fun day trips in new englandfun day trips in new england

At the Connecticut River Museum, a cultural center for river-related activities and exhibits about the river and the river valley, you can do everything from taking a cruise down the river to checking out artwork and artifacts that document its role in the areas economy and history. Phone: 603-286-8008 Chittenden, VT, 05737 Toll-Free: 800-655-1232, Choices are almost endless for ways to have fun, or just relax, at full-service resort, Information Centers on Boston Common and Prudential Towers (Center Court) Go biking and hiking or, in the winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. By Yankee Magazine Jun 16 2022 Both expert and novice surfers delight in the long, rolling waves of Narragansett Town Beach in Rhode Island. Or you can do both, traveling along the rails to Deep River Landing, boarding the boat, then going back to Essex on the train. Scenery that will take your breath away, tours that get you up close and personal to the wine-making process and, best of all, relaxing on a patio or inside a tasting room with a glass of wine: You can do all that and more on the Connecticut Wine Trail. Bethlehem, NH, 03574 Spring means golf, tennis (guests have access to 12 courts) and fishing. What can you do at The Dinosaur Place at Natures Art Village? From history to hiking, theres tons to do in Quincy. In 1975 Newports fabled Cliff Walk was the first public path in New England to be designated a National Recreation Trail, but it had already been famous for over a century. Providence, RI, 02903 Phone: Inside, visit historic houses with 18th-century furnishings and artwork, learn about the towns 17th-century West Indies trade participation in the maritime museum and step inside homes where George Washington really did visit. With animals to visit, rides to take, goats to pet, and deer to feed: Its a full day of excitement at Southwicks Zoo. Experience the thrills of Mount Washington on the famous Cog Railway, go for a horseback or horse-drawn sleigh ride, or play a round of golf on one of five area courses. Wesleyan University is located right downtown and boasts gorgeous architectural buildings. All rights reserved. Salem, NH, 03079 Everything is great about visiting Marthas Vineyard including the voyage over on the comfortable Island Queen ferry. Its ski-in, ski-out all winter long at the resort. Or, just opt for a tasting off the wine menu. We have cozy eateries, stylish bars, Irish pubs, elegant dining, and more. Blueberry hard apple cider has blueberry accents and vibrant color. Washington Auto Road to the legendary mountains 6,288-foot summit, with your reward some breathtaking vistas that extend, on a good day, past several states and into Canada and beyond, to the Atlantic. Check out an operational model of the Turtle, the first submarine ever to be used in combat in 1776. This region was practically made for summer road trips. Quincy, MA, 02169 But the wicker-strewn front porch is inarguably its most photographed claim to fame. Rent one of their new, state-of-the-art ATVs or snowmobiles and take to the trails, zipping past lakes, through forests and meadows. Fun Things to Do in New England with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. Phone: At the Splash Pad (New Englands largest! At the inn itself, theres a seasonal outdoor pool and lawn games as well as a book-and-games-stocked library and gorgeous gardens to stroll in. Dummerston, VT The 14 lakefront cabins are lit by gas and kerosene lights, with wood-burning fireplaces. Poke your head into a shack and a talkative blacksmith will stress the importance of properly crafted gaff hooks. Phone: 802-674-5491, Looking for a fun time? Theres a scavenger hunt and drawing activities for kids, who will also love the basement tour to see how the servants worked and lived. Come at low tide, and the grooved sand leads to a tiny island where seagulls have picked over unlucky crabs, and mussels lie exposed on the kelp. Box 194 By Barbara Evangelista, Publisher February 9, 2023 Image Credit: Canva Here's a list of family-friendly day trips in New England that will keep the kids entertained all year long! You can help raise the sails if you have the inclination, or kick back and relax if you dont. Turns out that 200 million years ago this was the stomping ground of. A list of all the fun and exciting things to do in the Androscoggin Valley is a long one! Toll-Free: 800-382-2824, Spend your perfect day out on the water with experienced sport-fishing captain, crew, Route 16 at Pinkham Notch Phone: 860-443-4367, The list of what you can do