Veterans Beach in Hyannis, Cape Cod

For many years, the only public transportation options from Boston to the Cape have been buses (which also get stuck in traffic) or boats.  This year, however, families that want to visit Cape Cod without a car have a new choice: the Cape Cod Flyer train service from Boston to Hyannis, the gateway to Cape Cod.  After a 25 year absence, it is great to have train service available to the Cape from downtown Boston.

The Cape Cod Flyer runs from Boston’s South Station to Hyannis on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings with return trips available Friday, Saturday and Sunday  evenings between Memorial Day and September 2nd.  Trains to Hyannis will also run the evening of Wednesday July 3.  The roundtrip fare is $35.  Kids age 5 and under and pets travel for free.   Free Wi-Fi is available on board.  Bikes can also come along for no charge.  The schedule allows for weekend getaways or day trips.  Intermediate stops are also made at Braintree, Middleborough and Buzzard’s Bay.

The ride lasts about two hours and 15 minutes, which is probably less time that it would take to drive on a Friday night or in Saturday morning beach traffic.  Upon arrival at Hyannis, free shuttles will make connections to the HyLine Cruises dock for ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, as well as fishing boats and Harbor Cruises.  Connections to other ferries can also be made from the Buzzard’s Bay stop.   Bus service to most of the rest of the Cape originates at the Hyannis Transportation Center where the train arrives.

Hyannis Channel Point

If you are making a daytrip or a quick weekend getaway, plan to stay in Hyannis where there is lots to do with kids, teens and tweens.  We recommend bringing bikes or taking advantage of the free Main Street Shuttle .  It is less than a 2 mile bike ride from the Transportation Center to the Hyannis Veterans Beach or the Kalmus Park Beach.   The Shuttle makes connections to hotels and shopping easy.   Daily and weekly bike rentals are available at the Bike Zone.  And of course, taxi  cabs are always available.

Besides the beach, Hyannis is a hub for all sorts of activities and family fun.  Whale watches depart from Barnstable with   Hyannis Whale Watch Cruises. For pirate fans, the Sea Gypsy takes kids ages 3-10 on a swashbuckling treasure hunting voyage around Hyannis Harbor.   Helen H Deep Sea Tours in Hyannis caters to families with a range of custom charter fishing operations as well as its Kids Sea-Fari tour led by marine naturalists.  Cape Code Duckmobile tours leave from Hyannis as well.

Afterwards, walk and shop in the Hyannis Main Street area which boasts more than a half dozen ice cream and candy shops.  The Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory tour is another must do! The teens love those chips.   There are plenty of family friendly hotels in and around downtown Hyannis so it makes a great base camp for exploring the Cape for a day or weekend without a car.  If you take the Cape Cod Flyer, let us know what you think!

 Photos courtesy Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism

Arbortrek at Vermont’s Smugglers’ Notch Resort adds a treetop obstacle course for summer fun

Year round, including summer, the resort offers a range of age appropriate kids camps and programs.  Summer options feature a number of special interest camps for teens and tweens including:

• A 2-day/2-night hiking exploration on Vermont’s Long Trail which runs across the spines of the resort’s Sterling and Madonna Mountains.  The 4,000 foot elevations provide quite a view!  Nights are spent in wooden shelters on the trail.
• A 4-day Survival Camp for 12-17 years olds which adds two days of wilderness survival training to the 2 day hiking and camping experience.  Some of the skills learned include plant and animal identification and tracking, as well as Native American stories and journaling. See this Smugglers Notch Survival Camp video for more info.
• A Treetop Obstacle Course with over 50 elements brings aerial trekking to the resort’s  Arbotrek adventure center.  The whole family can do this activity together with two courses to choose from – the Apple Creek Course that serves ages 4 and up and the Back Forty Course for ages 8 and up.  Enjoy wobbly bridges, balance beams, zip lines, rope swings, cargo nets, and more connecting tree platforms anchored 3 to 25 feet above the ground.

In addition to the existing treetop canopy zipline tour, ArborTrek  is also launching a new climbing program that blends new belay technology with innovative climbing holds that make tree climbing easy and tree-friendly. In addition to tree climbs, climbers can challenge themselves on vertical challenge obstacles and a climbing wall that offers multiple routes ranging from easy to challenging.

