10 weekend getaways you can do from Boston without a car
New York City is the quintessential weekend getaway for a reason. It's just four hours from Boston (less on Amtrak's high-speed Acela trains) and offers an endless array of activities and arguably the best food scene in the country.
The city is easy to reach from South Station, where you can catch
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There's something in New York for everyone. Catch a Broadway show, bike through Central Park, stroll along the High Line, or shop downtown. Grab a banana pudding at
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If you're on a budget, there are plenty of hostels downtown. Or, check out the Globe's
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WaterFire in Providence.
Erin Cuddigan
Providence
Just a 40-minute train ride from Boston, Providence makes for an easy weekend trip. You can get there via Amtrak or the
If you're in the city at the right time, make sure to experience
Aleppo Sweets is located in Providence's Fox Point neighborhood.
Alexa Gagosz/Globe Staff
Take a stroll through the city's College Hill neighborhood to admire its colorful 18th- and 19th-century mansions. This aptly named area is also home to Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Brown's campus is lovely, and the
Rhode Island is famous for its seafood. Enjoy local catches at
New Haven-style pizza, like this one at the original Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, in New Haven.
JOE BUGLEWICZ/NYT
New Haven
As a Harvard student, I have a healthy disdain for New Haven. But I'll admit that some of my favorite weekends in college have been spent there visiting friends at Yale. Take a round-trip train or bus to New Haven from South Station for about $50 — just make sure to book ahead on Amtrak. The journey takes a little over two hours.
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In New Haven, stroll through Yale's picturesque campus. If you're visiting during the academic year, catch a show by one of the university's performing arts groups, which are among the best in the country. Or, see a touring indie band at
Yale's museums and libraries — the school has more than a dozen — feature everything from brontosaurus skeletons to Van Gogh paintings. The university's
some
oxygen, not enough to kill you.)
New Haven's culinary scene is excellent. Visit the James Beard-winning
The Washington Monument is seen in the distance as the cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, March 31, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press
Washington, D.C.
The US capital is a long train ride from Boston, but if you book a few weeks in advance, you can find cheap, round-trip plane tickets to D.C. for $100 or less. Once you arrive, it's easy to navigate the city via metro.
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The city has some of the world's best
An exhibit about the Black Power movement at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., May 3, 2025.
MAANSI SRIVASTAVA/NYT
The Adams Morgan neighborhood — which is packed with bars, many offering live music — is great for a night out. If you're craving time in nature, Rock Creek Park and Theodore Roosevelt Island offer easy-to-reach hikes.
D.C. has plenty of great food.
For a more comprehensive guide to the city, including hotel recommendations, check out
An American flag at Portland Head Light catches the light at sunrise, June 11, 2025, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press
Coastal Towns
Portland, Maine
Portland is as much a New England summer classic as lobster rolls and blueberry pie — and the city offers plenty of both. It's just 2½ hours from Boston's North Station on the
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Portland's downtown holds quaint bookshops, music stores, and boutiques. You can shop for locally crafted jewelry and art, browse vintage vinyl records, or enjoy a drink by the waterfront. A 20-minute Uber ride takes you to
Freshly glazed lemon donuts at The Holy Donut.
Elizabeth Bomze for The Boston Globe
Portland is famous for its specialty coffee.
Portland is well-known for its amazing food.
The Woods End Lighthouse in Provincetown.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
Provincetown
Catch a ferry from Boston's Seaport or Waterfront for an easy trip to Cape Cod.
Relax on the sand at Provincetown's
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Provincetown remains a vibrant arts hub. On Friday evenings, the galleries along Commercial Street host open houses and ribbon-cuttings for new exhibitions. The
While in Provincetown, be sure to try some seafood. Get a lobster roll at
A young boy attends a Juneteenth celebration at the African Burying Ground Memorial Park, June 19, 2025, in Portsmouth, N.H.
Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
Portsmouth, N.H.
Portsmouth is nicknamed Portland's younger sibling. But being the youngest has its perks. Portsmouth, which is smaller, is closer and less expensive than Portland, while still offering plenty of seaside fun.
Portsmouth is surrounded by
The Red Wine Braised Short Ribs is a popular dish at Cure restaurant in Portsmouth, N.H.
Cure
Downtown, visit Prescott Park to catch a performance at The
Visit the original location of
A three-mile portion of the Island Line Trail in Burlington, Vt., stretches over Lake Champlain.
Christopher Muther/Globe Staff
Outdoor recreation
Burlington, Vt.
The 4-plus-hour
Burlington is located on the coast of Lake Champlain. Enjoy the water however you like — on a cruise, a sailboat, or a jet ski. Or, ride the
During leaf-peeping season, don your lederhosen for Burlington's annual
Church Street Marketplace in Burlington, Vt.