at this theme park is as big as the dinosaurs that inhabit it, 3 Crossing at Riverplace Schedule a tee time at the 18-hole championship golf course or plan to swim in the indoor pool or relax in the sauna. Whens the last time you did something for the first time? Take a trip through the history of the graphic arts at the Museum of Printing (check out their typewriter collection), or grab a brew at Lord Hobo Brewing Companys Woburn taproom. What Are The Most Beautiful Places In New England In The Fall? Phone: 603-745-7550, Sample the fruits of this ciders labors at spacious, light-filled cider studio, 4 North Street The RISD Museum is home to a vast collection of art, ranging from the ancient to the avant-garde. Take in the scenic surroundings of the Pemigewasset River Valley as you roll gently through the countryside on board the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train. With less than 40 guests aboard each trip, youll be treated to honest, heartfelt hospitality that keeps guests coming year after year. While youre here, dont miss the gourmet goodies at the Harrisville General Store. 3. Lake and beach activities alone could fill several days: Kayaks, canoes and paddle boards are complementary (grab a lounge chair at the beach shed and a towel at the front desk). With that in mind, we put together the following excerpt from our travel guide, which spans four season but in which the summer adventures shine particularly bright right now. Take a harbor cruise, walk the seawall at Stonington Commons, let the kids splash in the water at duBois Beach, enjoy a glass of wine at Saltwater Farms WWII-era hangar, now transformed into a winery. In the warmer months you can bring your dog to the outdoor beer garden or settle in with friends in one of the four heated sugar shacks in the winter. Blackhawk also offers fireworks cruises, sunset cruises and excursions for nature-lovers and those seeking to see seals or eagles. Phone: 888-260-4929, On this mountain resort and off, the list of exciting activities is almost endless, 115 Ocean Boulevard North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Theres also a Craft Center where you can see potters at work creating reproductions of 17th-century items. Camden, ME, 04843 Pittsburg, NH, 03592 Twin Mountain, NH, 03595 Everyone has fun here, from folks gliding down the log flume to thrill-seekers plummeting down a 60-foot chute into a water pool to little tykes loving the old-fashioned carousel. New England is a great place to visit and it has a lot to offer travelers. Essex, CT, 06426 Founded in 1947, it has just about anything a shellfish lover could desire, but its best known for a steamed lobster or Connecticut-style hot lobster roll. . Assuming it isn't raining, autumn in New England is the best time of year to go for a hike-think crisp breezes and colorful . Toll-Free: 800-872-1620, 76 Maple Avenue Feeling competitive? Fill your senses with theater, hiking, farm-to-table meals, and music under the stars. Daily tours take visitors through the richly decorated rooms in the Victorian home, many featuring the exotic interiors of Louis C. Tiffany & Co. Museum artifacts include period furniture, photos, paintings and books by Darwin, Hawthorne and others with margin notes written by Samuel Clemens. Phone: 508-548-4800, Cape, Vineyard and the ferry to the island offer a variety of fun activities for vacationers, 10 Memorial Boulevard Phone: 508-591-0964, Grab a bite to eat, a glass of cider and stay to watch or play the game at this lively gastro pub, Two Great Locations Walking or driving around York Beach, youre sure to spot the Goldenrod. Fun things to do in the air, in the water and on the ground: Thats what youll find everywhere you turn in Funtown Splashtown USA, where you can zip around in Maines only wooden roller coaster, fly through the air on the Flying Trapeze ride or in a kiddie helicopter, zoom down a corkscrew slide or splash around in a pool. Imagine the lobster shack of your dreams, and youll have a good picture of the family-run McLoons: a tiny red hut perched over the water with a tented patio and picnic tables. Phone: 603-893-8300, Ponder the mysteries of ancient North American history, Mountain View Road And then theres the beer, with a great selection of draft beer and cider from Harpoon, UFO and Clown Shoes. And on the Mayflower II, the full-scale reproduction of the original tall ship, youll wonder what it was like when over 100 people were on board. Phone: 603-869-9736, Shop hand-crafted items, stroll through an ever-changing gallery and support a great