Top Ten New England Family Destinations a Tank of Gas Away or Less

By Maria T. Olia 

Summer is here. And with the price of gas soaring, many New England families are planning to spend their summer vacation close to home this year. In New England there are historic cities, endless beaches, and spectacular mountain scenery just waiting to be discovered-or rediscovered.

 

Lucky for us, there are lots of great places to visit in our own backyard. To get you started, here’s a guide to ten of the best New England summer destinations for families- fun attractions,  cool places to eat, and really family -friendly hotels throughout the region to help make this your family’s best summer ever!

 Boston New England’s largest city is also a great city for vacationing families; a mix of the old and new with American history galore, fun children’s museums and lots of wonderful dining options.  The Museum of Science (www.mos.org ), the Children’s Museum (www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org) and the New England Aquarium (www.neaq.org)are all fantastic attractions for kids. You can easily spend a half day at each museum!   Make sure you take time during your stay to ride on the Swan Boats (www.swanboats.com),  stroll through the Public Garden and  visit to the brass “Make Way for Ducklings” Statues (corner of Charles and Beacon) . You may want to visit a few well-chosen sights on the Freedom Trail. Boston by Little Feet Tours (www.bostonbyfoot.com) cover the highlights of the Freedom Trail and are geared especially for kids ages 6-12 and their parents.   The USS Constitution (www.oldirionsides.com)is another kid-pleasing site. Active-duty sailors in period 1813 uniforms lead visitors on tours of the decks. Getting there can be half the fun! Take the Inner Harbor Ferry from Long Wharf for a 10 minute cruise across the harbor to the Charlestown Navy Yard. For a change of pace, watch the free jugglers, musicians, and comedians that perform throughout the day at Faneuil Hall Marketplace (www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com).   Many hotels in Boston offer value-packed family rates. The Midtown Hotel (220 Huntington Ave.; www.midtownhotel.com ) is a gem- an unbeatable location in Boston’s Back Bay, an outdoor pool, and real bargain too- summer rates are from just $200 a night. Located just ½ mile from downtown in Charlestown and convenient to the USS Constitution, the Marriott Residence Inn Boston Harbor (34-44 Charles River Rd., www.marriott12-px.rtrk.com/ ) makes a good home- base for families. The is an all- suite hotel so there is plenty of room to spread out, a complimentary breakfast buffet is included in the rate and there is an indoor heated pool. Located practically next door to the Museum of Science, the Royal Sonesta Hotel (40 Edwin Land Blvd., www.royalsonestaboston.com) has an indoor/outdoor atrium pool and a free shuttle to the Faneuil Hall and Prudential Center areas. Guests staying at the Royal Sonesta on Thursday-Sunday nights can enjoy the hotel’s SummerFest amenities- complimentary bicycles, free afternoon ice cream in the courtyard, and a free scenic Charles River Boat Company Cruise. Eating out with kids in Boston does not mean culinary exile. Here are some alternatives in Boston to the usual fast food places. UBurger (636 Beacon St.; www.uburgerboston.com) in Kenmore Square for the absolute best hamburgers, hand-cut fries and frappes in town. Grand Chau Chow (41-45 Beach St.) in Chinatown is authentic and has kid-pleasing Chinese stand-bys like fried Peking ravioli, wonton soup and beef with broccoli. Prices are cheap so parents can splurge on the duck and seafood dishes. Skip the food court at Faneuil Hall and head over to Galleria Umberto (289 Hanover St.) in the North End for their famous Sicilian cheese pizza- a thick slab is only $1.35. Go early, Galleria Umberto has quite a following, and when the day’s pizza is gone –it’s gone. It’s open only for lunch and cash only. Your kids can be messy at kid-friendly Jasper White’s Summer Shack (50 Dalton St.; www.summershackrestaurant.com) where they can dine on the city’s best corn dogs and fried fish while you feast on lobster in a fun, beachy atmosphere.  