For accommodations, stay directly in Bar Harbor at a cute inn to get the best of your time. In the winter, if theres enough snow and you pack a pair of skis or a board, you can still make your way down a run or two. Bean store, which every outdoor enthusiast should take a pilgrimage to, just to see its enormity (six buildings, open 24/7, 365 days a year). Right along this street are some cool shops like the River Run Bookstore, a fun game store called Diversions and Games, and a cute international boutique shop, Ten Thousand Villages. Right outside the marketplace, you might spot jugglers and dancers giving a great show! Theyre currently in Southeast Asia, and blogging about their adventures at Passions and Places. You are right about Boston traffic being a bugger. 
It was wonderful! The capital of Rhode Island has canals to stroll along, great restaurants, and art museums. The arts scene is burgeoning too, with dozens of galleries to peruse along Congress Street. Need more ideas for day trips near Boston? The brick and wood bar area is cozy and warm, and you can sample some finely curated wines from around the world.. The Berkshires give ample opportunities for hiking, leaf-peeping, and exploring small New England towns. However, if you are hungry after your hiking expedition, enjoy lunch at Jordan Pond House where you can dine on traditional meals of New England that include lobster rolls, chowder, and more. After getting off the road, we started with breakfast at the Portland Pottery Cafe. most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. Fortunately, its retained some of that fascinating history with the Albacore Museum (a Cold War-era submarine you can tour) and the Strawbery Banke Museum (an open-air time capsule of the citys perfectly preserved 17th and 18th-century homes). Next up on your New England road trip: Boston!
After all, exploring the region by car is one of the top things to do in New England. Portland (Maine) to Boston drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. However, there are also a lot of great things outside the city that make it nice to have a car: days at the beach, drives through the mountains, and, of course, trips to the regions famously quaint small towns. Plan your day with Things to Do in Woodstock, Vermont. Thank you for your support of the blog! (We came here twice!). Read on for how to spend a day in Salem. You can grab lunch in Portsmouth from places like the Clipper Tavern, The Wilder, or The Franklin. Learn more about climbing Mount Major. I agree! On our whale watching expedition, we went to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. You can grab Lisas famous cinnamon bun at Peaks Caf as you start your cart tour. You will want to start by taking a few days to experience New Englands largest citys feel. Or head over to the Maine Lobster Shack for a delicious lobster rollnothing is better than this fresh-caught lobster. If thats not for you, they also have small plates, fettuccine, sandwiches, and many more options to choose from. There are tons of cool things to do in Portland Maine year-round, but I am going to outline our one-day itinerary, which was a great way to spend one day in Portland Maine. Check out 47 Cool Things to Do in Portland, Maine. I figured that we should probably do seafood since anything caught would be local and fresh. Comment below. Weekend in Providence RI: 2 Days of PVD Fun. As you get off the ferry, rent a little golf cart From Mikes Carts to get around the area. You can grab dinner here and reminisce about the show. Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Boston? For more information, check out my travel resources page. Take the rest of the days and go at your own pace. Shopping along Commercial Street is definitely one of the most fun things to do in Portland Maine! Read Next: The Perfect 3-Day Portland, Maine Itinerary. New London, Connecticut where you can visit the U.S Coast Guard Academy, Fort Trumbull State Park, and many more historical landmarks. Four Tree Island is connected to the mainland by a pair of bridges, and is an excellent place to sit back and watch the fishing boats coast into port with their daily catch. After getting a good bite in, take a 17-minute ferry to Peaks Island for some more exploring; we spent half a day here and had so much fun! Spend as much time as you want hereits so beautiful! Kennebunkport (Maine) (22 answers) If you would prefer to stay in Boston, you may be able to save on driving time on the congested roads. When you enter the restaurant, youre met with leather seats and couches which face the street. For some post-hike refreshments, Fort Hill Brewery is only a few miles away in Easthampton, and they serve great German-style beers and have live music on Thursdays and Fridays and makes for a cool place to visit near Boston. If mountains arent your thing and youre more of a beach lover, Sand Beach and Echo Lake Beach are great for swimming and hanging out. The House of the Seven Gables (2 mentions) It took a few minutes of watching, but we did spot some whales! There are lots of great things to do in Freeport, and if you plan your day trip from Boston during Christmas season, youll find its one of those New England towns that goes all in on the Christmas magic! If you feel like getting out on the water, SUP YO Adventures offers regular paddleboard events, including a cool kids paddleboard yoga class if youve got the kids with you during your day trip from Boston. Weve compiled 15 of the best day trips from Bostonand some of them are only an hour away. The service at Fore Street was first-class, and our server made sure anything we needed was swiftly at the table. Which day trips around Boston have you taken? This trail is a must-see for anyone who visits the city! What is your favorite restaurant in Salem (Massachusetts)? I wish it was open so we could have seen the views better. Finally, no road trip to Acadia National Park is complete without a stop at the famous Thunder Hole! Youll then take a 20-minute walk towards the USS Constitution (15), which is the oldest commissioned warship afloat that fought during the war of 1812. They are also the experts in knowing the best spots that whales like to hang out. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Main, I want to see them all! open-ended. Great pic to go with the post. This colonial town on Aquidneck Island has excellent beaches, hiking, dining, and a lot of history. This was also the home to writers such as Emily Dickenson and Henry David Thoreau. This is one of the top places to visit near Boston, and its barely even outside the city. Though its part of Boston Harbor Islands park system, it is fully connected to the mainland and offers leisurely hiking along two large hills with exceptional views of the Boston harbor and skyline. To learn more, read my About Me Page. After all the energy spent at Acadia, get some much-needed rest before the long 5.5-hour drive to Boston! Both trails are reasonable, but if youre looking for a shorter trail, take the Bubble Rock trail to see the bubble, which is a huge rock shaped like a bubble sitting precariously on the cliff of the mountains. Dont miss: The Ultimate New England road trip itinerary and 18 Best Weekend Getaways from Boston. On the top of your list to do in Boston, the Freedom Trail. Want to plan the trip back? Hi Genia, Thanks for stopping by! After exploring all you can in Boston, itll be time to head back home. and hotels is the Trippy page on Another more moderate hike is the Bubble Trail which branches into North and South. 18 Spectacular Things to do in Cayucos, California, Monterey + Big Sur Itinerary: The Perfect Road Trip, 2022 Her Wanderful World - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Candlepin bowling is played with smaller balls and the pins are thinner as well; it tends to result in more strikes which means more points! Youll see an iconic New England church and steeple right in the town center. Especially the observatory, since it was unfortunately closed during my trip. This witchy, spooky town is best in October, but its awesome at any time of year. Grab a seat at one of my favorite restaurants, the family-owned Side Street Cafe. Read more about a day at Purgatory Chasm. Youll explore the freedom trail on foot and really get to see all the history in Boston proper prepare yourself, its a long day of walking! After your walk around the Promenade, head to the Portland Observatory, another fun thing to do in Portland, Maine. Rockport is a great road trip from Boston, with all kinds of fantastic things to do. Find pet-friendly stops. How to Spend One Day in Boston: 24 Hours of Boston Fun! Unfortunately, I didnt snag any pictures of it since the interior is quite dark and intimate. Some recommendations include Duckfat (amazing Belgian-style fries with sauces) and The Honey Paw (ramen noodles and Asian infusion). Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Andreas from Manhattan asked:Good restaurants in Portland (5 answers), Priscilla from Santa Monica asked:Best places to eat in Portland, ME (4 answers), Irene from New York State asked:Things to do and good restaurants in Portland, ME (3 answers), Casey from Boston asked:Best Breakfast spots in Portland, Maine? At this point, it is likely that youre well into the afternoon so I would recommend booking an Uber to drive you back to the Boston Commons, which is most likely where your car is parked. This is the perfect spot to grab lunch! Longfellow was a national literary man of his time and most furnishings in his house are original or belonged to his family. Say less, you want Newburyport! After breakfast, check out another museum for the history buff: reserve a ticket to spend about an hour touring Victoria Mansion, a historical landmark that is one of the oldest in the country known for its architecture and original interior design. We just walked around the campus and noted the buildings as well as the plaques that were displayed. I just love the northeast and youve given me even more places to explore up there! I have been to Boston several times now and even took a trip up to Maine & Connecticut once but I have been quite lax on visiting the other areas. While people from further West may call it the The Other Portland, this town, just two hours from Boston, is quickly becoming a hipster enclave. Hike this trail along the base of the 75-foot rock Purgatory Chasm and get ice cream at the farm next door. You can purchase tickets and actually walk on the ship and even go underdeck to see the cannons and rooms. 13 Airbnbs in Salem: Find the Perfect Airbnb Salem MA Has for You! The food is topnotch, with some of Americas best chefs locating their restaurants there, and it has more microbreweries per capita than any other city in the country. Funnily enough, I have not been to their shop in the Boston Fenway neighborhood. I have not been to Boston yet, but hopefully I will some day with this helpful post!