cause, Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center - 1250 Hancock Street Bring your own board or rent one from any number of local outfitters. His home movies and stories about his family helped to create this special atmosphere -- and his magic completed the. But, mainly, its about the food in this casual-fine dining restaurant, where you might start with Boursin stuffed mushrooms, work your way through an entree featuring lamb raised at Jonathans farm and end with the legendary creme brulee. Events. Or the pizza. You'll never be so excited for a cold winter season after reading this post! And dont forget tax-free shopping in outlet stores and village boutiques. Embrace your inner trailblazer every season of the year and pick your adventure with customized itineraries for families and for thrill-seeking individuals and couples! Walk the trails of the Dodge Paddock & Beal Preserve, with panoramic views of Little Narragansett Bay. The cider is smooth and crisp at the on-site High Limb Cider Taproom, and there are more than 20 craft beers on tap at the cozy speakeasy bar. Have a blast in a casino or enjoy free concerts at the Seashell amphitheater; go deep-sea fishing or whale-watching; practice yoga on the beach; rent a bike or a scooter; or take advantage of that tax-free shopping in the areas unique stores. See Tripadvisor's 5,441,866 traveler reviews and photos of kid friendly New England attractions . Theres plenty to do at the Newport Vineyards these days and all of it is enjoyable. Enjoy a delicious meal at local restaurants or a beer at the brewpub before relaxing at a local hotel, inn, campground or cottage. In Chichester, if golf isnt your thing, no worries: there's 16 different games & attractions to choose from! Casco, ME, 04015 Discover islands, lighthouses, and traditional windjammer sailing, right from down-town Mystic, Connecticut. In Noanks fishing community, full of backyard gardens and harbor views at every turn, Abbotts is a bona fide institution. Trains leave from the impressive 1874 station in North Conway. Rochester, VT, 05767 At this spacious, light-filled cider studio, with barrel tables, you can enjoy a variety of ciders pressed from local fruits. The Mary Baker Eddy Library is home to a one-of-a-kind structure: the worlds only walk-in, stained-glass globe that allows the surface of the earth to be viewed without distortion. There are tiki bars, Mexican cantinas, pizza parlors, coffee cafes, sports pubs and enough oceanfront restaurants to satisfy the tastes of every diner. Listen to live music near the gazebo or dine and shop downtown at independently-owned shops and art galleries. 1. There are activities for kids, from hay mazes to book clubs. You dont have to be a fan of Frozen to find the whole experience magical. Look up! Set sail on your destination's top-rated boat tours and cruises. And, if thats not enough, there are plenty of area activities, including the Goodspeed Opera House, hiking at Gillette Castle State Park and shopping and dining in Essex Village and Chester Village. Safari like a Mainer: Look for osprey nests and beaver dams during a ride on the Downeast Scenic Railroad. Pick veggies from the garden or berries from the bushes, reel in a trout or salmon, go for a swim in the summer or build a snowman in winter. Thomaston, CT, 06787 Last Updated: January 3, 2023 From hiking in the lush Green Mountains of Vermont to whale watching off the coast of Massachusetts, these are the best day trips in New England. Phone: 603-745-8391, As you walk this loop trail, youll be awe-struck by massive gorge, waterfall and a covered bridge, 75 Falmouth Heights Road Lighthouse Tours are offered June through October, while Nature Cruisies and Seal Tours take place October through April. The zoo also has a carousel, gigantic play area, farmyard where you can interact with goats, sheep, alpacas and other animals and, in Explore & Soar, zip rides and train excursions. Every season is a reason to visit the mountains of New Hampshire. As many as 60,000 guests a year still line up to tour the worlds largest deep-hole dimension granite quarry, where derricks hoist blocks that weigh as much as half a million pints of Ben & Jerrys ice cream. Visit the nations first Lighthouse Museum or a sea captains house. Phone: 207-284-5139, In the air, on the ground, in the water: Fun is everywhere you turn in this exciting park, 40 Sargent Drive Check out our list of must-do water activities in New England. One visit and youll see that Old Sturbridge Village is more than a museum! And then there is the year-round farm market, with a huge selection of fresh produce, prepared