Embarking on a New England family vacation offers a wonderful blend of cultural, historical, and recreational experiences. With a diversity of stunning destinations such as Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine, among others, New England family travel offers great adventures for everyone in the family at any time of year.
In this guide, we’ll be talking about some of our favorite New England family vacation destinations, when the best time to travel to New England is based on common activities, and offer up our hot tips on the best family-friendly hotels, accommodations and dining options to help you plan your next trip.
Grab a snack and buckle up; this will be a journey all of its own.
Our New England Family Vacation Guide
New England comprises six states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, though we sometimes try to liberate New York from the Mid-Atlantic and claim it as our own.
It is a diverse region in its topography – big mountains, sandy beaches, and rolling valleys, and in its people – we have hardy northerners and our gentile southerners. New England is also unique in its astounding array of activities centered around the individual seasons; you can go apple picking and sip cider in the fall, ski in the winter, surf in the summer, and laze in the daffodil fields in springtime.
Deciding When and Where To Go On Your New England Family Vacation
While there’s never a bad time to plan a New England family vacation, deciding when to travel is crucial. The East Coast sees four distinct seasons. When to visit depends heavily on your family’s weather preference and tolerance.
Winter tends to blanket the northern states in snow, making it ideal for winter sports enthusiasts. Spring and fall offer milder temperatures and fewer crowds, while summer on the East Coast means beach weather, although it can sometimes veer towards humidity and thunderstorms.
The peak tourist season typically falls between June and August. Keep in mind that this also means higher prices and larger crowds. Weigh your options between the bustling energy of peak season or the tranquility and potential savings of the shoulder seasons.
The best time to travel to New England with family if you want to:
Go to the beach and swim in the ocean in New England
If your idea of the perfect New England family travel vacation is playing on the soft sandy beaches while your kiddos romp in the shoreline waves, July and August are the only months warm enough to be in the ocean water here.
Though there is some variance between the northern beaches of Maine and the southern tip of Cape Cod, the ocean water here is cold. To avoid disappointed kiddos and hypothermia, book this type of trip for the height of summer.
Go skiing in New England
If your idea of the perfect family travel destination is snow-capped slopes, roaring fires, cozy garb, and ski-in ski-out facilities, book your next vacation no earlier than the first week of January and no later than the first week of March.
When the weather cooperates, skiing in New England offers active families breathtaking views, well-groomed trails, and blue-bird days where you can ski comfortably with nothing but a long-sleeve t-shirt on. However, we don’t have the elevation in New England to keep the snow, and the last few years have been particularly hard on smaller family-friendly ski resorts, and the last few years, the season has been short, or the trails have been too slushy due to the temps.
See the fall foliage in New England
They say the weather changes every 5 minutes in New England, and we’re here to tell you they’re right. If you’re eyeballing New England family travel plans that involve leaf-peeping, take heed – the season starts in northern Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire in September and slowly works through Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island through October.
Go fly fishing in New England
While fly-fishing in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont will generally stretch from April 1st to September, remember that the water in rivers quickly changes temperatures with the seasons. The locals swear they catch the biggest fish in April, but you must have a complete set of waterproof waders to stand in the rivers.
Go ice fishing and snowmobiling in New England
Do you long to sit in a ramshackle shack while you wait for flags to pop up all day? If so, you’re probably ice fishing and snowmobiling to get that far out on the lake. To keep this kind of trip safe (because lord knows some guides will keep going until something sinks), plan your trip for the middle of January.
Don’t worry about the cold; most shacks will have wood-burning stoves so you and the kiddos can keep warm while you wait.
Go camping in New England
This one might be a little controversial, but if your New England family travel plans include camping in cabins or tents, your best bet is June and late August. While New England certainly doesn’t have the humidity our southern neighbors deal with, it gets hotter and more humid here than many people realize.
As I write this, it’s 94 degrees out, and the dewpoint is 75; no one wants to sleep outside in that weather.
June is great if you like the early summer when things are just starting to dry out, the days are longer, and the firebugs light up the night. If your family is interested in local agriculture, late August into the fall is the time of the harvest in New England, and you’ll see many farms, festivals, and county fairs popping up, making great day trips for families with younger children.
Where to go on your New England family vacation
Now that we’ve covered some of the basics to help our enthusiasts pick the right time of year to visit New England to get the most out of their hobbies let’s delve into some of our favorite New England family travel destinations.
Family Vacations in Maine
I was born and raised in Maine, and my family has lived all over the state, from the wilds of Madawaska to the outlet havens of Kittery. Maine, in my opinion, has everything you could ever want in a New England family vacation destination apart from haute fine dining.
