Summer is a great time for a day trip, although you may be up for a day trip any time of year. If you, like me, live in the Northeast, there are so many options for New England day trips, including a bunch of quaint New England cities and towns. Here are some great ideas including destinations and attractions that you may consider for family day trips in New England.
Learn About History
New England offers many historical attractions, so head out and do some learning on your vacation. Of course, Plimoth Patuxet Museums is a popular spot for anyone looking to learn about Plymouth. Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA is another great living history museum for families to visit.
Learn About History: Salem
Salem, MA is another of my favorite places to visit for a day trip. This town by the water is the home of the Salem Witch Trials. In addition to the various museums dedicated to this history, you’ll also find historic homes, shops, restaurants, museums, and more. Read about some things to do in Salem MA here.
Visit the Beach for a Day Trip in New England: Cape Cod
In the summer, you may consider taking a day trip down to Cape Cod, where you’ll find miniature golf courses, delicious restaurants, and of course, world-class beaches. Again, these beach parking lots fill up quickly on peak days, so you’ll want to arrive early.
Visit the Beach for a Day Trip in New England: Ogunquit
Beach days are always fun in the summer, and New England is filled with dozens of them. Whether you visit a saltwater ocean beach, like Horseneck Beach in Westport, MA, Ogunquit Beach in Ogunquit Maine, or Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA, or a pond or lake, a day at the beach can be a great way to cool off in the heat.
Go to a Museum: Newport
The Newport Mansions in Rhode Island are a fun place to visit, even if you are traveling with kids. These homes, which are the former summer homes of many famous families, offer audio tours. The Breakers has a family audio tour that is especially great for kids. You can also take a walk along the Cliff Walk for beautiful views. There’s also Fort Adams State Park in Newport, which offers gorgeous views.
Go to a Museum: More Options
For more of a science and/or natural history experience, there are options in Cambridge, MA (the Harvard Museum of Natural History), Boston (the Boston Museum of Science), New Haven, CT (the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History), and the Montshire Museum of Science in Vermont. New England also offers children’s museums and art museums.
Enjoy Outlet Shopping
With the back-to-school season coming up, it may be a good time to start shopping. There are lots of outlet malls in the New England area. My favorites are Settlers Green in North Conway, MA, the Wrentham Premium Outlets in MA, the outlets in Kittery, Maine, and the Merrimack Premium Outlets in NH.
Go to an Aquarium
The New England area offers several world-class aquariums. Right in downtown Boston, you’ll find the Boston Aquarium. It’s located right on the water and also offers an IMAX theater. There’s also a wonderful aquarium in Mystic Connecticut – the Mystic Aquarium.
Visit a Theme or Water Park
Story Land (Glen, NH), Six Flags (Agawam, MA), Santa’s Village (Jefferson, NH), and Canobie Lake Park (Salem, NH) are just four of the theme/amusement parks that you can visit with your kids this summer in New England. There are also several outdoor waterparks, like Water Country (Portsmouth, NH), Whale’s Tail (Lincoln, NH), Wicked Waves Water Park (Yarmouth MA), and Water Wizz (East Wareham, MA).
Have an Outdoor Adventure
New England is home to so many fantastic places for outdoor adventures. I love Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Massachusetts and the many hiking trails in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont. In the summer, you can take a boat ride, a Whale Watching tour, or even visit a cranberry bog for more outdoor fun. Read more New England day trip ideas here.