foods and world-famous pies. Phone: 401-785-3510, Go wild at this multiple-exhibit zoo with huge range of animals, rides, activities, So much to do, indoors and out, in Newport Vermont, 1355 Boston Post Road In the 1920s, when the first curious road-trippers began poking around, most quarrying operations posted Keep Out signs. Toll-Free: 800-232-5251, Scenic railroad excursions provide picturesque vistas from vintage cars, The seasons change, and the fun never ends, for visitors to Mt. Thats in addition to jams, jellies, pies, cider and various Vermont products. As one of the best-preserved textile mill villages in the United States, this site by a peaceful millpond is now a National Historic Landmark. Whether you want to walk in the woods, catch some live entertainment, chat around a campfire or just relax on a mile-long sandy beach, this rustically elegant resort, set on 775 acres, has an activity perfect for you. Phone: 508-746-1622, Become part of the nations heritage when you visit, and participate in, these historic sites, River Walk at Loon - 22 South Mountain Drive Travel on the Naugatuck Railroad in a vintage car, styled in its appropriate era. Catch a Circus Smirkus or Bread and Puppet performance or an outdoor concert. Trains operate from late April through November. Cliff House Maine (Editor's Choice) 2. At the visitor center you can watch a video about the quarrying and manufacturing processes, browse historic photos and exhibits, and shop for natural stone gifts. Or order a great breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of four popular pubs on the property in the White Mountains. In the Fabric of Africa, watch an elephant take a bath or a giraffe nibble on a treetop. Phone: 978-459-6150, Wide variety of activities, from concerts and theater to unique shopping and dining, in this vibrant area, 82 Clubhouse Road Special excursions celebrate the Easter Bunny and the winter holidays (with Santa and Mrs. Claus), and take you to a pick-your-own-pumpkin patch. Snacks can be purchased at the station to bring onboard. Now its practically a natural resource, with millions of dollars poured into it to rehab bridges, tunnels, and culverts, and to widen and repave the route. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park. Phone: 401-847-8344, Walk through this mansion and experience the eclectic collection of its last owner, Doris Duke, 961 Main Street (Dont worry about depleting the supply: Its estimated that therell be plenty of stone to quarry for the next 4,500 years.). On a clear day, the views are stupendous. April 1, 2022 These best weekend getaways in New England will give you a taste of the northeast The Northeast has so much going for it. Trip Ideas 20 Best Weekend Getaways in New England The best weekend getaways in New England include charming small towns, beautiful beach destinations, and mountain escapes. Toll-Free: 800-733-1830, Come for a day, stay for the weekend: There are so many things to see and do in this historic village, 2 Southwick Street For Anglophile shoppers, the BBC has reported its approval, Maine Brewers Guild, representing beer brewers statewide, wants beer drinking travelers to explore and enjoy the vast and varied beauties of the state. Stroll in a garden, play lawn games, bocce, tennis or pickle ball. It's a full day of fun, with and without water or golf! This is a place to interact with the land, to pause to smell the wildflowers, to get a little muddy, to work up some sweat, to dangle your feet atop a bluff. The White Mountains area is also home to hiking trails, spectacular views, lost rivers, great shopping, world-class skiing and, in the warm weather seasons, gondolas, zip lines and other mountain adventures. You can also play arcade games, go prospecting for fossils and relax at the tiki bar, beer garden, ice cream shop, candy store or cafe. Carroll, New Hampshire In this full-dome planetarium, a DigitalSky projection system provides a full-screen image that covers the rooms entire ceiling in the mysteries of the universe. Travelers will enjoy the commentary from train engineers and brakemen and brakewomen. There are movies in the screening room, childrens day and evening programs, bikes to take out to explore Watch Hill Villages shops and galleries, and a heated indoor saltwater lap pool. Phone: 603-745-3951 To sit and rock at the Red Lion is to understand precisely how longtime resident Norman Rockwell saw Stockbridge. The living history museum formerly known as Plimoth Plantation provides an immersive, 360-degree view of a bygone era, thanks to its re-creation of a 17th-century English