Other specialty camps for teens and tweens include tennis and skateboard options.  This is definitely one family resort where the teens and tweens will never get bored.  Select the mix of age specific options and together times that work for your family and enjoy summer in Vermont.

Photo courtesy ArborTrek at Smugglers’ Notch

The Great Island Trail at the Cape Cod National Seashore

For families with teens and tweens that want to combine a beach vacation with lots of active outdoor  fun, Cape Cod   in Massachusetts is hard to beat.  With more than 550 miles of coastline, including dozens of ocean and bayside beaches, active families will find unlimited opportunities to hike, bike, canoe, kayak, fish and explore – and don’t forget the beautiful beaches too!

For starters, the Cape Cod National Seashore spans 40 miles along the Outer Cape from Eastham to Provincetown including six swimming beaches with lifeguards.  The Salt Pond Visitor Center near Eastham has exhibits and films on the Cape’s geology, history, and landscape and is a good place to pick up maps and information about hiking, biking and other activities.

Hiking is one of our favorite things to do on a Cape Cod family vacation with teens and tweens.  The National Seashore includes some amazing hiking trails that go well off the beaten path.   They range from easy half mile strolls on boardwalks such as the Red Maple Swamp Trail to strenuous beach hikes such as the 6-mile roundtrip Great Island Trail in Wellfleet, where it is important to keep track of the tides to avoid being stranded on sandbars!

The 1900 acre Nickerson State Park in Brewster also has many miles of hiking and bike trails and connects to the Cape Cod Rail Trail which runs 22 miles through Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet.  It is mostly flat, paved and well marked,  and is a fun way for all members of the family to get some exercise.  Barbara’s Bike shop has bike rentals in Brewster and Dennis.

More interested in getting out on the water? Families can rent canoes at Jack’s Boat Rental at Flax Pond in Nickerson State Park.  Cape Cod Waterways has canoe, kayak and electric paddle boat rentals at Swan Pond in Dennis Port.   Great Marsh Kayak Tours offers escorted kayak trips on the Parker River in West Yarmouth and in the Nauset Marsh at the Salt Pond Visitors Center in the Cape Cod National Seashore.

For less strenuous voyages, HyLine Cruises offers daily departures from Hyannis to Martha’s Vineyard as well as tours of the Cape Cod Canal and deep sea fishing trips.  Whale watches depart from Barnstable with   Hyannis Whale Watch Cruises.  The Dolphin Fleet sails whale watches from Provincetown.  The Monomy Island Ferry offers a number of cruises and naturalist tours to see the seals at the Monomy National Wildlife Refuge, located on a small island off the coast of Chatham.  It is a pretty amazing sight.

If teens and tweens are involved in your Cape Cod family vacation plans, be sure to get off the beach and explore the Cape by land and by sea.

Photo courtesy the Cape Cod National Seashore

Starting this month, DoubleTree by Hilton is introducing a new way to plan and share trip ideas with the launch of DTour, a YouTube channel for the hotel industry created in collaboration with Google. DTour is an online destination for travelers eager to ‘take a DTour’ – and share their experiences with like-minded adventure-seekers around the world. The website integrates all the major social media networks in one place, making it easy for travelers to share memorable moments from their travel experiences – whether it’s a photo snapped on Instagram, video or a blog post. Users can also explore other travelers’ favorite photos, videos, tips and stories to get inspired to plan the trips they’ve always wanted to take.

To celebrate the launch of DTour, DoubleTree by Hilton is conducting a year-long DTour of a Lifetime competition. The contest is a search for six people who will serve as brand ambassadors, traveling around the world, experiencing DoubleTree by Hilton hospitality, meeting locals and curating their own travel tips and stories for DTour. Each “DTourist” winner will embark on a two-week to two-month adventure travel assignment to capture and share the highlights of their journey on the DTour website via blog entries, photos, videos and social media posts.

