Suggestions for Fun on East Coast

I've been in Los Angeles for seven years, but I grew up in Rhode Island. In the summer my family headed to the wonderful beaches of Narragansett and South Kingstown. In Providence there is a great children's museum, and the fabulous Roger Williams Park complete with zoo, play area, carousel and boat rides.

I also have in laws in CT and my kids love...
Mystic Seaport and Aquarium (where the stars of the live show are CA sea lions which the kids think is funny). The kids love the different sea life in the touch tank also (purple sea stars!) and the dinosaurs at Peabody Museum at Yale are also a big hit.

I am from CT and used to summer in Newport with my family. Here are few ideas for you:
I am assuming you will be along the coast? :

CT - Mystic Seaport - very educational about early America and our Whaling History. Drive along the coast and hit Stonington and East beach.. nothing to touristy just nice Old New England towns. East Beach is known for its huge round rocks and a place to stop if the kids want to get out and take a dip. As you head up into RI you can go to Narragansett Beach which is a nice big beach or head straight up to Newport RI where, as others have mentioned, is known for its Mansions. The Rockefeller Mansion on Bellevue Avenue is the one most hit and had a house that was just for the kids to play in. Very interesting and good tours…. It is amazing the amount of money these people had! If you are into sports, on the same road before the mansions there is the Tennis Hall of Fame and some nice art galleries/stores. If the kids want to hit the beaches you can continue down Bellevue to Gooseberry beach which is a nice local beach or head back out Memorial Boulevard to First or further on to Second Beach. Both are nice for kids and easy to get to. At second beach you can climb the rocks and see where people have been etching their names for centuries… might be fun for your 6 year old.

You can do the Cliff walk which takes you around the back of the mansions – it is paved but I am not sure if it is stroller proof check first.

There are also the Polo Fields north of Newport which can be fun to watch the horses and people and you can bring the kids. They have matches on the weekends. Call to get the summer schedule. Oh and there is the Kennedy mansion which I think is also still open to the public. We used to watch the America’s cup from the lawn when it was in Newport.

Downtown Newport is great to walk around I am sure they have historic walking tours that you can do to get the lay of the land. Great food all around definitely get some steamed little necks and lobster roll while you are there! Newport Creamery has good ice cream if they are still in business! Oh and be sure to have a real dunkin doughnuts ice coffee and cruller for breakfast ;) Dels lemon ice is also a local specialty and they used to sell it at the beach.

If you are still in the mood to keep driving north you can head up to Providence and Brown University – little Compton on the other side is pretty but it is mostly farmland. Newport alone will keep you and the kids busy and I have the most happy memories there with my family – I am sure you will build some too!

Do you have AAA? They offer books on all areas. Some times you have to order it in but it doesn't usually take but a day or two. They also will tell you all the place where you can get discounts!!! Hope you have a fabulous vacation.

RI and Connecticut are both absolutely beautiful. Definitely visit the Mystic Seaport in CT while you're there. I would say just driving around and stopping to enjoy the beauty of the east coast and its beaches and plush surroundings is enough to put you in awe.

The beaches are probably where the kids, and you, will have the most fun and it tires them out a little, so getting to bed won't be as tough. Enjoy your trip! I'm heading back for a visit there in a month and can't wait!

You may want to try Co City Kids:http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/choose-a-city/
I know they have stuff listed for Providence, RI, but I am not sure about Connecticut...

You will be so close to NY by train that you could probably go into the city for the day and go to Central Park or sightsee there.

Have fun!

Hi C.,
Definitely check out AAA and gocitykids.com. There are also several children's atlas/travel books that you can get for your kids so they can learn about the states you are going to Rand McNally makes a few. (Check Amazon or Barnes & Noble). We go to Connecticut twice a year to visit my husband's family so we have lots of things to recommend:

1) Mystic Seaport and Aquarium. The Aquarium has Beluga Whales (which you don't see often and my son loved them - he is 5) and last summer they had a rare Stellar sea lion. They also have lots of other animals and dolphin and seal lion shows. The sea port has old ships and shops and whaling museums.

