I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but airfare is expensive nowadays, friends! A road trip can be a great alternative if you’re looking to get away but want to keep it a little more budget friendly. Being a lifelong New Englander, I love our beautiful beaches and ski resorts but sometimes you just want to go somewhere that feels a little different! But I also don’t want to have to drive crazy far. Here I’ll share with you some of my favorite road trip vacations I’ve done outside New England that I think are still reasonable drives (under 10 hours) and some I have on my list for the future!
- Niagara Falls, Ontario – Pre-kids, my husband and I drove the roughly 8-hour road trip to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. We also stopped along the way at Letchworth State Park in New York, which is beautiful! At Niagara Falls we stayed at a great hotel right on the falls and did the famous Maid of the Mist boat tour, which was really fun, albeit slightly terrifying! The area right around the falls can be a little touristy, but we also spent a day at a winery in nearby Niagara-On-The-Lake, which was lovely and felt totally different! I would definitely love to take our daughters to see the falls sometime. There’s really nothing like it!
- Mont Tremblant, Quebec – Our family has visited Mont Tremblant a couple of times now thanks to Ironman Triathlons, which my husband has participated in. We’ve only visited in the summer, which was great, but Mont Tremblant is popular ski destination with a quaint pedestrian village. I know it is another country, but it really feels like you’re in another country if you know what I mean and it’s just about a 6-hour drive from Boston. The village is extremely quaint and European-like and there are lots of great shops, restaurants, spas and nice hotels within easy walking distance. I think it would be a lot of fun for a family ski trip or couple’s trip.
- New York, NY – I love New York City and have traveled there all different ways – plane, train and bus! It’s really an easy road trip from New England and by train, which is probably my favorite way, it’s only about 4 hours away. Does the train count as a road trip? Let’s say it does! One of my favorite times in New York was when my sister and I took my oldest daughter and did ALL the things – The American Girl Store, Lion King on Broadway, Statue of Liberty, FAO Shwarz, Rockefeller Center and the American Museum of Natural History. I think NYC is awesome for a girl’s or couple’s trip and I definitely want to take my daughters at Christmastime some year to see the Rockettes!
Now let’s get into some of the road trips I’d like to do in the future!
- Quebec City, Quebec – All I have ever heard about this historical city is how quaint and European it is and it really looks that way, but it’s only about a 6-hour drive away! I would love to stay right within Old Quebec City at the beautiful Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac – how fancy does that sound? It looks like it would be so much fun to just wander around and check out the shops, restaurants and museums. I have been dying to do a couple’s long weekend there and I’ve been learning French via Duolingo, so I’m prepared 😉!
- Washington, DC – Technically I have been to Washington, DC before, but not since my 8th grade class field trip. It’s about an 8-hour drive, which is definitely pushing my limits but it’s also accessible from Boston via train, which would be a great option! I think this would make a great family Spring break trip that’s fun but also a little educational. You might even be able to catch some of the cherry blossoms in bloom! I remember loving The Smithsonian as a kid and would love to go back there with my girls and of course all the historic monuments and White House would be really cool to see again.
- St. Andrews, New Brunswick – Some good friends of ours have visited St. Andrews and love it, so naturally it makes the list. I love getting firsthand recommendations! It’s just over a 5-hour drive and home to a fabulous Marriott resort that’s also dog friendly! You know Sonny loves that. Yes, I can book Marriott, friends and still earn you those Bonvoy points! I’m married to a Marriott loyalist so trust me on this! I think this would make a great summer family getaway or I bet it’s beautiful in early fall too.
I hope this list inspires you to take a road trip! And if it does, I would love to plan it with you! Happy travels, friends!
