7 family-friendly New England resorts perfect for end-of-summer fun
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Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club
Brewster, Massachusetts
Cape Cod's beautiful beaches set the stage for a gold-star seaside getaway at Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club, a sprawling resort that sits at the doorstep of a unique habitat of tidal flats. As the tide retreats twice each day, it unveils abstract ripples in the sand and tide pools teeming with sea creatures.
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Accommodations include both hotel rooms and spacious villas with kitchens (and two or three bedrooms), providing ample room for larger families. Onsite dining venues tempt with old-school Yankee favorites such as fish cakes and creamy clam chowder, plus a robust kids' menu to please tiny palates. Activities include golf on an 18-hole course, tennis and pickleball, and pedaling the paved Cape Cod Rail Trail that traverses a dreamy maze of cranberry bogs and swimming ponds.
Equinox Golf Resort and Spa
Manchester, Vermont
The historic Equinox Golf Resort and Spa's green shutters, stately white columns, and front porch with rocking chairs are a rustic New England fantasy in the Green Mountains. Each of the upscale guest rooms in the Main Inn and adjacent Orvis Inn offers understated style in tune with this tranquil corner of Southern Vermont. There's cornhole and croquet on manicured lawns bordered by colorful blooms, an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and a vintage boathouse on a pond.
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The Equinox Preserve's 900-plus acres of protected land is a windfall for outdoor enthusiasts, with verdant forest trails for hiking and cycling. If the weather isn't cooperating, the indoor fitness center and heated swimming pool await. Dining is a delight as well, with menus that respect the seasons. Midweek specials at Marsh Tavern and upscale Chop House are wallet-friendly.
Madison Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
Madison, Connecticut
Overlooking a private beach on the Long Island Sound, Madison Beach Hotel is a casually elegant coastal retreat that oozes New England charm. Stylish, uncluttered rooms have mesmerizing water views from the balcony, with the sound of lapping waves as your lullaby. The compact spa is catnip if you crave a pampering massage or facial. Each Thursday evening throughout summer, the hotel's Grassy Strip Music Series draws a crowd with free concerts starting at a bedtime-friendly 7:30 pm, with dancing on the lawn encouraged.
Relax on the bucolic beach and bring the kids to the public playground just a few sandy steps away. Towel off and head to the town center to browse the stacks at RJ Julia, one of New England's best independent bookstores, and snack on ice cream at Ashley's, a favorite local scoop shop. For a small town, Madison has an abundance of dining options, none finer than the hotel's award-winning restaurant, The Wharf. Book a table on the breezy porch and feast on luscious lobster, seared scallops, or a top-notch burger.
Samoset Resort
Rockport, Maine
Penobscot Bay's Samoset Resort has been hosting vacationers for generations. They've perfected the art of effortless Maine luxury and know how to make each guest feel welcome. Newly renovated rooms and suites provide creature comforts, many with expansive views of the Rockland Breakwater with its picture-perfect lighthouse and the rugged Atlantic Ocean beyond.
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The zero-entry freeform heated pool is a spectacular place for a dip. Shuffleboard, badminton, and a nine-hole disc golf course are a few of the backyard-style game options. La Bella Vita, the resort's Italian restaurant, serves delectable brick-oven pizza and al dente pasta that tastes like an Italian granny is in the kitchen.
Mandarin Oriental
Boston, Massachusetts
Late summer is a fine time to visit New England's largest city, and Boston's Mandarin Oriental adds to the appeal with one of the region's best spas. Located on Boylston Street in the Back Bay, a visit here will instantly transport you to its swanky sanctuary. The modern décor has a sophisticated edge, punctuated by floral arrangements as beautiful as sculpture.
Extras for little guests abound, including keepsake toys, in-room tents upon request, daily ice cream in the lobby, and a resident robot named MOBI who occasionally makes his way up to guest rooms with special deliveries. If you can drag yourself away from all this luxury, Boston's charms await. Soak in history as you stroll the Freedom Trail, ride a Swan Boat at Boston Public Garden, or catch a breezy ferry to explore the Harbor Islands.
The Whaler's Inn
Mystic, Connecticut
The former shipbuilding village of Mystic is often packed in summer, yet The Whaler's Inn remains peaceful, making it an ideal spot to enjoy the town's tourist treasures while keeping your vacation low-key. Guest rooms are dispersed throughout six neighboring buildings, including the new Stanton House, for an intimate feel. Décor reflects the town's seafaring past with original tin ceilings and ship-worthy bric-a-brac. Coffee and beverages are available throughout the day, complemented with freshly-baked cookies each afternoon.
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The inn's tide-to-table restaurant, The Shipwright's Daughter, garners rave reviews, and its seafood-forward menu changes daily while prioritizing sustainable practices and locally sourced products. It's a delectable yet down-to-earth dining experience, where gourmets and toddlers are equally at home. There's much to see and do in this town, including the Mystic Seaport Museum, the largest maritime museum in the U.S., and the Mystic Aquarium, one of the country's finest.
Woodstock Inn and Resort
Woodstock, Vermont
The Woodstock Inn sits in the center of one of New England's sweetest hamlets, a landscape punctuated with covered bridges and church steeples. The inn feels nostalgic in all the right ways, with perks such as afternoon tea and cookies served in the parlor, plus wood-beamed bed frames and hand-dyed blankets adding homespun notes to the guest rooms. Activities run the gamut, from pool and shuffleboard in the game room to s'mores by the fire pit to hiking and biking in the Green Mountains.
Hundreds of varieties of fruit and heirloom vegetables flourish at Kelly Way Gardens, enhancing the resort's restaurants with a bounty of just-picked flavor. Guests receive free admission to the Billings Farm & Museum, just a short walk from the inn. Visit the milking barn and explore the farmhouse and creamery. Educational programming makes use of the fresh dairy products, with ice-cream making and butter churning workshops.
One last hurrah: Take your end-of-summer vacation to the next level at these family-friendly New England resorts originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
More from FamilyVacationist:
These New England lakes are best for summer fun
America's most charming coastal towns are perfect for a family vacation
These 11 national parks are at their very best during summer vacation
17 best lake resorts and hotels in the U.S. for families
11 budget-friendly family vacations in the U.S. that really pack in the fun
The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology, we review and select family vacation ideas, family vacation spots, all-inclusive family resorts, and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators, tour operator reviews, tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations. If you buy an item through a link in our content, we may earn a commission.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where to stay in New England for the ultimate family vacation send-off
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