Cape Cod   Sandy beaches, ice cream, baseball. Cape Cod may just be the quintessential New England summer family vacation experience.Cape Cod’s beaches are among the best in the world. Skaket Beach in Orleans is a favorite for families that enjoy shallow, warm water and tidal pools teeming with all sorts of sea creatures. Your kids can learn all about tidal pools at The National Seashore Visitor Center (www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm ) in Eastham. There are informative displays and movies on Cape Cod and ranger-led activities for kids. Baseball by the beach is another Cape Cod tradition. If there is a Red Sox fan in your family, be sure to take in a Cape Cod Baseball League (www.capecodbaseball.org/ game. This amateur baseball league attracts the country’s best college players. Famous Red Sox alumni of the league include Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek. Cooke’s Seafood in Hyannis (www.cookesseafood.com/) is totally family friendly. Platters of fried seafood- clams, scallops, shrimp and scrod are the way to go. Ice cream bliss? Try Four Seas (www.fourseasicecream.com ) in Centerville for what some say is the best ice cream on the Cape.  Ocean Edge Resort (www.oceanedge.com ) in Brewster enjoys an amazing location directly on Cape Cod Bay. Ocean Edge has it all- this is a full-service resort with a private ocean beach, six pools, four restaurants, tennis, and golf. Ocean Edge not only offers extensive supervised kid’s programming but non-stop drop-in family activities as well. Beach bonfires and s’mores, movie night under the stars, and scavenger hunts are some of the free weekly activities offered. Renting a cottage is a wonderful way for   families with young children to enjoy casual Cape Cod living. Charming Green Harbor Resort (www.redjacketresorts.com/green_harbor_resort/ ) in West Yarmouth offers the best of both hotel and cottage living- private oceanfront cottages that accommodate up to 6 people and town homes that accommodate groups up to10. The units come with completely equipped kitchens and many of the comforts of home including high chairs and booster seats, beach umbrellas, bikes and a charcoal grill. Families return year after year to enjoy the resort’s private beach, supervised kid’s programs, playground and outdoor pool. Mom can even relax. Daily housekeeping is included too! Camping is a great way for families to commune with nature and an affordable way to enjoy Cape Cod. Located at the tip of Cape Cod in Truro, the North of Highland Campground (www.capecodcamping.com) is family owned and operated. The sites are beautifully wooded and geared mostly to tent camping . It is just a short walk to Head of the Meadow Beach. Martha’s Vineyard Just 7 miles off the coast of Massachusetts and accessible only by plane or ferry, a visit to Martha’s Vineyard is a true island escape. There are quaint towns on the island to explore, wonderful public beaches and harbor scene that is full of action. Day-tripping families that are visiting Martha’s Vineyard from Cape Cod can depart from the Steamship Authority Terminal (www.steamshipauthority.com) in Falmouth. or take the Hy-Line ferry (www. www.hy-linecruises.com/ ) from Hyannis.  A good option to avoid the traffic of Cape Cod altogether is to take the New England Fast Ferry (www.nefastferry.com ) from New Bedford. The Steamship ferry is the only ferry that takes both passengers and cars; but visitors to the Vineyard may want to forego a car altogether- the island’s shuttle system connects all the towns and several of the public beaches; the fare is only $1 each way.  On the Vineyard, simple diversions are in order. The Joseph A. Sylvia Beach midway between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown is a lovely family beach and is easy to get to use the Vineyard shuttle. In Oak Bluffs, be sure to take a ride on the Flying Horses Carousel (33 Circuit Ave.), the oldest working carousel in the country. Wesleyan Grove, also in Oak Bluffs, is a former Methodist summer revival campground. The small colorful cottages with ornate gingerbread trim and flower-filled window boxes are sure to enchant. The Slice of Life Café (50 Circuit Ave.) is a family-comfortable deli that serves sandwiches, soup and salads. An overnight staying on the Vineyard is a memorable vacation experience. Winnetu Oceanside Resort (www.winnetu.com) can accommodate every size family with studios, suites and townhomes. The property features a full complement of kid’s activities each day. There are two outdoor pools, a playground, tennis courts, and great access to South Beach. There are cookies and lemonade in the afternoon, antique fire truck rides scheduled throughout the week, and the hotel’s main restaurant even features a kiddie-height buffet for the resort’s youngest guests.  