We are going to the Boston area for the first time in the middle of June. Planning on spending a couple days in Boston, a couple in Cape Cod, and am looking for another nice area to spend a couple days. Any suggestions? Thinking about either the New Hampshire or Maine coast, or maybe Rhode Island. One more thing - any good Boston Hotel ideas? Would like one near shopping & resturants and that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I've seen suggestions here about the Midtown Hotel and I am leaning that way as of now. Thanks a lot.

Since you're on the Cape already, you could take the ferry to either Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. Also, Watch Hill RI is very nice. Marblehead MA is also very nice.

You could go to (working north to south):

Portsmouth and Portland. They are small coastal towns with old cobblestone sections, interesting historical areas, working seaports (lobster fishing).

Cape Anne. An interesting contrast to Cape Cod, with an arts community and a working seaport.

Plymouth. See the famous rock, visit old-timey Plimoth Plantation.

Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket, or Block Island.

Newport. Really rich people used to live here. Tour incredible mansions and hang in a lively downtown. Hop over to Mystic Seaport, and maybe the CT casinos (blanking on the names).

We always stay in Cambridge near the Red Line stop. It is a quick ride on the T to downtown.

Consider spending more than just a couple days in Boston and C.C. -- there's plenty more to do in both areas.

Portsmouth is one place I was looking at, but I may just add a day each to Boston & Cape Cod like you suggested - Thanks.

Newbury Guest House on Newbury St. Boston is very centrally located and has reasonable rates. Priceline is also a very popular Boston option.
Newport and Block Island, RI are wonderful places to visit.

Mid-June in Boston...book your hotel now if you can find one.. It is graduation time at many of the colleges and restaurants and hotels are booked very early.

i'd add on a day to boston and cape and just focus on them for this trip. plenty to see and do.
i did just a day trip to martha's. it was a nice day and enjoyable ferry ride. however, to appreciate the island, next time i'd stay overnight.
i stayed at the newbury guest house. http://www.newburyguesthouse.com/ loved it. great location for restaurants, shopping, walking to some of the sites on the freedom trail. it is very popular so i'd book early. i booked the "best value room". for two people, i'd probably recommend getting one of the more expensive rooms. it was great for one person but would be crowded with two. they had a very good breakfast included with the cost.
i went on a "duck tour" of boston. i enjoyed it. took it as soon as i got there and found it gave me a good overview of the city so i knew how far or close things were to the hotel.

Boston needs at least 3 days. We usually go down on a Friday. Do something in the afternoon such as a culinary tour of Boston's North End or the JFK library. Late dinner. Duck tour is great on Sat. Get 1/2 price tickets for Sat night show. Visit Chinatown for dim sum lunch. Sunday visit another museum. Any of the suggestions in addition to the Cape are great. Don't forget to visit the small towns in RI as well as Newport.
On our last visit we stayed at the Roundhouse suites in South Boston. The hotel had nice rooms w/free parking (I think) but was a little out of the way. The hotel shuttle will drive you to the nearest T although it's walkable during the day but take taxi at night. It wasn't too far from the theatre district. Handy to Rt 93.

For Boston reasonably priced hotel take Chandler,walking distance from great restaurants and shops.
Other suggestions:
Rhode island - try Newport ,visit the Breakers
N. Hampshire : Jackson(Covered bridge motel)ask for Alex
Maine: Bar Harbor(only Nat.Park in nEW ENGLAND/aCADIA°
Greetings from Belgium Paul

Thank you for the suggestions. Going to finalize this tonight. Going to add a day to Boston and maybe Salem or Portsmouth first. Anybody here of the Boston Ghost Tour? I heard it was a hoot.

This it the suggestion from someone who lives in the area....

If you have a car, which I'm assuming you do, then consider driving up through the North Shore area. Marblehead, Marblehead Neck, Salem and then up along the coast through Manchester, up to Gloucester, Rockport (if you have time... then up to Newburyport) This coastal drive is just beautiful. Too many people think Salem is all there is. Great scenery, cute shops in the towns, great seafood restaurants (esp in Gloucester!) Part of this ride would be "Cape Ann" as was suggested by another reply.
New Hampshire deserves a trip all to itself! Drive up Rt. 93 from Boston to the Lakes Region (Lake Winnespesaukee and other smaller lakes) and drive into Meredith at Rt 104. Stop at the docks and roam around Meredith. Drive through to Ashland and make sure to eat at the Common Man Restaurant. Get back onto Rt 93 and continue to the Kangamangus Highway (take time to stop and many overlooks and swim in the rivers with huge rocks to play on)and take acrosss to North Conway (find Diana's Baths...complete with waterfalls and take advantage of outlet shops, but find the covered bridges!). Drive north up Rt 16 and go west across through 302/Crawford Notch...just beautiful! Or drive up Mt Washington,if you dare. Figure at least 2-3 days to really enjoy!

I'm also from the Boston area. There is so much to do here! The cape is beautiful, but a trip 2 Nantucket, you will either have to fly or take a 2 hour ferry ride to get there.

If I were you, I'd concentrate on just one or two locations because there is more than enough to keep you occupied.

Not familiar with the guest house on Newbury St, but the Midtown is fine. Nothing great. We always stay at the Sheraton. It's connected to 2 malls - Copley Place and Prudential. Lots of restaurants in the area too, but it may be too expensive. The rates vary a lot depending on when you go. Also, if you can get a deal on Priceline in the Copley area, you will probably get a nice hotel.

New Hampshire is beautiful and fun. I also recomend the Common Man restaurant and swimming in the river where there are waterfalls. The river is freezing, but it's so much fun you won't mind. That's coming from someone who likes to swim in 80 - 90 degree water. You can also kayak and hike. It's just great. I prefer the Campton and Lincoln areas. Lincoln is at the start of the Kankamangus highway. A beautiful drive and lots of hiking and swiming along the way.

Hope you enjoy your trip!

I agree with NEtripper. That drive along the North Shore is beautiful. Start in Marblehead and follow 1A through Salem, hop on 127 through Manchester to Gloucester. From there you take 133 (I think) over to Ipswich, where you can pick up Rt. 1 again and go on to Portsmouth, NH. The Mount Washington Valley area, about 90 minutes from there is a must see, and there are some lovely inns and restaurants up that way.

ttt