Maine’s sign slogan is “The Way Life Should Be,” and I agree, for the most part. It’s a state that boasts beautiful beaches, unspoiled backwoods, a wide range of outdoor sporting options, and is a true melting pot of personalities and local cultures, which makes it one of my family’s preferred destinations for New England family travel, and we return every summer.
Transportation options for your Maine vacation: you’ll need to rent a car. Maine is a very large state with 2 “real” airports (unless you want to charter), one in Portland (southern Maine) and one in Bangor (mid-central Maine).
No viable public transportation option exists in Maine; if you’re traveling in the spring, you need a 4×4 SUV. If you are traveling in the winter, you need AWD or winter tires.
Northern Maine Family Vacations: The New England Family Travel Destination for Nature Lovers
Northern parts of Maine are famous for their agriculture, nature, and nearly inexhaustible outdoor activities. This is where you want to be if you are looking for a quiet, family-friendly location. One of the most incredible things about northern Maine is the lack of light pollution in the skies, and I swear that you can see almost every constellation with the naked eye on a clear night.
In northern Maine, you’ll find everything from hiking and biking to ATVs, snowmobiles, fly fishing, and dog sledding. It’s a vast land teeming with wildlife, where moose, deer, bear, and many other critters roam free in the local yards.
If your family’s dream vacation is to get lost in the woods all day, northern Maine will be right up your alley.
Tip: Remember to pack a shovel and biodegradable toilet paper. Wiping with leaves is not recommended.
Downeast Maine Family Vacations: The New England Family Vacation Destination for Hikers, Bikers, Fishing Families, and Quiet Respite
As we move out of northern Maine and into the mysterious land of “Downeast,” you’ll feel the change of the tides. Downeast Maine is a beautiful mix of mountains, rolling rocky hills, and crashing tides.
From the college town of Machias to the fishing villages that dot the shorelines, this region is awash in natural beauty, cool ocean breezes, and quaint little towns.
If you want to visit Downeast, summer is the best time. This area has a ton of local festivals and fairs this time of year where the kiddos can enjoy the carnival rides, hang out with the local farm animals, and get a taste of Maine’s local agriculture.
When you visit, check out the Acadia Birding Festival, where you’ll get to see and learn all about Maine’s native bird species. If you plan to visit in August, the Wild Blueberry Festival shouldn’t be missed!
Southern Maine Family Vacations: The New England Family Vacation Destination for Beach Lovers
If you’re looking for fun in the sun this summer but don’t want to deal with the crowds and the traffic of Cape Cod, MA, Southern Maine is the perfect New England family vacation option. While it does get busy during the peak season, you’ll never feel crowded with the ample shoreline and quiet roads.
In addition to beaches, Southern Maine is home to several small theme park experiences. In Saco, kids can ride the thrill rides and splash all day in the waterpark at Funtown Splashtown, USA, while those in Old Orchard can enjoy a day at Palace Playland, lunch on the pier, and a dip in the ocean all within easy walking distance.
With Southern Maine, you get a little of everything – outlet shops, pristine beaches, plenty of movie theaters, bowling alleys, outdoor parks to keep the kids busy, and many family-friendly dining options, making it one of our top New England family vacation destination picks.
Family Vacations in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is one New England family vacation destination I feel is often overlooked by visitors from outside New England. New Hampshire is the fifth smallest state in the country, and for vacationers, vacation planning can best be considered a visit to Northern New Hampshire or a vacation in Southern New Hampshire.
Here is a fun fact about New Hampshire – it’s one of the only places in New England where you can comfortably surf and ski in one day.
Transportation options for your New Hampshire vacation: you’ll need to rent a car. While New Hampshire isn’t the largest state on our list and is relatively close to larger hubs, you’ll still need a car. We recommend snow tires AND AWD if you’re traveling to northern New Hampshire in winter. The mountains can become very slippery very quickly when it begins to snow.
Family-Friendly Vacations In Northern New Hampshire: Sunshine and Snowy Peaks
In the north are New Hampshire’s incredible White Mountains, roughly 45 mountains at 4,000 ft of elevation or above. It’s a land of incredible beauty, excellent skiing opportunities in winter, and tons of kid-friendly outdoor activities all summer. Instead of sleepy summer ski towns where everything is shut down as soon as the snow melts, here you’ll find repurposed and reinvigorated ski mountains with plenty of thrills, chills, and fun for the whole family.
