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The Ultimate New England Road Trip — Fun Stops, Scenic Views & Toddler-Friendly Adventures!
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items We took the ultimate New England road trip with our almost 2-year-old, starting in Boston and making our way through Salem, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and beyond. From scenic drives and national parks to kid-friendly museums and sweet treat stops...
Sections
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Boston, MA ➝ Salem, MA
Salem, MA➝ Bangor, ME
Bangor ➝ Bar Harbor ➝ New Hampshire
New Hampshire ➝ Vermont
Western MA ➝ Springfield ➝ Hartford
Hartford ➝ Newport (Coastal Day)
Boston, MA ➝ Salem, MA
Fun and engaging way to kick off Salem! The guide brought history to life with just the right mix of spooky and educational. Great pacing for both adults and kids.
Bewitched Historical Tours | Salem's Best Walking Tour
Clean, comfortable, and perfect for a quick stay near Boston. The rooms were spacious and family-friendly, and the staff was helpful with requests like a crib. Great value for the price.
Fairfield Inn Boston Woburn/Burlington | Comfortable Hotel with Free Breakfast
Perfect stop for lunch in downtown Salem, MA. They had delicious Burgers and Sanwiches and a great atmosphere.
BOSTON BURGER COMPANY
Salem, MA➝ Bangor, ME
A must-see for fans of the movie! It’s a quick stop, but fun for photos and soaking in some iconic Halloween nostalgia.
Hocus Pocus House - 4 Ocean Ave, Salem, MA 01970 | Zillow
Very informative and well-organized experience that gives a solid overview of the witch trials. The presentation is engaging, though it can get crowded during peak times.
The Salem Witch Museum
We had to stop for some seafood while in New England, so we decided to check out Luke's Lobster, which was phenominal. It was located on the pier in Portland, ME and was fun little adventure.
Portland, Maine Lobster Restaurant | Luke's Lobster Portland Pier
This hotel was perfect for our situation. We had a terrible rental car that we needed to return but did not want to go back to Boston Airport to return it. This hotels is across the street from a small airport which had a Hertz rental car place. So all we had to do was walk over and exchange the car. We did not notice any noise from the airport which as a definate plus! Just a short drive from the town.
Hotels Bangor Maine Airport | Bangor Aviator Hotel
Bangor ➝ Bar Harbor ➝ New Hampshire
Absolutely stunning views and a highlight of the trip. Between Bar Harbor and scenic drives, it’s a perfect mix of relaxing and adventurous.
Acadia National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Driving to the top is worth it for the incredible panoramic views. Easy walking trails make it accessible for all ages. You do have to purchase tickets ahead of time, as they limit how many people are up there at a time.
Cadillac Mountain - Acadia National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
This was a quaint little motel in a quiet town that was a perfect stop on our road trip! They had a pool, however we did not stay long enough to use it. They had exceptional customer service. They brought new sheets right over after our son made a mess on them.
Top Notch Inn
The White Mountain Cafe and Bookstore was a perfect place to grab breakfast and a coffee before we headed back out on the road. It had a cute little bookstore that had a variety of books and gifts, so of course we picked something up for our son to keep him occupied for the drive.
White Mountain Cafe
New Hampshire ➝ Vermont
Santa's Village was the perfect stop for us on our roadtrip. This themepark is specifically for the little kids. Our son, two at the time, was able to ride on almost all the rides which was the best. It's a must stop for those with little ones.
Santa's Village
We had tickets to the Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour, but due to some unplanned road construction, we missed out tour and didn't want to wait for the next one due to our travel schedule, but we did spend time at the factor as there is more to see. Definitely check out the Flavor Graveyard which was super fun. And don't forget to grab a scoop or two to go!
Visit the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury, VT!
Since we had been in the car all day, we wanted to get out and stretch out legs at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. It was so beautiful there and the treetop walk was such a cool experience! Our toddler loved it!
Vermont Institute of Natural Science: Home
Comfortable and budget-friendly with a convenient location. A solid overnight option with friendly service. They also provide a pack and play/crib.
Best Western West Lebanon - Hanover Hotel - NH
Before heading out to continue driving, we stopped by the Sugar Brush Maple Farm. It was a cute little farm where we were able to walk around and and see how the maple collection process works. It was not in season when we went but still informational. They also had a cute little gift shop where we picked up some syrup to take home.
Sugarbush Farm | Woodstock, VT | Cheese & Maple Syrup Farm
Western MA ➝ Springfield ➝ Hartford
The Dr. Seuss Museum was a highlight on our roadtrip for all three of us. It was fun and nostalgic for us adults while still engaging for our son. A great mix of exhibits and hands-on activities.
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum - Springfield Museums
Loved checking out the Dr. Seuss characters in this sculpture garden which was just a short walk away from the museum. Perfect photo stop!
Dr Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden
This stop was more of my husband's forte, but all three of us enjoyed it! There was several exhibits that were pretty interesting.
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame | Springfield, MA
This was a convenient stop for us on our roadtrip between Springfield and Hartford. It was an interesting layout for a hotel room, but it was an enjoyable experience.
Residence Inn Hartford Windsor | Long-Stay Hotel with In-room Kitchens
Hartford ➝ Newport (Coastal Day)
Hands-on and interactive—great for kids and adults alike. Easy to spend several hours exploring. Our son loved this place and didn't want to leave!
Connecticut Science Center
We made a quick detour back over to Fall River, Massachusetts to check out the Lizzie Borden house. We took the haunted tour which was pretty cool. But the time we got up to the 3rd floor, my son had enough, and the tour guide said that typically happens with little kids at that point in the house, which I thought to be pretty interesting.
Official Lizzie Borden House | America's Most Haunted House
We decided to listen to an online driving tour while visiting Rhode Island. We stopped at several different mansions which were beautiful. It was perfect because our son got a nap in while we listened to some interesting history.
The Breakers | Newport Mansions
Beautiful ocean views and a great picnic spot. Plenty of space to relax and enjoy the scenery and stretch your legs! We saw lots of people flying their kites, so it was fun to watch!
Brenton Point State Park | Rhode Island State Parks
Not only was this restaurant in a perfect place along our coastal tour, but it also shares the name of my husband's nickname "Cru". So it was fitting that we stopped!
CRU Cafe Newport
Cape Cod ➝ Boston
We love to visit Aquariums and Zoos wherever we travel and made sure to visit this one. Unfortunately we weren't too impressed with this one, as it was quite small compared to others that we have visited. But it was still a fun experience.
New England Aquarium in Boston - Protecting Animals & the Ocean
We spent our last day of our road trip in Boston and decided to walk the Freedom Trail which was nice end to our trip learning about our nation's history!
Homepage | The Freedom Trail