Caleb Kenna for the Boston Globe
Downtown, visit a classic Vermont market. The
Two people posed atop Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.
Ted Shaffrey/Associated Press
Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, Maine
Did you know it's possible to visit New England's only national park without a car? Take a 5½ -hour Amtrak (about $120 round trip) or a bus (about $70 round trip) to Bangor. From there, catch the $9
Renting a bike is a fantastic way to navigate Bar Harbor and Acadia. It's a short bike ride into the park, or you can take the free
Because Bar Harbor is small, hotels can be pricey. However, the island also has plenty of campgrounds. The
Geese and children enjoy the lawn at Fort Warren on Georges Island, one of the Boston Harbor Islands, in 2018.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
Boston Harbor Islands
If you don't want to travel all the way to Acadia to camp, there's a much closer option — the Boston Harbor Islands. From mid-June to mid-October, you can
Walk along the island coast to enjoy the ocean breeze and see seabirds and other wildlife. Hike to the top of Spectacle Island, the highest point in the harbor, for a panoramic view of Boston. On Georges Island, visit
On the Harbor Islands'
Adelaide Parker can be reached at
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Business Insider
6 hours ago
- Business Insider
I traveled long-distance on Amtrak for the first time. These 10 things surprised me.
In all my travels between cities — which have led me to explore almost all of Florida — I had never set foot on a long-distance train. While I am familiar with local light-rail systems like Miami's Metrorail or the New York City subway, I have most often opted for long-distance, intra-city buses when moving around Florida. The state is loosely connected by a network of rail systems, including the local Brightline high-speed rail and the commuter trains TriRail in South Florida and SunRail in the Orlando area. On my latest trip from Miami to Tampa, I opted to try Amtrak, which services both areas through its Floridian line, which travels from Chicago to Miami. On the way to Tampa, I rode in the coach economy class, and on the way back, I had a first-class roomette. These 10 things surprised me as a first-time Amtrak passenger. I was surprised that traveling by train was not cheaper or faster than driving. At first, I expected my train journey to offer a clear benefit compared to other methods of transportation, like cost or time. However, the train ride — which made nine stops between Tampa and Miami — took longer than it would take me to drive or, obviously, fly between the same two points. In fact, my almost-six-hour train ride was an hour and a 1/2 longer than an average drive starting at the same time of day. While the train reached a top speed of about 80 miles per hour, which would be a bit faster than driving on the highway, it also faced a fair amount of train traffic, and our average speed was closer to 45 miles per hour, which is slower than the speed limits on Florida highways, which usually have a minimum speed of 50 miles per hour. Of course, I reaped some benefits by traveling by train rather than driving the route. I didn't have to deal with road traffic, and I had the chance to sleep, eat, and relax on the journey. I was also surprised that the ticket cost wasn't much cheaper than driving or flying. An ultra-economy flight on a carrier like Spirit Airlines from Tampa to Miami can cost between $35 and $150, depending on when you book. Driving the trip would cost an average of $34.16, as calculated using The Zebra's fuel cost calculator and AAA's state average fuel prices. I paid $60 for a single coach ticket (and $230 for the first-class ticket), so both driving and flying could've been faster and cheaper. Riding by train felt like traveling back in time. Despite the extra time and cost, there were benefits to taking the train — it was a fun and enriching experience that felt like traveling back in time, with routes going through rural areas that were once hubs of industries like manufacturing. The stations themselves — many of which were built during a time when train travel was a much more common form of transportation — felt like glimpses into a different era. In Tampa, for example, I boarded the train at Tampa Union Station, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, having been built in 1912. I experienced more waiting around on my trip than I expected. Expecting a somewhat elevated travel experience compared to long-distance buses, which can often be delayed by road traffic, I was surprised by the amount of waiting around that I experienced on my particular journeys. On one leg of the trip, for example, I stood in line for food in the café car for almost an hour, and on the other, my train was delayed by five hours due to extreme heat — a factor that is increasingly impacting rail travel, The New York Times reported in 2024. Boarding was quick, with no security checkpoints. Once your train arrives, you can just hop in and find your seat, similar to long-distance buses. While I appreciated the uncomplicated boarding process, a thought or two about safety did cross my mind when comparing it to airplane boarding. That said, as someone used to traveling via long-distance, intra-city buses, I wasn't too concerned. In documentation about its safety measures, Amtrak said "the security framework that works in the airport setting is not easily transferable to the rail station system," and its trains instead rely on the Amtrak police department, a dedicated police force working inside train stations and aboard the trains, to ensure passenger security. I experienced what felt like never-ending airplane turbulence while on my journey. Even compared to driving or riding on a long-distance bus on the highway, the