Opinion question for New Englanders....

[Beca]

I would like to take my family for a traditional New England Coastal Vacation. The problem is....I have never been up there (except to Rhode Island on overnights as a flight attendant). So, my question is: Where should we go for the idealistic Cape Cod-ish adventure?

Places I am considering are:
Maine
Massachusetts
Cape May, New Jersey

Does anyone have any suggestions about these, or any other location.

Thanks so much!!

 

[dejr_8]

We lived in MA for almost 10 years and went to Bar Harbor, Maine four or five times. We loved it there.

We always felt the Cape was over-rated.

What you could do is plan to drive up the coast of Maine and spend a night or two in one of the coastal towns before finishing up at Bar Harbor. http://www.visitmaine.net/tourthecoast.htm

 

[OctMtnWoods]

New Jersey is not part of New England. So scratch that right off the list. New England is ME, NH, VT, MA, RI & CT.

I would vote Maine because there is more accessible coast line and it varies from rocky to sandy. The water will be COLD. Its not as built up, commercialized, and more what you think of when you think New England. It will be fishing / lobster. Whale watches. Working harbors. Some quaint shops. Bar Harbor is nice & you can have some great views from Cadillac Mtn too.

2nd would be MA. If you are looking for old houses, sandy beaches, and some fences, I can only think of Rt 6A area (north side) of Cape Cod or the tip of Cape Cod. Not the Rt 28 side (south side) of the Cape at all. Beaches will be few and far between. Hotel chains on the Rt 28 area. Few small motels or inns on Rt 6A. Mostly antique shops & musuems. Few places to eat. All the commerical stuff is on Rt 28, but it doesn't look like what you are thinking Cape Cod should look like. Its traffic & stores you can get anywhere for the most part.

RI has a rocky / cliff coastline in the Newport area. Mansions are intersting to see but not what you call a Cape Cod experience. Sandy beaches in other parts. CT can be the same.

When I'm trying to pick an area & I'm not sure what it looks like, I love to fly in in Google Earth and look at all the photos people have posted on Panaroma (those little blue boxes). The closer you zoom, the more boxes pop up.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm a huge fan of Maine as well.. You can drive forever along the coast and just stop a few days here and there along the way.. I'm partial to it because it's mainly "rocky" coastline - which I prefer..

 

[Nie0214]

I'm biased-- Maine. If you don't want to go to the coast, you can go on a Moose hunt or river rapids. If you want to go to the coast, there are many things to do. Kennebunk, OOB, Bar Harbor, Boothbay.

Don't forget to check out the desert of Maine in Freeport on the way up & Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth.

Maine is all about being local. It's a different life up here than CT/MA/RI, but it's the way life should be.

 

[momrek06]

MAINE, ah-yuh!!!

My parents have a summer home on Drake's Island, MAINE. I spent all my summers in DOWNEAST MAINE and it is truly the place for a New England Coastal Vacation!!! They are there now (winters Florida) so much to do, so many sights to see!!!

 

[mla1977]

I love Maine. I grew up in CT but we would go to Maine every summer.

If you find yourself in CT I would recommend Mystic.

In RI for a beachy experience, you're got Westerly and Misquamicut State Beach.

 

[jimmiej]

The southern coast of Maine is beautiful. We've been there twice & are planning to go back in 2010. We stay in Wells Beach.

 

[kelleigh1]

I would think that a "Cape Cod-ish" adventure would require visiting Cape Cod.

Honestly, even though it's all New England, every area is a bit different - and I love them all. (So basically what I'm saying is that I'm no help at all - but I will reiterate what OctMtnWoods said - New Jersey is not New England - not even close. And the only state in New England without a coastline is Vermont. NH's coastline is the smallest, but they still have one.)

 

[merrily]

Being from NH normally I would say NH but seeing how we only have 13 miles of coast line....definitely Maine. I love Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunk. I also love going further north as well. There are some quaint towns along the way.

 

[mtemm]

If you are thinking the cape, I love chatham and harwichport and that area. to me it screams quintissential new england beachiness. I'm also a huge fan of coastal maine, although I've only spent time around the southern coast. kennebunkport and ogunquit are nice areas.

 

[Disney Doll]

We were just in Ogunquit in April....fabulous spot.

 

[dharmster]

My recommendation is to fly into Boston Logan Airport, if you'd like to see the sights in the city at all, do that for a day or 2 (everything you'd want for a quick visit is accessible by the subway and you don't have to drive), rent a car from the airport and drive up to Maine. Stop at Crane's Beach in Ipswich for a beautiful MA beach that's headed in the right direction (though a little out of the way east) to Maine. A stroll through Newburyport, MA is lovely as well. Keep headed toward Maine and you can stop at any of the little coastal "Downeast" towns that have been mentioned...Ogunquit and Kennebunk/Kennebunkport are beautiful and popular, Wells, Old Orchard Beach (which has carnival rides at the beach) and then keep going north! I'm trying to get you to Acadia National Park/Bar Harbor, ME because it's my (2nd ) favorite place in this country! Crawling along the rocky shores (the rocks are really interesting), renting bikes along the carriage trails, having lemonade and popovers at the Jordan Pond House, hiking around lakes and up small mountains, seeing the sunrise over Cadillac Mountain, going to the art galleries and ice cream shops in Bar Harbor... It's ! I may not be able to go there this summer, but if I could convince someone else to I'd be thrilled!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

My vote is for Maine too. We went to York Beach so many times growing up as well as Wells Beach. Both are fantastic and so beautiful. Driving along the coast is so relaxing and you can just smell the fried dough in the air!

