Where would you go for a local long weekend?

[pinkroses]

Newburyport is really cute, although I don't know if you'd even need a full weekend there, you could probably do a day trip or maybe just an overnight. Lots of shops and restaurants to choose from.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

I was just going to suggest Newburyport. Mission Oak Grill is worth it for the S'Mores cake alone. We've gone there for a weekend a couple of times, but we usually do one day/the nights in Newburyport proper, then spend the days hitting up Hampton (for skee ball and fried dough!), Kittery, or Portsmouth.

You could also head west to the Berkshires. There's some interesting museums out there (Norman Rockwell, Edith Wharton's house, Chesterfield), outlets in Lee, Tanglewood, and Stockbridge has a cute Main Street area (where the Red Lion Inn is).

Our other go-to is the Mystic area- the casino is right there, you're close to Newport, there's some shops, and the outlets in Clinton/Westport aren't too far.

[drloretta]

Lexington/Concord
Newport? If it's not a big sailing weekend
Keene/Harrisville NH
Coastal ME (not sure what's in 2-hr driving distance)

[noodleoo]

How about Mystic, CT? I think it wasn't too far, DH and I did a weekend there. There is a cute (but small) down town, very touristy. Nice restaurants and we did the Mystic Aquarium which we actually really liked. A bunch of it is outdoors, so very nice this time of year!

Other ideas:
* Newport, RI is really fun, although probably pretty expensive this time of year.
* Portsmouth, NH Is a great city! And so is Ogunquit, ME, which is only like 20 mins from Portsmouth. So you can stay in Ogunquit, see the touristy stuff there, then get a great dinner at a nice restaurant in Portsmouth. The outlets are also a really short drive. We had a great long weekend in that area since there are a lot of things to do in a very short driving distance.
* There is always Cape Cod, but expensive. You could take the high speed ferry straight to Provincetown, I love it there!! It is only 45 mins by boat.
* A little random but have you been to Northampton, MA? My sister lives out there and Northampton is really nice. Pretty small, but has great shops and restaurants. Not sure what else there is to do since we visit family, but lots of farms and beautiful scenery. I find it very relaxing and about a 1.5 hr drive from the 128/Waltham area.

[rikki]

Let me know if you go to Newport, RI. I bid on and won several tickets for a historical trolley tour at the auction tonight. I don't think we need 8!