It can be difficult to find activities the whole family can enjoy over summer break, especially when there’s an age gap between children. While the little ones may be easier to entertain, the best memories happen when you choose something that everyone likes.
From retro arcades to quirky day trips, there are plenty of summertime activities in the Northeast that are fun for all, regardless of age. Here are 10 of our favorite summer break ideas.
Remember, AAA members can get exclusive savings on all types of activities with AAA Tickets.
Connecticut
If you want to flex the family’s problem-solving muscles, try escape rooms, which offer groups a room-size puzzle to solve. Some escape room complexes cater to adults, while others are designed more for grade-school birthdays, but Escapology in Trumbull is one of the few that seeks to please all ages. It has rooms that can be set to “kid mode,” as well as more complex rooms for older guests.
Sometimes, fun can be found in unlikely places. Jordan’s Furniture in New Haven claims to have the world’s largest indoor ropes course. The complex has four levels filled with over 100 obstacles and includes a ropes course area for little climbers.
Everyone will appreciate this summer break idea, not just for the challenge, but for the air conditioning.
Massachusetts
A family hike can be tricky to navigate. If the hike is too strenuous or too far, you might end up carrying a child. And, if it’s too easy, it might become monotonous. The unique topography at Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton threads the needle for some families. Hikers don’t have to walk far to enjoy some goat-like opportunities on the trails’ many low-to-the-ground boulders. The area also has good picnic spots near the reservation’s parking lots.
Another fun day trip is Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, a living history museum that offers a glimpse into rural daily life during the early 19th century. Visitors can wander among the village’s 40 historical buildings and speak to costumed historians who can answer questions. Visitors can also meander trails over more than 200 acres, shop for handcrafted items and enjoy live music.
New Hampshire
For all the fun that amusement parks offer, they can feel like endurance competitions for families with small children. Canobie Lake Park in Salem is the rare exception. While the park offers over 80 rides, it is small enough to navigate within a day. Canobie Lake Park is also home to Castaway Island water park, for little ones to enjoy on a hot day. This can be an asset for caregivers who choose to divide and conquer activities as they watch over children of different ages.
New Jersey
If you’re looking to deepen your family’s connection to food systems, consider visiting one of the many small farms throughout the region. Many of these farms have family-friendly activities during the growing and harvest seasons.
Alestede Farm in Chester is family-owned and offers opportunities to pick your own fruits and vegetables. Families can also visit with the farm animals and enjoy homemade ice cream. And the farm hosts wagon rides, food trucks, corn mazes and live music throughout the summer and fall.
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Baseball fans young and old must make a pilgrimage to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum in Cooperstown at least once in their lives. Remarkably unassuming for the storied collections it contains, the museum is packed with three-dimensional exhibits of Major League Baseball, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, the Negro Leagues and more. While visitors can learn a lot about baseball, this museum can be a great way to learn about U.S. history, too.
Train lovers might want to hop aboard the Adirondack Railroad for scenic railway excursions of the Adirondack Mountains. The railroad operates two stations in Utica and one in Thendara. In addition to the standard scenic trips, the train company also hosts specially themed rides for families, including a fancy tea party train ride.
Rhode Island
A seaside cruise can be a good chance for a family to explore nature together, and a large boat makes for a smoother ride. Rhode Island Bay Cruises in North Kingston offers 90-minute lighthouse cruises on one of New England’s largest catamarans. Those who climb aboard can take a waterside tour of 10 historic lighthouses and 10 Narragansett Bay islands, spy sea life from the deck and learn about Newport Harbor’s history.
Golf lovers of all ages can easily while away the day at Mulligan’s Island in Cranston. This 64-acre sports complex is home to two creative 18-hole minigolf courses, a driving range and an eight-hole short golf course. The complex also houses batting cages, a volleyball area and a snack hut.
What are some of your favorite family activities during summer break? Share them in the comments.
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Why dont you include Vermont and Maine in your articles about the north east? There is plenty to do and they are both beautiful states.
Hi Denyse, thank you for your comment! AAA Northeast covers Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and some of New Hampshire. We do sometimes include other nearby states in our articles, but we try to focus on the areas where our members live.
I no longer live in Boston. I moved to Charleston, SC permanently four years ago. I can’t seem to convince your website of this. Can you tell me how to change my location so the wbsite reflects my new location CHARLESTON, SC?
Hello Thomas. Please give our membership department a call to assist you with transferring your membership at 1-800-222-8252 to your new club. Thanks!