train ride felt very bumpy, mirroring the most turbulent of flights. For one of the legs of the trip, I booked a first-class roomette, and was glad to have a space to lie down to ward off any motion sickness. I wasn't limited to my seat. Roaming the cars was one of my favorite parts of traveling by train. Although walking between cars was difficult — the bumpy ride meant I had to hold on tightly to available handles while going from one car to another — I enjoyed the freedom to walk back and forth between eating and sitting areas, giving me the chance to stretch my legs on the long ride. Unlike traveling by bus or airplane, it felt very communal. With the café and dining cars open and waits often affecting all passengers, traveling by train was much more communal than the heads-down, headphones-on experience of airplanes and long-distance buses. The compact space aboard the trains makes it nearly impossible to avoid striking up a conversation with someone next to you, or at the very least, enjoy a fair share of eavesdropping. I was surprised by how much the first-class dining car felt like a fine-dining restaurant. With the $230 roomette ticket, I received a complimentary dinner in the first-class dining car. I was surprised the experience resembled a fine-dining restaurant, from the amenities to the attention from the staff. With each table having its own white tablecloth and rose bouquet, I almost forgot that I was moving at nearly 80 miles per hour during my meal. However, the food options in coach and first class weren't all that different. Unfortunately, the train I'd booked a first-class ticket for was five hours delayed. By the time I boarded at Tampa, which was at the latter end of the train's Chicago-to-Miami route, its complimentary first-class food options had run out. While I was expecting a three-course dinner with options like steak or roasted salmon, we were instead offered a turkey sub, a ham sandwich, or a cheeseburger, offerings I recognized from my previous travel in coach. However, I know my experience probably wasn't typical, and I received an apology email from Amtrak. I still enjoyed the food that was served, even if it wasn't the three-course steak dinner I had expected. Overall, traveling by train felt more like an experience of its own than just a way to travel. Even with all its delays, inefficiency, and dwindling food options, traveling by train gave me a more full and enriching experience than I was expecting. From looking out the window at new, rural locations to experiencing school-cafeteria-style communal eating, my train journeys felt more like experiences of their own rather than simply a way of getting from point A to point B.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Norwegian Cruise Line is making a huge Royal Caribbean-style move
Norwegian Cruise Line is making a huge Royal Caribbean-style move originally appeared on TravelHost. Norwegian Cruise Line may have been the first cruise line to offer a private island escape as part of its Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, but it wasn't the first to build out its private piece of paradise with resort-style amenities and attractions. Royal Caribbean made waves in the cruise industry when it turned a basic cruise line private island experience into a 'Perfect Day' in 2019. Whether you want the thrill of a waterpark, bliss of a beachside cabana, or exclusivity of an adults-only beach club, you can find your perfect Bahamas beach day experience at Perfect Day at CocoCay. And now, for even more choice in how you want to enjoy your cruise line private island escape, soon you'll be able to discover your greatest vacation day at Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay, addition to enhancing the 270-acre island in late 2025 with a new multi-ship pier, a huge heated pool, and a variety of new amenities, Norwegian Cruise Line is expanding the island's offerings in a big way in 2026. With the addition of a nearly six-acre waterpark and even more experiences, vacationers will find endless ways to enjoy 'The Great Life' at Great Stirrup Cay. To celebrate Great Stirrup Cay's great transformation, the cruise line is even giving away 250 cruises to the island for vacationers to 'Escape to the Great Life' and experience the all-new attractions next Cruise Line is adding a giant Great Stirrup Caywaterpark Slated to open in summer 2026, Great Stirrup Cay's new Great Tides Waterpark will feature 19 waterslides, a nearly 800-foot dynamic river, a 9,000-square-foot splash zone for kids, and the cruise industry's first cliffside jumps. Vacationers will be able to splash down eight exhilarating waterslides from the 170-foot Tidal Tower. The waterpark will also feature additional racing slides, tube slides with large spirals and spins, and thrilling body slides. Riders won't even need to carry their own rafts up the tower to ride certain slides thanks to convenient raft conveyer Cove, another section of Great Tides Waterpark, will offer more opportunities for families to find adventure with racer slides and two different cliff jumps standing at 10 and 15 feet tall (a cruise industry first) as well as the Caribbean's only family slide, where four guests can slide down simultaneously. Those who would rather relax and watch the action can chill in The Grotto Bar, a cave-like bar hidden under the family slide. Great Tides Waterpark will have huge kids splash zone, dynamic river A 9,000-square-foot kids splash zone at the center of Great Tides Waterpark will offer big splashes for little cruisers with an oversized tipping water bucket, eight mini slides, and interactive water features. The waterpark will also feature a new take on the lazy river — an 800-foot-long dynamic river with an accelerated current with several entry points, including a wading pool with a swim-up bar nearby. The river will offer a unique immersive experience with an illuminated grotto tunnel featuring a dreamlike bioluminescent scene. Cabanas will be conveniently located at the edge of the dynamic river and the kids splash zone. