Andrew_Mullin

Hello all. Would appreciate some help with a trip to Boston in April. Planning to arrive into Newark on 10th April, departing again on 21st April. We have visited New York before so will probably just spend a day or so there before heading north up the coast.

We would like to visit Cape Cod, Boston, Maine & Vermont and possibly even venture across to Niagara Falls.

Where do we definitely need to spend some time on our trip? We are quite used to driving long distances in one shot (our last trip was LA, Vegas, Grand Canyon and San Fran) but do not want to cram too much in to this relatively short time frame.

We could fly into Boston instead if required?

Any help much appreciated, as well as advice on the sort of weather we can expect?

Many thanks,
Andrew

Cranachin

April isn't the ideal time to visit New England, especially northern New England. It's known as "mud season" for good reason!

Temperatures can range from cool to chilly, and there is still the possibility of snow.

The Boston Marathon will be run April 18, in case you are interested in watching. April 18-22 was scheduled as a school vacation week for much of New England (so lodging might be a little scarcer or more expensive in some places), although some districts might have canceled vacation due to all the snow days in January.

Be aware that many sites of interest have reduced hours or are not open at all until Memorial Day (end of May) or later. Make sure the things you really want to see (especially the smaller and lesser-known ones) will be open for visiting. This is more true outside the major cities, but being in a big city is not a 100% guarantee a place will be open.

If you are coming from overseas, consider flying into Boston, especially if you end up not going to Niagara Falls.

If you are coming from within the US, consider alternatives Manchester, NH (MHT), Portland, ME (PWM), and Providence, RI (PVD).

If you go to Niagara Falls, make sure you have your passport (if you are a US citizen) so you can go over to the Canadian side for the better view of the falls. One thing you might do is fly into Boston (or one of the other New England airports), rent a car to tour New England, return the car in Boston, fly to Buffalo, rent a car there to see the Falls, and fly home from Buffalo. It might be cheaper to do that than to pay the drop fee for the rental car on a one-way rental and save you a lot of driving.

Jaya

Since NY is not in your plans, you will save a lot of time to fly into Boston instead. Newark just isn't in your path of travel, so don't bother going there.

Niagara is a long drive. It might be easier to fly there, but you can work out that detail better once your itinerary starts to take shape.

One of the early things you should check on is ferry service to where you want to go on the Cape. Sometimes advanced reservations are required, but others with more Cape experience will hopefully chime in too.

While you're in Maine and Vermont, you can add a day for New Hampshire. You'll probably end up driving there to get to Vermont anyhow. There isn't a whole lot to see in Vermont. It's a beautiful state, but you have to drive a distance between cities. You may want to spend more time in NH instead. Just a thought.

yk

I'd fly into Boston and not bother with Newark, if you have no plans to visit NYC. You'll save yourself 4-5 hour drive each way (not to mention the stress of the heavy traffic plus cost of toll etc).

I would also suggest skipping Cape Cod. Many places won't be open until Memorial Day weekend. It can be quite cold and windy with not much to do.

It'll be more helpful if you tell us who "you" are - senior citizens? Parents with teenagers? Parents with toddlers? Young couple? Plus - what are your interests? What do YOU want to see - historic sites? beaches? mountains? ocean????

10 days is not a lot of time; I'd limit it to New England states.

bachslunch

April in Northern New England can still be cold. Weather should be at least a bit better in Massachusetts and southward but can be chilly. Note well that many smaller attractions, especially in Northern New England, Cape Cod, and Western Massachusetts have seasonal hours, often only from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. Definitely check websites for the hours at any attraction you plan to visit.

Boston itself is excellent, well worth anywhere from 3-5 days depending on your interests. Also consider Newport RI, Providence RI, and Portland ME, among other possibilities.

Andrew_Mullin

Thanks for all the replies so far.

yk - we are a young couple. Interested in getting a feel for the area but into mountains and hiking really. Would love to sit on the beach too but obviously too cold!

I am slightly worried about the time of year. Maybe we should consider another area?

Bowsprit

If you're in Buffalo or Maine or in the hills of Vermont in April, you could be faced with snow.

April is not the time for any kind of beach vacation in southern or northern New England. I don't think April is the month that New England really sparkles with springlike weather. It can be rainy, damp, cold and muddy. However, a visit to Boston will be great, a daytrip to Provincetown on Cape Cod from Boston would be nice or a few days spent in Nantucket could be wonderful (check to see when the festival, Daffodil Days, takes place on Nantucket. It's a big deal on ACK and you might be paying higher hotel rates to visit at that time, but I'm really not sure).

Have you been to New Orleans, Savannah, Hilton Head, Outer Banks, or Florida?

yk

Temps in april for Boston:
Avg high 13°C / 55°F
Ave low 5°C / 41°F

Obviously, temps will be lower the farther north you go. I think mid-April is an okay time to visit. Not great, but you get better prices, and way fewer tourists. Trees begin to sprout and flower usually in the last 2 weeks of April.

Only you can decide if you'd enjoy cold'ish weather. If you're hardy and have appropriate clothes, it certainly will be fine to visit new england in April.

nytraveler

You may want to reconsider Niagara Falls. It can still be very cold there and I think you will find that many of the sites and activities don't open until later in the year. Also the trees won't be in leaf yet - the branches will still all be bare and flowers few and far between. Maid of the Mist is a biggie - and I believe they don;t start to operate until May - but do check their web site.

And be prepared that you might still get snow or sleet - esp at higher elevations. (I was stuck overnight at Logan by a sleet/ice storm in mid April.

And definitely fly into and out of Boston unless you want to see NYC.

Ackislander

Bad time of year for that area for all the reasons above.

The leaves are not fully out on the trees even in Boston until the marathon and after, and only early spring flowers will be blooming. The Cape and the Maine coast will be cold, windy, and foggy. The hiking trails in northern New England will be muddy and slick. But there is likely to be spring skiing if that is an interest.

April and early May are sometimes called the Fifth Season, since it is no longer winter but not yet spring. And then everything explodes!

The best part of the country at this time might be Charleston, SC, to Savannah, GA, even down into northern Florida. Warm days, interesting scenery, history of all sorts, and delicious food.

I personally love NE in all seasons

Bowsprit

Hi Ackislander: Do you know the dates for the daffodil festival on Nantucket this year?

lahern98

If you can move your visit to Memorial Day or after there is so much more you can see. Definitely do Downtown Boston and see the Freedom Trail sites and Fanieul Marketplace....

I am a native in Bostonian but I love going to Newport Rhode Island which is approx. 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 mins away. You can see the Mansions, take a sunset cruise and there is also a Casino there.... For Hiking I would Definitely recommend New Hampshire...my nephew is a hiker and lives in NH and I can ask him for the best places to hike....hope this helps

Lisa