Each of the six winners will experience one of following amazing trips, including stays at several DoubleTree Hilton properties:

• A journey across North America, featuring sunny beaches and big city fun.
• An exciting trek among the cities and cathedrals of Europe.
• An adventure that spans the length of Africa and the Middle East, including South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania and Dubai.
• An adventure across Australia – a continent that DoubleTree by Hilton is entering this year.
• An excursion through Asia, featuring visits to China, India, Thailand and Malaysia.
• A visit to the tropical beaches and rain forests of Central and South America.

To enter the DTour of a Lifetime contest visit www.doubletree.com/dtour and share an audition tape describing a nearby landmark, unique culture or not-to-be-missed travel spot experienced while on vacation or in your hometown. Video submissions must be at least 30 seconds to three minutes in length, and have a description that is no more than 300 words. Twenty-four finalists will be selected by a panel of judges – with the six winners selected by consumer voting on the website. DTour of a Lifetime entries will be accepted through May 31, 2013.

Thanks to our friends at DoubleTree by Hilton for bringing this contest to our attention and offering us a free overnight visit to check out a property on our own.

See a Show in London’s West End

London’s West End is world famous and is currently hosting a number of child-friendly shows including Matilda and Wicked, as well as the long running Lion King which is a timeless classic. We’ve seen both Wicked and Lion King on Broadway in New York City and can attest that these are great family shows.  Make a whole weekend of your West End experience and book into one of the London hotels on offer through Superbreak. Before or after the show, the family can check out the National History Museum, the London Dungeons, or enjoy a picnic lunch in the park.

Visit One of the UK’s Theme Parks

The UK is definitely not short of theme parks. Any Harry Potter fan would jump at the chance to visit the Warner Brother’s studios where they can discover how the magic was brought to life in the movies. And the best part, it’s less than an hour from London. LEGOLAND is similarly convenient, with a resort in Windsor, and even closer to the city is Thorpe Park, a theme park in Surrey offering 25 adrenalin-boosting rides. Chocoholics will love Cadbury World in Birmingham and Kelburn Castle is another option sure to inspire imagination with its brightly colored, cartoon-covered exterior, the mysteries of the Secret Forest, and a lofty adventure course.

Take a Short Flight for a Weekend on the Continent

The UK is conveniently located within a short flight of anywhere in Europe, yet people often take this for granted. A quick hop over to Europe for a few days is a whole lot easier – and cheaper – for families now, thanks to the growth in budget airlines and discount travel companies that specialize in affordable holidays. Try the south of Spain for the scorching sun or to Berlin for a cultural escape or even Prague for its fairy tale beauty.

Head to the Beaches on the Coast of Wales

Visitors to the United Kingdom don’t always think of it as a beach destination. However, the UK boasts some of the most spectacular coastline in the world. In terms of beaches, this is where Wales really shines. The Welsh coast is covered with rocky, limestone cliffs that form a dramatic backdrop to its sandy beaches and turquoise water. In summer you’ll find people enjoying all kinds of water sports, amateur fisherman casting out to sea, and families spending plenty of time enjoying the sunshine.

Every family has different summer holiday priorities – luckily the UK has lots of options to keep the whole family entertained.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia

Crew racing at Fish Creek in Saratoga Springs NY

Whether you visit for a college tour, rowing, or as part of a family vacation, make time to check out the many historic landmarks.  This Victorian era town is dripping with history, as it has long been a destination for travelers seeking relaxing mineral water spas, golf, summer outings at the country’s oldest thoroughbred race track,  and a range of performing arts.  Since the mid 19th century, Saratoga Springs was known for the healthful effects of its many mineral springs and spas.  During the 1930s, then NY Governor Franklin D Roosevelt championed the construction of public mineral baths, a swimming pool and other attractions in what is now known at the Saratoga Springs Spa State Park.   Several of these vintage spas continue in operation to this day.

Saratoga Springs Spa State Park historic building

The 2,500 acre park is the centerpiece of the city housing a number of classical spa buildings including the  Roosevelt Baths and Spa, as well as the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Spa Little Theater, the National Museum of Dance, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, and the Gideon Putnam Resort.  We visited early in the season when the park was still getting ready for summer.  The original 1930s era pool complex, and the larger 1960s era Peerless Pool Complex were not open although the Spa and resort and golf course were in fine shape.  The many picnic tables and walking trails made us wish we had more time to linger.

