While a tropical family getaway always seems fabulous in theory, there are times in our busy lives when the greatest luxury is being able to avoid airports, rental cars and climate shifts altogether. Luckily, the Northeast is home to some world-class family-oriented resorts. Roll out of the driveway mid-morning, and you can be checked in to any of these special spots by lunchtime. Interested in more of a staycation? We’ve got you covered there, too.
Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham, MA
Chatham Bars Inn
Where: 297 Shore Rd, Chatham, MA
This resort in the sleepy fishing town of Chatham features cozy cabins (with modern amenities), a golf course, outdoor pool, spa and four on-site restaurants. Guests love quaint touches like cozy fires on the beach with s’mores at night, and the unforgettable ocean-view sunrises. Parents will delight in daily activities that keep little ones busy from games and crafts to outdoor activities and offsite excursions, including the resort’s own sunset sail around the coastline.
Distance from Boston: About 1.4 hours
Special touch: They offer a special CBI Kids Club during summer vacation from late June to August, with both morning and evening sessions.
Cape Codder Resort & Spa, Hyannis, MA
Cape Codder Resort & Spa
Where: 1225 Iyannough Road, Hyannis, MA
They’ve got one of our favorite indoor waterparks and kid-friendly spas in the area, so its no surprise that we recommend this resort in Hyannis for a family getaway come spring and summer. Visitors can play at the three-story indoor water park, enjoy live entertainment on the weekends and take advantage of easy access to Cape Cod’s best beaches. And in the summer, the kids activity schedule guarantees you won’t here a single “I’m bored” during your stay.
Distance from Boston: About 1.5 hours
Special touch: Does your kid love Harry Potter or superheroes? The resort is known to host weekends jam-packed with themed-activities like wizard school, crafting, dance parties and scavenger hunts.
The Lodge on the Cove, Kennebunkport, ME
Lodge on the Cove
Where: 29 S Main St, Kennebunkport, ME
This refurbished motor lodge is the perfect mix of modern and retro elements. Your family will stay in one of 30 rooms split between four buildings, each with their own semi-private deck. Then head outside where the pool (and poolside bar), lawn games and local live music await. Each morning starts with coffee and fresh baked goods, then snag your complimentary beach towels and chairs to spend some time in the sand and sun.
Drive time from Boston: Just over 2 hours
Special touch: Activities like Tie-Dye Tuesday, evening s’mores, Saturday morning yoga and Saturday night movies easily keep your always-busy kid entertained.
Omni Mount Washington, Bretton Woods, NH
Omni Hotels & Resorts
Where: 310 Mount Washington Hotel Rd, Bretton Woods, NH
With 200 guestrooms situated on some 800,000 acres in the White Mountains, the Omni is as grand as it gets in New England. In the winter, ski-minded kids will want to hit adjacent Bretton Woods, the state’s biggest ski resort, but winter isn’t the only time when there’s fun to be had. All year long, families can brave the three-hour long Canopy Tour, comprised of nine elevated zip-lines and two sky-bridges, some almost 900 feet long, and swim in indoor and outdoor heated pools. In the summer, golfing, fishing, horseback riding are available, too.
Drive time from Boston: About 2.5 hours
Special touch: Milk and cookies are delivered to kids on the first night of their arrival.
Red Jacket Mountain View Resort, North Conway, NH
Where: 2251 White Mountain Hwy, Conway, NH
This destination is nestled on 25 acres overlooking the Moat Mountain Range and Saco River Valley, and both the resort itself and the town of North Conway offer lots of indoor and outdoor activities for families (in case you visit during a chilly spring break!). The kids’ favorite will not doubt be Kahuna Laguna, the large indoor water park full of slides, a wave pool and giant tipping bucket; there’s also a shallow area for the little not-quite-swimmers in your bunch. Take advantage of the outdoor pool and arcade on site, too. Then head into North Conway for a scenic ride on the old fashioned Conway Railroad.
Drive time from Boston: About 2.5 hours
Special touch: Visit during school vacation, and the resort will have planned a week’s worth of activities to keep the kids busy like Wii tournaments, arts & crafts, story times and campfires.
Grace Vanderbilt, Newport, RI
Grace Vanderbilt
Where: 41 Mary St, Newport, RI
This 33-room boutique hotel is just the right amount of luxury to make you feel welcome, but still like you’re on a dreamy seaside vacation. The spa will keep you busy and relaxed, while the kids won’t get enough of the indoor and outdoor pools. The special family package allows you to book a suite for yourselves and receive the connecting one at half price for the littles. Add on activities like tennis lessons, a Breakers kids tour and seal watching.
Drive time from Boston: About 2.5 hours
Special touch: Both the Welcome Pack (including a teddy bear!) and bedtime snack cart will make kids feel special.
Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY
Mohonk Mountain House
Where: 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, NY
You’ll get a kick out of the old-school Catskills vibe at this sprawling resort, which looks almost like a castle rising up over Lake Mohonk in New York’s Hudson Valley. With 85 miles of trails, hiking is a highlight here, especially over the majestic rock formations and cliffs that abut the property. There’s also a great little beach, horseback riding, boating, rock climbing, nature tours and a variety of lawn games to occupy families in the warmer months; and ice skating, cross country skiing and snow tubing in the winter. The kids’ club program, available every day in the summer and on weekends year-round, is free for overnight guests.
Drive time from Boston: About 3.5 hours
Special touch: Don’t sleep on the sought-after Kids Stay & Eat Free special, only available select dates, but so, so worth it if you can make it work with your schedule!
Tyler Place Family Resort, Swanton, VT
Tyler Place Family Resort
Where: 175 Tyler Pl, , VT
Think of this as summer camp for families. There are way too many family and kid-centric activities to list, including summer camp for kids, and parent-kid activities like biking, swimming, crafts, hiking and family field days. Cottages and suites feature mini kitchens and screened porches to allow for some quiet bonding time, though families are encouraged to meet and socialize. And just in case you’re desperate for a little grown-up fun, too, sitters are available to spring you for game night, drinks or even dancing after 9pm.
Drive time from Boston: About 4 hours
Special touch: They offer guided day trips to nearby Quebec—and its chocolatiers, farms and other charms.