One of my favorite family-friendly vacations in New Hampshire’s summer is visiting Loon Mountain or Cranmore. Here you can enjoy alpine coasters, zip lining, hiking, biking, swimming (at the local resorts), concerts, and more all summer. These adventure parks are too much fun if your family loves exploring the outdoors, and in the summertime, there’s an abundance of family-friendly hotels in New Hampshire to accommodate any preferred style.
Family-Friendly New England Vacations in Southern New Hampshire
If you’re looking for more of a beach vacation, southern New Hampshire offers Hampton Beach. What it lacks in size and prestige, it makes up for in amenities and events. You’ll find dining options galore, nightly live music, movie nights on the sand, and weekly fireworks shows to dazzle the kiddos.
Given our proximity to Hampton Beach, this isn’t a key destination for our family, BUT it’s centrally located between Boston and Mid-Coast Maine, and if you’re looking for a fun summer New England family vacation, then this location is a great mid-way point, between Boston, MA and Portland, ME. You could easily get to one point of interest or another in a day without too much driving fatigue.
New England Family Vacations in Massachusetts
Massachusetts – home is where my heart is. While I was born and raised in Maine, my fascination with the big city of Boston has been deeply engraved in my heart since the first time my grandmother brought me to visit her (she was then living in Roxbury), and Massachusetts is where I’ve chosen to make my home in my adult life.
I still love the hustle and bustle of the city. I love everything about it, the food, the people, the hubbub; 30 years later, while I currently make a home in the western part of the state, Boston forever holds a piece of my history and heart.
If you’re interested in planning a New England family vacation in Massachusetts, the state is divided into three areas that interest tourists: the Cape, Boston, and the Berkshires.
Transportation options for your Massachusetts vacation: Massachusetts gives you many more options for transportation, depending on when and where you’re visiting. If you decide to spend your vacation time in Boston, you will not need a car to get around. The T is a fantastic option, and Ubers are plenty.
A car rental will be necessary if you plan to visit points west or the Cape.
Boston: Where History Comes Alive
Travel north to the heart of Massachusetts, and you’ll find Boston – a city brimming with historical significance and charm. Take your family on the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile-long route that passes by 16 locations pivotal to the history of the United States. Visit the Boston Children’s Museum, packed with interactive exhibits to stimulate young minds.
No trip to Boston is complete without experiencing a Red Sox game at the legendary Fenway Park. Arrive early to catch batting practice, tour the park for non-baseball fans, or soak up over a century of history.
Avoid dining in tourist-heavy areas like Faneuil Hall, where prices are inflated, and quality can be hit or miss. Instead, venture to the North End for authentic Italian fare, Union Square for an array of diverse food trucks, or check out one of our favorite family-friendly restaurants in Boston for an authentic experience you won’t forget.
The Cape: Seaside Memories and Oceanfront Dreams
A visit to Cape Cod is a trip back in time and the quintessential summer vacation spot in New England. Every year families from around the country converge on this Massachusetts peninsula, and with them comes the influx of services staff at restaurants, hotels, and local shops, eager to serve the budding population of out-of-towners.
The silky soft sandy beaches are a particular draw for tourists. The weather is cooler than in more southern parts of the east coast, yet the water is warm, the surf is safe for children and there are endless miles of seacoast natural beauty to marvel at.
As a premier tourist destination for New England family vacations, Cape Cod has many family-friendly accommodations and hotels, offering unique children’s programming, daycare services, and flexible dining options that delight kiddos of all ages. They also offer many public beaches, easily accessible grocery stores, and family-friendly dining options.
The Berkshires, MA: Artsy Family Fun
If your family is a fan of the arts, then I can think of no greater New England family vacation destination than The Berkshires. Located in western Massachusetts, The Berkshires is the perfect blend of nature, culture, art, and food. We have live local music, festivals, performance art, museums, and more. The Berkshires, and most of “western” Massachusetts, have a very distinct vibe.
We celebrate creativity, environmental sustainability, the arts, nature, local businesses, and agriculture; in the summertime, we love to be outdoors together, enjoying those arts. You’ll find that this commitment also extends to accommodation options, where you can choose an all-out luxury escape or a fun and funky Berkshires, MA vacation rental through Airbnb.
The Berkshires also has your family covered if you want to combine arts and outdoor activities with Berkshire East, where you can ski family-friendly trails and sip hot coca all season long or let the kids go wild in the adventure park and alpine coaster in the warmer months. Whatever time of year you visit, you can expect to immerse yourself in the friendly, vibrant, active, and fun-loving nature that makes The Berkshires region one of our all-time favorite New England family vacation destinations.