New England is a magical place. The summer is hot enough to make you (momentarily) forget that winter is coming, but not so hot (most days) that you wilt in the sun. Autumn is heaven, with its foliage and still-warm temperatures. And spring — when it finally arrives — is the great reward we all receive for surviving another winter. During the many nice-weather weekends the year brings, our family likes to adventure and explore, but we’re limited to the places we can reach during a toddler car nap. Here are our top three day trips:
Wells, Maine
Wells is an hour north of Boston on 95 just past the Maine/New Hampshire border. Our favorite destination there is the Wells Reserve, which includes seven miles of trails, a working research lab, and a beautiful sand beach. The Reserve is a former farm, so the trails are old cart paths and are flat, which makes them perfect for young toddlers who are new to traversing trails. Also, the flatness of the trails means pulling a wagon of beach supplies is a snap since it is about one mile from the parking lot to the beach. (Bonus: The trail meanders through a corridor of honeysuckle and smells amazing.) The beach is only accessible to people who walk in, so it’s not at all crowded and is full of fun rocks, tide pools, and lots of wildlife.
After the beach, there is a boardwalk trail to explore through a wetland and a science center where you can interact with displays about the research scientists are conducting on site. The bathrooms are well maintained, but there are no food options so you’ll need to bring your own. We like to stop at one of the many cafes or clam shacks in Wells or Ogunquit that you pass on the way to the Reserve.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
If you’re craving a day in the city, Portsmouth is a great stop. A quick drive from Boston lands you in Portsmouth, where you can wander a super cute and fun downtown. We recommend lunch at Flatbread Pizza Company (ask for a table by the fire), jam sampling at Stonewall Kitchen, and browsing the cute kids clothes at Lively Kids. The toy store, Treehouse Toys, is SO fun and is a great place to spend a rainy afternoon. If you love puzzles or games, Diversions Puzzles and Games is a great stop because you can play anything they sell in the game room downstairs. To get the wiggles out before hopping back in the car, we love Prescott Park along the waterfront.
Constitution Beach, East Boston
On days when we want a fun adventure, but we don’t want to drive more than 20 minutes, we head to Constitution Beach in East Boston. Other beaches in the area might win points for beauty, but Constitution is the absolute best beach for toddlers that we’ve found. It’s a quick drive with a HUGE parking lot next to the beach, which means no long, hot walks in the sun with your beach gear. The water is shallow so not frigid. The bathhouse and snack bar are clean and recently renovated, and the proximity to the airport and the Blue Line mean you can watch airplanes take off and land and see the T pass every few minutes. If you need a break from the sand and surf, there is a fenced-in playground as well. Toddler heaven!
What are your favorite weekend trips? We are always searching for new places to explore!
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