USA family summer holiday trip - but where?

[Travelfoodi]

We are planning a trip to the US for 10-14 nights during the UK summer holidays end of July or August. We are a family of four (kids aged 6 years and 1 year).

I have heard that Boston is a good option with kids. However there are no direct flights from Manchester where we are and I feel it is a bit of a pain having to either drive to London and stay there or fly to Dublin first. There are direct flights to New York. We are wondering whether to stay in New York for a couple of nights before going somewhere more geared towards young families like Boston.

I have heard that there are some picturesque sights/beaches up the East coast but honestly don’t know where to start. We would be happy to do another domestic flight if necessary.

We do want to have a more laid back holiday for at least half of it. Young kids and bit cities don’t exactly bode well.

My questions are:
• where is good to go with young children in the US (ideally near New York) that doesn’t require too much heavy travel?
• what type of accommodation would you recommend?

Things we like as a family:
• beach, walks, picnics, amusement parks, child-friendly museums, parks
• good food
• bit of downtime
• bit of shopping

I would also like to note that we aren’t too fussy about where we go, as long as we won’t get too bored. The main thing for us is getting to experience some of the US which we have always dreamed of. We aren’t well travelled and want to tick a trip off the bucket list.

Flying via Dublin to anywhere in the US is a really good way to start your holiday - completely hassle free, the border checks in Dublin are not busy, and you don't have to go through customs when you are jetlagged and knackered.
Plus Boston being very compact you can do the first few days without a car so that's ideal.

Don't go too far - there are beaches nearby though Cape Cod is lovely, in high summer NYC is not that nice but you could still enjoy it.
Maine/New Hampshire are supposed to be absolutely lovely in the summer.
I have been to Boston/NYC but as an adult.

I'm surprised there's no direct flights to Washington DC. It's great for museums, there's lots of green space, you're right by the river and even the zoo is free. Metro is really good for getting around. I'd stay in an apartment with kids that age. I wouldn't do New York with young kids, I think it would be too much.
I wouldn't rule out a flight connection. Would you consider driving to/from LHR the day before? Or if you go via Dublin you have the advantage of being able to clear US immigration in Dublin so it's a quicker arrival process in the US.

I'd choose via Dublin over LHR every day. There was even a woman at the gym talking about going to the US and she started her sentence with "it was so easy, getting US immigration out of the way" and I finished her sentence for her "going to the US via Dublin, am I right?"

From Manchester you can drive through North Wales and catch the ferry to dublin - the kids might love the added excitment of the boat!

Ok Washington DC looks great, thanks! Would you recommend just staying central to there or venturing further afield? If so, where has a more relaxed vibe? Lots of people have mentioned the benefits of travelling from Dublin so we will probably do this! Thanks for your help

Washington DC is a great option.

thanks - how long would you recommend staying there? Would you recommend just staying there or travelling elsewhere too?

Thank you. Definitely going to consider Dublin.

Cape Cod looks great and not far at all. Just wondering where would be good to stay there?

Dont go to NYC or Washington in July in August they will both be stinking hot and humid. Boston will be a bit better, and you can escape to the beaches and up north.

Suggest you fly to Dublin then Boston. Stay in the city for 4-5 days. Do the Freedom trail, Museum of Science, Duck Boat tour. Boston
Public Gardens, if the day is v hot, go to the Prudential Center and Copley Place to run the dc in the ac and look at the shops (and go up to the observatory tower). There is also the MFA, and lots of other museums and kid friendly stuff.
Then rent a car and drive up to Portsmouth and Rye in New Hampshire for the beaches and lovely downtown. Try and time it for a concert in Prescott Park and tour the Strawbery Banke museum. Take the kids to the Seacoast Science Center and Water Country. Dont forget outlet shopping at Kittery. Then go up to Portland in Maine, I dont know so much detail about the city, but there is lots to see and do. If you still have time, I would then circle back inland to drive back to Boston and see some of the rural areas as they are v pretty and the Lake Winnipesaukee area has lots of fun things to see and do in the summer

I also agree that DC would be a great choice. Lots of free v child centred museums, parks and a zoo. Plus there are beaches in Virginia if you hire a car. We stayed 5 days in DC and didn’t finish all that we wanted to do. You do need to book ahead for some things though, especially in July / August.

My friends in DC go to Ocean City for the beach. I've never been myself though.

Long beach island in Jersey is lovely. Relaxed with beautiful walks

Is it not a bit late to start planning a fortnights holidays in USA during the school summer holidays?

It's a good point about the heat in Washington / NY / Philadelphia in July and August. I was there in the middle of October and it was a nice temperature still - shorts & t-shirts in the day and trousers and hoody sort of weather in the evenings.

I would not go to the US in the summer unless you really like the heat. I've been to Washington, it's ok but not that much to do and not the safest of cities. Lived in Chicago before DC, I think it's less safe now than it was then. We lived in NYC when our DS was a pre schooler, it was very livable with lots of green space and art and museums. But in summer the heat is quite unpleasant. Boston is nice, but as far as stuff to do sightseeing wise goes it's not like continental Europe.

I wouldn't go to DC in the summer...it's so hot and humid, it's difficult to be out and about much in the middle of the day.

I'd go north and do what @SeaToSki recommends, which was almost word for word what I was going to say as well!

There is absolutely loads to do in DC! But, yes, summer climate a bit wearing.

Just popped on to say Definitely do via Dublin if the cost is OK.

We did several family holidays to the US from Dublin when our kids were little and it's so much easier when you arrive in the US.

Also, I highly recommend Long Island with children.

We stayed in Sag Harbor out of season. There is a children's museum (interactive, dress up etc) in East Hampton and the brilliant lighthouse at montauk, plus beaches and lobster rolls.
We actually took our microscooters in a suitcase and our kids scooted everywhere. Sag harbor also had a great play park and a basketball court on the public Park.

We then did two days in manhattan at the end, went to a show with the older one and went to the natural history museum.

This is excellent advice.
NYC and southward all hot and humid, unpleasant to be outside unless you're on the beach.

Why? I can’t think of any reason for you to go to the states.
And I love America- I’ve stayed most recently in August in Maine and Boston, even been to LA and Manhattan with a baby. But this summer in your circumstances?!
Heat, cost, political unrest, global warming, what will a one year old get out the trip? Go in a few years time.

Cape Cod is crazy busy in July and August. I presume you are booking for next year though because a lot of the better places will be already booked out.

I am flying to New Hampshire in August to stay with my sister. I am flying to Boston via Dublin, a very easy journey, less than an hours flight to Dublin, two hour wait at airport and then a six hour flight to Boston. We are being met by my sister but have hired cars in the past.

On previous visits with 3 young children, we hired a car in Boston for the holiday and stayed at a campsite near a big lake in NH. From there we had days out including to Niagara Falls then hired a cottage in Newport, Rhode Island, which was brilliant. Great beaches, lots of places to visit and interesting attractions.

We once flew back to Boston from Manchester NH but I’m not sure if that is an option nowadays.

I have family on the east coast so have been in summer hols often. Washington is great was there last august and it’s extremely hot. And you so have to be outside a lot. New. York ditto for heat. A bit more to do inside though.

Boaton is perfect. Walkable, shady gardens, by the ocean, can easily drive to the coast and mountains (in fact you definitely should).

Don't dismiss flying to Boston via Dublin. You'll pre-clear U.S. immigration in Dublin rather than having to deal it when you land and have 2 tired and stir crazy young kids to handle.