The Berkshires The hills are alive with the sound of music at Tanglewood (www.bso.org) in Lenox, Massachusetts. Tanglewood is best known as the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and musical programming certainly always includes plenty of Beethoven and Mozart. For families,  Boston Pops Film Night (July 26) with conductor and Oscar-winning composer John Williams is a perennial Tanglewood favorite. This year’s performance will feature his score from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! The Berkshire Hills area is also home to several family attractions including the Norman Rockwell Museum (www.nrm.org), the Berkshire Botanical Garden (www.berkshirebotanical.org),and the Berkshire Museum (www.berkshiremuseum.org)the only art, history and natural science museum in Western Massachusetts.  Hancock Shaker Village (www.hancockshakervillage.org ) is a living history museum where kids can visit the barn animals and explore the Shaker schoolhouse.  In Lenox, Betty’s Pizza Shack (26 Houstatonic St.; www.bettyspizza.com ) is totally retro- fun and specializes in gourmet pizza, salads and burritos. Staying at a ski area hotel for a summer mountain vacation can be a budget-friendly choice. Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort (www.jiminypeak.com) offers condo options (with kitchens) and suites all at off-season prices. There is an outdoor swimming pool and an on-site Mountain Adventure Park with alpine slides, a rock climbing wall and mini-golf.     Kennebunkport, Maine Lobster hauls, rocky beaches, and picturesque seaside villages; coastal Maine has long been a summer vacation destination for New England families. The of town Kennebunkport is an ideal base for families to experience coastal Maine.     “Clang, clang, clang went the trolley” The Seashore Trolley Museum (www.trolleymuseum.org) in Kennebunkport is fun for kids who love trains. There are 250 mass transit vehicles on display here-  the largest collection of its kind in the world. Admission includes a two-mile ride on a turn-of –the century trolley. The Marginal Way, in the nearby town of Ogunquit is a 1 ½ mile paved footpath that begins at Perkins Cove .Watch the waves crash onto the cliffs below.  The Children’s Museum of Maine (www.childrensmuseumofme.org/) in Portland features lots of hands-on interactive activities including some unique Maine-themed exhibits; a lobster boat, ranger station and lumber yard.Lobstah? When you dine with your kids, it can be hard to wrestle crustaceans. The Clam Shack (www.theclamshack.net ) on the bridge (look for the long line of customers) in Kennebunkport is legendary for their (easy-to eat) lobster roll and fried fish. Famous for their tableside s’mores, Mainiax (www.mainiaxrestaurant.com ) in nearby Wells is a local family restaurant with a better than average children’s menu that includes not just the usual mac and cheese and chicken fingers; but steak tips, haddock nuggets, and baby back ribs. The Kennebunport Inn (www.kennebunkportinn.com) is located on Dock Square in the heart of Kennebunkport. The Kennebunkport Inn’s beach cottage- inspired Wharfside suite rooms can sleep up to six, have kitchens and living areas and are ideally suited for families. The White Mountains, New HampshireNew Hampshire’s White Mountains are a favorite vacation destination for active families. The region offers both fun summer attractions and mountain adventures. Now in its 55th season, generations of New Englanders have taken their kids to Story Land (www.storylandnh.com). One admission price includes a day of storybook- themed rides, shows and attractions. This theme park is just-the right size for young children ages 2-12 and features fun rides like Alice’s Tea Cups, Antique Cars and the Bamboo Chutes Flume ride. There are live shows- new this year is a circus act- and there are several playground areas including a “sprayground” for hot summer days! The Conway Scenic Railroad (www.conwayscenic.com) is a heritage railroad and a must for train buffs. The 1- hour