Should you reside in New England, you’re fortunate to have quite a lot of completely different trip choices obtainable only a quick distance away. Typically, with household, it is onerous to get away for every week, so a protracted weekend (or perhaps a common weekend) is a a lot simpler possibility.
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 one of the best weekend getaways in New England – with charming small cities and enjoyable actions excellent for household journey.
Disclosure: We have stayed at a few of these areas and resorts for free of charge for assessment. We have additionally ridden the Amtrak Downeaster for free of charge. All opinions are my very own. This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order or click on by certainly 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 at all times loved our stays. There may be a lot to do, together with boat journeys on Casco Bay, procuring, and museums. There are additionally many improbable 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 automotive for many locations. If touring from Boston (or North of Boston), you’ll be able to take the Amtrak Downeaster practice, which fits proper into Portland.
Listed below are another issues to do in Portland, Maine:
- Portland Science Heart
- Portland Head Lighthouse
- Portland Museum of Artwork
- Scenic boat excursions
See resorts in Portland, Maine, right here.
Freeport, Maine
Freeport, Maine, is greatest recognized for being the headquarters of LL Bean. The flagship retailer is value a go to, particularly with youngsters. You possibly can simply spend a number of hours there, and quite a few issues enchantment to youngsters, particularly through the Christmas vacation season.
The Freeport space additionally gives many outlet shops and eating places to get pleasure from. You possibly can park your automotive and stroll round to the assorted shops. Should you plan to go to Portland, Maine, driving to Freeport is simple. The Amtrak Downeaster practice additionally travels to Freeport, in order that’s an possibility if you happen to favor 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 superb harvest pageant 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 reasonably priced place to stick with household.
Stowe, Vermont
Even if you happen to aren’t a skier, Stowe, Vermont, is a superb place to go to with youngsters. We sometimes see in the summertime, once we can benefit from the stunning climate. There are additionally a number of improbable 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’ll be able to 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 right for households, providing a spread of wonderful actions.
See resorts in Stowe right here.
The White Mountains, NH
Like Stowe, the White Mountains of New Hampshire is a superb trip vacation spot each within the winter and the summer time (in addition to within the fall, when you’ll be able to benefit from the beautiful fall foliage).
You may have the choice of staying in just a few completely different areas within the White Mountains. We like to remain in Lincoln, NH, close to Clark’s Buying and selling Submit, and North Conway, New Hampshire, close to Story Land.
You too can keep in certainly one of these spots and drive to the opposite—they’re simply an hour aside. There are a number of resorts and trip properties which you can keep in, together with the Mountain Membership at Loon. There are even just a few 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 resorts within the White Mountains right here.
Mystic, CT
Mystic, Connecticut, is a superb vacation spot for households. I suggest staying on the Hilton, which is conveniently situated within the coronary heart of the motion. There are lots of 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. When you are there, you may wish to try the enjoyable and interactive beluga whales.
Mystic is a brief drive from Boston, however can be on the Amtrak practice route from NYC to Boston. Should you keep on the Hilton, you’ll be able to stroll to Olde Mistick Village and the Mystic Aquarium, however you would want to drive to Mystic Seaport.
See resorts in Mystic CT right here.
New Haven, CT
Most individuals consider New Haven as the house of scrumptious pizza and Yale College, nevertheless it’s additionally an amazing vacation spot for households. We actually benefit from the Yale Peabody Museum of Pure Historical past and the (free!) Yale Artwork Museum.
When you are there, you may wish to eat your manner 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 evaluations of New Haven resorts right here.
Boston, MA
You possibly can spend a weekend in Boston, however you may wish to return for a for much longer go to. There’s sufficient to try this you possibly can simply keep for every week. I like to recommend visiting within the fall when the climate is crisp and funky. Nonetheless, there’s at all times one thing nice to do no matter if you go to.
Our favourite actions in Boston are the Boston Museum of Science, Fenway Park (take a tour if you cannot catch a sport), the Boston Kids’s Museum (for youthful youngsters), and the Duck Excursions. You may additionally wish to stroll by the Boston Public Backyard and the Boston Widespread.
Should you’re visiting in the summertime, I like to recommend visiting the Boston Harbor Islands. This state and nationwide park is a part of town. Select which island you wish to see, and you will take a ferry there. It is excellent for a day away.
Learn extra about the place to remain in Boston right here.
Cape Cod, MA
Cape Cod is without doubt one of the excellent summer time trip locations. We love the Sea Crest Seashore Resort, which is correct on Previous Silver Seashore, and Ocean Edge Resort. There are additionally quite a lot of seaside properties obtainable for weekly leases.
In your approach to the Cape, think about stopping in Plymouth to go to Plimoth and Paxtuxet Museums. There are lots of nice Cape Cod cities to remain in and see, all the way in which 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. Nonetheless, I often love visiting the Cape in late summer time 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 may get, together with lobster rolls and oysters.
Learn Cape Cod lodge evaluations right here.
Newport, Rhode Island
I spent my summers working in Newport, RI, and it is nonetheless certainly one of my favourite locations. Along with eating places and retailers, there are some enjoyable mansions to go to. My youngsters particularly liked visiting the Breakers, which gives a youngsters’ tour. We suggest staying on the Resort Viking.
Listed below are some issues that you will get pleasure from in Newport:
- Newport Mansions
- Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame
- Fort Adams State Park
- The Norman Chicken Sanctuary
- Crusing tour/speedboat
- Newport Gulls baseball sport
- Cliff Stroll
- Trolley Tour
- Procuring on Thames Road/Brick Market
- Seashores
See resorts 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. Make sure you take a photograph of Motif #1, an iconic outdated fishing shack that is without doubt one of 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 Seashore and Wingaersheek. Each are nice for households.
See resorts 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 gives quite a lot of lodging, together with inns, resorts, mattress and breakfasts, and residential leases.
See resorts on Block Island right here.
Portsmouth New Hampshire
Portsmouth is correct 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.
Should you get pleasure from outlet procuring, think about driving to Kittery, Maine, only a few minutes over the Maine border. You may discover a entire avenue lined with numerous outlet malls, together with Below Armor, Crate and Barrel, and Lululemon. We often attempt to go to at the very least yearly as a result of there are such a lot of nice offers.
See resorts in Portsmouth, NH right here.
Martha’s Winery, MA & Nantucket, MA
I 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 provide nice household resorts, retailers, eating places, and beautiful seashores. Martha’s Winery and Nantucket are accessible by way of aircraft or ferry, however make reservations nicely upfront. They are often very busy throughout peak season.
The summer time is mostly one of the best time to go to each islands. Nonetheless, Nantucket can be a beautiful place to go to throughout Christmas. The island hosts the Nantucket Christmas Stroll weekend every year, the place you’ll be able to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrive on a ship. You may additionally be capable of see the Pageant of Bushes on the Whaling Museum, take heed to carolers, and achieve this rather more. We visited as soon as through the stroll and liked it.
See resorts 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.
