This guide will help you plan travel to over a dozen beautiful east coast spots in a week. Yes, it’s intense, so if you’re more of a laid back and relax by the pool type of person, this itinerary isn’t for you.
However, if you want to see as much as you can in the time you have and you love adventure, read on! My family and I planned a summer trip to the east coast that included five states. We had been to New York City the summer before, so we wanted to venture off and see more the country side of NY. We also are National Park fanatics, so why not do it all? NY to Maine. Our trip covered New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Niagara Falls, New York
The first day of our east coast trip,m we flew into Buffalo, New York and rented a car. This airport is a nice size airport so it’s not overwhelming like it is in New York City.
Start your journey to Niagara Falls. This really wasn’t what I was expecting. Quite honestly I don’t know what I was expecting. I thought maybe it was going to be bigger? I don’t know why because it’s already BIG! Maybe I was expecting hustle and bustle like NYC. Niagara Falls is more like a small town in the country. It borders the U.S. and Canada. You can easily see this attraction in a few hours or you can spend a day or two here. We chose to make it a half day trip, as we had a full itinerary ahead of us.
Maid of the Mist
A must do is the Maid of the Mist boat ride under the waterfalls. You get an up close and personal view of the falls.
- It’s about a 20 minute ride
- You’ll get a rain cover when you check in and you will need it. You don’t get soaked, but you will get wet.
- You don’t need your passport
- Check in at the Niagara Falls landing
- Departs every 15 minutes
Canadian Side & Hard Rock
Next, we took the bridge over to the Canadian side. The views from the bridge are great! You can still walk the bridge and not cross over to Canada if you forgot your passport. Once you are on the other side of the bridge, you check into customs. I would recommend making this trek, as the Canadian side is WAY different than the American side.
Each is spectacular in different ways. The American side is more ‘natural’ and the Canadian side is more ‘commercialized.’ The view from the Canadian side is much nicer, as you get a full view of the falls.
We ate at the Hard Rock (there is a Hard Rock on both sides) and took a stroll through some stores. They have a ton of tourist things to do on this side, such as haunted houses, etc. We were on a tight schedule, so we didn’t partake in any of these things.
We headed back and hit the road. There are several other things to do here if you have time including, but not limited to, Cave of the Winds, Whirlpool Park, & Aero Car. If you are going to stay overnight, I would suggest staying on the Canadian side, as there is way more to do and the hotels are nicer.
Howes Cave, NY
The next stop on our east coast tour was Howe Cavern in Howes Cave, NY. We wanted to do the Erie Canal Cruise in Herkimer, NY, but our schedule didn’t match up with their boat ride times. If you get a chance, this would be fun too. You get to see part of the views from the highway, but never the same as being on the river.
The drive to Howe Cavern was spectacular. You are driving in the country for awhile so it’s a perfect way to see the area. Howe Cavern in in the middle of the country of course…it’s a cave! They have a hotel on site as well as some adventure games such as H2OGO ball, rope climbing course, zip line, ropes course, and a mining area. You can buy a combination ticket if you want to do more than just the cave tour to include some of the aforementioned.
We chose the traditional walking and boat cave tour only and we all thought the tour was fantastic (but cold so dress accordingly). You start off with a 156 foot decent into the cave. You see limestone, huge boulders, and an underground river (where you will ride a boat for part of the tour). We had a great time! Our pictures turned out a little blurry, but we were in a dark cave 🙂
Six Flags New England in Massachusettes
Next, we hit Six Flags New England in St. Agawam, Massachusettes. We always have to add some crazy into our trips if we can. The kids enjoyed several coasters and other rides. We spent a half day here and that was plenty good for us. This is the perfect east coast spot for families.
Fall River, MA
Our next stop was Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA which is a battleship and maritime museum. You can explore submarines and battleships on your own or with a tour guide, visit a boat museum, and see other exhibits. This is a great way to add some education and history of our country into your trip. We weren’t here that long, but well worth the visit.
Newport, Rhode Island
We headed to Newport, Rhode Island next. I want to pre-warn you. It’s a little bit of a nightmare to get in there with the traffic. At least it was for us, but mostly because we had a tight schedule and wanted to stay on track.
Cliff Walk
We wanted to see the Cliff Walk though, so we were determined to make it, since we were so close!
Once we made it, the cliff walk was so gorgeous! We walked quite a bit of it, but I wish we could have done the whole thing. The ocean views, along with the many mansions were spectacular. It was well worth the time it took to get here. The best part, it’s FREE!
There is a trolley you can jump on, or you can walk as much as you want. The whole path is about 3.5 miles. Most of it is easy walking, but there are parts of the trail where it gets a little rugged, albeit it still fairly easy depending on your general health.
The Mansion Tour
After we experienced the Cliff Walk, we headed over to The Breakers, summer cottage of the Vanderbilt’s. If this was their summer cottage, I cannot image what their other homes looked like.
The tour was amazing and it was fun to imagine yourself living there back then. You can tour the grounds as well, which were just as beautiful. There are several tours you can take including other mansions. To see a full list, visit the Newport Mansions website.
