Dublin6

We will visit the US in July with our 20 year old daughter. We will hire a car in New York and drive to Newport Rhode Island stopping off in Boston for 2-3 nights on the way. We have two weeks in total and would like to see as much of the area as you recommend. Any suggestions for route, accommodation etc would be very welcome. Thanks.

tenthumbs

What are your interests? Outdoor recreation, such as hiking, biking or kayaking? Museums, plays, art? Local history?

and just out of curiousity, what made you choose Newport? It's not usually on the radar of visitors from other countries!

MassDave

Newport is nice, touring a mansion or two is fun if you do The Breakers is a must save it for last if you do more than one. There are many nice shops and outdoor cafe's just wonder around on foot and enjoy.
When in Boston try parking near waterfront in the north end.
This is the Italian section famous for restaurants, pastries (Mike's) Best local pizza is Regina's been there forever get there early or you'll be waiting. Boston is small and you can walk pretty much anywhere. The Freedom Trail is popular route which will cover all the history and touristy stuff. Don't miss Fanuiel Hall. All these area's are safe to just walk around if you're wondering. Where are you coming from?

330east

I think you mean you will stop in Newport on the way to Boston. Newport is betw. NYC and Boston. Re routes you could take I95 thru CT. And stop at a few shore towns such as Madison, Mystic or New London. Or you could take I 495 thru Long Island to Riverhead to the North Fork Of LI thru the agricultural and wine growing areas to Orient Point and take the ferry to New London,CT and get on I95 there. Google Cross Sound Ferry.

Dublin6

Thanks folks. We are interested seeing what the region has to offer - historical, cultural, beaches etc. Just looking for a relaxing holiday combined with city break in Boston on a budget.

Ackislander

Where are you going after Boston?

Where do you fly home from?

I 95 from NY to Boston is a really wretched motorway with huge amounts of juggernaut traffic and nothing to see until you pass New Haven.

Unless you need the car after Boston, I would take the train to Providence and rent a car there to tour Newport. You might tour the South Coast of Rhode Island and go to Mystic, Connecticut, for the Maritime Museum. I would return it to Providence after visiting these towns, and I would then take the train on to Boston. Parking in Boston will be very expensive (probably as much as the daily car rental) and is inconsistent with trying to do Boston on a budget. Public transportation goes everywhere, and you can get cheap passes for one to seven days.

But I don't know what you are doing after.

HKP

If you don't have accommodations yet, best hustle. This is high season for the area. Re: Newport, you probably would want to stay in Middletown (the next town over) -- more reasonable prices and better chance of availability.

Re: Boston - what's your plan for hotel?

Calabria62

Let me add: When in Boston, visit the Museum of Fine Arts. It's quite large, and can compete with any in Europe. Nearby is the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum, which is much smaller, but has some interesting art.

nytraveler

Strongly agree with the reco not to take I-95 - it is a hideous mess, mobbed with huge trucks and often has extensie ack-ips. Plus you re passing through the back end of many towns and while it seems like it should have lovely sea views - it just doesn;y.

Take the Hutch and Merrit Parkways as far as you can. These are scenic roads built in the 1920s for the typical family Sunday afternoon drive in the country after lunch. Naturally they have been updated somewhat - but they still follow the streams they are named after and are fun driving - with narrow, curving route, pretty low stone bridges - but definitely narrow lanes. No trucks, buses or other large vehicles are allowed - cars only.