round-trip Conway excursion by steam locomotive winds through gorgeous countryside. The Flume Gorge (www.visitnh.gov/flume/index.html) in nearby Franconia Notch State Park is impressive and an easy walk for kids. Walk along the wooden walkways through towering granite cliffs that form a natural gorge. There are waterfalls, covered bridges and lots of lookout points along the way. Fabayan’s Station (Rt. 302, Bretton Woods) is a family-casual restaurant located in a converted railroad station – the specialty is pub food. Kids love to watch the model railroad circle the track just below the ceiling.The Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods (www.mountwashingtonresort.com) is a grand storybook hotel in a spectacular mountain setting.   The resort really offers every summer activity imaginable- golf, tennis, horseback riding, a kid’s club, an indoor pool and a spa. Hiking, biking, and scenic chair lift rides, lawn games, and family movies are offered too. All summer , kids  12 and under stay and eat free, when you book a MAP rate (Modified American Plan; accommodations breakfast and dinner included) and the best way to enjoy the best that the resort has to offer for one price! Green Mountains, VermontPack up the car and head north. Vermont’s northeast kingdom is an outdoor paradise with hiking, mountain adventures, and fun factory tours of made in Vermont products. It is said that the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream (www.benandjerrys.com) factory tour in Waterbury is the state’s most visited tourist attraction.  And of course, there are samples at tour’s end! Another top activity for kids is taking a tour of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company (http://shop.vermontteddybear.com/tour ) where you can see how their line-up of adorable hand-made bears are “born”. In the summer, ski mountains often offer lots of recreational activities. StoweMountain (www.stowe.com) has a scenic Gondola Ride that takes you to the top of Mount Mansfield and access to hiking trails. Stowe is also the home to the only Alpine Mountain Slide in Vermont. Whee!For dinner or lunch, Pie in the Sky (492 Mountain Rd., www.pieinthesky.com ) with wood-fire oven pizza and pasta hits the spot.Within walking distance to Stowe Village, the Golden Eagle Resort (www.goldeneagleresort.com) is an affordable family mountain resort vacation. The rooms are spacious there’s and indoor pool, a playground, proximity to the Stowe Recreation path, and during the summer a daily kid’s activity program. Nice touch: Complimentary tea and cookies in the afternoon! Tyler Place (www.tylerplace.com/) in the Northeast Kingdom town of Highgate Springs has been creating memorable family vacation experiences for 75 years. Tyler Place is totally devoted to wholesome fun for families. Everything is included in one rate: family cottages and suites (with separate parents bedrooms) all meals, sports, and a tremendous array of activities and programs kids from infants to teen. Adults engage in their own recreational interests while the kids are totally supervised from 8:30-1:30 and again from 5:30-8:30 in the evening. A truly relaxing family vacation experience. Newport, Rhode IslandAmazing architecture, coastal scenery, and a vibrant waterfront, Newport offers countless activities for families.Newport is known for its mansions, the summer “cottages” of America’s wealthy industrialists of the Gilded Age.  The Preservation Society of Newport County www.newportmansions.org is in charge of everything mansion-related and should be your first stop when you arrive in town. If you are going to visit just one mansion, make it the Breakers, built for the Vanderbilt family. There are special Breakers Family tours that are offered each day especially for kids- you will visit the mansion and even the Vanderbilt children’s playhouse. Don’t miss the Preservation Society’s Green Animal Topiary Garden.  