Anonymous wrote:Acadia is great. I wouldn't miss it. I'd make that the turnaround destination and plan the routing to and from there.

Agree. It's so far, and what is north and east of it pales in comparison.

Thanks--I'm Op. I think both cities and nature are good. Not much interest in a beach (would just go to eastern shore for that) but kitschy historical beach stuff might be fun. Any more ideas? Keep them coming!

Anonymous wrote:Cape cod is a crowded sandbar.

But Acadia is unlike anywhere else on the east coast.

IMHO

Acadia and Bar Harbor are must sees - it is a National Park for a reason. The lobster pounds, scenery, etc. This would be my first choice.

Acadia is great. I wouldn't miss it. I'd make that the turnaround destination and plan the routing to and from there.

In Maine, York Beach (short sands or long sands has the arcade???) and then over to the Dover Children's museum. Strawberry Banke... have fun, I absolutely love NE.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodstock VT, Boston, Portland ME, maybe Acadia, in that order. Or skip Maine and go to cape cod from Boston, stopping in
Plymouth on the way.

Np here but it sounds like op and I are thinking of the same trip. Any really nice places to stay you'd recommend in Acadia, Portland or Woodstock?

I love the Woodstock Inn. They always seem to have deals. And there is a ton to do in that area-farms, hiking, Dartmouth College, King Arthur Flour, Queechee gorge, Simon Pearce glassworks, etc.

Portland has tons of B&Bs. Check trip advisor for current reviews.

In Boston I usually stay at the Seaport Hotel or the Nine Zero. Not sure if the Nine Zero is kid friendly though-it's a trendyish Kimpton Hotel.

I'm partial to the Cape but you have to go to the right places. Mid cape and outer cape are quieter and Cape-y. I'd stay at the Chatham Bars Inn or Wequasett, or maybe Ocean Edge.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodstock VT, Boston, Portland ME, maybe Acadia, in that order. Or skip Maine and go to cape cod from Boston, stopping in
Plymouth on the way.

Np here but it sounds like op and I are thinking of the same trip. Any really nice places to stay you'd recommend in Acadia, Portland or Woodstock?

Do NOT skip Maine! That will be the best part, by far.

Anonymous wrote:Woodstock VT, Boston, Portland ME, maybe Acadia, in that order. Or skip Maine and go to cape cod from Boston, stopping in
Plymouth on the way.

Np here but it sounds like op and I are thinking of the same trip. Any really nice places to stay you'd recommend in Acadia, Portland or Woodstock?

Cape cod is a crowded sandbar.

But Acadia is unlike anywhere else on the east coast.

IMHO

Op, cities or nature?

Woodstock VT, Boston, Portland ME, maybe Acadia, in that order. Or skip Maine and go to cape cod from Boston, stopping in
Plymouth on the way.

Wildwood is gross. Do Cape May, Ocean City, LBI, etc.

Mystic CT

Definitely go to Boston and NYC. Great places in Boston include the New England Aquarium, Freedom Trail, USS Caisson Young, USS Constitution, and the Paul Revere house. Quincy Market has some great places to eat. The Marriott Custom House is a great place to stay and is close to both the subway and water taxi. It has a lot of character and the kids would love the observation deck. Boston's subway system is on par with the Metro.

If you go to NYC, the American Museum of Natural History is an absolute must. The Tenement Museum has family-friendly tours. The kids would also probably like Top of the Rock and/or the Empire State Building or a cruise around the city. NYC also has amazing pizza and make sure you buy pretzels from a street cart. Alice's Tea Cup near Central Park is a fun restaurant with great food, but it gets very crowded quickly, so try to get there early. Three nights in each city should be a good amount of time.

The Jersey Shore is also a place to consider for a few nights. Wildwood has a huge free beach with a great boardwalk and is close to Cape May, which has a beautiful downtown, Victorians, and a lighthouse.

We have about 10 days in August to spend driving around the Northeast. Where should we go? Kids are 9, 6, and 4. We don't want a "rent a house at X" vacation. I don't want to say "money is no objection" but, because we're saving so much not having to buy flights or rent a car, we're able to splurge on places to go and stay. Thank you for your suggested itineraries!