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Great Stirrup Cay will offer jet kart excursion, Great Life Lagoon Great Stirrup Cay shore excursions are also getting an upgrade with the addition of an all-new mini aquatic racecourse with jet karts, an experience that combines elements of go-karting and jet skiing. Later this year, Norwegian cruise passengers visiting Great Stirrup Cay will start experiencing the first of the island's enhancements as Norwegian opens a new heated pool, splash pad, multi-ship pier, welcome plaza, and island-wide tram Great Life Lagoon, the recently announced expansive 1.4-acre pool area, will offer private ocean and pool view cabanas and villas, complimentary loungers, and two swim-up bars. Each swim-up bar will have its own ambiance, but both will serve refreshing beverages including kid-friendly drinks and adult-favorite cocktails. The Reef Bar will feature a DJ while The Waves Bar on the opposite side of the pool will be a fun spot situated alongside a beach-style entrance and a splash area for kids. Steps away from the new pool, Splash Harbor, a 3,400-square-foot complimentary splash pad, will offer more family fun with interactive water fountains, aquatic features, and a shaded bar and lounge for parents to relax. Great Stirrup Cay will get new recreation area, adults-only beach club Great Stirrup Cay's enhancements also include a new complimentary recreational area, Horizon Park, featuring lawn style games, pickleball courts, a nine-hole mini golf course, half a sports court, and more. Those looking for beachside relaxation will find 'The Great Life' at Hammock Bay, featuring more than 50 hammocks and a dedicated bar conveniently located near the passenger-favorite BBQ the purchase of a day pass, visitors can also elevate their Great Stirrup Cay beach day with greater luxury at Vibe Shore Club, a sophisticated adults-only area featuring a private bar, hanging day beds, and premium loungers and umbrellas. Villas will also be available to rent at Vibe Shore Club. As it unveils Great Stirrup Cay's transformation, Norwegian Cruise Line expects to welcome one million guests to the island across 15 of its ships in 2026. Ships sailing to Great Stirrup Cay in 2026 include the cruise line's newest ship Norwegian Aqua, which offers a variety of seven-day Caribbean voyages from Miami and Port Canaveral, Fla., and Norwegian Luna, the cruise line's upcoming vessel debuting in March 2026, which will sail seven-day Caribbean itineraries from April 2026 to October 2026. Norwegian Cruise Line launches limited-time Great Life sale and sweepstakes For a limited time, Norwegian Cruise Line is celebrating Great Stirrup Cay's transformation by offering up to $1,500 off all Caribbean and Bahamas sailings with 'The Great Life Sale' and giving away 250 cruises to the island. Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada (excluding Quebec), the 'Escape to the Great Life' sweepstakes offers vacationers the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a four-day voyage in August 2026 for two in a balcony stateroom inclusive of NCL's popular More At Sea package. The 'Escape to the Great Life' sweepstakes runs from July 29 to Aug. 31, 2025. Additionally, the cruise line is bringing the island life to New York City from July 29 to 31, 2025, and to Miami throughout the month of August, with 'Escape to the Great Life' consumer activations.'Escape to the Great Life' escape hatches to pop open in NYC, Miami In New York City, Great Stirrup Cay will come to SoHo with a limited-time engagement experience. Beginning at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, a custom 'escape hatch' at 104 Grand Street, New York City, will open to the public and those who pass by will instantly be transported to the island paradise, complete with tropical sights and sounds of what awaits at Great Stirrup Cay. The experience will feature immersive LED graphic island visuals, live steel drums, beach-ready NCL merchandise, and opportunities to enter to win the 'Escape to the Great Life' sweepstakes. The pop-up activation is open to the public on July 29, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST on July 30 and 31, coincide with the consumer activation, the cruise line also hid seven custom 'escape hatches' across Manhattan in the popular areas of Hudson Yards, Gansevoort Plaza, 54th Street in Times Square, Broadway and Broome, Grand Central Station, State Street in the Financial District, and on the Highline Sundeck on 14th Street, providing additional opportunities for people to open the door and to enter to win one of the 250 cruise giveaways. Throughout the month of August, three 'escape hatches' will also be hidden throughout Miami, inviting residents and visitors in Norwegian Cruise Line's hometown to open the doors to enter to win an escape to 'The Great Life' at Great Stirrup Cay. Those escape hatches will be located in Wynwood, on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, and at Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Heavy rain triggers flash floods and travel chaos on US East Coast
In New York, floodwaters swept through roads and train stations during the evening rush, with commuters wading through submerged platforms at Grand Central Terminal. Videos shared online showed water pouring into city buses and cascading over trains. Firefighters evacuated a Long Island-bound train, and services across Long Island and New Jersey were severely disrupted. Amtrak suspended routes between Philadelphia and Wilmington due to high water over the tracks. States of emergency were declared in New York City and New Jersey.
