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Back to New England Hotel Vacation Guide Main Page New England Hotel Family Vacations...and Just Mom and Dad vacations Read about wonderful family-oriented New England communities, search for hotels and make online reservations By Eric H., lifelong New England resident New England is such a diverse and geographically large area that for the uninitiated, it's an overwhelming thought of where to begin when planning a family vacation. As lifelong New Englanders, we have been the "guinea pigs," finding the best and worst places in New England. On this and ensuing pages, we will give you suggestion on only the best places to spend a family vacation, as well as New England travel destinations perfect for Mom and Dad. The most important aspect of finding the best family hotels is to first find the best New England towns and cities to stay. It does not good to stay in a city or town that looks like the back of a refrigerator. You ultimately want a family destination Whether it be the rugged Maine coastline, gentle Vermont green rolling mountains, craggy New Hampshire peaks or the sweet ocean breeze of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, we make it easy to find the perfect New England family vacation destination. Generations of our New England family and friends have taken so many New England roads well-traveled and less taken that is has become second nature to us where to go on vacation. Soon, we hope those family travel destinations will become second-nature to you en route to a great New England vacation. Connect with the Sea in New England Any time of the year, the ocean in New England provides a romantic getaway
People have always been magnetized to the New England sea for its rejuvenating effects, stunning coastal scenery, those proverbial walks on the beach and the chance to experience some of the best seafood in the country. We especially like York Harbor ME. It's so picturesque with the harbor and grand views of the Atlantic Ocean-- the way you would envision coastal Maine or what you would see on a postcard. York Harbor is near the more boisterous York beach with a great stretch of beach at Long Sands, the famous Nubble Lighthouse at Cape Neddick, and the downtown with family-oriented Short Sands Beach and many shops, restaurants and attractions like York Kingdom with its zoo and amusement park. Nearby Ogunquit ME is more sophisticated and perfectly manicured, as a colorful garden walk through Marginal Way provides stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Perkins Cove is an artist's haven and has some of New England's best known seafood restaurants like Barnacle Billy's and the Hurricane. The beach off the downtown is without a doubt one of the most spectacular in New England with its seemingly endless, pure Maine view of the Atlantic Ocean and enough sand to call your own -- even on a busy day. Chatham MA represents Cape Cod at its finest. It's traditional, has not sold out to the commercialism that has ruined parts of Cape Cod, and offers access to beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches where the water seems more blue and the air has that special refreshing salt flavor. The downtown features many nice local shops, and restaurants like the Captain's Table that serve the fresh catch of the day. It is a perfect romantic getaway for Mom and Dad! Bar Harbor ME in the mid-eastern coast of Maine is a popular launching pad for Acadia National Park, a true nature's paradise with a fascinating combination of ocean and mountains. Bar Harbor gets busy, but has an appealing small-town charm, plenty of great seafood restaurants and proximity to "The Loop" in Acadia National Park, surely one of the great scenic attractions on the east coast with pristine waters, forests, hills and mountains is unlike anything you've ever seen. Westerly RI is one of New England's best kept secrets with three distinct areas -- the downtown, Watch Hill and Misquamicut Beach. The restored downtown features the 18-acre Victorian Wilcox Park, 55 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, myriad dining options, a theater and lively arts scene, big old homes and an aggressive preservation so impressive that the National Trust for Historic Preservation's named Westerly as one of the "12 Most Distinctive Destinations" in the country. There is not one chain store in sight. Watch Hill is rather private and secluded, but a lovely oceanside neighborhood with great views, fine shops, a few dining options, amazing sea captain's homes, one of the oldest working carousels in the country, and an old-fashioned aura from yesteryear. Misquamicut is more live wire, a stretch of beach with a water park, arcade games, miniature gold, seafood restaurants, concerts, movies on the beach on summer nights and an overall family atmosphere. Make hotel reservations/check availability today at our favorite New England coastal destinations:
Feel the Pulse of New England Cities... Stay in world-class hotels, experience modern cities with historical preservation
Where the locals recommend making New England city hotel reservations... We strongly recommend visiting Portland ME (pictured left), Providence RI (center), Boston MA (right) and Burlington VT (not pictured) if interested in visiting New England's best cities. Portland acts more like a small town with its beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets, but here you'll also find fine hotels, dining, a growing arts scene and wonderful coastal charm. Providence came out of nowhere to become what some say is one of America's great mid-sized cities. The Ivy league charm of College Hill (brown University), myriad activities by the river at Waterplace Park (including romantic boat rides), the Italian charm and dining at Federal Hill and the sparkling, modern Providence Place Mall make Providence a terrific place to visit. Boston is one of the world's great cities, an incredible mix of the old and new -- historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace with its brick-walkway dining and shopping options, the Freedom Trail, the European flair of Newbury St., the authentic Italian life in the North End and enough museums and other cultural opportunities, to name a few. Burlington VT features the wonderful Church Street Marketplace, an outdoor oasis with more than 50 shops as well as diverse restaurants, street vendors, seasonal festivals and entertainers. The nearby waterfront section affords beautiful views of Lake Champlain and New York's Adirondack Mountains and offers a terrific walking/bike path, restaurants, ferry crossings, cruise boats, concerts, a Fourth of July fireworks celebration and other events. A "green" city with a healthy dose of liberalism dedicated to city beautification, health and wellness resources, and strong political views, Burlington is certainly not a dull city. It may be, in fact, New England's most complete college town as visitors have the benefit of finding things to do often found in larger cities, while enjoying a small-town feel. Make hotel reservations/check availability today at our favorite New England cities:
New England Small-Town Charm... Feel right at home at a special inn or B&B in towns with New England charm
The tall white church steeple, the relaxing town common, historical building preservation and community pride are just a few things that make small-town New England so special. Stowe VT possesses the great white church steeple, a quaint downtown anchored by a general store and trees, and lovely surrounding mountains and farmland -- which can be seen via a wonderful bike path. It is a great place for a family vacation or for Mom and Dad looking to get away to a romantic classic New England mountain setting. Hanover NH is such a nice place that author Bill Bryson -- liked few places in his book "Walk Across America" -- called this perfect New England college town his home. With Dartmouth College providing the cultural attractions, Hanover is ultimately a small town, unspoiled yet interesting and scenic with small , locally-owned shops, dining options (Everything but Anchovies and Lou's) and beautiful college building and old home architecture. Small towns don't get much better than this in New England. (More small towns coming soon) Book Your New England Fall Vacation Today! Plan ahead -- avoid "no vacancy" signs by reserving a room online When it comes to booking your New England fall family vacation, we strongly recommend you make your travel plans early. Fall foliage is a heavy tourist season and rooms can fill up quickly. Additionally, some New England communities offer more fall ambiance for the traveler -- apple picking, cider tasting, scenic drives, spectacular views and lots of color. Tap into our lifelong New England staff to know the best places to visit during your New England fall foliage family vacation. New England fall foliage hotel guide and search To learn more about New England's great vacation and travel destinations and tourist attractions, we also recommend you browsing our New England travel library to find valuable trip resources, ideas, articles and featured destinations and attractions before making hotel reservations.
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