We are coming to Boston August 19 for a wedding and would like to extend our trip to visit somewhere nearby... some initial thoughts are Cape Cod or Newport, RI. My husband and I are both 30 and looking for a little R&R away from work. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Cape Cod is a great place to go although it can be crowded in August. The further down the Cape you go, the less crowded. You might like to try Brewster or Chatham where you will be close to the National Seashore beaches.

North of Boston is the Cape Ann area. The town of Rockport if very pretty and relaxing.

If you like history, Concord and Lexington make a great stop.

The mansions in Newport are unreal and the downtown area has many restaurants but again, the traffic can be heavy in August.

I don't go near the cape in the summer because the traffic is just crazy. But if you are a patient person, it's a great place. You may even want to take a ferry to either the Vineyard or Nantucket.

If you go north, Gloucester and Rockport are nice. So is Portsmouth, NH. Or you could go hiking up in the White Mountains.

www.bayside-inn.com

Cape Cod is absolutely beautiful .. I would definitely suggest you do the Cape ... Brewster, Chatham, Dennis all very lovely .. Dennis has access to both the North and South side ... and really some beautiful beaches ... Route 6A quiet but so quaint with lovely shops and restaurants .. Route 28 side bustling with restaurants, mini golf and all kinds of tourist type places .. I prefer the 6A side .. lots of B&B's .. 28 side more motels .. If you go .. try Gerardi's Route 28 in Dennis .. wonderful Italian restaurant .. small but quaint .. Brewster Fish House .. Route 6A in Brewster .. fabulous everything .. The Red Pheasant .. in Dennis on Route 6A .. excellent new American .. Buca's in Harwich on Route 28 .. great Italian .. Enjoy the Cape .. !

Any suggestions of where to stay in Dennis, Chatham, or Brewster?

Thanks.

Tell me just a bit more about what you might like .. B&B .. Motels .. and pricing ... There is The Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham .. absolutely beautiful .. but pricey .. There is the Bramble Inn on Route 6a in Brewster .. B&B .. but pricey .. I would be happy to recommend .. but needs a little more info from you ...

We normally stay in hotels or resorts however I think a B&B experience might be nice for Cape Cod. We are looking to spend just a few days there so don't mind splurging a bit. Looking for some R&R and not many kids around!

I've stayed here a couple of times. Nice old building, landscaped, comfy beds, very friendly owner, large breakfast.
I like Sandwich because it is a nice small town, some nice walking areas, access to water, easy access to get into Boston/Newport, close enough to Wood's Hole for the ferries, has some good restaurants, and I don't mind driving along 6A to get places.

http://www.windfallhouse.com/index.shtml

My favorite B+B (Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast in Eastham) is the only lodging that is actually in the National Seashore Park. It is small, adults only , very private with romatic suites and a cottage. It is surrounded by parklands with ocean views and walking trails but is close to beaches, dining, and theater.Eastham is between Chatham and Provincetown and just 10 minutes to Brewster. The Fort HIll Bed and Brekafast has a web site at wwww.forthillbedandbreakfast.com If you do a google map on 75 Fort HIll Road you will see that they have an awsome location. We have stayed there a number of times and can highly recommend it.

Rent a car and drive 1 hour up to Ogunquit or Kennebunkport, ME.....you will definitely relax in our "old village atmosphere, and find excellent restaurants while enjoying the ocean and Ogunquit's 3 mile long sandy beach!

Hi shelja,
My favorite rec. from Boston would be to ferry over to Provincetown at the tip of Capecod. No car is needed as you can walk, bike or take the trolley anywhere in town or to the beautiful beaches and surrounding areas. There's lot's of great resturants, outdoor cafe's, theater, galleries and shops. You could take a boat out whalewatching or a sand dune tour.
The town is loaded with great Inn's and B+B's - check out the Red Inn, Carpe diem and the Anchor Inn - there's many more.

Good luck wherever you decide!

It will be hot/sticky in Boston in August. I suggest going to Maine's Bar Harbor. (Probably about 6 hours by car). Bar Harbor (the eastern most point of the US, and third largest island-I think) is on Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia Nat'l Park-a wonderful place! The closest big city is Bangor-you might be able to get a flight there from Boston The temp will be comfortable and lobster dinners cheap/plentiful. A great place to stay is the Bar Harbor Inn. It's the place to be-right on the water where you can view sunrise & sunsets. At low tide, you can walk across to one of the "porcupine Islands"(all visible from the harbor) A hike around Acadia's Jordan Pond can be rewarded by tea/popovers on the green overlooking the pond. (a tradtion, really, that goes back to when the rich folk from NYC & Boston used to summer there. They had the many miles of carriage roads built that bicyclists use today. The old carriage bridges are still magnificent today. Yes, Bar Harbor, though a bit out of the way is every way worth it. Other beaches such as Nantucket, Southshore, etc. will be jammed packed (&hot!)

The Bradford Inn has a great quiet location on a side street just off the main center of Chatham. Very comfortable!
http://www.bradfordinn.com/

was on cape cod for the first time last year. i loved the chatham area and the http://www.chathambarsinn.com looked fabulous. didn't stay there but if i ever return, that's where i'm going.
or, if you don't want to deal with a vehicle, you could go stay on martha's vineyars and just bike or take public transportation everywhere.

Chatham Bars Inn is a great place, BUT also very family friendly. Poster mention the desire to be without too many kids.......
Eastham or Provincetown would work.

My parents stayed at this B&B in Falmouth (on the Cape) for their anniversary and absolutely loved it. It has the most beautiful views of Nantucket Sound and it's not the typical frumpy B&B.

http://www.innonthesound.com/