly in the summertime.
When you prefer to ski, there are some nice choices in Maine. In style ski resorts in Maine embody Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Shawnee Peak.
Discover inns in Maine on TripAdvisor.
VermontÂ
Even should you aren’t a skier, there are such a lot of locations to go along with children inside Vermont and so many issues to do in Vermont. We love visiting Smugglers’ Notch Resort. Though it’s a ski resort, it’s additionally among the finest locations to go to in Vermont in the summertime.
The children benefit from the day camp, and my husband and I spend the afternoons exploring the realm (together with the Boyden Valley Vineyard). It’s additionally a improbable spot to go to within the winter – with a lot of snowboarding for the entire household.
Down the highway from Smugglers’ Notch is Stowe, Vermont, the place we are able to advocate two family-friendly resorts – Stoweflake and the Lodge at Spruce Peak. It’s additionally a well-liked place to ski.
In Waterbury, on the best way into Stow, you possibly can cease on the Ben & Jerry’s Manufacturing unit and the Chilly Hole Cider Mill. Don’t miss the Ben and Jerry’s manufacturing unit tour, which is price visiting no less than as soon as.
We additionally actually loved visiting the Montshire Museum of Science, situated over the NH border in Norwich, Vermont. We visited there on our method to Smugglers’ Notch from Boston.
Different ski resorts in Vermont embody Killington, Sugarbush, Jay Peak, and Okemo Mountain.
Discover inns in Vermont on TripAdvisor.
New Hampshire
I’ve loved household holidays in New Hampshire since childhood, visiting with my mother and father. It’s not an enormous state, however there are such a lot of issues to do with children in New Hampshire.
My household lately loved our keep on the Mountain Membership at Loon in Lincoln, NH. Whereas on that aspect of the well-known, scenic Kancamagus Freeway, you should definitely cease at Clark’s Buying and selling Submit – residence to a enjoyable, distinctive educated bear present. In the summertime, you can too go to Whale’s Story Water Park.
When visiting Lincoln, NH with children, Franconia Notch State Park is one other standard spot within the space.
On the opposite aspect of the freeway, inside the White Mountains, you’ll discover North Conway, NH, residence to a lot of premium retailers (and NO gross sales tax). Benefit from the drive – it’s completely stunning!
We’ve stayed at a number of inns in North Conway New Hampshire and loved our stays on the North Conway Grand, and the Residence Inn. You probably have little children, you should definitely go to among the finest sights for youths in New Hampshire – Story Land in Glen, NH. Santa’s Village in Jefferson, NH can also be well worth the journey.
Within the winter, Attitash is a superb household ski resort. There are such a lot of issues for youths to do in New Hampshire.
One other standard New England trip spot with children is Lake Winnipesaukee. There are numerous motels, inns, inns, and residential leases on the lake.
If visiting New Hampshire with out children, you’ll discover loads of quaint mattress and breakfasts. Some are kid-friendly, however you’d need to examine that earlier than visiting.
Discover inns in New Hampshire on TripAdvisor.
Rhode Island
My residence state of Rhode Island could also be small, but it surely has loads to supply. The capital metropolis, Windfall, is simply an hour from Boston and has fairly a couple of family-friendly sights.
On weekend nights in the summertime, you possibly can take pleasure in WaterFire, a efficiency murals. WaterFire is among the extra distinctive out of doors reveals to expertise. It takes place in Windfall, the capital metropolis of RI. Windfall is a enjoyable place to discover – whereas it’s a small metropolis, it affords a number of issues to see.
Our high trip selection in Rhode Island is Newport, only a fast journey from Windfall. We advocate a keep on the Lodge Viking, which is situated inside strolling distance of many Newport eating places and retailers.
Don’t miss the children’ tour on the Breakers mansion, situated alongside the famed Cliff Stroll. There are additionally loads of seashores in Newport and the encircling space, in addition to Fort Adams State Park. When you love tennis, you should definitely go to the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame, situated proper in Newport.
For a pleasant day journey, contemplate taking the ferry to Block Island, which is a part of Rhode Island. It’s a gorgeous, unspoiled space of the state.
Discover Rhode Island inns on TripAdvisor.
Massachusetts
I’ve lived in Massachusetts for over 20 years now, and nonetheless discover enjoyable locations to discover within the state. In fact, the capital metropolis of Boston is a must-visit, particularly within the hotter months. There’s a lot to do proper within the metropolis, together with the Boston Museum of Science, Fenway Park, and the New England Aquarium.
In the summertime, don’t miss a visit to the Boston Harbor Islands, a fast ferry journey away from the Boston waterfront. A number of completely different islands may be explored, so try the listing prematurely. It’s an ideal choice for a day journey.
Boston is a superb vacation spot to be taught extra about US historical past. The Freedom Path affords strolling excursions (or self-guided excursions), and they’re undoubtedly price doing. As you’d anticipate, these out of doors actions are finest in the summertime months, and July and August are particularly busy within the Boston space.
See extra to do in Boston with children right here.
Cape Cod and the Islands, together with the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore, are one other stunning New England trip spot. There are a number of inns we advocate in Cape Cod Massachusetts – the Sea Crest Seaside Lodge in Falmouth, Ocean Edge in Brewster, and the Harbor Lodge in Provincetown. Martha’s Winery and Nantucket are additionally completely stunning in the summertime.
When you may go to Cape Cod for the day, we advocate staying there for an extended journey. You’ll need to benefit from the seaside, eat seafood open air, strive some nice ice cream, and simply benefit from the relaxed trip environment.
In your method all the way down to the Cape, you can too cease in Plymouth, MA to take a look at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, which is a must-do for historical past buffs. That is a straightforward cease in your drive – you gained’t have to remain in Plymouth in a single day.
North of Boston is a unique cape. Cape Ann is the place you’ll discover many family-friendly coastal cities, similar to Rockport and Gloucester. Additionally on the North Shore is Newburyport, MA, in addition to Salem.
All 4 are nice locations to buy, eat, and discover the waterfront. You may as well do whale-watching excursions leaving Gloucester. There are some stunning seashores on this space of the state. If you wish to go to one of many Gloucester seashores in season, you should definitely guide your parking prematurely.
Springfield, MA, situated within the Western a part of the state, is one other spot that gives nice sights for households. Basketball lovers will need to go to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame. There’s additionally a brand new Dr. Seuss Museum, situated in Springfield.
Discover inns in Massachusetts on TripAdvisor.
Connecticut
Final winter, we visited Mystic, Connecticut, which affords a number of nice issues to do with children, together with the Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport. Keep in a single day so you possibly can spend a lot of the day at each sights. Throughout our journey, we stayed on the Hilton Mystic, proper throughout the road from the aquarium.
This winter, we spent two nights in New Haven, about halfway between Boston and NYC. We stayed on the Research at Yale, and loved visiting the Yale Museum of Artwork and the Peabody Museum of Pure Historical past. It’s a stunning metropolis with a great deal of tradition and scrumptious eating places.
Discover inns in Connecticut on TripAdvisor.
What’s your favourite vacation spot for a New England trip?
