Best Lakes For Family Vacations Near Me – Spring (mud or “stick” season) is not always reliable for all seasons, or at least three, in New England. After living in Rhode Island for over 20 years and vacationing as a child in Vermont, we have some of the best family vacations in New England.
When my daughter was young, we enjoyed family vacations in New England, such as Storyland in New Hampshire (one of the best theme parks for kids) and Sunday River Skiing in Maine. As she was growing up, we enjoyed New England vacation destinations like Cape Cod and the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Whether you like mountain air, lake life, or coastal scenery, New England has it all.
Best Lakes For Family Vacations Near Me
The area is small enough to visit every New England state (Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine) on a New England road trip. A relaxing family vacation.
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The best time to visit New England depends on what you want to experience. Many people visit from late September to mid-October to enjoy the fall foliage. If this is what you prefer, you’ll need to keep an eye on the leaf-peeping forecast to visit during peak season. I’ve put together some ideas for great fall New England road trips, including one of my favorites and a fun Vermont road trip along New Hampshire’s Concamagus Highway.
Winters in New England mean outdoor winter sports like skiing and snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, ice skating, ice fishing, and hunting. Northern New Hampshire and Maine both offer extensive ATV trails that are converted into snowmobile trails in the winter.
Personally, I love New England in the summer. This season has something for everyone. There’s Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, or Newports Vineyard. Maine’s classic rocky coast, the lake regions of Maine and New Hampshire, the small towns and mountain resorts of Vermont, and the historic seaside towns of southern New England. Find out more places to go in Maine in the summer.
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Manchester, Vermont is one of my favorite cities in New England. And it’s not just because of Northshire Bookstore. There are so many things to do in and around Manchester that it makes a great home base for exploring southern Vermont, from historic Bennington on the south to artsy Brattleboro on the east.
You’ll find everything that makes Vermont special: covered bridges, country stores, maple sugar shacks, creameries, chocolatiers, designer outlets, farm-to-table restaurants, and more. Experience history near the Hilton, the home of Robert Lincoln, the only surviving child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. Although this history may seem “boring” to young people, fans of Thomas Tank will enjoy riding the Pullman train in the grounds or strolling through the gardens.
Speaking of hiking, there are plenty to choose from, including flat trails around Lye Brook Falls or Equinox Pond. If you prefer driving to walking, enjoy a scenic summer drive on Mount Equinox Skyline Drive, the longest privately owned paved toll road in the United States. Climb 3.2 miles to the summit of Vernal Mountain, 3,248 feet above sea level, where there are several observation decks and picnic areas.
Manchester is also home to Arvis and you can enroll in the Arvis Fly-Fishing School to learn how to cast, tie knots, choose flies and safely cast, land and release fish.
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Basin Harbor Resort in Vergennes is located on the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont and is the perfect family vacation destination. This lakeside resort has welcomed families for generations and is a place where families gather year after year. You can read our full Basin Harbor review here. However, the resort is perfect for active families with only children and offers a wonderful setting for a multi-generational family vacation.
Families can rent one of 74 one-, two-, and three-bedroom cottages or choose one of 45 guest rooms. You don’t have to leave the resort to take advantage of lakeside activities, including lawn games, complimentary pedal boats, kayak rentals, paddleboards, boats, and children’s programs. But there are plenty of things to do nearby for families.
The Shelburne Museum is the largest art and history museum in northern New England. The 45-acre campus includes 39 buildings, 25 of which are Shaker-designed, including the Round Barn, a general store, a carousel, and the 220-foot sidewheel steamboat Ticonderoga. Visitors enjoy strolling through the beautifully landscaped grounds, which feature 22 gardens.
The Eco Leahy Center on Burlington’s waterfront is another nature and science museum that families will want to explore. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company is also 30 minutes away, and there are many breweries and farms to visit. Find out more about things to do in nearby Burlington, Vermont.
How To Plan A Lake Tahoe Family Vacation –
Stowe is a popular winter resort for skiing (both downhill and Nordic), snowmobiling and other winter sports. But summer can be a fantastic time to visit Stowe, when the ski mountains transform into family-friendly outdoor adventure resorts. There are plenty of places around Stoma, like Cold Hollow Cider Mill (amazing cider donuts with both hard and regular cider) and Cabot Cheese Shop, and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory isn’t far either.
Of course, enjoying the outdoors is one of the many things you’ll want to do in Stowe during the summer, from outdoor activities at mountain resorts to hiking nearby waterfalls, mountain biking and llama trekking. The cute ski town of Stowe has a lot to offer, including restaurants, shops, and nearby craft breweries. (I highly recommend dining at the Bench Inn Stowe.)
For more Vermont ideas, check out these Vermont road trip tips, including a Burlington day trip.
Lake Winnipesaukee and the entire lake region of New Hampshire are popular family vacation destinations in the summer. Remember the 1991 comedy starring Bill Murray?
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Yes, Lake Winnipesaukee. The laid-back atmosphere typical of New Hampshire lakes makes them perfect for large families or groups renting a cabin on the lake for a few days of swimming, boating and fishing. End your day watching the sunset.
Of course, there are also great towns nearby like Meredith and Wolfeboro. Visit Weirs Beach and take a scenic boat trip, paddle board, kayak, or water ski, ride the scenic railroad, hit the arcade, or go ziplining at nearby Gunstock Mountain Resort. can. If you’re feeling ambitious, climb Mount Major or take the grandparents to the historic Castle in the Clouds. Your days will fly by on this New England family vacation.
If you’re looking to get active on your family vacation, North Conway, New Hampshire is the perfect home base for exploration and adventure. New Hampshire’s White Mountains offer endless hikes and adventures of all kinds, including ziplining, rock climbing, mountain roller coasters, alpine slides, treetop adventure parks, scenic drives, train rides and more. This area is especially beautiful in fall.
You’ll also enjoy outlet shopping, including the large LL Bean outlet, excellent restaurants, quaint inns and family-friendly hotels. You can also try glamping at nearby Hattopia Resort, Alpine Garden Glamping, or Lumen Nature Retreat in Lincoln.
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Some of our favorite hikes include hiking the waterfalls at Diana’s Baths, hiking the Concamagus Highway or the Mount Washington Toll Road (although a little more difficult in some spots), climbing caves at Lost River Gorge, and enjoying mountain resort activities. Mount Attidash or Mount Cranmore and the waterfalls of Flume Gorge.
Combined with all its bays and inlets, Maine’s coastline is over 3,000 miles. Although much of this coastline is rocky, Maine Beach in southern Maine, a short drive from Boston, has soft sand perfect for a family vacation. Kittery is famous for its outlet shopping (and Bob’s Clam Hut), offering both Ogunquit Beach and beautiful Peggy’s Cove, one of the most famous lighthouses on the coast of Cape Netick Nubil Light.
Old Orchard Beach offers seven miles of waterfront with beautiful beaches. This seaside resort town is popular with families with young children, who can enjoy all kinds of rides and rides on the pier and beach. Funtown Splashtown Amusement Park, York Wild Kingdom and Aquapogon Waterpark are also nearby.
But one of my favorite towns on the Maine coast is Kennebunkport. There are beautiful beaches with calm waters, such as Goose Rocks Beach, a charming village with great restaurants and shops.
