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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Boston/New England Ideas

17 replies

Belindabelle · 15/08/2018 20:13

Thinking of going to Boston for October Half Term and just wondered if anyone has been.

Not sure if we should spend the week based in Boston and do day trips or hire a car and do some exploring. Maybe travel up to Maine or down to Cape Cod for a few days.

Looking at flights Providence is much cheaper than Boston so was thinking of spending the first night there. Is there much to do in Providence or should we just go straight to Boston?

We had a fantastic 2 week fly drive to California last year thanks to information on this board so I am hoping you can help me out again.

Thanks

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Headfullofdreams · 16/08/2018 00:01

We did New York/ Cape Cod/ Boston last summer. If it was me, I'd spend more time in Cape Cod and travel up to Maine too. We spent 2 nights in Boston and that was enough for us. Loved Cape Cod, we stayed in Provincetown which was great, would stay more central if we went again. We went whale watching, did a day trip to Martha's Vineyard and cycled round it. Cycled on Cape Cod too.

No idea about Providence as never went there.

Original poster
Belindabelle · 17/08/2018 11:39

I have been doing a bit more research and I just don't think a week will be enough.

Want to go up to Maine and see all the Lighthouses. New Hampshire and Vermont look lovely. You could easily spend a week on the Cape too. Not to mention Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket. Oh and apparently Newport on RI is worth a visit.

This happened last year with our California road trip. Too many places too little time.

I think I need to try and persuade DH to take off a couple of extra days. Mind you that will mean DS (13) missing 2 days of school. Maybe we should just to Boston and Cape Cod and leave the rest for another time. Then again if we are going all that way it seems a shame not to see more of it. Or maybe we should forget about CC as the weather could be rubbish. However I read that October can be the perfect time to visit as it can be warm during the day and all the crowds have gone.

New England in the fall has been on my bucket list since forever.

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Magpiesarehuge · 17/08/2018 11:46

We flew into Boston for a few days a few years ago - then had a week in Cape Cod staying at Chatham - very pretty, very quaint and very upmarket. The small old fashioned cinema in the main street shows Jaws every night. You can cstch a baseball game at one of the towns and the whale watching boat surpassed all expectations. We are heading to New Hampshire next year but so far nothing else on the itinerary so will watch this with interest.

BoogleMcGroogle · 17/08/2018 11:48

We have just come back from two weeks in Boston and Cape Cod. We have younger but loved it. With an older child, you could easily spend a week In Boston and the surrounds, as there are lots of day trips. The weather might be bad then, but it’s also a popular time to visit as the weather can be nice and the light in CApe Cod is lovely. Its a lovely, relaxing spot and once you get there you might appreciate a week to unwind, especially after a city break. I think there’s plenty to do for a week, but we tend to work at a slow pace on holiday, so you might not agree. With an older child, how about the White Mountains or Acadia? They are great for outdoors activities and easily accessible from Boston.

BoogleMcGroogle · 17/08/2018 11:50

magpies we hadn’t the same holiday.... stayed in Chatham too. Loved it, and can’t wait to explore more of New England. We didn’t make it to the cinema at Welfleet but loved the Friday night band concert

PineappleLava · 17/08/2018 11:53

I was in Boston last October for 5 nights, and the weather was great, very warm. We did a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard which I’d thoroughly recommend, as well as Salem, Harvard etc....

Original poster
Belindabelle · 17/08/2018 11:57

Thanks Boogle I have just posted on the other thread too.

This was supposed to just be a weeks half term city break as we have already had a summer beach holiday and we have our own little holiday home on Scotlands East Coast which has been great this year with the lovely weather. I just love the sea though and am always drawn to it.

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PineappleLava · 17/08/2018 12:03

This was the Martha’s Vineyard trip we did - we added on the 3 hour Island tour too, which was excellent. It went all over, stopping off in a few spots, but with a local guide. It was an excellent (but long!) day out. I never expected MV to be so beautiful.

www.viator.com/tours/Boston/Day-Trip-to-Marthas-Vineyard/d678-5491MARTHA

PineappleLava · 17/08/2018 12:05

For Salem we got the train there and the boat back which fab, especially if you like the sea.

