Where should we spend three nights in New England? My husband and I are spending ten days in New England - we start with a long weekend with our family on the Cape, and end with a school reunion in Boston the following weekend. We have three days in-between (Monday - Thursday) and would love suggestions on a relaxing spot, filled with natural beauty. Thanks!

One of NH's grand hotels? We've stayed at the Grand Mountain View in Whitefield. One of the pluses is nearby summer theater and proximity to Vermont. There is also the Mount Washington, the Balsams (way north) and newly renovated Wentworth-by-the-Sea near Portsmouth.

If you don't want to backtrack by going north of Boston and then back south to Boston you might consider extending your trip for a day on the Cape, or an additional day in Boston and spending a few mid-week days in coastal Rhode Island. You could visit Newport, stay in Bristol area or even go to Block Island.

If you don't want to go too far, then consider the Berkshires or the Litchfield area of Ct. A little futher afield would be the very impressive White Mtns of New Hampshire, or the more bucolic Green Mtns of Vermont.

I love the idea of Block Island! A charming bed and breakfast perhaps? I have only been there off season (and it was alwaays like taking a step back in time) but not sure what I would think with summer crowds.

I think it all depends on if you want to stay coastal or see the mountains. You are going to be in a big city (Boston) and be spending time in a beautiful coastal are (The Cape)...so I'm thinking the mountains (New Hampshire/Vermont) would be a neat change of pace. However, if you would rather stay seaside, Southern RI and coastal CT as suggested above would be great. I'm not crazy about the Block Island idea (very pretty, but not really much different than the beauty of the Cape) but you could certainly do a day trip out there while staying in Southern RI.

May I disagree here? I am an advocate of the Cape (spend two weeks there on the ocean every September) however I think Block Island is a totally different experience- a different feel that only a small island can capture.
I love the coast of Maine as well. I guess it all depends on what you most enjoy and can relax with. I am a "by the sea" person while clearlyothers prefer some of the beautiful mountain areas New England has to offer.

Newport, RI is quaint, charming, a number of good B&Bs, seaside, mansions and other historical sites to visit.

I guess I was thinking more in terms of the similar "look" between Block Island and the Cape rather than the "feel". But let the poster judge for themselves- visit any of the several Block Island websites to and look at the pictures, then visit say Provincetown or Chatham's website and look at those pictures. In terms of natural scenery (rocky coast interspersed with beaches; dunes, salt marshes) both "look" pretty much the same. But you are right- it is a different "feel". However it is a feel that is very conducive to relaxing, but no more so than the Cape- which is what they will have done already..........

Thank you, everyone! We're up for some driving and ready to venture up north to the mountains. I'd appreciate any suggestions on mountains/other natural beauty in VT, ME, NH....any good spots four or so hours out of Boston (I wanted to visit Acadia, but I've heard it's six hours away and that's probably too much driving). And any favorite lodging reccomendations?

Thank you to the post regarding the Berkshires - I thought it would be more fun if Tanglewood were open.

Hmm....maybe "mountains' would mean a lot more driving. My apologies for not being very clear (it's probably because I really wish we had more time and could drive further up the coast of Maine!)....so, what suggestions do you have for four hours out of Boston (two nights with a few days in the Cap before and a few days in Boston after), filled with natural beauty? I'm ready to leave the Cape area..I'm open to Western MA, and after reading some threads, attracted by the mid-coast of Maine. Thanks!

Firecracker,
You can easily reach the White Mtns of NH in a 2-3 hr drive north from Boston, especially midweek when the traffic is minimal. I'd recommend the Franconia Notch area, which will be beautiful and quite different from the beauty on the Cape. I can't recommend lodging because we were always within day-tripping distance, but google Franconia or Mt Washington area on the web and you should be flooded.
Mid coast Maine is certainly beautiful, but a bit more traffic to get to, in mho, and not as different from the Cape.