Located on a country estate overlooking Narragansett Bay, this 7-acre estate is a delight. Stroll among the 80 whimsical, larger-than-life topiary sculptures - including a pair of teddy bears, a unicorn, and an elephant. Edward Scissorhands would have loved it! Easton’s Beach (www.eastonsbeach.com ) is a family beach and actually Newport’s only ocean beach. There’s a snack bar, playground and a carousel too. The Save the Bay Exploration Aquarium (www.savebay.org) is located here with lots of live marine animals and hands-on activities for kids.Newport Creamery (181 Bellevue Ave., www.newportcreamery.com ) is a Rhode Island institution- a family friendly chain of restaurants famous for its burgers, ice cream and the “Awful Awful” milk shake.It can be pricey to stay in Newport during the summer season. Located directly on Easton’s Beach, The Newport Beach Hotel and Suites (www.newportbeachhotelandsuites.com) is a wonderful family value hotel choice. This oceanfront hotel has reasonable rates that include free continental breakfast and beach parking. The historic hotel rooms have been recently renovated .There is also a new all-suite addition to the property with an indoor pool opening this August.  Mystic, ConnecticutAhoy Mateys! Mystic is dedicated to all things maritime .The Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport are the area’s big deal attractions. The town of Mystic (www.mystic.org) really puts out the welcome mat for families who are looking to stay the weekend- many of the hotels in town have family packages that bundle admission to the Aquarium and have extras like free breakfast and welcome gifts. If your hotel rate doesn’t include attraction admission, Buy the Mystic Passcard (www.mystic.org) to get the most out of your stay. The Mystic Passcard includes admission to both the Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport, a t-shirt, and a drink at each site. Buy passcards ($49 adults, $39 youth ages 6-17, $20 for children ages 3-5) on-line or at the entrance to either attraction.The Mystic Aquarium (www.mysticaquarium.org ) has a sea lion show, beluga whales and a “hands-in” touch pool along with dozens of other exhibits. You can spend an entire day at Mystic Seaport (www.mysticseaport.com)  where there are tall ships to explore and an authentic recreated 19th century seafaring village.Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream (2 West Main St.) has the added attraction of being next to a working drawbridge. And the real Mystic Pizza (56 West Main St., www.mysticpizza.com ) (from the movie with the same name) is still the place in town for pizzaMontreal, CanadaMontreal is not in New England; but it is pretty darn close. For Massachusetts residents, it is an easy 5 hour drive north. Montreal makes a great first introduction to international travel (Montrealers speak French!)  has tons of family attractions and a wealth of parks and open spaces.

 Along Jacques Cartier Pier in the Old Port section of the city you can rent a pedal boat or a quadricycle, a bicycle built for four and check out the happenings along the riverfront. The Biodome (www.biodome.qc.ca/) has four ecosystems under one roof- a Laurentian forest, a tropical rainforest, St. Lawrence River Marine life, and everyone’s favorite on a hot summer day - the polar region. The Montreal Botanical Garden (www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin) is amazing. Start your visit with a train ride around the extensive grounds. There are 10 interconnected greenhouses and 30 themed gardens. Kids especially enjoy the Japanese garden and koi ponds. The Botanical Garden is also the home of Montreal’s Insectarium where kids can discover the world of all things creepy- crawly. Experience an amusement park-French Canadian style. La Ronde (www.laronde.com ) was part of the 1967 World’s Fair, was taken over by Six Flags several years ago, and has plenty of thrill rides for older kids and gentle adventures for the younger set.Pizza and hamburgers in Montreal? Mais oui! Pizzadelic in Old Montreal (39 Rue Notre dame Ouest; www.pizzadelic-montreal.ca) and Meat Market (4415 Blvd. Saint Laurent; www.meatmarektfood.com) are good bets. Many American hotel chains have a presence in Montreal. The Hilton Bonaventure (www.hiltonmontreal.com ) has a gorgeous outdoor rooftop pool with a garden and a family of resident ducks. The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth (www.fairmont.com/QueenElizabeth ) is a huge hotel, has an indoor pool and is popular with Americans. Note: Currently (and until summer 2009), U.S. citizens entering Canada by land (driving) do not need a passport to enter; for parents a birth certificate and photo id (such as a drivers license) will suffice; for children bring their birth certificate.