I’ve spent 95% of my time residing on the East Coast of the US, and for essentially the most half, I’ve liked it. We’re fortunate as a result of there are such a lot of nice locations for East Coast household holidays – a lot of which we will simply drive to. The East Coast presents most of the high household holidays within the US.
In search of some trip inspiration to your subsequent household trip? Listed here are a few of our favourite East Coast household holidays. Go away us a remark if we left one in every of your favourite East Coast trip spots for households off the record.
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As well as, we visited just a few of those places as a part of press journeys (at no, or restricted value to us). All opinions are my very own.
East Coast Household Holidays
Earlier than planning your trip, try this trip calculator that may assist you determine prices. Needless to say a few of these greatest East Coast holidays for households will be mixed, particularly in the event you can take an extended highway journey.
New York Metropolis
I firmly consider that each household from the US ought to attempt to have a minimum of one New York Metropolis household trip. It’s among the finest East Coast holidays and one of many high household trip spots on the planet. Residing within the Boston space, we’re just some hours away and might go to each few years, particularly as a result of there are such a lot of simple transportation choices from Boston to NYC.
Along with iconic landmarks just like the Empire State Constructing, the Statue of Liberty, and Rockefeller Plaza, there are additionally numerous museums with interactive reveals, enjoyable NYC household eating places, and naturally, Broadway. Don’t overlook to go to Central Park and Occasions Sq..
I usually get pleasure from visiting within the fall or spring, when the temperatures are nice for strolling round, though Christmastime is all the time so lovely. Needless to say it’s particularly busy in New York Metropolis between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so be ready for crowds and better lodge costs. It may also be more durable to get restaurant reservations.
See lodge critiques in NYC right here.
Cape Cod, MA
If you’re on the lookout for the proper New England seaside trip, you’ll wish to go to Cape Cod. This space of Massachusetts presents over 400 miles of shoreline (the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore Nationwide Park), making it a well-liked East Coast trip vacation spot in the summertime. The Cape has a few of the greatest East Coast seashores for households and is among the many greatest trip spots on the East Coast.
Households can get pleasure from conventional summer season actions like mini-golf, conventional golf programs, and drive-in films, in addition to enjoyable water sports activities, out of doors actions, and stress-free time on the seaside. There are a number of nice cities and resorts to go to, so that you’ll discover the proper spot amongst all of those seaside cities. Cape Cod can be a fantastic place to go to with younger kids, and there’s a lot pure magnificence to discover.
In the event you want there are additionally many trip leases provided. On the way in which to the Cape, just remember to cease at Plymouth, MA for a go to to the historic Plimoth Patuxet Museums.
There are many nice household resorts on Cape Cod, together with Ocean Edge Resort (e book right here) and the Sea Crest Seashore Resort (e book right here).
See lodge critiques right here.
Cape Ann, MA
Lower than an hour north of Boston is Cape Ann, MA, the place you’ll discover the waterfront cities of Rockport and Gloucester, MA. I really like visiting Cape Ann, as a result of it’s much less crowded than Cape Cod, however nonetheless has some nice eating places, waterfront actions, and retailers.
You possibly can mix a visit to Cape Ann with a Boston household trip as a result of it’s so shut. It’s one in every of my favourite trip and day journey spots.
Our favourite seashores in Gloucester are Good Harbor Seashore and Wingaersheek Seashore. They’re a few of the greatest seashores in Massachusetts.
Each get very busy on sizzling summer season days, so I like to recommend arriving early to just remember to get parking. There are a number of resorts within the space, and a few individuals want to e book a trip house.
See resorts right here.
Boston, MA
I really like my house metropolis of Boston. Even after residing proper within the metropolis and within the close by suburbs for twenty years, I nonetheless discover so many issues to do within the space. From the quite a few museums, reveals, parks, retailers, eating places, and extra, you may simply spend a minimum of per week in Boston.
Whereas the snow is gorgeous, I do advocate visiting within the late spring, summer season, or early fall when the temperatures are greatest for exploring town. See our suggestions for neighborhoods in Boston and resorts in Boston to remain in.
See lodge critiques right here.
Martha’s Winery, MA
One of the crucial standard presidential trip locations over the previous couple of many years, Martha’s Winery is likely one of the greatest East Coast household holidays. There are just a few totally different cities, all providing quaint retailers, scrumptious eating places, and delightful seashores.
