|USA - Road Trips|

Day Trips from Boston

April 25, 2020 /

Boston is a lovely city encompassing so much history and culture. Having lived close to Boston for the past few years, I have had the opportunity of exploring not only the city but surrounding places of interest at my own pace! I am very fond of day trips and don’t mind driving an hour or two if I can get to see someplace new and enrich my travel experience. If you are traveling to Boston or living around, here is the list of my favorite day trips from the city..

Cape Ann – Rockport MA

Rockport in Cape Ann is hands down one of my favorite town in New England. Let me begin by telling you a little about Cape Ann first. A perfect summer escape by the Atlantic ocean, Cape Ann was named after Queen Anne of England. It consists of four towns – Rockport, Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Gloucester. Only 40 miles away from Boston, it’s a good alternative to Cape Cod if you want to escape the traffic and the crowds. Home to the oldest fishing port in United States, this rocky cape is a little gem waiting to be explored!

We started our day by spending some time at Front Beach. It is a small neighborhood beach close to Rockport downtown. I wouldn’t go there if the idea is to spend all day on beach but if you want to club this visit with exploring the town, it can be a good start to your day. A small picturesque town with a nautical vibe, you can easily spend a day or more in Rockport. Art galleries, gift shops, seafood, beaches, light houses and so much more! Head to North Shore Kayak (Featured Image at top) and buy/rent your kayaking gear or learn sailing at Sandy Bay Yacht club. This town has so much to offer!

Mohawk Trail

One of the first auto-touring roads in the US, Mohawk trail is a scenic byway in Western Massachusetts. The drive is even more rewarding during the Fall season. You drive by beautiful towns, forests, farms and lookouts. While there are multiple start and end points for this trail when you research online, the most beautiful drive is between North Adams and Greenfield (40 miles). You can make multiple stops along the trail. Greenfield is located about 90 miles from Boston. Highly recommended for leaf peeping during Autumn!

We spent a good amount of time in the historic village of Shelburne Falls. Stroll across the colorful Bridge of Flowers which attracts 35,000 visitors every year. The 400 foot long bridge originally built for trolleys is now covered in variety of flowers and plants (500 approx.). The bridge spans across the Deerfield river. On one end of the bridge is Water street in Shelburne Falls and on the other end is State Street in Buckland. There are a number of cafes, restaurants, bookstores and art galleries in the region.

Next, we drove to Davenport Maple Farm which was on the way to our final stop below. The vast expanse of the farm during Autumn season is like a panoramic painting. The farm sells maple products year round. You can learn about the sugaring process, visit animals on farm and have a meal at the restaurant situated on property.

The final stop we made was the ‘Little Big House Gallery‘. While the gallery was closed at the time, the house and the surrounding gardens were right out of a post card. The drive up to the house was lovely and the foliage all around was surreal. If you are in mood for some hiking, do make a stop at Mohawk Trail State Forest in Charlemont.

Yale University, New Haven CT

An Ivy league university in New Haven Connecticut, Yale is located 140 miles from Boston City Center. Known for it’s 300-year history and gothic architecture, it had been on my bucket list for some time now. We reached the campus on a nice sunny day in August and made our first stop at the Yale visitor center. Since we hadn’t planned this trip in advance, we couldn’t book a guided tour of the campus which in my opinion is the best way to explore any university. However, the maps and references from visitor center were very helpful.

Yale university is home to fourteen residential colleges, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium (Open to public every Tuesday night), Marsh Botanical Garden, Yale Center for British Art, Yale University Art Gallery, Sterling Memorial Library and Yale Farm.

If you are short of time and only want to stroll along the campus and appreciate the architecture, here is a self guided tour we took (Map Above):

Davenport College -> Yale School of Drama -> Wolf’s Head -> Phelps Gate (entrance to the old campus) -> New Haven Green -> Battell Chapel -> Durfee Hall -> Dwight Hall (a chapel)-> Harkness Tower -> Hall of Graduate Studies -> Beinecke Rare Book Library -> Sterling Law Building -> Payne Whitney Gymnasium

I haven’t seen as many beautiful buildings in a single afternoon and so close to each other. While you are in the neighborhood, do grab a slice of Frank Pepe’s Pie, one of the best Pizza places in town!

Newport, RI

A charming sea side city in Rhode Island, Newport (72 miles away from Boston) is home to 3 National Historic Landmark Districts. Known for it’s historic mansions, beaches, cliff walk and lighthouses, there is so much to do in this New England gem..

We started our day early and headed to the first destination on our list – The Breakers! The Breakers is a mansion from the gilded age giving us a peek into the lives of Vanderbilt family, one of the wealthiest industrialists in the 19th century. A summer cottage by the sea, the Renaissance- style mansion is a symbol of grandeur and opulence.

Next on our list was Easton Beach and the Cliff Walk. White sand surf beach with a boardwalk, restrooms, showers, shops and a snack bar was a perfect way to relax and spend some time by the ocean. We soaked in some sun and read a book before heading to the Cliff Walk. I was super excited as I had never before been on a well defined trail along the ocean before. Also known as the National Recreational Trail, this 3.5 mile hike has some of the best views of Newport mansions, the ocean, properties around the area and the beaches.

Another exciting excursion that I did on one of the other day trips to Newport was a Seal Watching tour. We got a chance to see the harbor seals resting on rocks and learned a lot about them. Binoculars were passed around to get a closer look at these gorgeous species! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and the boat tour altogether pleasant.

Block Island, RI

Known as Bermuda of the North, Block Island is a popular summer destination in the state of Rhode Island. It was formerly known as Manisses which means ‘Island of the Little God‘. We took the ferry from Newport (72 miles away from Boston) and reached the island within an hour. Upon reaching the harbor of a town called New Shoreham, we rented bikes to explore the island. The plan originally was to rent scooters but since it was a sunny summer weekend, they ran out of them in no time. While you can take your car on the ferry, it could get expensive just for a day trip.

The first thing on our agenda was a Stand Up Paddle Boarding lesson which was booked in advance. We were super excited trying SUP for the first time. A private lesson for me and my friend which wasn’t very difficult, simply put a game of balance! Other activities you can try on the island include hiking, horseback riding, sailing, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking and parasailing. After the lesson, we spent some time swimming in the ocean and lazing on the beach. Do not miss the Southeast Light House and Mohegan Bluffs (cliff views) if you can make time.

I love living close to Boston for it’s proximity to numerous charming towns, mountains and beaches. Nothing is more than a short drive away. Day trips are a perfect way to appreciate all the beauty around us without digging a hole in our pocket. I hope you enjoyed my top 5 and get a chance to try them soon!

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