Northeast Vacation Advice

[GroveGuy]

Great advice guys, much appreciated.

Any ideas on Downeast Maine or anywhere else NE?

[dcobbett]

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.

[riprunner]

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.

[jongolds]

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.

[GroveGuy]

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.

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!

[GroveGuy]

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.

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