Northeast Vacation Advice
 

To escape the South Florida heat this summer I am looking for a "cool" vacation rental to take the family for a week or so. The Carolina mountains have been nice but we're looking for something different this year. Do any of you Northeastern members recommend a nice coastal spot for relaxing family fun: Cape Cod, Maine, etc.? General or specific info would be appreciated.

The Seacraft, though part of the family, will not be joining us :D

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

List the type of things you & your family like to do.

I am very biased to the New Jersey shore. Also, Cape Cod is very cool.

One other place that may be worth looking at is Block Island.

Good luck.

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

Thanks for the reply

Let's see: beach is nice but not neccessary, historical areas, quaint small-town type stuff, unique restaurants, nature hiking/viewing and I guess shopping (for her).

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

OK, that helps.

Here are some possabilities.

1) Cape May, NJ http://www.capemay.com/

2) Newport/Block Island, RI

http://www.blockisland.com/
http://www.gonewport.com/


3) Wellfleet, MA
http://www.wellfleetma.org/Home/

I think that the family would be happy at anyone.

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

Sounds to me like you need to go to Martha's Vineyard. I have gone the past two summers, and it it absolutely amazing!!!
Its deffinately better than cape cod. The cape doesn't have enough little unique towns like the vineyard does, and you can't really walk around any of the towns on the cape like you can in the vineyard.

There is just something unique about the vineyard that is different..idk what it is, but it is remarkable. It is a little pricey, but its worth it. You can also check out some of the other islands abound MA.

MV chanber of commerce

martha's vineyard online

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

Outstanding stuff guys, thanks!

BTW, if driving from Boston airport, what's the driving time/ferry protocol to get to MV or Wellfleet?

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

It all depends on what day it is and what time of the day.

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

OK...Not sure day or time - I'll presume 2 to 3 hrs driving to the cape. I've done a little searching and see places in MV advertised with tickets, for the ferry I guess. Are these given out in limited numbers? Cost and protocol?

Thanks!

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

There is a couple of ways to get to the MV by ferry, but if you want to bring a vehicle there is only one way.

http://www.steamshipauthority.com. If you are going to bring a car, I would recommend booking a reservation as early as possible. You pick up the ferry in Woods Hole which is part of Falmouth MA.

If you don't bring a vehicle, there are other options. From New Bedford MA: http://www.nefastferry.com/

Here is another walk on ferry from Falmouth. Http://www.islandqueen.com

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

GroveGuy,
If you choose the Cape or MV, as "outaline" mentioned, drive time from Boston totally depends on time of day and day of week. On a Friday evening or Saturday morning in July or August (prime traffic times heading south on I-93 and Route 3), you can expect 1.5-2 hours from Boston just to the Cape Cod Canal. From the Canal to Woods Hole, 30 minutes. From the Canal to Wellfleet as PeterB suggested, 1 hour. On the other hand, head down on a week day or Sunday and you can save a bunch of time. I love MV, so I would suggest going there. Make car reservations as soon as possible, especially if going on a Fri/Sat/Sun in Jul/Aug. IMO, early/mid-September is the perfect time over there due to less crowds/traffic, house rentals are cheaper/easier to come by, and ferry reservations are easier to get. Plus, the weather is typically a few degrees cooler than August (high 70s-low 80s) but just as sunny and the water is at its warmest.

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

Great advice guys, much appreciated.

Any ideas on Downeast Maine or anywhere else NE?

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

I don't think you mentioned how many and what kind of kids (boys, girls), and what you all like to do? An option might be to set up a base somewhere on the Cape and split time between the Cape and day trips to the islands (MV and Nantucket). That would also allow you to think about 1 or 2 day trips to Boston (historic) and point north (southern Maine). That type of plan will also give you options if you get a few days of bad weather.

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

I agree with dcobbett. If you are thinking of coming the cape area it might be easier & a little cheaper to rent a house on the cape and do day trips to the Vineyard, Nantucket, and other parts of the cape. I used to work at the Steamship when I was a kid and people do car reservations a year in advance for prime time weekends. I would look at rentals in Falmouth it's a pretty large town for the cape with plenty of things for the kids to do.

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

You've got nicer beaches in Florida than we do in NE. I'd head to the mountains and freshwater lakes rather than the coast. See something you're not going see back home. It's also usually a bit cooler in the higher elevations than at the coast too. There's the thousand islands, Lake George, Niagara Falls. There are literally tons of places from Upstate NY & Canada, to all of New England.

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

Boys are 2 - 5, easy to please but logistics will be an issue. Great idea to rent on the cape and take day trips, and a forum member kindly PM'ed me with a reasonable MV accomodation offer. Point well taken about freshwater options too. Thanks to all!

Jeez, everything sounds great - now I'm really having trouble deciding! :D

Re: Northeast Vacation Advice
 

Well procrastination does pay, my decision has turned out to be an easy one. A neighboring family has been offered a free week at a canal front home on Marco Island, Fl. They have asked us to come along and bring the boat. So, with a tight budget this year, no airfare cost, no lodging cost, 1 1/2 hr car ride and a week with the Seacraft ... its a no brainer call. :cool:

Next year we'll shoot for the Cape.
Thanks again for all the suggestions.