Families living in the Northeast have a number of great vacation options within a day's drive. The region includes the six New England states (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island) as well as three in the Mid-Atlantic (New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania).
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Tyler Place Family Resort: Highgate Springs, VT
Tyler Place Family Resort
One of America's finest all-inclusive resorts, the 165-acre Tyler Place Family Resort pioneered all-inclusive pricing during the Great Depression and has been helping families create great summer family vacations ever since. With nine age groups from babies to teenagers, the children's program is simply unbeatable. (Tyler Place is also on the short list of top baby and toddler vacations.)
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New York
Scott Dunn/Getty Images
From Broadway shows to iconic attractions and shopping, New York City offers plenty of fun options for visiting families.
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Hershey, PA
brownpau / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Talk about sweet. Hershey is a town where lampposts are shaped like Hershey's kisses, and the pervasive candy theme is, well, just chocolate icing on the cake. The big draw is Hersheypark. Its impressive array of roller coasters make it one of the best theme parks on the East Coast.
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Acadia National Park: Mt. Desert Island, ME
heipei / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
One of America's most popular national parks, Acadia is located on Maine's rugged coast. The park is home to a myriad of plants and animals, as well as the tallest mountain on the US Atlantic coast. Today visitors come to Acadia to hike granite peaks, bike historic back roads, or relax and enjoy the coastal scenery.
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Whiteface Lodge: Lake Placid, New York
Whiteface Lodge
For families looking for a luxurious yet completely family-friendly mountain getaway, the all-suite Whiteface Lodge is a wonderful choice in the beautiful Adirondacks of Upstate New York.
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Harborview Nantucket: Nantucket, MA
Harborview Nantucket
Not so much a vacation rental, but not so much a hotel, Harborview Nantucket consists of 11 impeccably designed luxury cottages that frame a lush lawn next to a boat-filled harbor cove in Nantucket. The property is a wonderful oasis in this busy little town and would make a super home base for multi-generational gatherings or reunions.
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Ogunquit, ME
Corbis/Getty Images
The Algonquin Indians called it Ogunquit, or “beautiful place by the sea.” A jewel along Maine's southern coast, the pretty village of Ogunquit delights families with a stunning coastal walk, gorgeous beach, saltwater, lobster cruises and lots of low-key family fun.
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Philadelphia, PA
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
As if the Liberty Bell and cheesesteak weren't enough, there are many more fantastic reasons to bring your kids in and around Philadelphia.
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Mohonk Mountain House: New Paltz, NY
Fred Hsu / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
The 250+ room Mohonk Mountain House overlooks expansive grounds containing a pristine lake, 85 miles of hiking trails, a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, stables and a large lawn where families can enjoy outdoor movies. Children aged four to 12 can join the award-winning children's program which includes nature walks, animal watching and fossil hunting.
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Skytop Lodge: Skytop, PA
Skytop Lodge
The oh-so-grand Skytop Lodge in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains has been welcoming families since 1928. There's a huge variety of activities, including ziplining, kayaking, archery, tennis, boating, biking, rock climbing and hiking, as well as an excellent supervised children's program and golfers get a bonus that's almost unheard of: Unlimited greens fees.
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The Sagamore: Lake George, NY
TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove
For families looking for a lake getaway that's luxurious yet totally family-friendly, The Sagamore is a wonderful choice on spectacular Lake George in the foothills of New York's Adirondack Mountains.
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Upper Cape Cod, MA
Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
The westernmost area of Cape Cod – Bourne, Sandwich, Mashpee, Falmouth and Woods Hole – make up the Upper Cape. Life is a bit sleepier here than in the Outer Cape. The beaches are a little quieter and the prices a little lower, which combine to make this an ideal getaway with kids.
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Winnetu Resort: Martha's Vineyard, MA
Winnetu Oceanside Resort
The luxurious Winnetu Resort on Martha's Vineyard is wonderfully family-friendly, offering spacious accommodations, family-friendly dining, babysitting and children's activity programs for children ages three to 12 as well as teens.
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Woodstock Inn & Resort: Woodstock, VT
Woodstock Inn & Resort
For families looking for a relaxing Vermont getaway with an array of family activities, the Woodstock Inn & Resort is a great luxury choice. This four-season resort where family time means games and hikes, farm visits and afternoon cookies and cider.
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Rocking Horse Ranch: Highland, NY
Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Rocking Horse Ranch is a popular, extremely kid-friendly friend ranch in the inland Hudson Valley. As well as the usual ranch activities like horse riding and hay rides, there are loads of other fun things to do including rock climbing, archery, swimming, tennis and more.
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Great Wolf Lodge New England: Fitchburg, MA
Great Wolf Lodge
The wildly popular indoor water park resort chain Great Wolf Lodge opened its first New England property in the Boston area in 2014. At 68,000 square feet, the indoor water park is the largest in Massachusetts.
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Providence Biltmore: Providence, RI
Providence Biltmore
The Creative Capital's grandest hotel, the Providence Biltmore opened in 1922 and has been enchanting guests ever since.