village filled with actors and the Wampanoag Homesite, populated not by actors but by Indigenous interpreters. Check the website for regular events like spectacular fireworks shows, talent contests, childrens week activities and more. When you visit the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, you arent just learning about history youre part of it! Once you visit Bishops Orchards, youll want to make it a regular stop on your things-to-do-list. It really is like two great parks in one. The 35-minute trip offers stunning views, and a snack and beverage bar. The Shaker sect believed in simplicity, equality of sexes, communal living, pacifism, celibacy, and respect for nature, and the 300 people who lived and worked here two centuries ago would still feel at home all these years later. You can surf this section of Narragansett year-round, but from mid-July to mid-September the crescent-shaped beach and shifting sandbars often produce waves in excess of 10 feet. When it concludes, you can retrace your steps back to the village center or follow Baxter Road for a postcard-perfect ending at Sankaty Head Lighthouse. . We have a variety of activities on land or on the water. Savor locally-made wines and smooth craft beers while you picnic on the grounds of a gilded-age mansion. Explore the Mark Twain House & Museum and reconnect with one of the nations most beloved authors, who wrote about Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer in this very house. With a chaperones assistance, small children under 48 are able to build coordination and confidence on the Little It course, which is positioned close to the ground and designed specifically for them. The ride is for kids only, but the spectacle is free for all to enjoy. In North America, bison graze and wild turkeys show off their courtship displays. Pick the same fruit that goes into a vineyards wines, listen to live music, learn about wine pairings with everything from chocolate to cheesecake. Go to the, You can buy treats and trinkets of all kinds at the. Acadia National Park. Visit Old Sturbridge Village and youll soon discover why people who come for a day end up spending a weekend in the re-created 1830s rural New England town. And if thats not enough, environmental nonprofit Save The Bay also offers lighthouse tours, nature cruises and an Exploration Center & Aquarium where you can meet sea stars, dogfish sharks and sea urchins at their three touch tanks. Dine on handmade pretzels, wings, burgers, and barbeque with a menu that changes seasonally. Photo Credit : Alex Gagne We all have an innate need to explore, to strike out for new destinations or to simply connect more deeply with places we've always known and loved." Ogunquit gets its name from the Algonquin word for beautiful place by the sea, which is how native people described this flat, sandy 3-mile stretch along the southern Maine coast. Take a Journey to the North Pole. The atmosphere is lively, with inside and seasonal outside seating. Toll-Free: 800-245-8946, Explore the White Mountains from your base camp in this vibrant vacation region, Route 171 - 455 Old Mountain Road Afterwards, the whole family can picnic on the grounds, explore two miles of trails, and walk a timeline that brings home just what Johnny-come-latelys we humans are. Boston is the best place to start! You might not really hit a hole-in-one on the giant mini-golf courses at Chucksters two New Hampshire locations. The Newbury Boston 3. The safari-style tents are on spectacular mountaintop sites, where sunrises and sunsets are sensational. ), you can go under a dino rib cage waterfall, try to avoid dumping buckets and watch a Pteranodon rise from its perch when you step on certain sensors. Head to Bristol for a fabulous New England day trip. Sights, sounds, and scents of the bay accompany your walk or ride along this former railbed of the Providence/Worcester line. Rock of Ages took the opposite approach, building a visitor center and launching a tour program. Similar wonders exist at Americas Stonehenge in coastal New Hampshire. Multiple Centers & Dock Locations Some days theres even a band singing sea chanteys. Worcester, MA, 01609 ARGIA accommodates up to 49 guests for public or private day or evening sails down the historic Mystic River to Fishers' Island Sound. For special offers and great New England travel tips subscribe today. The trail, which starts mid-Cape at Route 134 in Dennis and extends to Wellfleet, follows the former Old Colony Railroad bed, past lakes and marshland, forests and harbors. We have green forested mountains, rocky coastlines, colonial