I am planning a trip to New England this summer with two small children - ages 3 & 2. I have not chosen a location yet, but am looking for some place near the beach with a fair amount of activities for young children. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Cape Cod!!!!

LOTS to do fro kids of all ages and some wonderful beaches/ponds they can enjoy!!

Adam! you will have to narrow it down to at least a state! I don't even know how many states comprise "New England" but this is waaaay to vague a question!
I would love to help,but there is only so much that one can do!
Try these,let us know if they sound interesting:
Marthas Vineyard,Mass.
Cape Cod,Mass.
NY-Hamptons,Montauk
Providencetown Mass.
NJ Shore
Connecticut
Maine-

New England is made up of six states:

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Conneticut & Rhode Island.

A lot of territory to cover and a wide variety of things to do depending on preferences-

We thought we were lucky just to get to the beach when we were kids. It was a thrill in itself. Being there WAS vacation, and once there we made our own activities and had a terrific time doing it. There didn't have to be "a fair amount of nearby activities". They are kids! Get them buckets, shovels, molds, balls, build sand castles complete with moats filled with water, break them down, rebuild, jump waves, fly kites, look in tidal pools, hunt down shells - at that age they accept even the colorless broken ones with awe. What's with the "let me entertain you" syndrome parents have today? Get lives yourselves, you need the break, not them - their whole life is play. You've been working your buns off all year. Harsh as this sounds, the sooner kids realize the world does not revolve entirely around them the better off they will be.

Now, bring it on.