9 Drive-cations in New England!

Call it a stay-cation if you want, but I call them drive-cations since they are all within driving distance and can be done in 1 day, or take up a whole weekend!

Here's a few of my favorite places for weekends sort of away in New England.

1. New York City

New York City is one of our favorite places to go.  Between American Girl, Dö, Rockefeller Plaza, and Times Square, you could stay busy for days.  Add in a trip to Central Park (and a run by Laduree for some macarons and Lilly Pulitzer) to see the castle and the sculptures, and again, you could be there for days. Make sure you grab a seat hot dog and check out the well known spots like the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero. If you are feeling especially adventurous, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is an amazing way to view the city skyline!

2. Saco/Old Orchard Beach, ME

Growing up, we always went to Maine. If spending the day on gorgeous Old Orchard Beach isn't enough, you could check out Funtown Splashtown, York's Wild Kingdom, Aquaboggan. We especially love Pirate's Cove mini golf and Palace Playland.  For something slower, a walk along the pier to find salt water taffy and soft serve works too!

3. Conway, NH

Conway is one of those places we can go to every year. Although we could spend the day exploring the Kancamagus Highway, we also love spending the day at Story Land or Santa's Village, if you don't mind a drive. Kahuna Laguna looks like so much fun and is in the perfect location to access all the other fun locations!The Bretton Wood Canopy Tours look amazing and the Conway Scenic Railroad has always been something we love. Of course, be sure to stop at Zeb's for penny candy before you head home!

4. Cape Cod

I feel a little spoiled growing up here but a few favorites include The Children's Museum and shopping at Mashpee Commons, which of course includes Cupcake Charlies and Lilly Pulitzer. If you want to venture farther you could check out Pirate's Cove Mini-golf or the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory.  We especially love P-Town all the way at the tip of the Cape! If you want a water park, be sure to stay at The Cape Codder or visit the Cape Cod Inflatable Park.

5. Mystic

We're actually heading to Mystic this month for a dance competition, but have so many other fun things planned as well! We may visit Ocean Beach Park for some fried dough or Alice in the Village for macarons. Other favorites are the Dinosaur Place and the Southeastern Children's Museum. Mistick Village is a great place to wander around, but the Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Pizza are probably the most well known attractions.

6. Springfield, MA

I'll admit I don't venture out to the western part of the state often, but it really is an overlooked location. If you stay in springfield for a weekend, you could easily visit the Dr Seuss Museum, Eric Carle Museum, or the Basketball Hall of Fame. The Zoo in Forest Park and the Holyoke Merry Go Round offer even more easy fun!

7. Boston

There's so much to do in Boston.  Grab dinner in the North End, visit the penguins at the New England Aquarium, head over to the Children's Museum, or head to the Museum of Science and take a ride on the amphibious Duck Boats. A little more relaxed (or adventurous) is the Freedom Trail as well as all the old gravestones and famous buildings. Other ventures include the Charles River, the local zoo and playgrounds, or any of the area splashpads.

9. Martha's Vineyard

It goes without saying you'll need to order a lobster roll and adding a dirty banana from Nancy's is a great way to kick off a long weekend! Another great spot for a drink is Bad Martha Farmer's Brewery. While the island won't have as many "attractions" you can spend some time at Island Alpaca or the Carousel. However, the Vineyard is more for checking out the scenery-- the gingerbread cottages, the beaches, and the lighthouses, and if you're feeling up to it- check out Chappaquidick and learn about that infamous bridge or take a jump from the Jaw's Bridge!


All of these trips can be as expensive or inexpensive as you make it, depending on whether you check out all the local amusements or spend the day taking advantage of free beaches and state parks. These are a few of our favorite places and while we've already visited a few this summer, we still have time to visit some more!

Where's your favorite "drivable" vacation spot?

xo, Heather