history, and extraordinary seafood. Misquamicut, RI, 02891 Spend it on the water with Blackhawk Sport Fishing. There, on top of the Northeasts tallest peak, you can explore an interactive weather exhibit or look out over the mountains from the rooftop observation deck. Theres nothing manicured about this rare spit of sand sandwiched between rocky shores, home to pieces of driftwood, backed by dwarf pines and uprooted trees. Whether youre an empty nester or a family of five, theres something here for everyone! Are there great things to do at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center? Go on a Ben and Jerry's Vermont Factory Tour to see ice cream churned and sample signature flavors. You can play 18 holes at Copper Creek Mini Golf, then grab ice cream, pizza or a burger. 137 Warren Avenue You are reading "25 Best Weekend Getaways in New England Today" Back to Top. Bridgewater Corners, VT, 05035 Guilford, CT, 06437 earlier after Labor Day, 1 hr. For children, art carts and touch carts allow them to draw and, yes, touch things. Of course! Phone: 978-562-9182, Visitors will feel like they are part of history at this interactive, educational museum, 5520 US Route 4 Phone: 802-333-4311 Built as a "summer cottage" for Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt in 1891, Rough Point Museum today tells the story of the life and legacy of its most recent owner - heiress, collector, and philanthropist Doris Duke. Milk one of the working dairy farms 270 Holsteins, bottle-feed a newborn calf or cuddle with kittens. The estate offers family programs, a popular music night series in the summer and a seasonal restaurant in the Carriage House. Phone: 860-767-0103 Indoors under a giant geodesic dome, you can see a dramatic display of 500 tracks with dioramas and exhibits, while outdoors, kids whose parents call ahead and bring their own materials can make plaster casts of tracks. Covering 47,000 acres of land on Isle au Haut, Mount Desert Island, and the Schoodic Peninsula in DownEast Acadia, Maine, Acadia National Park is the only Maine national park. Phone: 860-448-3662 New Haven, CT, 06511 Fun Things to Do With Kids in New England. Your full body harness and sling line will keep you connected at all times while you explore 100+ challenges, including crisscross angle rope ladders, zig-zag swinging beams, cargo nets, bridges, and more. Phone: 207-668-3792, Plenty of fun activities at this lakefront lodge, where stress-free vacations are a specialty, 105 Haverhill Road Turns out that 200 million years ago this was the stomping ground of Dilophosaurus, an 8-foot-tall, 20-foot-long dinosaur. In the charming Victorian-era seaside village of Watch Hill, the Flying Horse Carousel claims to be one of the nations oldest carousels, built around 1867. Relax at a spa, museum, coffee shop, or bookstore, enjoy live theater and music, ooh and ahh at stunning vistas, and check out the great events and attractions for the whole family. Representative Joseph Morelle of New York is attempting to reduce this jurisdictional loophole by reintroducing the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, a proposed amendment to the 2022 . A rotating seasonal menu, featuring locally sourced ingredients, includes everything from hearty soups and fresh salads to entrees like turkey Reubens, shrimp po' boys and burgers. And, theres a retail shop selling wine, beer, home goods and branded merchandise. Three stories high and measuring 30 feet in diameter, this illuminated exhibit is composed of 206 LED fixtures, which when programmed together produce at least 16 million colors. Vermonters love their maple season; Rhode Islanders cherish their ethnic dining in Providence, the capital, and their Newport mansions. Phone: 508-347-3362 Even if you don't ski, there's so much to do in the winter in New England, including ice skating, fireside dinners, relaxing spas, snow tubing, scenic overlooks, and sampling all the seasonal flavors in some of the best restaurants in the Northeast. You wont believe the number of activities available to Lakes Region visitors! Here are just a few: Kayak through whitewater or take a guided tour to explore the regions wildlife (keep an eye out for moose and bald eagles). And, yes, there is food! You can bring your bike or pet! 2023 Yankee publishing, Inc., An Employee-Owned company, all rights reserved. After a long day at work or a fun day spent in the wonderful wilds of Vermont, is there anything better than a frosty glass of beer . There are beckoning beaches and a variety of state and local parks with hiking trails, playgrounds and tennis courts.