2) Essex Connecticut Train and Steam Boat. We went on a cool train ride (they gave the kids a list of things to look for) then we went on a Steam Boat on a beatiful river.

3) Norwalk CT has Stepping Stones - an interactive children's museum.

4) RI is pretty close to Massachusetts. You can go up to Boston or go to Plymouth Rock. If you go up there you can also go to Martha's Vineyard for the day - they have multi colored houses and lots of fun shops. You can rent bikes and drive around the island.

5) Connecticut and Rhode Island have lots of farms - you may be able to do hayrides, pet animals, pick fruit.

6) If you like the water, there are Whale Watching or other ocean trips.

I hope this helps! Have a great trip.

I don't know where exactly you'll be but nothing is too far : ). I'm from Connecticut so my best advice is to go to Mystic Seaport. It's beautiful and they have an aquarium as well. That is lots of fun! Plus, if you'll be in Rhode Island I absolutely have to suggest going over to Block Island. It might even be worth staying over night. We would go one week every summer. It's just lovely.
Hope this helps!

Highlights magazine, coloring books, crayons, colored pencils,washable finger paints, Where's Waldo book. Go to the beach, collect seashells and make a sandcastle.

Take the fairy to Block Island . Grandpa (who is from conn.) said it's beautiful . have fun!!

I'm a native Rhode Islander and I go back with my family (3 boys ages 1,3,5) at least once a year.

The beaches of southern RI are beautiful. Contact me if you want specific names and I'll ask my mom. In the Providence area there is the Children's Museum and a hands-on reptile museum close by. See if WaterFire (waterfire.org) is happening while you are there. It starts at dusk but if your kids are on a West Coast schedule, it might work out bedtimewise. Also Roger Williams Park has a zoo, carousel, playground and other cool stuff.

There are ferries to different places like Newport and Block Island. The East Coast bike path is beautiful. In Seekonk there is a restaurant we take the kids to called Bugaboo Creek Steak House where there are talking creatures on the walls and kid-friendly service.

there are plenty of things to do. Amusement parks,beaches whale museum,mystic conn. seaport,I love Mass, rhode island and Conn. I am from SI NY and we spent 2 weeks camping in Massachusetts and 2 weeks in conn every year for abou 15 years Love the east coast

Hi,

Mystic Aquarium (in CT) is fun for kids.

http://www.ife.org/

Have fun!

Newport, RI is known for their mansions. You can tour them. I don't know if your boys will enjoy that but you might. Also the last time I was there( 1986,lol) they had this fish place on the water that was an all you can eat place. It was very casual (sit on benches) and was fun. I don't remember the name.

There is some kind of Sesame St park out that way. I have a friend that went and loved it. Jon & Kate + 8 just went too.

Granted it has been 10 years since I have been to some of these places, but I grew up in CT and RI. I lived near the border of both states. RI has lovely beaches. Watch Hill area is really nice. Where I grew up in Mystic, I enjoyed the beaches in Groton Long Point also. I am not sure what your budget is or anything, I always like to do the free/cheap things first. I like the Pequot Museum, it is a nature center, I think. The Mystic Aquarium and the Mystic Seaport. The Aquarium is nothing like Sea World, it is based on rescue and education, but still worth it for the kids. They have all sorts of Boomers like places. New London is another interesting place with Ocean Beach (not OB), it has an amusement park and a pool. Hartford (center of the state) has some nice history, like Mark Twain's House (kind of like the Whaley house, without the ghosts). I always like to take the train into NYC and go on a walk about for the day. Taking the subway was always fun for my kids. Empire State building, 9/11 site, lots of great food. I went to Pace University in NYC so I really enjoyed my time there as well. Please feel free to contact me if you like.

You may also want to look at Trip Advisor's forum for those areas. It was a great help to me on a recent vacation.