19 Family Weekend Getaways from Boston

Lake Compounce is the oldest continually operating amusement park in North America. It's home to the top-rated wooden roller coaster in the world, Boulder Dash, plus additional thrill rides, family and kiddie rides and 8 water rides in their huge waterpark.

The Berkshires is a great place to visit with your kids in tow. There are plenty of outdoor activities, museums, animals to see and shopping for that all important souvenir. For the book lovers, be sure to visit The Bookstore which offers plenty of children's books. At Hancock Shaker Village, kids can learn blacksmithing and even how to milk a cow!

This quaint maritime town is a charming little getaway for families. The town has so much more to offer for families aside from the famous Mystic Pizza Shop, including the Mystic Aquarium, harbor cruises, paddling, and a bustling small downtown district to enjoy a seaside meal together.

Block Island's 17 miles of beaches make it a popular summer spot but the island can be a beautiful destination for a weekend any time of year. Active visitors will delight in the many options for keeping busy, while families in want of relaxation and nature won't have to look far for either one. The dining and shopping won't disappoint any visitor! Though you can fly in, many people opt to take the ferry to the island. Once on island, visitors often rent bicycles or take taxis to get them where they want to go.

Newport has lots to offer year round! Summer offers free beaches, great hikes, and fun outdoor concerts. In the winter enjoy public skating, the Newport Winter Festival and during the entire month of December it's Christmas in Newport! A great way to see all of Newport is to hop on the Trolley for a tour around town. You can't take a trip to Newport without touring some of the gorgeous historic mansions including The Breakers, The Elms, and Rough Point.

There is plenty to keep the kids busy all day and night at this park with features such as a wave pool, four-person tubing runs, the giant “wet” playground, a lazy river, an indoor/outdoor jacuzzi and even more tubing and body slides. Then when the little fishies are ready to dry off it's onto the climbing wall, ropes course, bowling alley, mini golf, arcade, and more!

The quaint picturesque island known as "The Vineyard" is a great place for some laid back family fun. Martha's Vineyard is filled with charming streets, bakeries and restaurants, gingerbread cottages and low-key activities (Flying Horses Carousel, alpaca farms, beaches) appropriate for all ages.

Amanda Banta said:  Though practically in Boston's backyard, Plymouth makes you feel like you're on vacation, whether you're there for an afternoon or a weekend. The waterfront area features tons of family-friendly restaurants, a mix of quaint shops and sites to see, all an easy walking distance. Enjoy fresh seafood on the upper deck of the Cabby Shack , explore Plymouth's history beyond the Rock and stroll through one of the numerous parks and beaches.

Kids will love the John Carver Inn & Spa, which has an indoor pool with waterfalls, a slide and a Mayflower II replica.

There is plenty to do in Stowe, VT, whether visiting when it’s a sparkling winter wonderland, when it’s lush and green in the summertime, or when the leaves are at their peak in the fall. Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride in the winter or do some snowshoeing or skiing on one of the many trails at Stowe Mountain Resort. If you're visiting during the spring, summer or fall, be sure to rent a canoe, kayak or paddle board and ride through the Waterbury Reservoir at Waterbury Center State Park. A must when visiting Stowe is the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory!

A popular Halloween destination, Salem has fun attractions year-round as well! Visitors have the opportunity to learn about the Salem Witch Trials at the Salem Witch Museum. Families can also explore historic Pioneer Village and the New England Pirate Museum. The Salem Maritime National Historic Site has a huge recreation of the Friendship vessel from the 17th century. There a many hotels, inns, and B&Bs that are centrally located to it all, and are as charming as they are historic.

At one of the more family-friendly vacation spots around New England, you can bike the kid-friendly Cape Cod Rail Trail, take a whale watching cruise or a cranberry bog tour, and wear the kids out at Cape Cod Inflatable Park (the largest of its kind in the US).

Amanda Banta said:  My family did a small vacation in the mid-Cape area for three consecutive summers and each one was so much fun. We live less than 90 minutes away but it felt like another world. There is so much to do on Cape and it could not be more kid-friendly.

Lake Winnipesaukee is a great place to visit for a family weekend getaway. Enjoy views of the lake on a Mount Washington cruise which offers both day and evening boat tours. For a souvenir, head over to Mill Fall on the Lake in Meredith. This shopping area has restaurants, bookstores and ice cream places, perfect for a trip memento and dining spot. Another great place to look around in for both kids and parents is The Old Country Store in Moultonborough.

Amanda Banta said:  Though it may be known widely as a ski resort town, Lincoln, NH, offers year-round fun for the entire family. Kid-approved activities include the Flume Gorge, the Ice Castles, Clark's Trading Post, and any of the activities at Loon Mountain.

There are tons of hiking options in the area, but The Basin is my recommendation if you have young kids. There are paved paths that are easy for their little legs and any type of stroller.

Provincetown, on the the eastern tip of the Cape, offers tons of activity for families throughout the year. Walking around town is a great way to see the quaint buildings and picturesque landscape of the town. Commercial Street is a must stop for visitors, with its expanse of locally-owned boutiques, art galleries, antique shops and restaurants. Stop into the Lobster Pot for fresh fried seafood and of course a picture of its iconic neon sign. Active families will find plenty of fun and thrills among the beaches (two in the National Seashore), biking, kayaking, parasailing and more.

Portsmouth is a great place for a family mini-vaca! The summer offers water fun and boat cruising and in the winter enjoy all the joyous holiday festivities. Make sure when visiting Portsmouth you explore the salt marshes and tidal pools at Pierce Island, experience the thrill of Water Country's water slides, hop aboard and tour the USS Albacore, and visit the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse. If you head there during the winter months, you don't want to miss the Candlelight Stroll or the beautiful sights at Vintage Christmas.