Cape Cod & Martha’s Vineyard, MA
On the road again through the east coast, we headed through Cape Cod, MA and to Martha’s Vineyard. This is a place I wish I would have scheduled more time. It was BEAUTIFUL! There were lobster stands everywhere and cheap! The food was fantastic everywhere we went.
We found a parking area where you catch a bus to take you to the Steamship Authority in Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket. Here you can get some information on parking. You pay for parking, but the shuttle bus is free.
We decided to park, take the ferry, and use public transportation once we got to the island. We ate lunch in Woods Hole overlooking the ocean, which the views were very nice and the food was delicious.
After lunch, we caught the ferry and decided to go to Martha’s Vineyard. I would have liked to have gone to Nantucket as well, but again, time was a factor. This is a must see if you are traveling the east coast.
Once on Martha’s Vineyard, we walked around and shopped awhile. There are many shops including Vineyard Vines. We found the cute gingerbread houses as well. This is a must see. They are so cute!
Next, we caught the public bus and drove around the island a bit. The bus is very easy to use. On our way back, we took Uber because we wanted to drive through Joseph Syvia Park, where part of Jaws was filmed. It was a great day.
We took the fairy back and we were wiped after a full day. We stayed in Falmouth at the Inn on the Square. It was a cute hotel and I would stay there again. It was within walking distance to downtown where there are several shops and restaurants. We got there fairly late so we ate at Anejo Mexican Bistro, which was a fun atmosphere and they had outdoor seating.
Boston, MA
Where We Stayed
Today on our east coast travels, we knew it was going to be a big day…BOSTON. We loved Boston! This was one of the main highlights on our east coast tour. What an easy city to drive in and so much to do. We spent two nights at the Renaissance Boston in the Seaport district. It was an easy walk to the Boston Tea Party from here, as well as shopping and good eats at Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and Boston Harbor. If your kids want to tour the Aquarium, that is also near by.
Eat Here
If you want to eat near the hotel, I would recommend trying Oceanside or Legal Harborside. Reservations recommend. We walked around in this area…yachts & every fancy car imaginable. In one block we saw a Lamborghini, Bentley, Audi, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, and more. It was crazy. They were all eating in one of the restaurants. My son thought it was great! He’s a car lover.
Freedom Trail
We were looking for the Freedom Trail and these two cops stopped us and said let’s take a picture. This is what we got. Ha! Everyone was very friendly here. There are several areas around the city you can enter the trail where you can do the whole thing or walk around the areas you are interested in. You can also take a walking tour if you want more of a narration and history. If you have the time, this is what I would recommend. Click here for more information about the Freedom Trail.
Boston Tea Party Tour
The Boston Tea Party museum and tour is a must see. We had a lot of fun. You sit in a small room and learn about what happened during this time, walk through parts of the museum, and go out on the ship. You get to throw the tea overboard, which all the smaller kids thought was fun. To learn more about the Boston Tea Party and Tours, click here.
Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour
We took a hop on hop off bus to several of the sites we wanted to see. This is a great way to get around the city and learn the history that you wouldn’t otherwise get. The only negative about doing it this way is that the bus is rarely on schedule. At one of our stops it was nearly 45 minutes late, so if you are on a tight schedule, I would drive or Uber. For us, it was a non-events since this was our “tour” for the day.
Hello Norm!
We got off near Beacon street and hit the famous Cheers. We ate upstairs and it was a fun atmosphere especially since we grew up watching this show. From here, you can hit Chinatown. We have gone to several Chinatowns, so this was not on our list.
Fenway Park
We got off near Newbury Street, which is a shopping district loaded with a mix of high end stores and your normal, every day.
From there we walked to Fenway Park. It wasn’t a game day, which was good and bad. It was very quiet and almost a little sketchy at times. However, this is still a must see attraction if you’re in Boston. There are several Boston Red Sox stores, so make sure to pick up your sports memorabilia here.
From the bus, we also went by Harvard, MIT, Bucker Hill, Paul Revere House, parks, art districts, and more. The bus driver gave a lot of history and pointed out things you would never have seen otherwise.
Plymouth, MA
After Boston, we planned to stop in Plymouth, MA to see the Mayflower but we discovered the Mayflower had been moved for refurbishing. I’m glad as I started looking at some reviews and some people that had gone there, and it maybe isn’t worth a stop. See for yourself.
Salem, MA
After Boston, we took an easy drive to Salem. This was very eh. We went to the witch house and The House of Seven Gables. I was a little bored here, but my daughter thought it was interesting, so it was worth the stop. If you are in a rush on your east coast tour, I would maybe skip this.
Portsmouth, NH (don’t blink)
We stopped in New Hampshire on the way to Maine. We tried to stay here, but all the hotels were totally full. Portsmouth had a neat little area for eating and shopping by the ocean, however, it was so busy, we didn’t stop.
We wound up getting an ocean side room at the Atlantis Motel in Old Orchard Beach, ME. It was kind of a diamond in the rough find. It was a little sea side town with restaurants on the ocean and a carnival with rides, games, etc. There was live music as well. I can’t say it was the ‘nicest’ place, but it was still a fun place to check out and it was on the ocean so you can’t beat waking up and enjoying coffee on the coast.
