Gay Head Lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard
Sometimes the best way to appreciate a city is to escape it. While Boston is arguably the prettiest city on the east coast, it never hurts to get away from the hustle of downtown even if just for a day.
Here are our top three day trips from Boston, all less than two hours away:
Stroll Historic Providence, Rhode Island
Just an hour’s ride from Beantown, Providence could best be described as “Boston’s cool little brother”. It may not be as big or as brash, but this pint-sized historic New England city is well worth a day trip.
History buffs will love a stroll along Benefit Street, dubbed “the most impressive concentration of original Colonial homes in America”. Self-guided walking tours are available through the Providence Preservation Society. The compact downtown core is very walkable and offers an excellent variety of restaurants, shops, and entertainment outlets. Don’t miss the beautifully restored Arcade – the nation’s oldest indoor shopping mall and one of the city’s best historic landmarks.
Relax on Martha’s Vineyard
For decades Martha’s Vineyard has been the de facto island getaway for everyone from “average” travelers to celebrities to presidents. With good reason, as it’s among the most scenic, toes-in-the-sand vacation spots on the east coast.
For an island that’s barely more than twenty miles long, it offers a myriad of opportunities for travelers. Just steps from the ferry landing at Oak Bluffs is a quaint “downtown” core with plenty of bars, restaurants, shops and waterviews.
The historic town of Edgartown is a former whaling port still peppered with centuries-old captain’s homes, many of which have been restored to their former glory. It’s the largest and perhaps most relaxed town on the island and home to the Vineyard’s most breathtaking lighthouse, Edgartown Lighthouse – a stunning photo opportunity especially at sunrise.
Many travelers are surprised to learn that Martha’s Vineyard is just two hours from downtown Boston. For those looking for hassle-free transport, guided day trips to the island provide bus and ferry tickets, along with the opportunity to add in a guided coach tour.
Escape to the Waters of Newport, Rhode Island
As the most famous yachting and sailing hub on the east coast, Newport is well worth a day trip from Boston. With a day to explore, escape to stunning Ocean Drive – home to the most concentrated collection of lavish, historic mansions in perhaps the entire country. Take a stroll along the breathtaking Cliff Walk — a 3.5-mile public walkway bordered on one side by the Atlantic Ocean and on the other by the opulent former homes of some of the world’s most famous families, including the Rockefeller’s and Vanderbilt’s.
See all that Boston has to offer with these tours!
-Contributed by Mike Richard