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Cape Cod Flyer Weekend Getaway from Boston – Family Fun without a Car!

Posted by Mary Turner on June 13, 2013 No Responses »

Jun 132013

Everyone loves a day at the beach, but, very few people enjoy sitting in traffic for hours to get there. Summer weekends in Boston find many families waiting in traffic on their way to the sunny beaches of Cape Cod or the North Shore – a fun day can quickly turn into an ordeal. Families on vacation or college tours in Boston often miss out on seeing the Cape because of worries about how long the trip will take.

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

Smugglers’ Notch Resort Adds New Summer Adventures for Teens and Tweens

Posted by Mary Turner on June 6, 2013 No Responses »

Jun 062013

Vermont’s Smugglers’ Notch Resort is one our favorite four season family getaway destinations with a wide range of on site lodging options, pools, restaurants and many opportunities to explore Vermont’s Green Mountains. This is one resort where there really is something for everyone from the youngest kids to teens and tweens to mom and dad looking for a little adult time.

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

Cape Cod Family Fun by Land and By Sea

Posted by Mary Turner on May 27, 2013 Comments Off

May 272013

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

DoubleTree by Hilton’s DTour of a Lifetime Contest Takes Travel Social Media to a New Level

Posted by Mary Turner on May 21, 2013 Comments Off

May 212013

DoubleTree by Hilton is one our favorite family friendly full-service hotel brands. From our recent getaway at the Boston North Shore property that features the CoCo Key water resort, to stays during family vacations and college tours in Washington DC, the Jersey Shore, and the New York City, DoubleTree by Hilton delivers a quality experience for the whole family—and don’t forget the cookies!

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.

UK Entertainment Ideas for Family Summer Holidays

Posted by Mary Turner on May 20, 2013 Comments Off

May 202013

Flag_-_Great_Britain Whether you are natives of Europe or visiting the United Kingdom from other regions, summer is a great time for family holidays. The summer holidays give parents the opportunity to spend much more time with their children, but the long time off requires a lot more planning and imagination than a quick weekend or even mid-school break. Whether you are looking for a weekend in the city, time at the beach, or a world class theme park, our UK travel partners tell us that families visiting the UK will never run out of ideas for entertaining the kids on summer holiday. Here are some of their top recommendations:

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

A Spring Regatta Weekend in Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Mary Turner on April 30, 2013 1 Response »

Apr 302013

This recent Spring weekend found us in Saratoga Springs, NY cheering on the Princess as she participated in the Saratoga Invitational Crew races at Fish Creek on Lake Saratoga. Our one night adventure included a quick tour of some of the city’s most famous landmarks, as well as an adults dinner and evening stroll around the thriving downtown. Saratoga Springs is a college town, home to Skidmore College and SUNY Empire State College. It is also a great base camp for exploring other nearby schools including Union College, RPI and Williams College.

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!

Outdoor Family Travel Adventures Are Always Tops with Teens

Posted by Mary Turner on April 10, 2013 1 Response »

Apr 102013

Eco-friendly nature and adventure travel are usually a major hit with teens and tweens but it isn’t always easy to find an outfitter or tour company that really understands the needs of families traveling on outdoor vacations with teens and tweens. Thankfully, more and more adventure travel companies are recognizing the unique interests of families with teens, tweens and college students. Some of the travel opportunities that have recently caught our eye include:

Cruising the Galapagos

Teens on an Ecoventura vacation

Ecoventura operates an environmentally friendly fleet of small 20-passenger yachts in the Galapagos Islands and features family departures exclusively for families, most of which travel with children age 12-21.

Located about 600 miles west of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands were created five million years ago by undersea volcanic eruptions. Pirates once used the islands as a hideaway but today their best known citizens are probably the giant tortoises. Charles Darwin arrived in 1835 and what he saw about the way the rare wildlife on the island had developed directly shaped his theory of evolution. In 1959 the islands became part of Ecuador’s national park system and in 1979 the Galapagos area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ecoventura family trips are active with snorkeling, kayaking and evening activities. The company makes an effort to assign guides who are popular with teens and their families to our family-designated trips,” The company notes that it has been seeing growing demand for family-only departures.

Rates start at $3,750 per person double, with discounts of 25 percent for ages 7-11 and 15 percent for ages 12-17. There are still family departures available during the summer.

Rafting the Maine Salmon River in Idaho

Located in the second deepest canyon in the United States the clear Salmon River runs through 20,000 square miles of pristine wilderness. A typical 5 or 6 day trip will include a group of 15-25 people covering 20-30 miles a day. At times the group may run rapids with names like Gunbarrel, Ranier and Devil’s Teeth while other times may feature flat water. There is time for short hikes and soaking in natural hot springs.

Holiday River Expeditions on the Salmon River, photo by John Telford

We once interviewed a family with teens who really loved their trip with Holiday River Expeditions. They told us that entertainment includes camp fires, games, songs, storytelling, and even a make-your-own costume night. They reported that the guides really bond with the teens — staying up late talking to them and inventing games . Rates start around $1,300 a person and vary based on the length of the trip and time of the year.

Thailand Family Exploration

Thomson Family Adventures offers several active international family trips recommended for tweens and teens. Their Thailand Active Family Adventure caught our eye. It features a ride through the jungle canopy on one of the world’s longest zip lines as well as opportunities to photograph colorful floating markets and golden-roofed temples. Rafting on the 14 rapids of the Mae Tang River and a forest hike through the ancient ruins of Doi Inthanon National Park, home of the tribal Hmong people, are also on the itinerary. Plus, what teen can resist the opportunity to train an elephant at the Ran-tong Elephant Camp. Prices for the 10-day trip are around $4,000 a person, excluding airfare

Our wishlist just keeps getting longer. If you know about any great outdoor, nature oriented vacation ideas for families with teens and tweens let us hear about them!

Ecoventura photo courtesy of the company

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