Calling all New England vacation experts... About This Page:

[lauriep]

I don't have much to add-- it's all been covered! I just want to add my vote for Mystic. It's a lovely town and I'd pick the Mystic Aquarium over the New England Aquarium in Boston any day. Also wanted to mention that the Earl of Sandwich on Boston Common has ZERO indoor seating, so don't head there on a rainy day!

[Canada Amy]

You guys have me seriously excited now! Yes, it's the Warwick airport homewoodvsuites I was looking at. I lve how they have full kitchens so I can make some healthy food.

So as we say in Disney-speak, perhaps a split stay is our best bet. Could look like this:
Saturday -drive to jittery / Portsmouth; maybe shop a bit
Sunday - water country
Monday - legoland; drive to RI
Tuesday - quiet day; maybe children's museum
Wednesday - roger Williams zoo
Thursday - mystic aquarium
Friday - open
Saturday - drive home

Maybe you're right Holly, that lake camp ounce is too far. We can always change our minds and go for it

[Canada Amy]

Also would love feedback on avoiding traffic and crowds. We would be there the first week of July,so I know things will be crazy on Friday, the 4th. Wha should we do that day?! I know legoland is going to be extremely popular, so hats why I thought Monday would be best and we will get our tickets ahead of time. The one in Toronto is often sold out.

[Canada Amy]

On second thought, the Water Wizz park towards cape cod looks like a better one for our family than water country. They have a lily pad climbing area like ski patrol training camp at blizzard beach. But are we entering crazy traffic territory??

[Huntermom]

Rentals start and end on Saturdays on the Cape so Saturday is the horrendous traffic day. Week days aren't bad and Wareham is just on the mainland side of the bridge so you don't get bridge traffic. My DD used to go to horse shows in Buzzard's Bay, next door and I don't even remember much traffic on Saturdays (of course it was 5 AM).

I looked online and there is also a Water Wizz in Westerly, which is on the RI/CT border.

[Canada Amy]

Thanks, that's very helpful : ) since doing Disney vacations and even North Conway, I've come to assume that weekdays are best for parks anywhere. Will probably aim for Tuesday. Debating to stay in RI for all seven nights. Oh, and thr RI water wizz looks to be quite a bit smaller.

Maybe the zoo would be our best bed on July 4th?

[Huntermom]

I haven't lived in RI for 40 years, but I think there used to be some 4th of July celebrations at the park. I would check and see if anything else is going on. The park itself is very pretty and lots of room for a picnic and a run around.

[Huntermom]

https://www.providenceri.com/parks-a...-williams-park

This has information on the entire park, just not the zoo. I grew up going to the park, not necessarily the zoo, which has now become the big draw.

[Huntermom]

If you like carousels, it is worth a trip to Crescent Park. The carousel is not only historic and beautiful, it is fast. You could combine it with a trip to the water park.

City of East Providence - Cost and Hours of Operation

[Canada Amy]

so many cool things to try! looking at water country again and it looks like a better park. checked out water wiz. pretty funny that I just watched The Way, way Back and see that it was filmed there!

We get these admissions with our science centre membership:

Discovery Museum, Inc.

4450 Park Avenue, Bridgeport 06604

(203) 372-3521 Welcome to the Discovery Museum

F:

Up to two adults and four children (under 18)

living in same household

Lutz Children's Museum

247 South Main Street, Manchester 06040

(860) 643-0949 Lutz Children's Museum

F:

Up to four people living at a single address

Stepping Stones Museum for Children(

IDs)

Matthews Park, 303 W. Ave., Norwalk 06850

(203) 899-0606 steppingstonesmuseum.org

F: Two adults and up to four child

Boston Children's Museum (

IDs)

300 Congress Street, Boston 02210-1034

(617) 426-8855

Boston Children's Museum

F:

Children and the adults who care for them,

up to four persons

EcoTarium

222 Harrington Way, Worcester 01604

(508) 929-2700 Indoor-Outdoor Museum of Science and Nature | Worcester, MA | EcoTarium

F:

Two adults and four children

Harvard Museum of Natural History (

IDs)

26 Oxford Street, Cambridge 02138

(617) 495-3045 Home - Harvard Museum of Natural History

F:

Two adults and two children living at the

same address, one adult named on the

membership card

Museum of Science

Science Park, Boston 02114-1099

(617) 723-2500 Home | Museum of Science, Boston

F:

Up to four individuals, one of whom must be

named on the membership card. Exhibit Halls

admission only; no other discounts apply.

