Massachusetts travel

Throughout the summer, we’ve gone back and forth on travel and where to go on the few days off that we have. We want to visit so many places in New England – Block Island, Portland, Ogunquit, and Martha’s Vineyard – and we want to visit the North Fork of Long Island again. At the end of the day, since we do have a Sonoma and Napa trip coming up, we decided to do lots of little staycations in the Boston area. Boston is so beautiful in the summer, and there’s SO much to do in and around the city and within less than an hour’s drive. My family visited recently, and we packed a long weekend full of fun activities. If you are visiting Boston and need some ideas for Boston area day trips, I hope you’ll consider the below!

Assembly Row – This new outlet shopping area is so much more than a place to pick up new clothes. It’s an ever-growing complex of shops and restaurants, with an arts market, a music series, movie series, and more. We visited Assembly Row to check out Legoland Discovery Center, which is a hit with kids and adults. Unfortunately, adults can’t visit without kids, except for during special nights, so grab a niece or nephew or friend’s kid if you don’t have one of your own! It’s a pricy attraction, but it is a bright, colorful, interactive spot. The area along the river next to Assembly Row is surprisingly peaceful, considering how busy the outlet area is, and it makes for a nice long walk or spot to enjoy a coffee or ice cream from the outlets’ many food establishments.

Davis Family Farmland – This is another one for the kids, but as an adult, I have to say I am a huge fan. The farm is full of baby animals that guests can play with, feed, and brush. Pony rides are available, along with a play area with fake storefronts, a “fishing” area, and an entire spray park. Our nieces and nephews love Davis Family Farmland, and at just about an hour’s drive from Boston, it is really a great way to spend a Boston staycation.

Whale watching out of Boston Harbor with Boston Harbor Cruises – While my family was visiting, I decided last minute to take an additional day off to go whale watching out of Boston with them. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The weather was perfect, and we saw over 15 whales, who kept dancing and jumping around for us. Seeing my niece and nephew light up with each whale sighting was magical. Whale watching is something all ages can enjoy; it is an awesome way to be out on the water and experience the wonder of the nature that surrounds us.

Hull Harbor Illumination and Hull in general – Hull is a beautiful little coastal town with some fun restaurants, beautiful, clean beaches, and friendly people. It’s an easy spot to fit in your beach time without sitting in Cape traffic. Hingham is a great stop along the way where you can find some fancier restaurants like Tosca for a post-beach date. We love spending time in Hull and Hingham, and if you love the coast and don’t feel like traveling far, these towns make a great day trip from Boston.

And while I am on the topic of Boston travel, I will give a quick shout out to the beautiful hotel I work at! The Royal Sonesta Boston has some great packages, including a Summer Fest package which features free yoga, boat rides, and bikes. If you need a hotel in Boston or Cambridge, check it out!

We love to travel near and far, and we have definitely enjoyed the above trips over the past few weeks!