For our family vacation, my family (which includes 17 and 19 y/o) decided to spend a week in the Boston area. We will be driving from MI. We would like to do the historical sightseeing and get the flavor of Boston but also think it would be nice to be near the water. I'm trying to decide whether to rent a place on Cape Cod (or is that too far away from Boston?) or get a place on water that is less commercialized. I've looked on the net at a few places on Cape Ann. My head is spinning. I would like a place near the water where a family of 4 can comfortably stay yet close enough to explore Boston. I would prefer not to stay at a bed and breakfast. Any areas that you can suggest would be welcome.

To stay at the beach and still explore Boston from that location is going to be a stretch - Cape Cod is out for day trips to Boston - too far. However, Cape Ann (Gloucester, Rockport primarily) is doable, but can be a drive of about an hour. I would pick Rockport with teenagers, as there is a nice little downtown area they can explore - but the beaches are nicer in Gloucester. There are also commuter trains from both towns (check it out on MBTA.com)

Is your priority more the ocean (which coming from Michigan it might be) or staying closer to the city or do you want to stay half time in each? To "unspin" your head, I would try to settle on that first. A week on Cape Ann might prompt cries of boredom from teenagers and it would be a shame to drive so far and not see Boston.

Be aware that the water on Cape Ann is freezing year round - warmest in August/September, but still cold for my taste. People do swim - just not me.

So I think the first step is picking what style vacation you want - beach or city or split, and then check back here for more detailed advise. In any event, make reservations soon.

Actually the split between the two would probably work best but from the oceanside rentals I've seen, they seem to rent on a weekly basis. I suppose I could give up the idea of renting a house/cottage and do hotels: 4 nites in Boston, 5 nites in Rockport/Gloucester area. Any recommendations on that scenario?
I realize I need to move quickly to make reservations. Thanks for your feedback Gail.

You can take the ferry from Boston Harbor to Provincetown the best place on the Cape. Spend the day there and shop or rent bikes to explore the bike trails of the Provincelands.Rockport and Gloucester are kinda of dull more or less for old people. The kids would like Hampton Beach NH about an hour north from Boston.However Boston is on the water and Revere Beach is a short ride away.Kinda cheesy but....
I would rent a cottage or an apartment at Hampton Beach and do a couple of daytrips into Boston the city.

juinmi - Check out vacationrentals.com and look at the rentals for Newburyport MA. There is a listing there for a cottage that rents with a 2 night minimum in the summer. This is pretty unusual. No pictures on the website so I can't tell if its acceptable. But I can tell that Newburyport and Plum Island (the beach section of Newburyport ) are both beautiful.

Plum Island is a seven mile long barrier island with half of it being a beach colony and the other half being a national wildlife reserve. The beach is very long and lovely - especially in the reserve. You can kayak, canoe, swim, fish etc. Newburyport is a lively city with nightlife, restaurants, art galleries, shops etc. Very New England looking and well restored. Close proximity to Hampton Beach and Portsmouth NH. Hampton is too honkey tonk for my tastes.

Newburyport is about 60 minutes north of Boston. I wouldn't recommend commuting but if you wanted split your time this option might work.

Plymouth sounds like your best bet. It's close to the water and close to Boston but you'll be able to avoid Cape traffic nightmares. There is an excellent commuter rail line that runs right into the city too. On top of that, there is a few historical things you might be interested in around that area, like Plymouth Plantation.

I would recommend starting north of boston, maybe a night in Hampton, NH, there is a venue there that has some good headliner (www.casinoballroom.com), and it's a great place for teenagers. Then I would travel down the coast and check out Newburyport, Rockport and Gloucester (day trip). From there to Boston is not very interesting, so next I'd stay in Boston for a few nights. While there, check out the Freedom Trail, Quincy Market/Faniuel Hall, Charlestown Navy Yard, etc. I'd also go out trek a bit west of the city (1/2 hr) to Concord, it's a really historic and pretty area, and even rent a canoe on the Sudbury River at the Concord Boathouse, paddle a short way to see the Old North Bridge. A great day trip from Boston is the ferry to Provincetown. It's very artsy and quaint, great shops, seafood and beach. It's sort of like "the Key West of the New England". Next, I would drive south from Boston the Plymouth area, the famous Plymouth Rock, and Whale watches, another historic place and quaint, nice beach also. The water there should be warmer than the water north of Boston too. You may even have time to go to Cape Cod. Traffic advisory if you go to the Cape: The only way to the cape is over a bridge (there are 2), and weekends they are a nightmare going over and coming back.