Springfield Museums Association

21 Edwards Street, Springfield 01103

(800) 625-7738 Springfield Museums

F:

Two adults and two children under the age of

18 living at the same address. Free general

admission only; does not include special exhibit

or planetarium fees.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Exhibit Center, 15 School Street, Woods Hole

02543-1109

(508) 289-2700 Home : Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

F:

Two adults and two children. Passport

visitors receive 10% discount on museum shop

purchases (does not apply to books).

MAINE

Children's Discovery Museum

171 Capitol Street, Suite 2, Augusta 04330

(207) 622-2209

Childrens Discovery Museum | Where Children Come to Play, Learn and Grow!

F:

Two adults living in the same household and

their dependent children, up to four persons

The Children's Museum of New Hampshire

6 Washington Street, Dover 03820

(603) 742-2002 www.childrens-museum.org

F:

Up to four immediate family members whose

names are printed on the membership card;

adults must have ID. Excludes Boston

Children's Museum and Harvard Museum of

Natural History.

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

2 Institute Drive, Concord 03301

(603) 271-7827 McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center : Home

F:

Member cardholder must be present and up

to three guests for Exhibit Gallery only. No other

discounts apply.

Mount Washington Museum and Weather

Discovery Center

2779 White Mountain Hwy, N. Conway 03860

(603) 356-2137 Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) – White Mountains, New Hampshire (NH)

F:

A group of ten or less people who are

immediately related as siblings, spouses,

parents or grandparents

SEE Science Center

200 Bedford Street, Manchester 03101

(603) 669-0400 SEE Science Center : SEE Science Center

F: All family members living in same household

[HollyH]

Great that both the Boston Children's Museum and the Museum of Science are included, but what a bummer that the Rhode Island Children's Museum isn't listed......that is a good one.

The CT museums included probably wouldn't be worth the long car trip you would have to make from RI to get to them.

You're right in that the Water Wizz in RI is smaller. If it's the place I'm thinking, it's mostly slides. And it is across from Misquamicut State Beach......there will be a fair amount of beach traffic involved to get there.

We really enjoyed Water Country when we went several years ago. I am assuming you'll stop there for a day on your way down to MA/RI. Will you overnight in the area?

[Canada Amy]

You got it, Holly : ) it would make for an easier drive to make jittery / Portsmouth area our destination for the first day - about 6.5 hours not including stops. Our fave hilton brand hotel chains are retry steep in that area, though. Any tips? I was debating on somewhere a bit closer to Boston, as we would head to legoland the next day. It's in Somerville, just barely out of the city. Subway doesn't go that far yet, so we'll have to drive it - yikes!

Thanks for the heads-up on the children's museums. We've done both the Boston ones before. Too bad about thr RI one, but it's still pretty inexpensive so I'll take your word for it and make it a point to visit.

I found the New Hampshire discount card thing online. Wishing I knew about it years ago, since it includes so many places we've already visited many times. For this trip it may not help us as much, but I think I'll still get it. We should a least break even.

Any other secrets out there for discounts at parks and such? We will be dropping over $100/day on park admissions. Oh well, nothing compared to Disney!

[Canada Amy]

Darn iPad autocorrect!

[Huntermom]

Amy,

There is a Homewood Suites in Peabody, close to half way between Boston and Portsmouth,

Peabody isn't far from Hammond Castle. Welcome to Hammond Castle. My kids really enjoyed it when they were in grade school but I did have two boys and a tomboy.

[Canada Amy]

Ok, I'm showing Hampton inn in Peabody for $122/night. I'd like a better deal where it's $125/night for home wood in RI and you get a suite. We do like Merrimack outlets and the Nashua Hampton inn where we've stayed before is $103/night. Too far out of the way from water country? At least it's in Canobie region and we could shop if it rains!