I'm shifting my summer vacation plans with a new idea, and wondered if I could get some quick expert advice before pursuing further. Thinking about flying to Boston in August (kids 5th & 7th grades). They've never been, so would do sightseeing 3-5 days. I'm thinking we can get by without renting a car. Would like to take an add'l 3 days and go to the shore. I imagine Cape Cod would be packed and we'd pay top dollar. I have fond memories of Maine, and wondering if we might want to drive (or other form of tranpsort?) up there to stay at a resort/cabin/beach for a few days? Or maybe NH? Would appreciate any feedback!

ttt

The Maine coast is beautiful but not very beachy beyond Portland and very chilly water. Newport RI is very interesting and with milder water beaches.

You absolutely do not need a car for your time in Boston - walk, take the T, there are also buses, the train and bicycle tours if your kids are into that -

5th and 7th grades are excellent for 3-5 dys in Boston - i would vote for 5 so you can mix up history and museums with fun -

You do not have to go to the Cape to explore the 'shore' - August is high season on the Cape, but you never know where you can find openings and at what price until you try -

in MA you can also try places on the North Shore and the South Shore (hotels/B & B's in Cohasset, Scituate with beaches) and Plymouth/ Manomet area which might be less than the Cape - and sometimes you can luck out with a B & B on Martha's Vineyard, which would give you lots of beach options -

Also high season in Newport, but you can often get great rates in Middletown or nearby instead of actually in Newport but only be 5 - 20 minutes away and RI has many beautiful beaches -

Wentworth by the Sea in NH / Portsmouth/ Lake Sunapee area -

all good choices - as is Maine (although the water is always soooo cold) - also sometimes rocky beaches, so choose carefully -

somewhere here there was a recent post about beaaches,, I'll see if I can find it

here it is !!

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34967045

With kids that age, one of the very best "shores" in August would be Hampton Beach (NH). There's a beautiful expanse of beach. Or, you could head for Old Orchard Beach (ME).

If you think the kids would be interested in the attractions in Plymouth, check out the Plymouth Sands (hotel/motel), which is right on the ocean.

Not renting a car would severly diminish your "shore" options.

Though you say you'd "pay top dollar", it will be a challenge to book now for a few days in August at many "shore" destinations.

Another beach idea in Maine would be York Beach. It's very popular with families. Staying only 3 days will probably limit you to hotel accomodations since cottages probably rent by the week. NH's Lakes region offers tons of possibilities but, again, more choices if you were staying a week. There are quiet areas such as Winnisquam away from traffic. Around Lake Winnipesaukee there is more to do also more traffic so I would avoid anything around Weirs Beach. If you stay on Lake Winnipesaukee keep in mind NH's White Mountains are a short drive away with a variety of attractions such as the Flume, Polar Caves, alpine slides, etc. In the Hampton NH area, there is also Water Country if you think ocean water is too cold. The drive between Boston and Lake W is about 2 hours, directly up Rt 93.

You don't need a car in Boston, you might to get to a shore location, depending on which one you choose - otherwise, you can check on mbta.com, for T's, buses, shuttles and peter pan bus lines to the cape, etc -

if you really do not want to rent a car, you might start by printing out the bus line destinations (the peter pan goes to a zillion towns on the Cape)
and start searching for your spot that way -

You have lots of beach choices from Boston: For the number and variety of beaches you can't beat the Cape. If you book ahead, you should find something. Choose the the south side (Falmouth, etc) for warm, safe, but crowded and somewhat commercialized beaches. Stay somewhere like Eastham, Chatham or Wellfleet for choices of ocean or bay beaches.
As for beaches north of Boston, they are cooler, but still can be very nice. New Hampshire has a short stretch of beach, with Hampton being the most popular spot. Hampton gets a lot of teens from urban areas, so is somewhat honkey tonk.
Heading up into Maine: York Short Sands is an old timey family beach town with a stretch of protected beach. Ogunquit has perhaps the most scenic stretch of beach in Maine, and attracts an ecclectic mix of families and gays.It has a very cutesy downtown. Wells also has some very nice beaches and is generally less expensive(no cutesy downtown). Kennebunkport is somewhat similar to Ogunquit. The stretch of rte. 1 in Maine from Ogunquit to Kennebunk is literally lined with motels but only a few are walking distance to the beach.

ps: you must be from NY or NJ - the 'shore' is a dead giveaway

Thanks for all the suggestions - I'm going to get started on my research! Had to laugh "ps: you must be from NY or NJ - the 'shore' is a dead giveaway"...I'm from the midwest!