Boston is a wonderful city to spend the summer in, but it’s good to shake things up sometimes and leave to explore other places. Here’s a quick list of some fun summer weekend getaways you can visit when you’ve got the time.
Providence, Rhode Island: [1 hour to 1 hour, 20 minute travel time]
Being only around an hour from Boston, Providence is a great first place to look for a weekend away. Saying Providence has amazing food isn’t an overstatement. Boasting Johnson and Wales University, ranked third in the country for its cooking school, Providence is home to a large selection of great restaurants, where picky and adventurous eaters alike will find something they enjoy. Providence is also home to several exceptional museums, such as the Rhode Island School of Design Museum and the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center. The former has tons of cool art ranging from ancient to modern art, and the latter is super fun to walk through especially with friends or on a date. The style of the building and flowers give it a very Victorian or Bridgerton vibe, perfect for taking photos or walking around listening to some chill music.
Newport, Rhode Island: [2 hour to 3 hour travel time]
I can’t talk about Rhode Island without mentioning Newport. With good swimming, food and beautiful houses, Newport has all the makings for a perfect summer weekend spot. If I had one reason to recommend it though, it would definitely be because of the insane mansions. Some mansions that are worth seeing are the Rosecliff, Château-sur-Mer, The Elms and The Breakers. Mansions aside, Newport has some great beaches and fun museums including the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the Newport Car Museum.
Portland, Maine: [2 hour to 2 hour, 30 minute travel time]
A slightly longer commute, Portland, Maine is located around two hours from Boston. If you don’t have a car, the quickest way to get there is by bus — there’s a Greyhound that takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes. Portland has some pretty beaches too. Old Orchard Pier is a great example since it has a nice beach and some fun attractions as well. I can’t forget to mention the lighthouses though when talking about Portland. They make a great place to watch the sunset. Aside from having some great seafood — lobster rolls are a must — Portland is a great place for adventurous foodies to check out. They have a special donut store called Holy Donut that makes 20 unique flavors of donuts — one being potato.
Bar Harbor, Maine: [4 hour, 30 minute drive or 8 hour bus ride]
I feel like most people know about Bar Harbor if they’re from New England or have lived here for a little while; if not, most know Acadia National Park which is located nearby. Bar Harbor is a great place to spend one or two nights if you enjoy the outdoors. Staying in Bar Harbor, not only can you rent bikes, tour the carriage roads and see the sights of the national park, but the town itself has a lot to offer. Bar Harbor is home to some pretty great seafood and cool outdoor activities. In addition to the bike tour, you’ve got some fun sandbars and a land bridge onto Bar Island, but you also have Mt. Cadillac which is super pretty at sunrise or sunset — depending on whether you’re a morning or night person.
Provincetown, Massachusetts: [2 hour, 30 minute drive, 4 hour, 30 minute bus ride or 1 hour, 40 minute ferry ride]
If you’re looking for loads of fun and wild nights, look no further. Provincetown, widely known as P-town, is located on Cape Cod and has a plethora of fun things to do for another great weekend trip from Boston. From drag shows to bars and clubs, Provincetown has great nightlife. If you’re not a big partier, not to worry, it has plenty to do during the day. Provincetown has scores of art galleries worth popping into, some fun biking trails and obviously great beaches. Not to mention some really good Portuguese food, if that’s your thing.
Nantucket, Massachusetts: [3 hour bus + ferry ride or 2 hour, 30 minute drive + ferry ride]
While it’s not on the flashy side, Nantucket still has a lot to offer when it comes to a fun weekend destination from Boston. Though it’s a bit more remote, Nantucket is still easily accessible. You can travel by boat which takes longer but is cheaper, or opt to fly. If you choose to take the ferry, you can catch it from four locations: Hyannis, Martha’s Vineyard, Harwich Port or New Bedford. The ferry ride isn’t too long, ranging from one to two hours. What really takes time is getting to the ferry docks. Nantucket was one of the United States’ primary whaling hubs in the 19th century, so it has lots of history to explore, but also a nice selection of beaches. Cathcart, Surfside and Cisco beaches, to name a few. I should also mention that because of its whaling history — and connection to the book Moby Dick — the Whaling Museum is worth checking out, even if you’re not a museum-goer. If you’re not a beach or a history person, don’t fret. The downtown area boasts tons of cute stores perfect for unique gifts, clothing and other artistic goods such as the famed Nantucket lightship baskets and hand-made jewelry. It also boasts a slew of restaurants. Whether you want pancakes and maple syrup, a steak-frite or fried oysters, your needs are met.
It doesn’t matter which location you end up choosing, each is fun and unique in its own way and is worth visiting for a quick trip outside Boston.