I know that this is a Taiwan forum but there has to be a few native New Englanders out there…
I’m planning to take the family to NE in April next year. The missus and 2 girls 7 & 10. We’ll be flying in New York - seems cheapest.
What next if we want to see the higlights of Bangor Maine, Vermont etc.? Do we take a domestic flight? Drive a rent-a-car out of New York and head for …?
Any suggestions gratefully received
Thanks
Llama
Vermont will be cold and wet in April. Maple sugaring ends in March, and the ski season is over for everyone but the diehard few. It’s what we call “mud season” up there. It’s when the locals get a break between the two tourist seasons. You might get a few warmer dry days in the low 50’s, but don’t plan on them. April in Vermont is not to be trusted. Keep those snow tires on, mister. Burlington is about 7 hours drive from NYC, and there’s also rail service from NYC to Essex Junction. Burlington to Boston is about 4 hours, but driving is your only option there.
Southern New England will be only slightly better weatherwise. The early blooming flowers will be out come out (crocuses and daffodils) and there might be some green grass, but the weather is equally unpredictable at that time of year.
[quote=“plotch”]Vermont will be cold and wet in April. Maple sugaring ends in March, and the ski season is over for everyone but the diehard few. It’s what we call “mud season” up there. It’s when the locals get a break between the two tourist seasons. You might get a few warmer dry days in the low 50’s, but don’t plan on them. April in Vermont is not to be trusted. Keep those snow tires on, mister. Burlington is about 7 hours drive from NYC, and there’s also rail service from NYC to Essex Junction. Burlington to Boston is about 4 hours, but driving is your only option there.
Southern New England will be only slightly better weatherwise. The early blooming flowers will be out come out (crocuses and daffodils) and there might be some green grass, but the weather is equally unpredictable at that time of year.[/quote]
I knew it was north but not that wet! Thanks. I’m stuck for early April as this is the only leave I can get before July. Should we head south?
Would flying into Boston really be more expensive? When I flew over from Boston to Taipei a couple of years ago, it was literally the same price whether I left from Boston or New York.
Yeah, weather in April can be a little unpredictable. In MA, it’ll more than likely pleasantly be in the upper 50s, lower 60s, but we’ve had 12-inch snowstorms before in April as well. Cape Cod might be a little raw, but Boston itself should be nice. Several days there and in Cambridge, then go and check out Concord, Lexington, Salem, Lowell (ha! I grew up next to Lowell and visiting the historical mills there have got to rank up there as one of the most boring places ever to take kids.) Maybe even Bangor, ME for the super cheap lobster and the tacky charms of Route 1.
You definitely should rent a car to get out of Boston.
Besides perhaps Newport, RI, there ain’t anything worth checking out in southern New England.
I beg to differ with Alidarbarc about what is available to do in Southern New England. Yes, it’s local pride, but I also think it has something to do with a local trusim that North shore folks never go to the South shore, and South shore folks never go to the North shore, or to the Cape for that matter. We South shore folks don’t need to go to the Cape, but that’s a little secret between us. 
I grew up in the Westport/Dartmouth area, and so far have only been to the Cape once. Furthermore, Rhode Island might not be very big, but there is a whole lot more to Rhode Island than simply Newport.
To the OP: if you are looking at Southern New England as a possible destination, late April can be considerably warmer than the early part of the month.
Have you or your family been to USA especially the East Coast before? Although I am from New Hampshire and love it, everyone is correct the weather will be poor.
Have you thought about going to Washington DC its about the same distance South as Boston is North from NYC. It is easy to spend 3-5 days there with kids your age. The train is a reasonable way there from NYC and once there the Metro (MRT) means no need for a car.
Depending when in April it may even be Cherry Blossom time. Which will give you an idea that the weather may be better. Someone mentioned mud season in Vermont. Thats true, but it can also be covered again at that time of the year in a Spring snow.
Today New England got hammered with 12 inches of snow!
No, only west coast and that was before kids. I can only get 1-14 April off and will probably head to California region and do SF, Clear Lake, Hearst Mansion, Yosemite, Death Valley and some popular culture in Las Vegas…
Thanks all for your input!
No, only west coast and that was before kids. I can only get 1-14 April off and will probably head to California region and do SF, Clear Lake, Hearst Mansion, Yosemite, Death Valley and some popular culture in Las Vegas…
Thanks all for your input![/quote]
East Coast, I’d go south. Then again, if you do get the nice weather early April, it can be very nice from Connecticut to Rhode Island to Boston. It’s a good drive. You might want to check out this New England Driving Guide
Were you also thinking about your trip doing that California itinerary? If you are thinking about doing it driving, it’s too aggressive a schedule, unless you’re doing a drive by. I’ve done it so I know how long it’ll take you. California, you need to break it up into sections, No Cal, So Cal, Central/Las Vegas. Too much driving, too much to see, too much fun and beauty to orgy on.
[quote=“Yellow Cartman”]
East Coast, I’d go south. Then again, if you do get the nice weather early April, it can be very nice from Connecticut to Rhode Island to Boston. It’s a good drive. You might want to check out this New England Driving Guide
Were you also thinking about your trip doing that California itinerary? If you are thinking about doing it driving, it’s too aggressive a schedule, unless you’re doing a drive by. I’ve done it so I know how long it’ll take you. California, you need to break it up into sections, No Cal, So Cal, Central/Las Vegas. Too much driving, too much to see, too much fun and beauty to orgy on.[/quote]
Being chronically disorganised we’ll probably do just bits of California. We did everything in the California list above over 3 weeks( before kids), when it was no problem to drive all day…not anymore!