New England
 

Hi we are considering traveling to the New England area for 2 weeks with our 2 Teen Age daughters can you give us an idea of a nice itinerary? Is it a good idea to start from Boston? or Washington? or New York city? or maybe start north and travel south to this cities?

Sorry I forgot to mention that we are planning to go on the last 2 weeks of July and would like to stay in nice small hotels.

aqua,
This is just too general of a question. "New england" covers a lot of territory. You must have some idea of what types of things you want to do/see, to narrow it down?

I don't understand why you would add New York and Washington to this trip, either.

I recommend starting in DC, then New York, and finally Boston. New England has a relaxing feel to it and it seems like a nice way to conclude your vacation.

Places of interest on your way to Boston from New York would be Mystic Seaport in Connecticut, Newport RI, Cape Cod and/or the Islands and finally Boston.

I will let others suggest hotels for you.

I've loved in all three, and I see no reason to visit DC in July, it's very warm. I think NYC, Boston, and other NE spots offer enough to do...Places I'd hit include:

NYC: 3-4 days, too many great places to list...your daughters will love the shopping, and stay at the Morgan, or the Hudson - very NYC

Newport: 1-2 days. Lovely seaside town, antique shopping, seafood

Boston: 3 days

Marblehead: an afternoon, stop in Rockport for lobsters in the rough.

Maine: Stop at Kittery for outlet shopping, Damariscotta for arts, Camden for beauty, Bar Harbor for the park.

I'm not great with heat, thus my coastal-only suggestions! You'll love it, have a great time!

Hi! Forgot to mention - go to Portland and eat at Fore Street, wonderful!

Thanks for the input, what about the area north of Boston, and how far is NYC from Boston, how many stops would you recomend in between?

aqua, you need a map. From Boston to NYC is 200 miles, between 4 and 5 hours drive.

BUT you also need to know that "New England" doesn't include NYC, much less ashington! New England is the 6 northeastern states of Maine, NH, VT, Mass., RI and Conn. Just those.

Do you have 2 weeks for just New Engalnd, or for the whole tirp?

just New England
Sorry for the lack of knowledge but thanks for the direcctions.

www.historicnewenglanddrivingtours.com

What type of things do you and/or your daughters prefer to do on vacation - are we looking at a city trip (then perhaps NYC and Boston only), a relaxed beach-type vacation, historic stuff. Do you want a home base or 2 with day trips, or are you OK staying in one place only a night or 2.

Regarding hotels - many of the "nice" hotels in Boston are quite large.

Weather in this region at this time of year is likely to bo hot and humid. Is that OK? Seems like you are from someplace far away from this area - so that may be unexpected considering how north New England is.

Also, Boston and New York tend to be expensive all the time, more so in summer. Washington gets cheaper in summer.

I certainly am not trying to talk you out of this trip - I have lived in and/or visited frequently all these areas and think any would make great trip. Just trying to get a more fine-tuned idea of what you want.

Are you going to fly in and rent a car? Airports that would work well for you (Besides Boston) are Providence, Manchester, or Portland.
Don't go any further south than Connecticut for your two weeks, it's trying to do too much. And if they've never seen Boston, be sure to include it.
What do you all like to do? Museums, theater, shopping, beaches, biking, ???
Things you might want to do: summer theatre production (like Ogunquit Playhouse), whale watch (out of Cape Cod or northern coast), art museum (Isabella Stuart Garndiner), city tour (Duck Tour, Freedom Trail, North End Culinery), history (Plymouth Plantation, Strawberry Banke), literary (Louisa May Alcott House, Nathanial Hawthorne's House of 7 Gables), mansions (Newport), shopping (tax free NH outlets), water/amusement parks (Six Flags, Water Country).
So, please repost when you have your itinerary more settled. I'm sure many people would have good hotel/restaurant suggestions, as well.
Have fun planning!

For another website resource, you might try http://www.yankeemagazine.com/ and click on their travel section.

You may wish to spend a few days "inland" perhaps in the White Mountains or in the Berkshires.

I highly recommend Newport and even a visit in Providence. Living in Boston, obviously I recommend 2 or 3 days here too. Then I would suggest you either head to Maine or Cape Cod.