7 New England Family Road Trips - 2

5)    Coastal Maine

Cool off and recharge in coastal Maine. You will be rewarded with charming small town beaches and fun and affordable family activities.

Both Wells Beach and York Beach are wonderful family beaches, with gradual elevation changes for the little ones and mild surf perfect for boogie boarding teens.

Families can learn a new outdoor skill together from the best in the business; the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport (also famously open for shopping 24 hours a day) offers walk-on outdoor discovery school tours in kayaking, fly-fishing or archery for $15 per person.

Lobster shacks really do dot the Maine coast. Try Harraseekat Lunch & Lobster Co. in South Freeport—their lobster roll is wicked good!

 

• Wells Beach is the perfect place to enjoy summertime on the coast of Maine.

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Portland has become quite trendy in recent years with unique boutiques and hip restaurants. The Portland Art Museum is light and bright and houses an impressive collection of European and Maine art. Scoring tickets to a Red Sox game at Fenway is next to impossible, but you can snag seats to a Portland Seadogs game, the Red Sox AA farm team. You may even see a future MLB star! The Children’s Museum of Maine offers kids a world of things to do, including exploring a pirate ship or discovering the creatures in a tidal pool touch tank.

6)    Northern Vermont

The mountains of Vermont are a place of natural beauty, comfortable summer temperatures, and countless opportunities for outdoor recreation. It’s also a great place for families to play together.

Burlington is Vermont’s largest city, nestled between Lake Champlain and the foot of the Adirondack Mountains. Lake Champlain is Burlington’s “swimming hole” and North Beach has all the family amenities: lifeguards, changing rooms, even a playground and snack bar.

 

• A crowd gathers for one of Shelburne Farms’ summer concerts in Vermont.

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Spend a day on a farm. Shelburne Farms is a 1,400-acre working homestead. There are walking trails, a children’s barnyard, educational programs and a well-regarded restaurant.

Kids love to see how things are made. Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and Cabot Cheese all offer fun factory tours.

High adventure mountain thrills can be had at Stowe Mountain Resort. Take a gondola ride to the top of Mount Mansfield for hiking and spectacular views from Vermont’s highest peak.

 

• Founded in 1969, the Norman Rockwell Museum is located in Stockbridge, Mass.—where the artist spent the last 25 years of his life.

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7)    The Berkshires, Massachusetts

The Berkshires is a well-known region and cultural mecca for music, art and dance. Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Introduce your kids to the world of classical music; lawn tickets are free for children under 12 when accompanied by an adult. Bring a blanket and pack a picnic.

The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge is old-time folksy and Mass MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Adams is modern and quirky, but both art museums appeal to kids. Jacob’s Pillow in Becket is a wonderful place for children to see dance performances. Inside/Out shows take place on an outdoor stage against the idyllic backdrop of the mountains and feature free, informal performances by the newer dancers.

Do your kids crave adventure? Learn to kayak or canoe, go on a guided white water rafting trip or learn to rock climb with Zoar Outdoor, an outfitter with an extensive base in Charlemont.