It’s time to start planning your next family vacation, and with its picturesque landscapes, friendly locals, and temperate climate, New England has something for everyone.
As life-long residents, we could write an entire book on New England’s best family-friendly travel destinations, but we’ll try to keep it short and sweet today.
The best hotels in Cape Cod for families
Family-friendly Vacation Ideas For Beach Lovers
Nothing gets our blood pumping after a long, dark, cold New England winter like the thought of sunny summer beach days. With thousands of miles of coast running from the top of Maine all the way down to Rhode Island, you’ll never run out of beaches here.
The best three family-friendly beach destinations in Maine for your family vacation:
- Bar Harbor: If you’re a sucker for rugged, pine tree-laden landscapes, Sand Beach, located in Acadia National Park, should be on your travel bucket list. If you’ve never visited “down east” Maine, you’re in for a treat. The land is tough, and the residents are tougher, albeit quite friendly.
While you won’t find any five-star hotels here (though I hear they have a few four-stars), and the gnats will carry you away if you forget your bug spray, the rustic charm and rugged landscape will be a win for anyone who likes campfires more than clam bakes. - Belfast: If your family is looking for a blend of both worlds – rocky pine landscapes with white sandy beaches, Belfast is a wonderful compromise. Its proximity to Boston and its popularity as a vacation spot for residents of New Hampshire and Massachusetts mean that there are plenty of hotels and weekly housing rentals.
Belfast is also well positioned between two well-known family-friendly beaches: Popham and Reid State Park.
At Popham, your kids can enjoy exploring the old Ft. Popham in the morning and then relaxing on the white sandy shores that stretch for miles. You can explore the shoals and a small offshore island’s tidal pools for marine life at low tides.
For a more active experience, take a day trip to Reid State Park, where the kids can climb over boulders and gather seaweed and snails before body surfing and diving for sea dollars. - Old Orchard Beach: Do your kids like amusement parks? Fair games? Cotton Candy? If so, Old Orchard Beach might be just what the doctor ordered for your next family-friendly travel destination.
This seaside town in southern Maine has a little bit of everything. Palace Playland, a shoreline amusement park, can entertain your kiddos well into the evening with many familiar carnival games, food, and rides.
While those of you that want to play in the sand and surf can soak up some sunshine by the pier. While it may not be the nicest beach in Maine, it’s a popular summer destination for local families who want to mix it up.
The best three family-friendly beach destinations outside of Maine
I’ll admit it, I’m a bit of a Maine beach snob, and my family rarely visits beaches outside of my home state. However, we have had incredible experiences outside of Maine that I think would be an excellent fit for families that aren’t looking for such a rustic experience.
- Cape Cod: Cape Cod is a classic summer destination known for its stunning beaches, charming towns, and outdoor recreational activities. The Cape Cod National Seashore stretches for miles, offering endless opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and building sandcastles, a perfect family-friendly travel destination.
Kids will love visiting the Cape Cod Children’s Museum and the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, where they can learn about the region’s natural habitats and interact with local wildlife, or take the kids for an afternoon of bouncy house fun at the Cape Cod Inflatable Park.
Thinking about making Cape Cod your New England vacation destination this summer? Check out these five family-friendly Cape Cod hotels. Your kids will love them. - Block Island: Block Island is renowned for its stunning natural beauty. This beach destination is adorned with its picturesque beaches, rugged cliffs, and rolling hills, offers breathtaking views at every turn, and an abundance of family-friendly summer activities.
Families can enjoy long walks along the sandy shores, explore the unique rock formations, hunt for glass floats, and take in the tranquility of the island’s unspoiled natural beauty while hiking, biking, walking, or kayaking. The island’s diverse ecosystems, including freshwater ponds and marshes, provide ample opportunities for nature lovers to observe the native wildlife and discover the island’s rich biodiversity. - Newport, RI: With its historic mansions, sandy beaches, and enchanting harbor, Newport is a family-friendly destination that combines relaxation and cultural exploration. Start your visit with a tour of the Newport Mansions, opulent Gilded Age estates that offer a glimpse into the extravagant lifestyles of the past.
Then, spend a day at Easton’s Beach, also known as First Beach, where you can swim, sunbathe, and even fly a kite. Finally, take a harbor tour and marvel at the stunning yachts and sailboats.
For a unique experience, visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame and play a match on the grass courts, or grab tickets to the Newport Beach Water Lantern Festival for a truly one-of-a-kind family bonding moment.
Family-friendly Vacation Ideas for Outdoorsy Types
Don’t fret if the beach isn’t your family’s vibe. Plenty of other options for family vacations in New England don’t involve getting sand in your car.
From the Green Mountains in Vermont to Acadia National Park in Maine, we have enough hiking, biking, climbing, and rafting options to keep you and your kiddos entertained all summer.
Our top 3 family-friendly travel destination picks for hikers, bikers, climbers, and explorers
- The Green Mountains, Vermont: Escape to the Green Mountains of Vermont and immerse your family in the beauty of Stowe. While you may be tempted to relegate Vermont as a wintertime destination, Vermont has much more to offer than we often give it credit for.
This charming town has a wide range of activities for all ages. Explore the Stowe Recreation Path, a scenic trail that winds through forests and meadows and is perfect for walking, biking, or rollerblading.
Enjoy zip-lining, mountain biking, or a thrilling gondola ride to the summit of Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont, and take the kids on a tour of the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream facility on a rainy day. - The White Mountains, New Hampshire: For some big peaks and great eats, look no further than New Hampshire. The White Mountains are popular year-round, and for good reason.
From five-star fine dining venues with hotel accommodations to pristine waterfall hikes, the White Mountains are a year-round family-friendly playground for New Englanders, and with activities like gondola rides, mountain coasters, and scenic train rides, it’s the perfect balance between luxury and fun. - Acadia National Park: This is New England’s ultimate family-friendly travel destination for those who crave a connection with nature. There are so many options for lodging, activities, and tips and tricks for maximizing a visit to Acadia that I can’t possibly do them justice here, so I’ll point you here where you can learn everything you’d ever possibly want to know about planning your next family vacation at Acadia.
New England certainly has a lot on offer, and I don’t feel like I’ve even begun to scratch the surface in this post. My big takeaway is this: New England truly has something for everyone if you’re looking for your family’s next big adventure.