There are art galleries galore to soak up, many delicious restaurants and breakfast spots to eat at (including a spot selling some of the BEST lobster rolls in New England.). Im not much of a sports fan, but I really enjoyed a walk around Fenway Park where the Red Sox play. If you have more time to spend on a New England road trip, here are a few other historic cities to stop: Concord, Massachusetts, New London, Connecticut, or Providence, Rhode Island. This Southern diner (and what I would consider hipster) has delicious offerings such as the Mother Clucker. A historic town with beautiful old homes and lovely harbor views. Enter a city to drive through, or find all. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on this website. Another iconic stop in Boston is to visit the Cheers restaurant filled with memorabilia from the show!
The Mount Tom Hotel was built at the summit in 1897, but it burned down just three years later. It was the perfect way to start our day trip in Portland!. The best time to see those beautiful colors are late September through October! where to stay in Portland (Maine). Things to do and good restaurants in Portland, ME. We brought our Shiloh Shepherd, who we caught mid-sneeze. You can relax at the Charles River Esplanade which is a walking path along the waterfront with plenty of benches. Some of these places date back to the 1800s! Then take a walk down the main street and explore the town on foot. You can go at your own pace, stop when you want, and take in all of the sights! PS if youre looking for the best day adventures from Boston, consider checking out this events calendar for the Bay State to see if there are any fun festivals, shows, or events happening near Boston, too! Boston is also home to many amazing colleges and universities.
For a full list of fun things to do in Portland Maine and many Maine points of interest, visit the visitportland.com website. Worlds End is also a great spot to have a picnic, or just relax in the grass and read; definitely one of the top things to do outside Boston if youre looking for a laidback, stress-free activity. They dont have the impressive views of the main trail, but retain the quiet beauty that all New England forests seem to have. With a population of approximately 21,000 people, Portsmouth is the 13th largest city in all of New England! If you're looking for a quick answer, you can check out Portland Regency Hotel & Spa, which was mentioned 2 times on Trippy. The whole shopping district is so charming and walkable, and you can get a feel for the local shops in an afternoon. Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments. Her Wanderful World is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Partway through your drive on Seashore Avenue, you can park your cart along the road and take a short hike to Battery Steele, which used to be a military fortification now graffiti-covered. Its home to some of Americas oldest cities and towns. Boston also has a memorial for the persecuted Jews during the Nazi regime where you can visit the New England Holocaust Memorial. We got ice cream cones every time we went (which was only twice!). After walking through the memorial, youll end up near the Boston Public Market, which is filled with produce and gourmet food. who wants the trip to end? There were a number of pottery items for sale, and you can browse around the cafe and shop area to see the items in progress and those that have been completed. There are several tour companies along the water where you can book a trip to see the whales. All Day Breakfast hotels around Salem (Massachusetts): Trippy members suggest Duckfat, which was mentioned 5 times. Its located on the other side of the Boston Commons where Edgar stands. Be sure to check out the historic downtown area and the amazing restaurants. For the brave, book a ghost tour of Bostons most haunted locations! Keep in mind that youll be in the car for a few hours, so also pack some comfortable clothes for a long New England road trip. The drive from Boston to Hingham is just under an hour, and Hingham is even accessible on the commuter rail, if youre willing to take a 20-minute stroll to reach the downtown area. It is one of the best places to explore in the world! The tour guides are historians, so you can be sure that the stories they tell will be accurate and interesting-we learned so much about the cemeteries and ghost sightings! What could be a better day trip from Boston idea than a visit to Americas hometown itself? Traveling with a dog or cat? In this section of the New England road trip, you will not be driving across state lines or going long distances anymore. ), and its one of the few places in America where you can get by without a car. Wear a jacket as it will get cold when youre in the middle of the ocean. However, there are so many restaurants to choose from.
Check the website for schedules. This area also has a large Portuguese population, a fort, and was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