Original poster
Belindabelle · 17/08/2018 12:10

Thanks for the link never thought about doing a day trip. Mind you DH loves a bit of driving. Pineapple here did you stay in Boston?

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haggisaggis · 17/08/2018 12:15

We holidayed for 10 years in Falmouth, Cape Cod. It is very pretty - but I have no experience of being there in October.
In Falmouth you can take the Island Queen ferry to Marthas Vineyard and hire bikes / bus to Edgar Town which is a really pretty place to walk around. Falmouth itself has the Shining Sea bike path and it's a good trip to hire bikes and cycle from Falmouth to Woods Hole where you can have a wander around and visit the (very small) aquarium.

It's also a relatively easy (about 1.5 hr) trip from Falmouth to Boston - it's a lovely city but 2 - 3 days would do it.
Whale watching is great - either travel up to Provincetown (which you would probably want to do anyway) or you can also do a trip from Barnstable Harbour or from Boston Harbour. Definitely worth it! (assuming they run in October).

CanYouHearThePeopleSing · 17/08/2018 12:17

We had a fab holiday a few years ago starting in Boston and ending in NY. A week would be tight, but do-able (especially with favourable flight times).
Boston was a great city, but not that big. You need to walk the Freedom Trail, and the harbour area is lovely too. It's one of those cities you could easily spend a few days in, but equally could move on after a couple. I'd do 3 nights so you have 2 full days (and a chance to get over jet lag).
Cape Cod is also great. I forget where we stayed, but we did hire bikes and cycle through cranberry bogs etc. It was great, and the beaches were beautiful.
We then went on to Newport, which was nice, but if I was you I'd stop at Cape Cod (given you only have a week). We then went inland to northern Connecticut, before heading to NY.

PineappleLava · 17/08/2018 12:36

Yes I did stay in Boston.

chemenger · 18/08/2018 10:24

There is enough to do in Providence for a day, then you can get the train to Boston or drive. Driving is quicker but you might not want a car in Boston. You can get a train to Providence airport from Boston as well for your return. Uber would be another option but pricey. If you are not used to Boston I would recommend not driving into the city after a transatlantic flight! Public transport is good in Boston and traffic is horrendous so you don’t need a car while exploring the city.

WickedGoodDoge · 18/08/2018 18:25

We’re going to Boston in October. Just for 4 nights and I’m from Massachusetts so it’s more of a seeing family/friends trip rather than a holiday for me. Grin

For day trips we’re doing Concord/Lexington and a half day in Salem. C/L partly because we have family close by and we’ll visit them as well but also because DD has discovered Little Women and DS loves Philosophy (will give him a bit of an insight into transcendentalism). Plus they want to see the Revolutionary War sites.

Salem because DS is doing The Crucible this year and it’s such an easy half day out.

I went to college in Maine and love, love, love Maine. You don’t have to drive very far north to get a feel for it. Or Rockport if you stay in MA. I also like Plimouth Plantation, Mystic CT and Sturbridge Village, but am a sucker for open air museums.

Original poster
Belindabelle · 19/08/2018 20:01

We are now planning on 9 nights and I think we will split it

3 in Boston
3 in Maine
3 on Cape Cod

Trying to find some accommodation in Boston that is fairly central. Looking at Kennebunkport or Portland for Maine. Would love to go up to Bar Harbor but I think it might be just too far for this trip.

Decided to pay more to fly directly to Boston. We land at lunchtime on the Friday and leave on the Sunday evening arriving back on the Monday morning. DS has an in service day so will only miss one day of school. These flights give us a bit of extra time too which is good.

Providence and Newport look lovely , but I think we will leave Rhode Island for another trip. Perhaps combine it with Connecticut and Long Island.

Thanks for the links and ideas. I love planning a holiday.

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Montybabe · 22/08/2018 00:47

If providence is much cheaper to fly into then make Cape Cod your 1st stop. Boston is quite small so I would say 2 days max, possibly at the end of the holiday. Depending on what you want to do there, you could just leave one day in Boston. I wouldn’t do the Boston base and day trips around as you’ll just be visiting towns. How about Cspe Cod and then head up to Maine - Freeport or Acadia national Park. On the way back down go to the white mountains for a couple of days or lakes - kayaking down Saco River?

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