The northeastern United States is filled with history. This is where our forefathers fought for their independence, first throwing tea into Boston Harbor and finally signing the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. From Pennsylvania to Maine, there are large cities (including one that never sleeps), sleepy beaches, East Coast ski peaks, and much more in between.
Home to New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Providence, famous in search of arts, entertainment and culture have plenty of places in which to turn.
Those aforementioned cities have airports, with many direct flights from other regions of the country flying right into them.
The Poconos, Adirondacks, Catskills, Berkshire, White Mountains, Appalachian and many more hilly clusters are found across the northeast. Which makes for great hiking in the summer and fall, and ripe for skiing in the winter.
Home of the world-famous Jersey Shore, Hamptons and Cape Cod beaches, the entire eastern stretch of all northeastern states but Vermont touch upon the Atlantic. Not to mention the northern portions bordering on Great Lakes. Sand dunes, marshes, rocky shores and marinas are at every turn.
Sports fans will find an array of choices in the northeast, from professional football, basketball, soccer, baseball and more readily available at grandiose stadiums like Yankee Stadium and Meadowlands. Not to mention the world’s oldest ballpark, Fenway.
Where to go? Try where not to go across the northeast!
Home to the Big Apple, New York State offers so much, as well as the World Wonder, Niagara Falls, the Empire State got its name for a reason. Notable vacation areas include the Finger Lakes, Historic Hudson River, Catskills, Adirondacks, Long Island and the Hamptons, and Cooperstown.
Stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to New York, Boston is the capital and biggest city in Massachusetts, with idyllic New England settings found from the Berkshires to Cape Cod.
Independence was received for the U.S. at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Explore all of the history in Philly, before heading out across the state for more historic and quaint settings to explore. Lancaster’s Amish culture still reigns, the Delaware River Valley and Poconos provide hiking grounds across places once walked upon by forefathers, and Pennsylvania’s strong industrial place is evident in Pittsburgh and the Lehigh Valley.
The smallest state in country also offers more coastline than land borders, which makes it a key harbor area for sailboats in its bay. Newport to Block Island are summer hotspots, and Providence, the capital, is proving to be a foodie paradise, thanks to its culinary schools.
The remote Maine, furtherest in the northeast, is where you’ll find the nature-loving families, especially in Bar Harbor, the cute coastal town with Acadia National Park. Experiencing longer winters, skiing is popular here.
The Jersey Shore, made famous by the MTV “reality” show, is actually far more low-key than TV illustrated. Fun boardwalks, wide expanses of sand, Victorian homes, wineries and plenty of sun draw families to “The Shore” every summer. The rest of New Jersey is also worth a peak, with big cities and museums.
Home to the iconic National Mall, where you’ll find the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and kid-friendly museums galore, Washington, DC is a great family destination steeped in history. Best of all, much of what’s offered to do here is free.
No need to drive in any of the big cities of the northeast, as all have excellent public transportation and are highly walkable. When you head further into states like Vermont, western Pennsylvania and New York, you’ll need a car.
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