You may simply catch a ferry over to the island, and might even select to carry your automotive with you in the event you’d like. After we visited, we did carry our automotive as a result of we drove all around the island. Many households determine to lease a seaside home for his or her trip, or there are resorts and resorts on the island (see critiques right here).
Raleigh, NC
My son and I visited Raleigh, North Carolina on a press journey final spring, and we had been so pleasantly stunned by the entire nice issues to do in Raleigh. From watersports and ziplining to museums and eating places, there’s a lot to maintain children occupied.
Not solely are there numerous actions, however a number of of the museums supply free admission, making it an inexpensive spot for a household trip. The climate can be usually good, with pretty delicate winters. Our lodge proper within the heart of city was the proper spot to remain as a result of we had been in a position to stroll to a number of museums and eating places.
See lodge critiques right here.
Nationwide Harbor, MD
After visiting the opposite three Gaylord Motels (in Dallas, Orlando, and Nashville), I knew that I wished to take my household to the Gaylord Nationwide, positioned in Nationwide Harbor, MD. Nationwide Harbor is an entire vacation spot in itself, but it surely’s additionally a fantastic spot for anybody visiting the points of interest in Washington DC and Alexandria, Virginia.
The centerpiece is a huge Ferris wheel proper on the waterfront, however there are additionally numerous eating places and retailers proper within the space. Company can drive to DC and Alexandria, or there’s additionally a ship that may take you there proper from the Harbor.
We loved our keep there and would advocate it to anybody who’s visiting DC however wish to keep just a little outdoors town.
See lodge critiques right here.
Washington DC
Washington DC is one other vacation spot that’s excellent for households to go to – it’s one of many must-see locations on the East Coast. I’d usually advocate a go to when your children are teenagers or tweens as a result of that’s when your kids will actually perceive what they’re seeing.
A couple of years in the past, we went on our first journey with our children. We drove from our house in Massachusetts and visited a number of museums, together with the Worldwide Spy Museum (which has since relocated to a bigger constructing).
Needless to say you’ll must work via your US Rep or Senator for a number of visits (together with the White Home), so it’s greatest to plan and do your analysis nicely upfront. Whereas the precise lodging within the space will be costly, as it’s a metropolis, most of the museums supply complimentary admission.
So it actually will be an inexpensive trip vacation spot in the event you plan accordingly. Throughout our go to, we stayed at Nationwide Harbor, which was a extra inexpensive choice than staying proper within the metropolis. In fact, you’ll wish to head into town to see issues just like the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, the Smithsonian Museums, and the Nationwide Mall.
See lodge critiques right here.
Portland, Maine
I really like Portland Maine. After listening to so many nice issues about it for years, I solely not too long ago found it for myself. Whereas it’s in all probability greatest visited in the summertime when you’ll be able to make the most of the nice and cozy climate for water actions, it’s additionally a fantastic place to go to within the winter.
I get pleasure from simply strolling round city (particularly the Outdated Port part), testing the varied quaint retailers and scrumptious eating places. There are additionally museums and delightful websites to discover. Be sure you try the enduring Portland Head Lighthouse.
Different standard spots in Maine embody Ogunquit, Acadia Nationwide Park, and Bar Harbor. Ogunquit is a quintessential seaside city, and it isn’t too removed from Boston and Portland.
See lodge critiques right here.
Mystic, CT
Mystic is most well-known for the film and restaurant Mystic Pizza, though there’s a lot there to discover. Positioned proper over the Rhode Island border in Connecticut, Mystic presents a wonderful aquarium, seaport village, and buying space.
We usually keep two nights and are in a position to see nearly the whole lot on our record. It’s greatest to go to when the climate is heat, as a result of nearly the entire seaport and village, and a part of the aquarium are outdoor. You’ll do a variety of strolling in your journey.
See lodge critiques right here.
Amelia Island, FL
After visiting Amelia Island for the TMS household journey convention in 2016, it’s one in every of my favourite spots to advocate for a household trip. Positioned only a brief drive away from Jacksonville, Amelia Island is well accessible from most US cities.
There’s Fernandina Seashore, a beautiful seaside that’s nice for households, with quite a few parks, scrumptious meals, and enjoyable water sports activities. Throughout my journey to the convention, I loved a complimentary keep on the Omni Amelia Island Resort (e book right here), a household resort that gives quite a lot of actions for teenagers. It’s a fantastic spot for a soothing keep, however you’ll additionally have the ability to get pleasure from extra than simply the seaside.
