Weekend Getaways from Boston

Looking for a weekend getaway that is close to home? Well, if you live in Boston, MA you are in luck! There are numerous areas in New England within a 3 hour drive of Boston. These locations are great destinations no matter what the season. The top 5 locations are:

1. White Mountains, New Hampshire

When I think of the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, fond memories come to mind. Every Summer in my childhood, we would pack up the car and head to New Hampshire for vacation. There is so much to do no matter what the season.

Summer - if you are looking for amusement parks, the White Mountains area is home to Storyland and Santa's Village. These are great destinations for families with small children. There are other areas like Whales Tale Water Park and Attitash which have spots for older children, too. With all the Mountains, you definitely want to head to Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States, and drive up the auto road or take one of the other many routes up to the observatory.

Autumn - this is an excellent time of year to go to the White Mountains just to relax. The best way to see the sea of beautiful colors is to head up one of the mountains, too. Loon Mountain has a gondola ride that brings you up the mountain, or go on the Mount Washington Cog Railway.

Winter - with all of the mountains, there is definitely great skiing in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. Most of the mountains have great accommodations nearby or right at the bottom of the mountain. Loon Mountain is a great location with wonderful accommodations.

2. Cape Cod, Massachusetts

If you want to stay within the same state, "The Cape" is a great choice. Although this area is definitely geared toward the Summer with the beaches, there are other great times to visit. With wonderful ocean side accommodations, the Autumn and Winter are great opportunities to get great deals on room rates that would be much higher during the summer.

3. Newport, Rhode Island

Within just over an hour drive, Newport, RI provides a glimpse into the opulence of the Industrial Revolution. There is a wonderful opportunity to view homes that were built by some of the wealthiest families, like the Vanderbilts. The Breakers is located along the Cliff Walk, which as it's name indicates, is located along a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the Mansions are open for tours and the grounds are open to stroll and take plenty of pictures.

Obviously, being on the Atlantic Ocean, Newport RI is another Summer destination. However, there are again opportunities here to get great deals on otherwise expensive accommodations.

4. Kittery, Maine

A little over an hour trip North of Boston is Kittery, Maine. This is a shoppers paradise that is a great destination any time of year. Obviously, during the holiday season, prior to a wedding, sending a student off to college or when school shopping, this would be the best place to go for a weekend getaway. There are brand name outlets including men's and women's clothing (Aeropostle, Anne Klein, Van Heusen, Liz Claiborne, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, and many others), sportswear and household items (Le Gourmet Chef, Brookstone, Calphalon, Pflatzgraff, Reed & Barton, and many others).

Kittery is also the home of Kittery Trading Post, which is specifically aimed at the outdoorsman (or woman). There is a wide variety of sporting goods, hunting, fishing, and camping gear. The building is a wonderful destination just to browse as it is reminiscent of a hunting lodge.

5. Springfield, Massachusetts

This destination has something for the families with Six Flags New England and the Big-E Eastern States Exposition during the Summer months. There are many hotels that provide deals with stays that include tickets to Six Flags and the Big-E (during that event). Springfield, MA is also the home of the Basketball Hall of Fame which is a great destination for any sports enthusiast.