CT - Vacation - Budget Ideas

[dthogue]

We are heading to New Haven, CT for a family wedding in July and would like to make a vacation out of it. Looking for ideas of things to do/places to stay in New England. We plan to leave on a Friday, spend the week touring, the wedding is the following Saturday, we would return home to Central PA on Sunday. We will be driving - would love to see the coastline of Maine. Any ideas/suggestions. It will be me, DH and DD's (20,18 and 11).

Thanks,
tammy

 

[Tink9295]

I live in Mystic, CT. This a an awesome vacation area. There is the Mystic Aquarium and the Mystic Seaport. You can take rides on yacht and sailboats. There is the casinos nearby. Great shopping along the river too. You're also close to RI and they have beautiful beaches.

Maine is nice too and Boston is on the way. So is you're heading North to Maine then Mystic is a great place to stop and spend the day.

 

[eeyoresmom]

So much within driving distances. New England states are tiny!

White Mountains of New Hampshire

Cape Cod National Seashore ( If you go to the cape, don't just visit the beaches of the upper cape. The national seashore ,which is further down is breathtaking!) Whale watching, ferry to Martha's Vineyard and/or Nantucket,etc.

Boston ( Feedom Trail, little Italy, etc.) Boston has some great museums, but if you live in PA you may be musuemed out)

Old Sturbridge Village in central Massachusetts if anyone is a history/antiques buff.

That's a few ideas. I'm sure you'll get some more specific suggestions. Happy planning!

 

[DebMcDonald]

You already have some great ideas here. I grew up in CT and spent my summer along the shores in New London. Currently live in Boston and the museums are fun, the cape is great and we LOVE it, but honestly we prefer the Rhode Island beaches. The mansions in Newport are fun.

Boston: Dinner in the North End is a must, walking the freedom train is fun, a couple of hours at Faneuil Hall. The Boston duck tours are fun, it's a land and sea trip all in one vehicle. I think the Aquarium is Mystic is much nicer than ours in Boston.

Maine: Old Orchard Beach area is very popular for the coastline of Maine.

 

[Ka' eo]

Acadia National Park in Maine is one of the top 10 state parks in the country. It's where the mountains meet the ocean. Check it out!

You can also rent a cabin on a lake in Maine or NH. There is nothing more beautiful.

We love Boston too, but it is not entirely a budget outing. Like any city, things are nc (not cheap).

Newport, RI is crowded in July, but you can see some incredible Mansions, take a boat ride and there are several really nice beaches. Again, nc, but very quintessential New England.

Make sure you put money in your budget for lobsters.

 

[3boymthr]

I second all the previous ideas except Old Orchard Beach. Very, umm, how shall I say, ummm, well, picture lots of bars and shops selling thong bikinis. The beaches are nice, but the rest of the town is not a typical Maine beach town (there is a small amusement park, etc. right next to the beach) For more typical Maine Coast, it depends upon how much time you have. Southern Maine would be York, Kennepunk/port Ogounquit, Wells all beautiful. Mid coast would be Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park - but Acadia is about a 5 hour drive from York. Acadia is more postcard than southern Maine. Some other spots that picture postcard but are not quite as distant as Acadia includ Lands End and a few of the areas near Bath.

You could also try Lexington and Concord, with Walden Pond and the Louisa May Alcott House. In Quincy there is the John Adams homesite.

 

[semo233]

One of the best ways to find out what is out there is to visit the state tourism web site, although you won't get personal reviews! CTvisit.com and New Haven's own tourism site, http://www.visitnewhaven.com/base/index.cfm

 

[beansmom]

I second Newport especially and all the rest of the suggestions. Newport is our 'home away from home'...the beaches, Thames street. The oldest tavern in the country, The White Horse, is lovely and worth a stop for lunch.

Acadia is also a great idea but it is a LONG drive from New Haven. Mystic is nice. I'd avoid anything near Cape Cod like the plague but Boston is fun. Paul Revere's house, the Freedom Trail, Fanneuil Hall and Qunicy Market...as well as FENWAY! There is also Salem---a lovely day trip.

Enjoy your visit to NE. I've lived here almost 2 years and I still love discovering its treasures.

 

[Fall1]

I think Newport and one of the mansions would be great!! The walkway along the beach is great there and the downtown area is cute too.

I also like Ogunquit Maine and it's very southern Maine, so the drive wouldn't be too bad. There is a walkway there, called the Margainal Way, and it'a beautiful walk along the beach. Cute shops and restaurants too.

 

[sjs314]

The Peabody Museum in New Haven is not to be missed while your there. Here is a link to their site.

http://www.peabody.yale.edu/

 

[micheleq]

In New Haven proper, you should go see The Peabody Museum, walk around the campus of Yale and check out their museums, there are several theaters in the area Yale Rep., Long Wharf Theater, and the Shubert Theater. Your older kids would love Toad's Place - famous club, even if you go inside during the day to see all the concert posters on the wall (The Rolling Stones have "dropped in" to play). And there's the Palace Theater -- that's where Jim Morrison got arrested and pulled off stage. Lots of good rock history in New Haven!

Gotta have pizza at Pepe's on Wooster Street (and dessert next door at Libby's). Pepe's has been around for over 90 years. Eat the original hamburgers at Louie's Lunchonette. They have been around for over 100 years.

You can take the commuter train to NYC from New Haven too. NH is about two hours from Boston. Cape Cod and Maine are a good 3-4 hour drive in the summertime (depending on how far out you are going) just fyi. Acadia is more like 6-7 hours from CT. Mystic is great, as well as Sherwood Island (Westport) and Hammonassett (Madison) State parks. And there's outlet shopping in Clinton and Westbrook.

 

[klacey1]

Oh, there's so much you can do in a week. Mystic/New London (45 mins from New Haven) have a submarine you can tour, the best aquarium outside of Sea World, the great Seaport with the cute little shops.
Definitely take the train to NYC if you haven't been there before-- just to walk around and go into the stores! Or, if you have the $$ and want to, go see a show!
RI is great-- the beaches, Wickford (adorable town with cute shops), the mansions of Newport, the boat tours on the sea.
MA for whale watches and Boston (although Boston is nothing to NYC in my book). We are not huge fans of the Cape unless you rent a house and stay for a week (To go to the beach).
Maine is just SO fun-- Kennebunkport is the best! Like PP, start saving up for lobsters NOW!
The outlets can't be beat-- the ones in New London and Wrentham in Mass.