Where to vacation in New England?

last year

last modified: last year

After 6 months of caregiving, my husband and I need a break! We usually go to Maine, but don't want to drive that far north this year. We'd ideally like to rent a house, cabin, cottage on or near the ocean for late August and will be driving from NYC. Here's more about us and our vacations:

- Minimal planning. We always book late and manage to find *something*.

- We are nerds, read, sit a the beach for a bit, walk around historical sites, stop at bookstores. Get up late, lazy around for the first half of the day. Don't go to beaches that require arriving early. Like to visit farms. Body is too worn down to hike. Short strolls, visiting gardens.

- We like comfort. Nothing run down but don't need posh either. (Though can be convinced to splurge!)

- Good food nearby is a must. We kind of hate an overly fancy restaurant on vacation. Give me a great gas station that cooks up fresh lobster in the back and we are in heaven. Farmer's market, good small grocery shop. We spend on ingredients $$$$. Cook simple summer food.

- We hate smokers, most touristy stuff, don't like to wait in line for things, are not bar people. Don't like listening to kids (sure in passing on a beach is fine, but don't want to be in a house smack dab next to a vacationing family.)

We have never been to RI, CT, or anywhere in Mass besides Boston. Let me know if you can think of great little towns we should look around for AirBnBs or Inns with cottages and what you like in the area. Would potentially consider a resort. Never do it but we are beat and just need an escape.

Thanks for any ideas!

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Comments (14)

dedtired
last year
How about Cape Cod?

I love Wellfleet.

Maybe this one? 👈link
Kendrah thanked dedtired
Elmer J Fudd
last year
last modified: last year
Finger Lakes? Lake beaches and summer rentals easy to find. Ithaca is a cool college town, good food easily found. Picturesque area, wineries and lots to do.
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lily316
last year
I love Nantucket. Quaint historic towns and lovely beaches.
sephia_wa
last year
^^oh yes, Nantucket is lovely. I also like the Martha's Vinyard area too.
Annie Deighnaugh
last year
I've no experience with how easy it is to find places on the water without advanced reservations....so many places book up from the prior year.

Anyway, some towns to look at: Stonington, CT. Newport, RI. Rockport, Gloucester, Marblehead MA and of course Cape Cod which, if you can wait until after Labor Day, the weather is usually grand and the crowds are diminished.
Ally De
last year
last modified: last year
Ithaca NY was just listed by CNN as their "best town in America."

https://www.cnn.com/travel/ithaca-new-york-best-towns-america-2025

Of course, that and $3 gets you a cup of coffee at Dunkin - but still, it is a neat little town in the beautiful Fingerlakes area of Central NY. The added bonus is that summer feels a little sleepier than normal because the majority of the students are gone.

I'm biased - I'm a Cornell alum. But still, it is unique. It's a little hippy, a little quirky, and as Elmer said there is a lot to see and do. It's gorgeous this time of year. Don't visit in January though. LOL.

(Happy to answer any questions, if I can....)
Elmer J Fudd
last year
Go Big Red!

It's a great school. We encouraged each of our kids to explore choices (and make the choice) of worthwhile universities far from home for the benefits getting away could provide. One wound up here and had an unbelievably positive experience.

We've visited the area many times and always enjoyed it immensely. Our kid is obviously long since graduated and moved from there but we've talked about going back for a summer vacation. Maybe we will!
Ally De
last year
That makes me smile, I love hearing about others who found the educational experience worthwhile. Cornell definitely has its own culture and as a student it can feel unreasonably hard.

I had a close friend's daughter want to attend. They lived in North Carolina and she's a warm weather aficionado. I told them make sure to visit in the winter. They did, and she pronounced it uninhabitable.

I have fond memories (now) of walking uphill in a blinding snowstorm in 13 degrees, to go take a prelim that I knew would probably crush my soul. It builds character. Or something. :-)
Elmer J Fudd
last year
My California kid was very happy there and thrived academically. We never heard a complaint about the weather. Sometimes a comment or the sharing of an anecdote about it (as you did) but not a complaint.
Kendrah
Original Author
last year
Thanks for your recommendations everyone.

We never plan ahead and usually end up finding water front places in Maine just a few weeks before booking. I think we end up taking reservations that got cancelled last minute. We will see if we have any luck elsewhere this year.

A friend recommended Westerly RI. Anyone been there?
Annie Deighnaugh
last year
I've not spent any time there, but it's supposed to be nice. Then again RI is so small that anywhere you end up is close to something else.
hobbitmom
last year
last modified: last year
Last year, my travel buddy and I spent two weeks in Mass. 5 days in Harvard Square. It was fabulous. Many wonderful museums that I will never forget. This was followed by 7 days in the Birkshires. Again, awesome museums. One was a Norman Rockwell museum that featured a Mad Magazine section that was utterly,utterly wonderful!! I made a point of ordering clam chowder at all restaurants, and had an on going rating system. Plus,we were there in the fall for the colors of the leaves. It was beautiful.
Olychick
last year
last modified: last year
One of my friends who lives in Oly now, grew up in Worcester MA and their family summer home is in Westerly RI. They fly there several times a year and love it. I don't have details, but they would definitely recommend it. It sounds pretty sleepy and non touristy. Taylor Swift has a home nearby....
Kendrah thanked Olychick
Kendrah
Original Author
last year
Thanks @Olychick. We love sleepy.

Where to vacation in New England?

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