Northeast Coastal Road Trip

Start your Northeast Coastal USA tour in Boston. This beautiful, bustling city is nestled in Massachusetts and offers visitors a wonderful blend of old-world charm and cutting-edge modernity.

Make your own way from Boston airport to the plush, boutique-style Whitney Hotel in the peaceful Beacon Hill neighbourhood.  Soak up vistas of the Boston skyline with a hike through the verdant Blue Hills Reservation. History lovers might want to tackle the Freedom Trail instead: an easy 2.5-kilometre walking route that passes 16 major heritage sites.  Sunny afternoons in Boston call for a visit to peaceful Boston Common, the USA’s oldest public park.  Finish your day with a sunset pleasure cruise along the Charles River where you’ll get a front-row seat to the city’s many wonderful waterfront landmarks.

Say goodbye to Boston as you drive 90 minutes south to Hyannis in your spacious rental car. The picture-perfect town sits on the Cape Cod peninsula and is a fantastic base for exploring the wider region.  You could  follow the Kennedy Legacy Trail which weaves its way past several sites significant to the Kennedy family. For those seeking an adrenaline rush, the rugged coastline offers opportunities for windsurfing and intrepid fishing trips. Sample some authentic New England cuisine, such as a traditional clambake, at a restaurant along Main Street.

 Visit John F Kennedy Museum which is full of photographs and displays detailing the former president’s childhood. If the weather is bright, hop on a leisure boat at the harbour and cruise along the coast past the Kennedy Compound and Lewis Bay Lighthouse.  If you’d prefer a full day out, various boat trips leave daily from Hyannis Harbor. Venture to Nantucket Island to wander its cobbled streets and uncover facts about its whaling history or make your way to Martha’s Vineyard to immerse yourself in its natural beauty.

On day seven, look forward to a memorable excursion with Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises. Cape Cod is a haven for these majestic creatures, with humpbacks, minkes, killers and fin whales all passing through its waters between April and October.

You’ll embark from Barnstable Harbor and sail across Cape Cod Bay before heading into the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Sit on one of three outdoor viewing decks or keep your eyes peeled for whales, dolphins and more from the custom-designed boat’s cosy interior cabin. The cruise follows responsible practices and includes commentary from resident naturalists.

Once you’re back on land, you’ll check out of your hotel and drive southwest to Newport. The bustling seaside city sits on Rhode Island’s Aquidneck Island and gives you a snapshot of the state’s past with its grand mansions and heritage sites.

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a Newport Gilded Age Mansions Trolley Tour. As well as traversing Newport’s most historic streets, you’ll also have access to The Breakers — the former summer home of the prestigious Vanderbilt family.

After lunch, leave Newport behind and drive an hour to Mystic, a former whaling village tucked away on Connecticut’s wild North Atlantic coast. It’s divided by the pretty Mystic River and features a historic downtown packed with quaint boutiques, galleries and restaurants.

You’ll stay right at Mystic’s heart, at the Hampton Inn & Suites Mystic. Once you’ve settled in, venture to duBois Beach for some splendid sunset views.

Uncover more of Mystic’s past with a trip to the interactive Mystic Seaport Museum that’s home to the world’s last surviving, 19th-century wooden whaleship. Afterwards, you can enjoy a steamboat cruise down the Mystic River or make a beeline for Olde Mistick Village: an outdoor mall resembling an 18th-century colonial village.

Main Street in the historic downtown area is the ideal place for lunch (we recommend Mystic Pizza) and people-watching. Afterwards, pop into the steam-powered BF Clyde's cider mill for a tour and to taste their apple-flavoured doughnuts.

Drive to New London and board the Cross Sound Ferry to Orient Point. Disembark and drive to your Long Island base, Riverhead.

Get ready for a full day exploring Long Island. Riverhead sits between Long Island Sound and the Peconic River, and it’s an excellent jumping-off point for vineyard and distillery tours. 

In Riverhead itself, you’ll have the chance to learn about the town’s agricultural heritage at the Hallockville Museum Farm. There’s also the Railroad Museum of Long Island where you can ride through the countryside on a miniature train. 

Riverhead also hosts a fantastic aquarium and water park, while its downtown district is bursting with beautiful boutiques, cosy bars and authentic restaurants serving up mouth-watering local seafood.

Tuck into a hearty breakfast at your hotel before continuing to New York City (approximately two hours from Riverhead). Situated at the meeting point of the Hudson River and the Atlantic, NYC is bursting with countless iconic landmarks.

Soak up skyline vistas from the Empire State Building, meander the pathways of Central Park or browse upscale stores along Fifth Avenue. There are also dozens of museums and galleries to cover, including the Met, the Guggenheim and the MoMA. If you fancy a day trip, catch the ferry across to historic Ellis Island or hop over to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. 

On the penultimate day of your Northeast Coast road trip, you’ll make your way to the southern tip of Manhattan for an All-Access 9/11 Experience. The moving tour is hosted by a New Yorker and allows you to visit both the site’s museum and memorial. You’ll then have time in the afternoon to continue exploring the city.

You’ll have a chance to sample all kinds of tasty delights, from buttery croissants to New York sub sandwiches, at eateries scattered around Union Square. Your guide will take you into the square’s vibrant farmer’s market where all kinds of artisanal products are for sale. You’ll then have a couple of hours to relax or pick up some last-minute souvenirs before starting your journey home.