Fall is a popular time for New Englanders to go apple or pumpkin picking. There are plenty of farms all around New England that offer everything from apple and pumpkin picking to hayrides and corn mazes. Fun for everyone!

Concord, the place where the American Revolution began. The perfect drive in the fall when the leaves are changing

•Wilson farms (local New England farm, pumpkins, apples, pies, food, flowers, great in the fall, 10 Pleasant Street, Lexington, 781 862 3900)

• have lunch and/or dinner (suggestions: The Colonial Inn in Concord)

There's plenty of opportunities to browse for antiques all around New England. We're just scratching the surface with our list but it's a start. Feel free to pass on your suggestions if you come across a great place. We think consignment stores are fun too!

A hobby for some.... A whole day walking around Boston checking out our shops is a sort of exercise too. Boston is such a great walking city that you get to enjoy the beautiful city as you visit small and large stores, quirky and fun stores. You are bound to find something that you can bring home from your trip to Boston, or to your home in Boston.

Red Sox gear, go to the food shops in the North End, pick up some low priced fashion at Filene's....

There are several option for whale watching. Generally offered during summer months until late fall, it is a unique experience. There are whale watching trips leaving from Boston and from many other places around New England. Best is to search online but here are some options:

• New England Aquarium • Boston Harbor Cruises

Just outside of Boston you will find Boston Harbor Islands. It is very easy to catch a ferry and spend the day on the islands (unless you know someone with a boat... have them take you!). You can go and just hang out, bring a picnic, a book or a kite. Or visit Georges Island where you will find an interesting historic fort you can visit (kids love it there). Or you can take a guided tour of Little Brewster Island (with Boston Light, oldest light station in the country).

Spend the day in Rockport, strolling around this cute seaside town. Best in the summer! There are restaurants, stores and beaches. Make sure you walk out to Bearskin Neck, maybe bring your lunch or an ice cream and sit on the rocks and watch the ocean with all the sail boats. Then visit Gloucester and maybe Manchester-by-the-Sea which has a cute beach (no parking).

You can take the train to Manchester-by-the-Sea.

Adorable Marblehead with its beautiful harbor and quaint houses, and Salem with its history of witches.

• Visit Marblehead, MA and stroll around its old town, see the boats in the harbor and have a nice lunch at one of the nice restaurants by the water such as the landing or the barnacle

• Visit Salem, MA and learn more about the witch-trials that occured here in the late 1600´s. If you are visiting during halloween, then Salem is the place to visit. There´s more to Salem than witches though; for example the Peabody-Essex Museum (PEM) that have interesting exhibits, and a great museum store....

The north shore with cute towns, lobster, beaches, and antiques • Have lobster at Woodman´s in Essex (lobster in the rough, come as you are, directly from the beach, in shorts, this is NOT a fancy place. You pick out your lobster outside, get it on a paper plate with lemon and melted butter. Pick up your bib and head inside for a beverage, and then enjoy your lobster. They have other foods too but basically it is a sea food. They are famous for their fried clams.)

• Check out the antique stores in Essex, there must be about 30 or so in all price ranges. We enjoyed Howard's, 136 Main Street (a wide range of things including garden items; lots to look at). A fun store to visit is Joshua's Corner Antiques, 4 Southern Ave - it's a mix of antiques and fun, cool stuff in a beautiful building. Very nice store-owner too!

• On the way there, you can stop at the nice farm stand on Route 22 on the way to Essex from rt 128 with fresh veggies, lots of flowers, fruits, berries, and more.

•Crane Beach (a long popular beach, go for a walk if not summer, or bring your towel and go for a swim in the summer. It´s quite popular, you pay for parking and it happens that the enormous parking lot fills up so get there early)

if you have some extra time (preferably in the summer) a visit to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard can't be beat. Both islands are charming, quaint and have plenty of activities from beaches, shopping, restaurants and activities ranging from swimming, golfing and bike rides around the islands. Martha's vineyard is the larger of the two.

Getting there: you can either take the ferry or you can fly (faster but pricier) from Boston or Hyannis

Best is to check out their website for things to see. it´s quite a drive so go early or stay overnight. It is a beautiful area with several museums, nice restaurants, traditional inns, and much more. If you go in the summer, try to get tickets to Tanglewood which is supposed to be fantastic.

• Tanglewood in Lenox, MA. The perfect summer outing. Boston Pops in the open air with picnic on the lawn.

• Hancock Shaker Village Visit the village and participate in various activities, take tours, visit the gardens and the animals. located in the heart of the Berkshires there is much to do in the area.

• Norman Rockwell Museum have lunch and/or dinner (find a listing of restaurants here)

Plenty of opportunities to watch the awesome sports teams of Boston. Baseball, basket ball, hockey, and football - try to catch a game.

