Marthas Vineyard? Cape Cod? Help needed..

[scottmel]

Hello we have never been to New England and next summer I want to plan a different trip instead of Disney...Can't believe I am typing this. I am disney burnt out! I love the look of Martha's Vineyard but totally open to any Cape Cod info - Boston sites - etc! here is a little about what I am looking for:

1. Budget not a HUGE deal. Don't want to spend a fortune but when we go to Disney we stay YC/BC club level!!! so I would like something a little less than this but I am budgeting 300 a night somewhere.

2. Family of 3. DD will be 12. We have enjoyed Rehoboth Beach in the past but both DD and DH feel bored at a beach doing nothing. Hence the appeal of disney year after year. Would MV be too boring? Are there day trips to take? Stuff to do?

3. Ideally would like to stay 5 days at beach and 2 in city. though I don't HAVE To do city, I really don't even like big cities but if it was totally must see then for sure...

Anyone out there been to MV, Cape Cod, etc. that wouldn't mind helping me? Thanks so much!!!

 

[Snoopymom]

York, Maine turned out to be sort of what I expected Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard to be like as far as shops and restaurants. We went a few days before Memorial Day weekend, and hardly anything was open yet, so we kept driving and ended up staying at The Willows Inn in York. They don't have a web site anymore, but it's listed on Trip Advisor. It's just down from Nubble Lighthouse and across the street from the beach, which is rocky, small and freezing, but so beautiful! I loved it there because it looked like someone took Portrush Ireland and flipped it over onto our coast (well except for Dunluce Castle). There still wasn't a lot to do there either, just the lighthouse, some arcades, shops and a few restaurants.

The only thing we did on Cape Cod was a whale watching trip, which was amazing! But I can't remember, we might have actually left from Provincetown, which is "interesting" after dark, probably not a good place for a 12 year old. Salem, MA was neat. The homes look exactly like what you'd imagine, and the witch museum is pretty hokey, but fun.

Boston is hard to get around, so we took a bus tour to see the sights. We did the touristy things, saw the glass flowers at Harvard, walked the big shopping district, ate lobster and Boston Cream pie. The seafood restaurants and Irish pubs are awesome! We're from the South so it was a great experience! I hope this helps a little.

 

[scottmel]

Snoopymom is it worth the trip for a family vacation? we are so use to the busyness of disney, and wide variety of things to do I fear we would be bored on a beach trip....or am I nuts?

 

[terri01p]

 

[Evi]

I can't think of anyplace under $300 on the vineyard or on Nantucket. Other then the campsite. I'm sure there are places but I don't' know of them. maybe you could do a day trip to Nantucket and stay in the cape instead. Just a thought. To be honest I'm not a huge lover of the accommodations on either. I usually feel they are way over priced for what you get. Considering I grew up going to both with friends who have summer homes it does stink as an adult when I stay at these places because its just not as much fun I can't explain it. Maybe try to rent a flat for a week or so.

 

[PollyannaMom]

....Boston is hard to get around, so we took a bus tour to see the sights. We did the touristy things, saw the glass flowers at Harvard, walked the big shopping district, ate lobster and Boston Cream pie. The seafood restaurants and Irish pubs are awesome! We're from the South so it was a great experience! I hope this helps a little.

Boston's only hard to get around by car. By foot and "T" (what we call our subway) it's wonderful! I'd stay roughly halfway between the city and the Cape - somewhere near a "purple line" commuter rail. Then you can go into the city carless on some days (there's tons to do!) and drive down to the beaches on the Cape other days (don't go down on a Friday or back on a Sunday!) There are also ferries that will take you to Martha's Vinyard just for the day if you want.

 

[airhead]

I so know what you mean about WDW burnout. It makes me sad too. My trip back won't be for a few years. I'm from MA and I can tell ya going to the Islands (MV,Nantucket) I was SO bored after a day or 2. Its beautiful and all,but unless you are a total beach nut,you will be bored! I mean,shopping (atleast for me)gets tired after awhile. All these shops sell the same stuff just at different(inflated) prices. I know this as a fact because I used to sell to all of these little shops!
I actually prefer to go to the White Mountains than the Islands(I live 2 miles from the beach,so no thrill for me). Hope you have fun wherever you end up!!

 

[Snoopymom]

Snoopymom is it worth the trip for a family vacation? we are so use to the busyness of disney, and wide variety of things to do I fear we would be bored on a beach trip....or am I nuts?

Honestly, I think you might be bored, don't want to offend anyone, because it is really interesting and beautiful up there, but it doesn't sound like you would enjoy trying to fill up a week. We only stayed 4 days, 3 nights, but we like to take short trips and cram it all in and staying busy from morning to night, done NYC, New Orleans and Memphis like that.

At Disney we're the opposite, rent a house and hang out more

Dare I say it, but have you done Universal / IOA? We love it! and we also break up Disney with a night or two at Daytona Beach.

 

[scottmel]

Thanks guys. I fear I might be bored too. Considering we spent 11 days at Disney in June and did HP opening weekend at Universal!!! We did a ton but had some relax days too. Best trip ever. But with cost of rental car, flights, etc. it can kind of get up there in cost but then I don't want to spend a bunch at Cape Cod and not have as good of time. My search will continue. Maybe some time at Cape Cod and some time elsewhere....Thanks!

 

[scottmel]

I can't think of anyplace under $300 on the vineyard or on Nantucket. Other then the campsite. I'm sure there are places but I don't' know of them. maybe you could do a day trip to Nantucket and stay in the cape instead. Just a thought. To be honest I'm not a huge lover of the accommodations on either. I usually feel they are way over priced for what you get. Considering I grew up going to both with friends who have summer homes it does stink as an adult when I stay at these places because its just not as much fun I can't explain it. Maybe try to rent a flat for a week or so.

thanks Evi! I found a couple cute looking inns that got great reviews on Trip Advisor for around 330 a night but...it is nothing like Disney! So I certainly understand what you mean. I think DH is forever scarred of beach trips. We had been paying 3500 a week for beach front at Rehoboth but to eat at a GOOD seafood place was 100 a night EASY for family of 3 and honestly it started costing a fortune to go there when there wasn't much to do there...That is how we got so turned on to disney in June! honestly it was LESS money than the beach! So how I think Marthas Vineyard is going to be any different is anyone's guess... My parents so did NOT care for Nantucket. My mom was very bored there....so I guess that makes me think twice as well....Walt -TAKE ME BACK! I Am sorry!!!!

 

[Mimi1965]

The only thing we did on Cape Cod was a whale watching trip, which was amazing! But I can't remember, we might have actually left from Provincetown, which is "interesting" after dark, probably not a good place for a 12 year old. .

We absolutely loved cape Cod-we went to every Lighthouse-which was cool
It is very laid back
We had an amazing meal in Provincetown-on the outskirts

Just an FYI-Provincetown is very very crowded in the downtown area and is one of the largest Gay meccas out there-very "in your face" and over the top-esp Lesbians

PS-we staayed at the Holiday inn in Hyannis and had a suite for about $200-it was 2 stories-the kids had the sleeper sofa with tv upstairs=pretty cool

PS=I am not putting down gays-it is just something a family needs to know