Testing the Mineral Water at Saratoga Springs Spa State Park

While the Princess stayed at the team hotel, mom and dad settled in downtown at the Hampton Inn and Suites which was clean and well run and offered a tasty hot breakfast with fresh fruit, pastries, make your own waffles and plenty of coffee.  Dinner at the Mouzon House across the street offered a decently prepared eclectic farm fresh menu, but, the early season waitstaff definitely needed some more training.  The downtown offered a lively mix of clubs and college students.  We enjoyed simultaneously watching the Red Sox and Boston Bruins on several of the screens at Dango’s Fitzgerald’s Irish Pub.  The Irish coffee was spot on!

Hampton Inn and Suites Lobby Saratoga Springs NY

With just a one night stay and most of our time devoted to the races we only got a quick sense of what Saratoga Springs has to offer.  We are pretty sure that between rowing and college visits we’ll definitely be back, but we’ll be sure to leave more time to get to know Saratoga Springs better!

Exeter’s Rougemont Castle is an essential attraction. Although limited areas of the castle remain, it paints an intriguing picture of the city’s history. Originally started in the 11^th century, after Exeter rebelled against William the Conqueror, it was built into the Roman city walls. It is referenced in William Shakespeare’s Richard III and functioned as the place of trial for the last English women to be executed as witches. Skipping forward through time, you can traipse through Exeter’s 14^th century underground passages. It’s the only place in the UK where you can wander underneath the city streets in tiny tunnels tracing the path of the old water supply. You can also see what it would be like to live in the Elizabethan era at St Nicholas Priory which has been lovingly restored to its original Tudor splendor.

If you prefer to get your history fix in one fell swoop then head to the Royal Albert Hall Museum. It recently reopened and was voted 2012′s Museum Of The Year. It houses the entire story of Exeter’s past, starting with the prehistoric and working up to the present day. It also includes collections of natural history and world culture. Wannabe archaeologists or Indiana Jones fans will feel right at home exploring the Ancient Egypt exhibition and discovering the tombs of long dead emperors.

Exeter has a lot of modernity to offer as well. The Phoenix is a cultural hub for Exeter’s creative types. It regularly hosts shows by eclectic musicians from around the world and indie bands including Frightened Rabbit, Stornoway and British Sea Power. As well as music it also hosts comedy, theatre, dance and art. If you prefer your performances a little more two dimensional then check out Exeter’s independent Picture House cinema. It projects a wide range of world and lower budget films excellently curated alongside the mainstream blockbusters you’d expect from a bigger cinema.

Food lovers are as well catered for here as in any city. Highly recognizable restaurants share space with quaint local eateries and wandering about will doubtlessly uncover new places to tuck into some delicious food. If you’re an ale fan try an Exeter Brewery ale. The brewery itself is situated right in the middle of an RSPB protected nature reserve and near the historic quay side. Make sure you pick up either a Ferryman or Alvocet beer whilst you’re there as the beers are named specifically after the brewery’s location.

Hotels in Exeter tend to maintain an average price all year round but if you’re looking for a special time to visit try planning your visit around one of the city’s yearly events. The Devon County show occurs in mid-May every year and is a traditional country fair with a modern twist. The UK Taiko festival happens in Exeter every year and celebrates the playing of Japanese drums. The new Christmas Market has been set up to give our European cousins a run for their money and obviously operates in December. The Festival Of Food And Drink is an excellent reason to visit Exeter on its own and is curated by two Michelin starred chef Michael Caines (MBE) who will be a recognisable face for Masterchef regulars. If pop music tickles your fancy then check out who’s playing at nearby Powderham castle, normally during the summer months, where the likes of Olly Murs and Cliff Richard are scheduled to play.

However you’d like to spend your time, Exeter will certainly have something to keep you entertained. The surrounding area is also beautiful so if you find yourself needing a bit of space you can always head out for a walk in Haldon Forest Park or a trek around the Jurassic Coast.

Photo courtesy visitbritain.com