A Weekend with Kids in New England
We’ve moved back to the States from two years abroad in Spain. Unsure of our next destination, we opted to spend the summer on the east coast with family.
My husband envisioned a quiet summer spent with the grandparents – the kids happily entertained. We’ve been together for 16 years. He should know better!
Our quiet summer turned into a crazy tour of the U.S. Eastern Seaboard (plus, a parents-only, 6-day trip to San Francisco). Based between New York City and Philadelphia, we traveled to Duck, North Carolina (future post to come), Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.
Beech Hill Farm & Bison Ranch, our Maine destination.
The only itinerary new to us was southern Maine. It turned out to be a great destination with kids. My aunt and uncle own Beech Hill Farm & Bison Ranch in North Waterford, Maine, which was our launching point for just short of a week.
Bentley, Beech Hill Farm & Bison Ranch’s “greeter.”
The “town” of North Waterford, located in southern Maine has not a single store, restaurant or stop light. In the surrounding towns, as is the case with most of New England, however, we were able to find everything we needed plus some little luxuries, including a toy store, a wine shop, and a cafe.
Buy local! Local book shops are a great place to pick up books, activity packs and, often, toys when you’re on vacation.
New England has plenty of quaint, small towns that are worth a visit. Do a little pre-departure research and ask for advice from friendly locals. You’ll be strolling down “Main Street” like a resident and popping into the local wine shop like an old friend.
Perusing the offerings at a local wine (and yarn) shop.
Lodging
If you can find lodging on a farm, do so. Chances are there will be tractors to climb on, pets to tend to and gardens from which to pick fruits and veggies.
Staying on a farm usually has the great advantage of offering on-site “climbing structures” to play on.
Attractions and Activities
There are berry farms and orchards all over New England. There is likely to be somewhere to pick fruit at any given time between June and November.
Maine has a lot of pick-your-own orchards. Between May and October, you are practically guaranteed to be able to find a place to pick some fruit.
Visit a local farmers’ markets. Find the local library and check to see if they have story time for kids (this is a great chance for your kids to meet other kids). Check out a nearby lake and go for a boat ride or a swim.
Blueberry picking at Crabtree’s Pick-Your-Own Highbush Blueberries in southern Maine. They charge by the pound and definitely should have weighed this kid on the way in and the way out!
Local Shops
Across the US and in many other countries, the buy-local movement is trending. People are following their dreams, hanging a sign and selling some really great, artisanal goods.
The artisanal bags made locally at Rough & Tumble are amazing! They are simple, beautiful and of such great quality that she could definitely charge more (but don’t tell her until I get the chance to buy another). This shop is the epitome of what can come of someone following their dream!
Visit those shops! Not only will you find some unique items but you’ll discover a human element and maybe a new knitting pattern, wine producer or clothing designer.
We loved the aptly (and wittily) named Fiber & Vine. A knitting and wine shop in one, it was opened by a local who had fled small town life for New York City only to return years later and open this charming shop.
The beautiful yarn for sale at this knitting and wine shop made me almost want to take up knitting. I said almost…
Food and Wine
There may not be any restaurants, cafes or wine shops in the town where you’re staying. Gasp! You won’t be left cooking dinner every night and drinking wine from the local grocery, though. There is sure to be a decent, maybe even great, place to eat (and pick up a few bottles) in another nearby town.
With a toy box to occupy the munchkins, a good wine selection and a super friendly owner, it’s possible we stopped into Fiber & Vine three days in a row…
Ask for recommendations from locals. Cafe Nomad, in the nearby town, had recently started offering dinner on the weekend. We would not have known about this dining option had a town resident not mentioned it.
By chatting with locals, we found out that this cafe had recently started serving dinner Friday and Saturday nights. Cozy up to local residents and you’ll often get the inside scoop on the best places to eat and things to do.
Go with the flow
Life in these small towns tends to be slower. Enjoy it! Adopt the pace as your own. Let your kids wander, explore, dilly-dally with no time constraint.
Strolling down Main Street in Norway, Maine. This kid loved the freedom and lack of time constraint to roam and explore.
There’s no hurrying these little legs. And, with a slow-paced, small town vacation, there’s no need to.
And, do the same yourself. If it rains, grab an umbrella and head outside. If it’s hot, take a dip in a nearby lake. Snow? Find a sled and a hill.
Make the most of “bad” weather. Get outside and see things in a different light.
Have you been to any small towns in New England (or elsewhere)? Found any cool, local shops or restaurants? Met any locals with whom you’ve kept up? We’d love to hear about it in the comments! We are always looking for new places to check out.
* This post was also featured on Walking on Travels , where you can find more inspiring travel posts and tips.