You've gotten a lot of great advice--I agree with those who say forget the idea of renting a place for a week and going to Boston on day trips. All of the great places to rent near the water will be a big hike to Boston. You can "do" Boston by staying there two nights with very full days. My personal preference is the Cape over the Cape Ann area (we have a house there...) especially if you all like to ride bikes. Great trails. Make sure you go out to the National Seashore to see the unspoiled part of the Cape. Don't let the traffic nightmare scare you. Boston rush hour traffic is worse--just don't go to the Cape on Saturday morning and leave Saturday afternoon (all the rentals turn over then).

Enjoy our great part of the U.S.!

If you go the Cape Cod and since you are from an inland part of our country - you must take the teenagers to Cape Cod National Seashore. There is a main entrance at Eastham - you can not park immediately at beach but must park in a lot about 1.5 miles away and take shuttle. The waves are magnificent, sand clean, soft and white, and your kids will have so much fun in he water they will never forget to tell you they are bored for the day. Beach has bathrooms, outdoor showers, but nothing else - make sure you bring food, water, etc.

I adamantly disagree with the Hampton, NH suggestion. Hampton Beach is a total dump compared to the beuayt of both Cape Cod and Cape Ann.

I agree with the suggestion of splitting up the stay and think you should do 4 nights in Boston and 3 in Cape Cod or Cape Ann. Too much of a hassle to commute into Boston from either. Boston in July can get VERY hot and humid. You will probably be glad to get a little beach time in, as it usually is cooler on either Cape Cod or Cape Ann.Do the beach at the end of the vacation.

Thanks for all your replies. I did make one decision. I decided to stay in Boston over the weekend, Sat-Mon. I have no idea what the Boston area is like and have a reservation for the Sheraton Boston in the Back Bay area. Please tell me that it a good spot. And I'm hoping it is easy to get around from there. Now I need to decide on where to stay for the rest of the week. I'm leaning toward Cape Cod if if I can find suitable lodging for the fam or the Cape Ann area.
Any absolute must-do's in Boston for sights or restaurants, etc?

The Sheraton is fantastic. Rooms are gorgeous and comfortable, location is terrific. It's attached to the Prudential Center with lots of excellent restaurants within (Legal Seafoods, Marche Movenpick, Cheesecake Factory, etc.), not to mention shopping. Right around the corner is Abe & Louie's which is awesome for Saturday or Sunday Brunch (outdoor tables, extensive menu, reasonable prices).

Must do's would include a Duck Tour (see their website, get tickets ahead of time, or see the concierge as soon as you check in), walking the Freedom Trail (with a stop at Faneuil Hall/Quincy Marketplace, which is "touristy" but wonderful all the same), and a trip to the Museum of Science with the kids. The trolley tours are great fun, too, and can be combined with a harbor boat tour. There will be a ton of literature at the hotel, or see the concierge.

I think the kids might find Hampton Beach the more appealing over Cape Cod or Cape Ann. I would never venture onto Cape Cod in July. It's too crowded and traffic is a nightmare. Portsmouth, Rockport, Newburyport, etc., are all wonderful destinations. But, if you want to spend time on a nice beach, Hampton is your place. Be advised, however, that the ocean water is nearly always to cold to do much swimming.

If you do decide on Hampton, be sure to check out the ticketed events in advance. Everything is likely to be sold out by the time you arrive.

Plymouth, MA would be another good choice if your family is interested in history.

You really can't go wrong, though. No matter what you decide, there will be plenty to see and do and lots to explore in every direction every day.

Congrats - you are making great progress - hotel in Boston is great location.

I agree with negative votes for Hampton Beach - the beach is rocky and narrow, lots of honky-tonk, not much else to do in area.

I still vote of Cape Cod. If you stay mid-cape area (Hyannis, Eastham, Yarmouth) area you can access beaches and anything else you want to see.

You are correct in asuming most cottage rentals are Sat-Sat, so you will end up in a more traditional hotel/motel. Most of these on Cape are either standard low-rise nicer hotel (such as Sheraton) or roadside motels, usually non-chain. You could also stay in Hyannis (largest town on Cape) which is a little congested but packed with restaurants, motels. You are not likely to find a motel right on the beach, so you will be driving anyway.

I might do a Cape Cod hotel search here and/or post a new question about hotel on Cape, listing your specifications - such as suite, kitchen, beach proximity, etc. You'll get some good answers.

Glad to hear there are still other families who can travel with their teenagers - our oldest is 17. If they are so inclined, head them in the right direction on the internet and let them have some say in Cape Cod or Cape Ann - sometimes our kids come up with stuff we never thought of.

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For restaurant ideas, check out recent online artice about "eating your way across New England" -- http://travel.boston.com/places/newengland/themes/food.html