 

[Beca]

Wow!! Thanks everyone for all the responses!!!

I guess Maine is the overwhelming winner, huh?!! I will have to start looking closely at that state (thanks for all the specific suggestions).

The only reason I threw Jersey in there was because I have heard Cape May has some of the best B&B/small inns for the northeast beach experience. I have also had some people suggest to me that Connecticut is actually the place to go. Of course, I know NOTHING of this area, other than I've always dreamed of going, and have passed the "itch" onto my daughter!!

My dh spent a year in Portland, ME....so, I will have to pick his brain on that.

Anyway, thanks SO MUCH for all the responses, and if anyone has any other ideas, please feel free to share them...I appreciate all input!!!

 

[minniebride]

Have you considered Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard?? I am from MA & spent my summers on the Cape as a child. We spent alot of time on the islands as well and they are heavenly, IMO I love Martha's Vineyard the best.

Great beaches, shopping, art galleries, museums, restaurants, visit the cliffs out at Gayhead. There's a fun carousel in the main town for the kids, you can take the bus basically all over the island & it's cheap and convenient.

It's such a ferry ride from Woods Hole Cape Cod.

ETA: Just saw that you made your choice for Maine-very beautiful areas as well-have fun!!!

 

[dejr_8]

My recommendation is to fly into Boston Logan Airport, if you'd like to see the sights in the city at all, do that for a day or 2 (everything you'd want for a quick visit is accessible by the subway and you don't have to drive), rent a car from the airport and drive up to Maine. Stop at Crane's Beach in Ipswich for a beautiful MA beach that's headed in the right direction (though a little out of the way east) to Maine. A stroll through Newburyport, MA is lovely as well. Keep headed toward Maine and you can stop at any of the little coastal "Downeast" towns that have been mentioned...Ogunquit and Kennebunk/Kennebunkport are beautiful and popular, Wells, Old Orchard Beach (which has carnival rides at the beach) and then keep going north! I'm trying to get you to Acadia National Park/Bar Harbor, ME because it's my (2nd ) favorite place in this country! Crawling along the rocky shores (the rocks are really interesting), renting bikes along the carriage trails, having lemonade and popovers at the Jordan Pond House, hiking around lakes and up small mountains, seeing the sunrise over Cadillac Mountain, going to the art galleries and ice cream shops in Bar Harbor... It's ! I may not be able to go there this summer, but if I could convince someone else to I'd be thrilled!

This would be a great trip. If you go, don't miss the sunrise over Cadillac Mountain. Just remember, it will be cold (cool) and windy at the top. Dress appropriately.

 

[Beca]

Have you considered Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard?? I am from MA & spent my summers on the Cape as a child. We spent alot of time on the islands as well and they are heavenly, IMO I love Martha's Vineyard the best.

Great beaches, shopping, art galleries, museums, restaurants, visit the cliffs out at Gayhead. There's a fun carousel in the main town for the kids, you can take the bus basically all over the island & it's cheap and convenient.

It's such a ferry ride from Woods Hole Cape Cod.

ETA: Just saw that you made your choice for Maine-very beautiful areas as well-have fun!!!

No....I have considered Martha's Vineyard....I think it looks beautiful!!! But, that's just part of my problem....I don't really know what would give us the best experience. I'm so confused!!! I will keep Martha's Vineyard in my options list as well!!

Thanks so much!!

 

[TheGoofster]

I will echo what so many have already said, and highly recommend Maine. It really does have some of the most beautiful scenery you'll ever see.
If you do decide to do Maine, I would also recommend not missing York. It's right near the Maine / NH border, and it is just incredible. There is a beach there, but the best part is the harbor. You can see Nubble light house, which is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. Here is a shot I took of it a couple of years ago:

Then, if you get the time, work your way up to Acadia. Again, it is something that you have to see to believe. Here is just one of the many gorgeous sites to see there:

One other thought. If you decide to see more of the Mass area, you might also want to consider Plymouth. It's not quite as scenic as some of the others, but it sure is historic. You can see the Mayflower 2:

as well as Plymouth Plantation.

I think that no matter what you decide, you will have a great time. Good luck in your plans.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

My question would be what do you like to do? There's something in New England for everyone, so give us an idea what you are interested in...

beaches?
shopping? (antique stores or little boutiques?)
boating? (sail? canoeing? harbor cruise? whale watching?)
history?
hiking?
just interested in the coast? or mountains?
fancy restaurants or down home local places?
in the middle of everything or get away from it all?