Northeast Vacation Advice

[GroveGuy]

To escape the South Florida heat this summer I am looking for a "cool" vacation rental to take the family for a week or so. The Carolina mountains have been nice but we're looking for something different this year. Do any of you Northeastern members recommend a nice coastal spot for relaxing family fun: Cape Cod, Maine, etc.? General or specific info would be appreciated.

The Seacraft, though part of the family, will not be joining us

[peterb]

List the type of things you & your family like to do.

I am very biased to the New Jersey shore. Also, Cape Cod is very cool.

One other place that may be worth looking at is Block Island.

Good luck.

[GroveGuy]

Thanks for the reply

Let's see: beach is nice but not neccessary, historical areas, quaint small-town type stuff, unique restaurants, nature hiking/viewing and I guess shopping (for her).

[peterb]

OK, that helps.

Here are some possabilities.

1) Cape May, NJ http://www.capemay.com/

2) Newport/Block Island, RI

http://www.blockisland.com/
http://www.gonewport.com/


3) Wellfleet, MA
http://www.wellfleetma.org/Home/

I think that the family would be happy at anyone.

[Yamtt125]

Sounds to me like you need to go to Martha's Vineyard. I have gone the past two summers, and it it absolutely amazing!!!
Its deffinately better than cape cod. The cape doesn't have enough little unique towns like the vineyard does, and you can't really walk around any of the towns on the cape like you can in the vineyard.

There is just something unique about the vineyard that is different..idk what it is, but it is remarkable. It is a little pricey, but its worth it. You can also check out some of the other islands abound MA.

MV chanber of commerce

martha's vineyard online

[GroveGuy]

Outstanding stuff guys, thanks!

BTW, if driving from Boston airport, what's the driving time/ferry protocol to get to MV or Wellfleet?

[SC204]

It all depends on what day it is and what time of the day.

[GroveGuy]

OK...Not sure day or time - I'll presume 2 to 3 hrs driving to the cape. I've done a little searching and see places in MV advertised with tickets, for the ferry I guess. Are these given out in limited numbers? Cost and protocol?

Thanks!

[Rich]

There is a couple of ways to get to the MV by ferry, but if you want to bring a vehicle there is only one way.

http://www.steamshipauthority.com. If you are going to bring a car, I would recommend booking a reservation as early as possible. You pick up the ferry in Woods Hole which is part of Falmouth MA.

If you don't bring a vehicle, there are other options. From New Bedford MA: http://www.nefastferry.com/

Here is another walk on ferry from Falmouth. Http://www.islandqueen.com

[ScottM]

GroveGuy,
If you choose the Cape or MV, as "outaline" mentioned, drive time from Boston totally depends on time of day and day of week. On a Friday evening or Saturday morning in July or August (prime traffic times heading south on I-93 and Route 3), you can expect 1.5-2 hours from Boston just to the Cape Cod Canal. From the Canal to Woods Hole, 30 minutes. From the Canal to Wellfleet as PeterB suggested, 1 hour. On the other hand, head down on a week day or Sunday and you can save a bunch of time. I love MV, so I would suggest going there. Make car reservations as soon as possible, especially if going on a Fri/Sat/Sun in Jul/Aug. IMO, early/mid-September is the perfect time over there due to less crowds/traffic, house rentals are cheaper/easier to come by, and ferry reservations are easier to get. Plus, the weather is typically a few degrees cooler than August (high 70s-low 80s) but just as sunny and the water is at its warmest.