Hello--I'm trying to plan a last minute vacation for my stepdaughter and her family for sometime during August 21-31. Here's what our preferences would be:

1) Within a 6 hour drive of western Massachusetts.
2) within walking or easy driving distance of some kind of beach--lake or ocean, it doesn't matter
3) with a few family-oriented activities in the area--miniature golf, drive in movies, etc
4) less than $1,000 for all food & lodging, anywhere from 4 to 6 nights.

I appreciate any help you can give. I usually plan Caribbean vacations, so I don't know much about this neck of the woods. Thanks!

Stay at the Rose Inn near Ithaca, NY. It is close to the Cayuga lake where you can spend an entire day on the wine trail. The town of Ithaca also has a few restaurants and Cornell University campus is beautiful. Right there you can also visit a couple of state parks with gorgeous waterfalls.

... nj remains in the running. Is putt putt bottomline?

Yes, you can vacation in NJ (check out Spring Lake or Sea Girt). Both are classy seashore towns. Stay in B&B where the service is more personal than at the hotel.

... oh, no, Igor ... there were really only two possible answers on nj ... well, you know what they say about 50-50. Sometimes you're going to come up with the incorrect conclusion. Now, how about drive-in movie? Or family? Any flexibility there?

Mini golf and drive in movies are definitely negotiable. Water and swimming accessibility are not.

Children's ages are 10 years, 6 years, and 6 months old. The parents like outdoorsy things and don't care about shopping or museums with the little ones in tow. The little ones love to swim. I'll check out the place in Ithaca. Any other suggesions in Finger Lakes region?

Jersey is definitely doable. I'd even take Canada south of Montreal for suggestions. Or the Adirondacks. What about Lake Champlain area?

Thanks for all the help so far! I hate planning things like this at the last minute. Every place I've inquired about so far is either booked during that time or over $200/night.

you can check out vrbo.com for last-minute availability of houses on NJ shore. With a family, staying in a B&B might be a problem since most of them don't allow kids.

Adirondacks in NY? (Might be a bit late for getting accomodations.) Maybe Lake George and area?

Bar Harbor, Maine / Acadia National Park.

Lots of neat cottages, as well as hotel accomodations - check out www.barharborinfo.com and www.visitbarharbor.com. The only problem will be finding something available at this time, I imagine, although the cottage rates that I glanced at seemed likely to be in your price range...

Lots of beach areas, although the water might be a bit cold!

Definitely minature golf; I specifically remember playing a really neat course there (it was on the main road into Bar Harbor, so you won't miss it.)

Lobster hatchery & oceanarium. National park probably has free kid's programs.

Hiking & biking & carriage rides in the national park.

Boat tours or kayaking.

Definitely a lot to do.

Lake Placid, NY, might be nice too...

Ithaca is a very nice place. I live in Syracuse and have gone there several times.
It has quite a bit to offer for a small area. The falls there are beautiful, They have a nice science museum, They have some good restaurants,not far from Watkins Glen which is also a nice area, nice lake in the area, also some nice places to stay. Check it out!!

I am going to share a wonderful location for a family vacation, but it is just a bit farther than you have specified. It is the Far Hills Inn in the Laurentians about an hour north of Montreal. The grounds are really lovely and there is a lake for swimming and boating just a short walk from your room. There are outside and inside swimming pools - neither exceptional, but both more than adequate. Best of all is the food. Gourmet-quality dinners are included in the price. My two daughters loved going in for dinner every day, and trying things they might not normally eat. Breakfast is also included. Have fun!

Why not head EAST and go to Boston. Then they can take a trip over to Cape Cod or to the north shore to Cape Ann for the beaches and family oriented stuff; if it's midweek you'll have better luck finding a room. There is a drive-in in Wellfleet on the Cape. Search the Boston Globe archives for the names of others in MA; there is one in Mendon but I can't recall others.

THe other suggestions are great also. However, you can't swim in the ocean in Maine and Canada. NJ waters are great this time of year.

Thanks for all of the advice so far, y'all. I've got an update: they definitely want to do Maine (water's never too cold for the kids to swim in it, but you wouldn't catch me sticking more than a toe in!). They're thinking they'd like to look at Acadia and spend some time there. Now I'd like some recs for hotels/motels/inns that might have vacancy for end of August. Any suggestions? Budget for whole week: $1,000, inclusive of food, lodging, activities. Family of 5, which makes me think a B&B would be out, since they would need two rooms instead of just one...

keep 'em coming!

I would recommend Lake Placid. If you want to do the Adirondacks, you can try the Lake Pleasant Inn. It is completely refurbished this year and may have openings because nobody knows about it. It is in Speculator NY.