Maine
The last leg of our east coast trip was Maine, which was the last of our five states in seven days. The drive through Maine was so beautiful. You want to stop everywhere! Make sure you take the drive along the coast.
Cape Elizabeth – Portland Head Light
We headed to the Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park. This Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in America.
We were in a local restaurant the other day and a picture of this was hanging on the wall. It was pretty cool to say we had seen it in person. It is amazing. There are walking trails along the cliff side. You can also walk to a small beach and to the fort and mansion. This is definitely a stop you should take. To learn more about the area, click here.
Desert of Maine
Our second stop was in Freeport at the Desert of Maine. Ah, do not stop here…well, maybe you should. It was not what we were expecting. You are thinking a desert in Maine must be pretty neat, right? Wrong.
When we got there, it looked like it was highly likely we were either going to be robbed or never found again in this ‘desert.’ We paid our tour ticket and waited for the driver. We were the only people here other than one other couple that had gone on the tour before us. You got in a jeep, which kept breaking down, and drove through this sand area.
The guide got out and was showing us trees and some other stuff. Quite frankly, I was bored out of my mind, so I quit listening. As the tour went on, it was so bad, that we all started laughing hysterically when the jeep broke down, which was pretty often. I’m sure the tour guide thought he was very funny.
We finally got back and got out of there as quickly as possible. I feel bad for saying it because I’m sure they work hard, but save your money and pass on by.
There were several places along the highway to stop for wild blueberries. I was so excited for this because these are a superfood and the wild ones are the best for you! So good!
Bar Harbor, Maine
Our last leg of the east coast trip was to visit Acadia National Park, so we stayed in Bar Harbor. What a fun town! There are tons of places to eat and shop. You can take a stroll along the coast. I wish we would have had more time here. We had a blast.
We stayed at the Grand Hotel, highly recommended, and ate great pizza at Blaze. My husband and I had wine one night at McKay’s Public House near the hotel. We got to talking with the staff and after the restaurant closed, they invited us to stay and visit. They told us many ghost stories about the restaurant and learned all about each of their backgrounds and stories.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is a national park located in Maine that spans about 49,000 acres. It is stunningly beautiful and full of activities for the outdoorsman. Camping, fishing, biking, hiking, wildlife viewing, boat rides, carriage rides, and more.
You need to purchase an entrance permit May-October which can be purchased from several different locations. Please visit this link to find out where you should purchase your pass and everything you want to learn about Acadia National Park.
Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is the highest point in the north Atlantic seaboard (1530 feet). They say the sunrise here is amazing! At certain times of the year, the sunrise can be seen first on Cadillac Mountain before any other places in the U.S.
We wanted to see that for ourselves, but the day we ventured out, it was extremely foggy! So I cannot attest to the sunrise, but I can attest to the beauty. It did clear up enough for us to catch a great view of the coast and porcupine islands below.
When you arrive at Cadillac Mountain, there is a small gift shop and a place to use the restrooms. You can hop on several different hiking trails. Along the trails, you will find wild blueberries growing, which is pretty cool (and tasty!). You never know what you are going to find when you venture out on these trails. No two times would ever be the same.
There is a bit of a crowd and parking is a little scarce, so plan accordingly.
Bubble Rock and Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond and Bubble Rock were a fairly easy walk from the road. We probably walked a few miles to see both sites. Jordan Pond is a deep pond that was formed by a glacier. Bubble Rock showcases a balancing rock that you can “pretent” to push off the cliff. Fun for the kids. I believe you can drive to both locations if you don’t want to do one big hike.
Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliffs
Sand Beach is just like what it’s called, a sandy beach. It’s too cold to swim in, but it’s a great place to sit on the sand and take a break.
On our way down to the beach, my daughter got stung by a bee. That’s why her pant leg is rolled up. We were glad she wasn’t allergic because it would have been difficult to get her out of the park and to some care without knowing the area very well.
We walked along the rocky ridge and down the highway a bit to reach Thunder Hole. This is an area where stone and waves crash together in an inlet to create a thunder noise. It’s quite intense. There is a small walk way down so you can get an up close and personal view. Again, very busy. We were glad we saw it, but didn’t stay long.
Next we walked to Otter Cliffs. These cliffs are 110 feet above sea level and deliver exceptional beauty. While climbing on the rocks, be very cautious. The water juts up from the ocean, crashing on the rocks making it very slippery. There were many photographers out taking pictures of the scenery here. Very popular!
Getting Around
As far as getting around, there is a bus you can hop on if you don’t feel like driving the loop. It’s a one way highway most of the time so fairly easy to navigate. However, there was an area where we didn’t get GPS and we did get lost. Make sure you have your map handy!
We ended our east coast trip with a boom. Literally!
While leaving Acadia National Park, someone backed into us. We had to wait for the rangers to come and do a report. It was fairly seemless, but none-the-less a little bit of a downer. But, we charged on and headed out to Bangor.
The next day we flew home. Our east coast trip was one to remember and the memories made were endless. I loved this trip and so did my family.
If you are interested in reading about more of our travels, check out our travel site here.
