Family Attractions in New England is defined as the northeastern region of the United States, including Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
As one of the first English settlements in the infancy of the United States, it is home to countless historical attractions that are popular with US citizens and international travelers alike.
With an extensive coastline, natural beauty and major cities, New England offers fun things and attractions for the whole family in the summer months.
New England was established by pilgrims who came to the United States to escape religious persecution in England. They landed in Plymouth in 1620, and formed the first colony of New England.
During the Revolutionary period of the late 18th century, the New England colonies declared independence from British rule. Today, Plymouth Rock is a major tourist attraction.
Other historic attractions include the Paul Revere House, the Salem Witch Museum and the Liberty Fleet Tall Ship Adventure in Boston.
Because of New England’s varied geography and population, the region offers numerous attractions and special events.
The most obvious type of attractions in New England are the many amusement parks, sandy beaches, theme parks and historic sites, including the many Revolutionary War sites. Visitors flock to outdoor activities, theatrical festivals, and cultural centers such as Boston.
A popular attraction in any part of New England is local cuisine; regional dishes, such as clam chowder and baked beans in Boston are popular with locals and travelers.
Geography Of This Great Place
New England is the perfect place that offers a wide range of geographic attractions. The white mountains of Vermont offer the finest skiing and snowboarding available on the East Coast of the United States.
Along the coastline of New England, visitors enjoy the beaches, water sports, whale watching and picturesque lighthouses. In the Berkshire Mountains, festivals abound for theater, art and dance.
Massachusetts boasts the popular islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket and the spectacular and storied Boston harbor.
If you’ve never been, go. If you do go, go in the fall. Once you’ve been, you’ll want to go back, because, there’s a lot to see and do in the five states that make up a place called New England.
This is a sampling of must see places and believe me, it’s way too much to do on one trip while at the same time, it barely scratches the surface.
Cape Cod Is Great For A New England Family Vacation
This armlike peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic is the right place that offers something for just about everybody.
If you’re a beach person and you don’t mind crowds, go in the summer and you can have your pick of the calm sea beaches of the bay or the whitecaps of the oceanside beaches of the Cape Cod national seashore.
If you’re not that into beaches and crowds, go in the fall and check out Woods Hole, a tiny marine science village that has more than its share of restaurants and bars.
Make the trip out to the Cape’s elbow to Chatham and stop in at the village watering hole and restaurant The Squire for great seafood and local chatter.
Stay at the Chatham Wayside Inn if they’re not booked up. Take the slow ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket; the two hour boat ride gets you in that island state of mind so you can relish the old world charm of cobblestone streets and time capsule architecture. Stay at the Jared Coffin House, have breakfast at Black Eyed Susan’s and have lunch/dinner at Brotherhood of Thieves.
Newport, Rhode Island
It’s a bit touristy and the cruise ships love the place, but, it’s worth bumping elbows to take in this port that predates the American Revolution.
Great restaurants and bars are everywhere but the real jewel is Trinity Church where George Washington was known to stop in. Kudos to the Newport Historical Society for the loving restoration of this incredible church and the multitude of period buildings in town.
For a look at ostentatiousness at its best, take a drive down beautiful, wide Bellevue Avenue and take a look and maybe a tour of the “summer cottage” mansions from the turn of last century. Have a very reasonably priced breakfast at the Aloha Cafe’ at the Seamen’s Church Institute, lunch at Brick Alley Pub and dinner at The Moorings.
Boston Is Great For Young Kids To Have A Great Time
This one’s a tall order but well worth it especially if you like history. You can walk the Freedom Trail and take in places you read about in American History class like and, you while you’re downtown.
Stop in at The Union Oyster House and try the clam chowder or a fresh lobster then walk down the street to the Bell In Hand and drink where some of America’s forefathers gathered from time to time.
With a town the size of Boston, you’ll find plenty to keep you and your small children entertained. You can visit the New England aquarium, the Boston Common, the Boston Children’s Museum if you have young children, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Boston Museum of Science.
Freeport, Me On Your New England Vacation
This is where L.L. Bean’s flagship store sprawls through downtown. Even if you don’t buy a thing, it’s fun just to check out the impressive layout and inventory of the huge outdoor supplier.
They have great clothing and the hunting and fishing departments are an outdoorsman’s dream especially for flyfishing enthusiasts.
There are no locks on the doors because they’re open all the time. Stop in at Jameson’s Tavern just down the street for some good food and great beer and try Sticky Buns for breakfast.
Bennington, Vt Is Great In The Warmer Months
This place is the epitome of the sleepy New England town and the Bennington Museum has a large collection of Vermont native Grandma Moses originals along with the Dear Jane Quilt made by a Vermont native during the Civil War era. Carmody’s is a great attraction to have a beer and grab a bite to eat.
Driving New Hampshire
There’s a lot of incredible scenery packed into this little State. Highway 2 toward the North runs by some stunning white birch tree thickets and some of the bluest ponds like Lake Winnipesaukee you’ll ever see and you can get an unbelievable view of magestic Mount Washington too.
Venture just off Highway 93 in any direction and you’ll find some of the most impressive topography in the Eastern United States, gorges, mountains and running water make up a symphony of nature at its best. Be on the lookout for moose too.
Mystic, Ct Is One Of The Best Places To Visit
If you’re into sailing history, this is your place. Impeccably restored tall ships and a nice aquarium makes up Mystic Seaport where you can see how they used to live and make a living back in the day. Have breakfast at Kitchen Little just down the street.
Considerations
Although New England is connected with a well-developed highway system, pick one area on which to concentrate on your day trip and your scenic drive.
Visitors often choose to spend a week at the shore during the summer, eating seafood and exploring the area’s seafaring history.
Travelers interested in Revolutionary War attractions might spend time in Boston, visiting the many museums and historical sites.
Time Frame For Your Road Trip
New England offers a variety of attractions for visitors year-round. In winter, visitors might want to head to Vermont to visit the snow-covered mountains and to enjoy winter sports.
In the summer, the New England shore is a popular attraction. In the fall, the spectacular colors of changing leaves draw tourists from all over the country and the world.