Hiking
You will find hiking for all levels in the New England states

Online guide to hiking in New England

Running/walking/roller blading/biking

• A run around the Charles is a must. check out this running map
• Maybe your want to try the world’s oldest running marathon?
• You could attempt all or parts of the 38+ mile long Boston Harbor Walk (some parts still being worked on).  The Harbor walk encompasses several neighborhoods in Boston, and wants to connect the public to a clean and restored Boston Harbor. There are plenty of places to stop on the way for food or visting museums.
  
• Minuteman bikeway
• The Fells in West Medford. Reachable by car (Interstate 93), the bus and the  T.
  
• Bike paths and trails
• Nashua River Rail Trail This is a former railroad that travels 11 miles through the towns of Ayer, Groton, Pepperell and Dunstable. The trail trail is paved and great for biking and rollerblading.
• East bay bike path in Rhode Island

White water rafting
In Maine, we would like to recommend Magic Falls rafting company. It is a lot of fun.

Sky diving in an indoor wind tunnel

• Try an indoor vertical wind tunnel! It's a blast!

Rock climbing

• Try Boston Rock Gym

Canoeing & Kayaking

• In Boston, on Charles River with Paddle Boston
• In Ipswich at Foote Brothers, about a 40 minute drive from Boston. rent a canoe and enjoy a relaxing paddle down Ipswich river. bring a picnic.
• Nashua River in Groton.

Activities around Charles river in Boston
There are boundless activities on the esplanade & around Charles river, you can run, walk, have a picnic, roller blade, bike, and some say you can even swim in the river but that is at your own risk - check it out here

Golfing
There are plenty of golf courses in New England, many close to Boston. Look for a public golf course. some we have played at are...

• Sagamore Spring Golf Club (20 minutes north of Boston, all levels, varying quality depending on the season, no real restaurant, nice staff, welcoming)
• Stow Acres Golf Club (about an hour outside Boston. Very nice course)

Online guide to golfing in New England

Skiing and snowshoeing
You will find several places to go skiing around Boston, and north of Boston

Cross country skiing and snowshoeing at Weston ski track. Consistent snow conditions through snow making when there isn't enough natural snowfall. Over 15 km of trails.

Ski areas around New England:

• Loon mountain, New Hampshire
• Mount sunapee, New Hampshire
• Killington, Vermont
• Stowe, Vermont
• Sugarbush, Vermont
• Okemo, Vermont

Online guide to skiing in New England

Ice skating
Strap on those ice skates (or rent) and skate around for a bit (seasonal). Check the sites for season openings!

• Frog pond in Boston Common
  
• Outdoor rink at the Charles Hotel
• Outdoor rink at Kendall Square in Cambridge

Swimming & beaches

• Crane beach This is a beautiful, large beach which is very popular so it can get packed. The parking lot can fill up if you are not there early. Parking is quite expensive. It is a fun place though. Nearby, you will pass it as you drive, there's a farm, Russell Orchards, and it is fun to stop there for vegetables, fresh pies, fruit, fruit wine, and plants. They have farm animals too which can be fun for the kids.
• Plum island There are quite a fun parking opportunities here and it's a nice beach so it's a good alternative. Bring some picnic and drinks.
• Marblehead There are a few different beaches here so click on the link for a listing
• Singing beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea. You can take the train here. It's about a 10 minute walk to the beach (there's an ice-cream place on the way!). Parking is very difficult and unless you are getting there really early, you may be out of luck. It is a very pretty beach and the town has cute restaurants and shop so it is a nice outing.
• Revere beach Oldest public beach in America. Very close to boston, and you can reach it by taking the T. Take the Blue Line to Revere Beach or Wonderland Stations. Cross the street to the beach.
• Pleasure bay near Castle Island in South Boston.
• Nahant beach
• Nantasket beach in Hull is fun and quite popular
• Yirrell beach in Winthrop
• Good harbor beach and Wingaersheek beach, Both in Gloucester

Cape Cod - lots of beaches here but I am not too familiar with them so if you have tips for public beaches, send me an email

✓ Why not try Water Country in New Hampshire? They have lots of water-rides ranging from gentler wave-pools to the "Double Dive Boggan".

Scuba diving

• PG Dive Who knew you could dive in Boston in the middle of winter.... inside...

Sailing

• Courageous sailing in Charlestown have classes
  
• Community boating on the Charles river. It's their sails you see on the river with the Boston skyline behind it!
• Boston sailing center at Lewis Wharf offer lessons, memberships, racing, and more

Birding (bird watching)

Why not check out some birds if you are out for a walk. Apparently there is quite a variety here in New England. Could be fun for the kids too - have them write down the birds on a list and make it a competition.

• Mount Auburn cemetery is a good spot
• Website about birding in New England for more information