See lodge critiques right here.
Virginia Seashore, VA
A number of years in the past, I had the chance to go to Virginia Seashore throughout a press journey to Virginia. This seaside city space presents a quintessential household seaside expertise, from biking down the seaside boardwalk, to having fun with a splash within the ocean.
I particularly love the Virginia Seashore Aquarium and Marine Science Heart, which is likely one of the greatest aquariums that I’ve been to. In fact, you’ll additionally get to get pleasure from a few of the greatest seafood round, on the many scrumptious eating places you’ll discover round city.
From right here, you may also highway journey to the Jap Shore, in addition to to Colonial Williamsburg.
See lodge critiques right here.
Savannah, Georgia
The coastal, historic city of Savannah, Georgia is positioned proper on the South Carolina border. It’s an attractive place to go to for a trip and presents historic websites such because the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace and the Owens-Thomas Home.
Savannah is such a quintessential southern city. There are nice eating places and retailers all through the city.
There’s additionally Tybee Island, a barrier island positioned off the coast of Savannah within the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a fantastic spot for a household seaside trip.
See extra issues to do in Savannah right here.
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
This Atlantic barrier island in South Carolina is a well-liked seaside vacation spot. Positioned southwest of Charleston, Kiawah is called a seaside and {golfing} vacation spot. Households will get pleasure from visiting Evening Heron Park, which features a nature heart and pool space.
Kiawah boasts many trip houses, in addition to resorts. You may see critiques right here.
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Hilton Head is called a golf vacation spot, however there are nonetheless loads of issues to do with children. In the event you and your loved ones love Disney, take into account staying on the Disney Hilton Head Island Resort. This family-friendly resort consists of the entire providers and facilities that you just’ve come to count on from Disney, together with a big pool with waterslide and seaside entry.
If you are on Hilton Head, there are family-oriented actions to get pleasure from, together with miniature golf, the Dolphin and Nature Tour, Pirate’s Island Journey Golf, and the Sandbox Interactive Kids’s Museum.
See lodge critiques in Hilton Head right here.
Orlando, FL
There are such a lot of issues to do in Orlando, together with Walt Disney World, Common Florida, Legoland, the Orlando ICON, Seaworld, and Discovery Cove. It’s nearly inconceivable to do the whole lot throughout one journey, so I’d advocate selecting your high choices and simply doing these.
Be sure you plan some leisure time, since you gained’t wish to spend day-after-day going, going, going. The theme parks will be tiring.
Asheville, NC
Asheville North Carolina presents scrumptious eating places, a bustling arts scene, lovely nature trails, and naturally, the Biltmore Property. It’s a fantastic vacation spot for a girlfriend getaway or household trip, and you might be positive to search out loads of issues to get pleasure from in your trip. It’s additionally an inexpensive vacation spot and attracts a lot of its guests from the encompassing space.
If you are there, you’ll be able to get pleasure from mountain climbing to Catawba within the Pisgah Nationwide Forest. Don’t miss a tour of the Biltmore Property, the biggest privately-owned house in America. Children will particularly love seeing the bowling lanes and indoor swimming pool which might be within the house.
In the event you do determine to fly in, the small airport in Asheville could be very handy to downtown. Flights usually undergo Charlotte or Atlanta, relying on the airline.
Newport, RI
Newport is one in every of my favourite locations in New England, because of its lovely landscapes, enjoyable eating places, and vibrant waterfront. Summer season is the perfect time to go to so you’ll be able to get pleasure from Fort Adams State Park in addition to the beautiful seashores in Newport and the close by cities.
Additionally positioned in Rhode Island is Block Island, an island accessible by way of passenger ferry. It’s turn out to be a well-liked vacation spot lately, with heaps for the entire household to get pleasure from. As you’d count on, it’s greatest visited in the summertime months.
See extra issues to do in Newport RI with children right here.
There are different lovely East Coast trip spots, together with the Outer Banks of North Carolina (see issues to do within the Outer Banks), Myrtle Seashore in South Carolina (see issues to do in Myrtle Seashore), and Rehoboth Seashore in Delaware. In your opinion, what are the perfect locations to trip with children on the East Coast?
See our East Coast trip story right here.
