Boston Travel Forum

Hi,

We're starting to plan a road trip through New England during the summer, using Boston as a starting and finishing point. We probably want to travel within 5-6 hours of Boston, and would like to hit interesting towns, summer festivals, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions for resources (websites, etc.) that would help us plan?

Also, I've been to Boston a few times, but never with our kids. Any suggestions for a few days in August with a 9 and 12 year old?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Dave

You can visit Providence, Rhode Island and Newport, RI and check out the sights.

There is a pretty good local train service (the T) that goes to Providence from Boston. Taking the T you wouldn't have to worry about parking or driving.

Salem is a favorite side trip that the kids might like.

Plymouth Rock is another favorite.

Here are a couple links you might want to check out.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ma.html

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ri.html

Boston comes alive in the summer. There are many festivities, shows, concerts all around the city and the surrounding areas. Check out this website: http://www.bostonusa.com/

Do enjoy your trip and have fun with the kids.

Bunch of suggestions:
From or within Boston - Whale watching trip, the aquarium, the Science Museum, The Childrens Museum (12yo?), Boat trip to Harbor Islands http://www.bostonislands.org/ -especially Fort Warren on Georges Island or the Boston Light, Duck Tour, tour of Fenway Park on Saturday mornings, walk the Freedom trail, Old Ironsides, Boston Public Gardens and the Swan Boats, Fanueil Hall and Quincy Marketplace, eating in the North End, free outdoor concerts at the weekend. These may all be 'touristy' but they are still great things to do. We always love showing our visitors around.
Outside Boston - The Cape - spend a night or two midweek or take the boat trip to Provincetown, Plimouth Plantation, Newport Mansions (RI), Mystic Seaport (RI) Salem MA, Rockport, hiking in the Blue Hills, Nantasket Beach.
I could keep going on all day. There is so much here. A lot of the suggestions above are going to cost a bit for 4 of you so be selective.

Thanks guys, for some great information. I'll start checking things out.

Have a great day.

Dave

Hit the beaches on Cape Cod. Visit Mystic seaport and aquarium in Connecticut. Visit the mansions in Newport. Visit the whaling museum in New Bedford, MA. Visit Plymouth Rock, where the Pilgrims landed. Spend a day in Salem, Ma, where you should visit the Peabody & Essex museum. In Maine, visit Acadia National Park for some great scenery.

Dave.
Museum of Science in Boston (http://www.mos.org) - kids will love it. Plan to stay 4-5 hours. Visit to the Omni Theater is a must. MOS is also a starting point for the Duck Tours.
Ogunquit in Maine (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Ogunquit,+ME,+United+States+of+America&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title)
is a beautiful place my family goes every summer. We usually stay at the Mariner Motel (http://www.marinerresort.com/index.htm) with an easy access to the beach from the Ocean St. Ogunquit and neighboring York town are busy well into midnight every summer day. Perkins Cove and the Marginal way are worth the trip. Ocean fishing, lobster trips from Perkins cove. Ocean water sometimes cold.Let me know if you decide to visit Maine so will give you more info.

I highly recommend visiting Gloucester and Cape Ann, about 45 minutes north of Boston. Stage Fort Park is a really fun place to bring children, there are swings, a walking trail and a small beach right there, in addition to a concession stand and restaurant. A great way for children to spend the day playing and exploring. There are several whale watches to choose from, Hammond Castle, and many great beaches. You'll miss the St. Peter's Fiesta, which is held in June, but there are plenty of things to do with children during the summer in Gloucester.

Forgot to add...if you didn't want to take your car you can take the Commuter Rail train from North Station to reach Gloucester via the Rockport line. It's about an hour ride, but the downside is there isn't a lot of public transportation in Gloucester, so you'd need to walk or take a cab most likely.

We were considering going to Maine, but no further than Portland. How long of a drive would that be from Boston? Is Portland worth a visit?

You can get there in just under two hours. Portland has a lot of shopping and isn't terribly far from L.L. Bean in Freeport or Kittery Trading Post which all lot of people enjoy. When I think of Maine it's usually Bar Harbor or points north that take several hours to reach from Boston. Personally, I wouldn't make a special trip to Portland. It's also a notoriously difficult town to navigate if you are unfamiliar with the layout. I think in just about the same time you could visit the Lakes Region in New Hampshire, which is a great way to spend the day, the scenery is beautiful and plenty of activities for children.

How many days did you reserve for Maine?

Our itinerary is sitll up in the air, but we'll likely have just 2 days in Maine.

Just 2 days, so give up Portland at all. I would still recommend to visit Ogunquit area. Those are the places in my opinion worth to see:
1. Ogunquit beach (nicest is the entrance from the Ocean St, not from the center of town,$20 parking, like everywhere else), very clean, fine sand, big difference between tides, water temperature depends of the weather,
2. Perkins Cove, perfect place for lunch or dinner in 1 of many restaurants, many boutiques, 1 and 1/2hr lobster trips from here,
3. Marginal way, 1 mile walk, beautiful place to contemplate a nature http://www.meliving.com/marginalway/index.shtml
4. Cape Neddick lighthouse in neighboring town of York http://lighthouse.cc/capeneddick/

If going from Massachusetts, leave early (about 8-8:30am), to avoid a traffic on I-95 or I-495. You will catch the traffic anyway in the town so I would recommend to exit I-95 in York, ME and take scenic route 1A N along the coast. Save time and stop by Cape Neddick lighthouse now. You should be in Ogunquit between noon and 1pm. Spend rest of the day on the beach. Get the lobster dinner at Perkins Cove, and walk Marginal way. Coming back to the hotel stop in the center of town for ice creams and feel the unque atmosphere. Next day go for the lobster trip before lunch, and stay as long as you can on the beach after that.Let me know if you would need more details.

Thanks for the information, especially the depth of your response. As we get closer to the time we travel I may have further questions. Thanks again.

You are welcome! Good luck with planning!

My hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts would be an excellent destination. As you may or may not know, Lowell is home to the Lowell National Historic Park, the oldest urban national park in the United States. Lowell is the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, the home of famed author Jack Kerouac, & the second largest Khmer (Cambodian) population in the nation. Every summer Lowell hosts the Lowell Folk Festival, which is the largest free festival of its kind in the United States (July 25-27).

Hope this helps.

3 hours from Boston (heading due west on the Massachusetts Turnpike (90)) are the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of western MA, loaded with history, breathtaking scenery including fantastic views and crystal clear lakes and rivers (great in August for swimming!), hiking trails, great restaurants, etc. I can give you more details if you're interested. If your kids are at all interested in Basketball then you must stop in Springfield MA (about 1-1/2 hrs from Boston) to see the new Basketball Hall of Fame, a very nicely done fun and interesting place. Vermont and New Hampshire are also reasonable drives from Boston (that's what is great about New England!) and I can help you with ideas there, too. I have lived in New England for over 20 years and know it pretty well! I'm happy you're visiting! I also have 2 kids so was always into the "kid things" there.

Great suggestion of the Basketball Hall of Fame - I hadn't even considered that, and my 9 year old son would be thrilled (so would I). I'll let you know if I have further questions. The responses have been very helpful so far.