I've been trying to search online to find a place that would be good to go with my son who will be just under 2 by the summer. I'm interested in a place that is near the shore but also has some kind of amusement park or zoo type activities. Nothing so big as Hershey park in PA because I think he's too young, but something more like Sesame Street in PA, but not so far. Any ideas?? Thanks so much for any help you can offer.

What about the boardwalk in one of the Jersey shore towns? Ocean City comes to mind -- it is smaller and a little more low key than, say, Wildwood. There are some kiddie-land parts.

There is Storyland in New Hampshire -- where are you willing to travel to?

I'd say any old beach and parents willing to build a sand castle will do the job nicely for a 2 year old.

I'd be willing to drive up to about 4 hours (I live in central ct). Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check out storyland! Our old standby is the Cape so perhaps we'll just end up doing that again.

I sort of have to agree with shoefly. Sand and shovels and pails keep my just turned 2 year old very busy. we spent time in Martha's vineyard, nantucket and Chatham last summer and she could have been almost anywhere but was quite content. I don;t think she would be able to truly appreciate an amusement park. A zoo might be fun though.

I agree with Ocean City, NJ. you can take a day trip to the Cape May Zoo which is a great zoo. We took our kids there when they were young and they still rmember it fondly.

I highly recommend Story Land in the white mountains of New Hampshire. When my kids were young we went to many theme parks including Disney, Sesame Place, KIng's Dominion, etc. At a very young age Story Land was awesome. It is the perfect size for young kids and well taken care of. It is very clean, highly creative and has an educational bonus. It is comprised of many different fairy tales. It's fun to visit after you have read lots of the old fashioned fairy tales and then go and get to walk into The Old lady's shoe, 3 Little Bear's house, etc. The people who greet you at the different attractions are dressed in the fairy tale costume. This is the link -

http://www.storylandnh.com/index-noflash.html

That whole region of New Hampshire makes for a very relaxing and fun vacation.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Do NOT go to Seasame Place on a weekend.

When our kids were 4 and 3, we took them for the day. It was just an awful experience.

Perhaps it was because we had gone on an extremely hot day that we saw most of the kiddie pools overrun by teens and young adults. I would have thought a pool called "Big Bird's Birdie Bath" would obviously be for toddlers. More than once I had to literally body block a raucous teen from toppling my 3 year daughter.

The day got even better when a woman threatened to "knife" my wife.

I've heard it is fine during the week. But, please avoid the weekend.

We take our kids a couple of times a summer down to the Point Pleasant boardwalk. We'll stay overnight at the White Sands, spend the day on the beach, and then let them play some games and go on some rides at night.

Acadia National Park. Take a carriage ride.

Not sure of your exact location?

Another vote to avoid Sesame Street Place -- during the week, it gets just as crazy with the daytrippers who are bussed in from day cares in surrounding cities.

A few thoughts for a 2yo:
- Dutch Wonderland - in Lancaster, PA. WONDERFUL for little people. Old fashioned technology, simple, but very cute. Very clean. My kids love it! Also a water park attached, but I've never been there.

- Storybook Land - Egg Harbor City, NJ - similar to Dutch Wonderland. Again very clean! Lots of shade. Would still recommend to get there early.

- zoo, Cape May Courthouse (next to Stone Harbor/Avalon) - free admission, but very cute. Gets busy on not good beach days (windy, etc.).

Would agree that Point Pleasant, NJ is a great spot. We used to go there every year and rent a cottage on the beach in Lavallette.

The Rockhouse Mountain Farm / Crystal Lake in Eaton, NH - it was a great, mellow retreat with kids - they can help with farm chores - swings in the barn, pet the animals, they used to have the summer help/waiters/etc play with the kids for a bit after dinner - it was a great place to go with kids, home cooking, an area where you can keep food to make snacks/sandwiches for yourself, and good the few times I had to go alone b/c of schedules - see what you can find out (trip advisor, etc) if it is still as good as it used to be !

www.familytravelnetwork.com/articles/farm_11.asp

It is also close enough so you could easily do a drive to StoryLand - Rockhouse Mtn Farm is only a short distance to North Conway area -

Or, look into the Red Jacket Inn in North Conway, they used to have great specials for families (our neighbors were going every summer not long ago) - and from there you can do StoryLand and Six Gun City - as well as Mt Washington - rides up ski mountains in the gondolas or ski chairs, lots of summer activities around the White Mtn area

Long Beach Island NJ
They have a nice little amusement park for kids under 12. You can rent homes or condos on the beach. The park is in Beach Haven

Look Park in Northampton MA is just a town park, but it has a choo-choo ride, a playground with squirting fountains to run around in, and a small zoo. Stuff like that. That would be a quick trip from central CT.

In the fall, check out King Richard's Faire, held only on weekends, near Plymouth MA.

We loved going to the southern maine coast when our boys were young. The ocean is cold, but at that age, the kids weren't into really swimming, just playing at the waters edge. The surf was calm and it was very shallow for a long time so you didnt have to worry about your kids getting into deep water. Portland was a nice small city-We loved doing a harbor cruise and seeing sea llions, seals, etc., minor league baseball games. ALso, My kids loved the LL Bean store in Freeport with a pond inside the store. Lots of small towns to explore, lots of lobsters to eat!