Massachusetts Archives - My Family Travels
Practicing Tai Chi on the shores of Breakneck Lake in Harriman State Park.
Article
10 Reasons To Love Appalachian Mountain Club Outdoors Adventures

We know the Appalachian Mountain Club, one of the country’s original conservation groups, changes lives. It happened to me, just days after an email landed in my inbox like a...

Read More    4 min read

Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee
Article
Destinations Where Black Culture And Black Lives Matter

Explore historic attractions, institutions and unexpected sites of Black culture where Black lives matter. These destinations will fuel fascinating conversations about race and...

Read More    9 min read

A 400-pound Peeps chick rings in the new year in Bethlehem, PA.
Article
Celebrate First Night On New Years

Archaeologists believe the Babylonians were the first civilization to celebrate "First Night" or the New Year. They planned an 11-day holiday tied to the vernal (spring) equinox...

Read More    5 min read

Family studies Christmas lights in Myrtle Beach.
Article
Top Holiday Lights Celebrations Across America

We love holiday lights celebrations — the decorations, evergreens, religious displays and multicultural celebrations that light up cities and towns everywhere from November to...

Read More    14 min read

Teens love apples too.
Article
Massachusetts Apple Farms – U-Pick ‘Em And Enjoy

Massachusetts apple farms are the ideal destination if you're looking for a bargain staycation. Make it u-pick fruit farm daytrip or plan a weekend at a family...

Read More    5 min read

apple cluster
Article
Apple Picking And Pick Your Own Pumpkins

Apple and pumpkin picking U-Pick farms and local orchards are among Fall's...

Read More    4 min read

Vintage photo of girls dressed like twin vampires trick or treating at Pickerings Wharf in Salem, Massachusetts.
Article
Halloween Witches In Salem, Massachusetts

In search of Halloween witches in Salem, Massachusetts? Ready to give up the Sunday football game to take the kids exploring? Nothing is as Halloween focused as

Read More    5 min read

Three children playing in a pile of leaves near a tree
Article
Leaf Peeker’s Guide To America’s Fall Foliage

Fall foliage tours and affordable leaf peeping road trips are easy to plan if you use this How-To, Where-To Leaf Peeker's Guide with tips on the best places to see leaf colors...

Read More    4 min read

Striped beach umbrellas flap in the breeze at dusk outside a family hotel on the famous Cape Cod beach.
Article
Cape Cod Family Resorts: Perfect for Your Family Vacation

The Massachusetts shoreline beckons families to charming Cape Cod family resorts in all price ranges. Plenty of old-fashioned fun comes with every room.

Read More    5 min read

Seven miles from Downtown Pittsfield, you are far removed from crowds and commerce. Photo by Ralph Spielman
Article
All Aboard! Pittsfield, Mass And The Berkshires Aboard The Berkshire Flyer

Explore Massachusetts from a base in Pittsfield and the Berkshire Mountains will start to look like Norman Rockwell's classic New England. Affordable Pittsfield and nearby Berkshires...

Read More    7 min read

The Santa Float makes its first holiday appearance at Philadelphia's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Article
All American Thanksgiving Events and Celebrations

FTF's A-Z guide to local festivals and Thanksgiving events, from traditional eats to marathons, is your Thanksgiving recipe for fun.

Read More    6 min read

Outside of Williams Inn, Williamstown
Article
Enjoy The Berkshires With Kids

Enjoy the Berkshire Mountains with kids thanks to Western Massachusetts' verdant scenery, many great (and small) musuems and the unique Hancock Shaker Village. Whether you go by...

Read More    5 min read

Classic train waiting to depart the Strasbourg Pennsylvania station.
Article
7 Top Train Trips for Exploring the East

With more than 50 years of service experience, Amtrak presents seven top Eastern train trips -- all short ones ideal for family-friendly trips. We know families with little ones...

Read More    8 min read

6 images from Cape Codder Resort hotel instagram feed
Article
Cape Cod, Massachusetts – Your Perfect Getaway

Planning a New England beach vacation and wanna' know if Cape Cod is as famous, expensive, and beautiful as they say?  To people residing east of the Hudson...

Read More    6 min read

3 kids on floaties in a hotel pool at Southcape Wyndham Resort
Article
New England Fall Family Beach Vacations

Looking for New England fall family beach vacations that are an alternative to leaf peeping? Once the shopping malls start stocking Christmas wreaths, get into the autumn spirit...

Read More    3 min read

Article
Eric Carle Museum Brightens Amherst, Massachusetts

Anyone who knows the slightest thing about children's books will get a real kick out of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Read More    2 min read

Article
Lighthouses For The Night

August 7th is National Lighthouse Day and if you've never thought about staying in one, this is your chance.  In 1789, the United States passed an Act in support of all lighthouses,...

Read More    5 min read

hiking in woods
Article
New England Camping For Novices

Are you ready to join an experienced camper and learn how to make New England wilderness camping more fun with young kids? Hope so! As a native of Boston, Massachusetts, I have often sought out more...

Read More    4 min read

Article
A T Line Tour Of Food + Art In Boston, Massachusetts

FTF's Lee Dunlap hunts down the best places to eat and see art on Boston's T Line public transportation system. Boston is a...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Short Breaks And New England Weekend Getaways From Boston

The dense population of families in and around Boston, Massachusetts draws on beautiful New England for weekend getaway ideas. Whether your family is looking for a rural holiday, a cheap vacation...

Read More    3 min read

Article
Free and Fabulous! Public Art Supports Summer Learning

Ah summer. A time for sun, sand, sea and -- art? Even kids who regard museum visits as a form of punishment can enjoy some of the season’s most inventive art installations without setting foot indoors. Here...

Read More    3 min read

Article
Kid-Friendly Restaurants In Boston

Looking for a good family restaurant in Boston -- something both grownups and kids can enjoy? Read on for Family Travel Forum reader favorites.It's a college town so you know there are cheap...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Cape Cod is Great for Family Reunions

Renting a house that will accommodate several generations under one roof is not only economical, it enables your extended family to spend time together and have privacy as well.  The Atlantic Ocean...

Read More    3 min read

Article
Boston, Massachusetts Attractions

There's so much to do in "Beantown" -- from colonial history to swan boats, Fenway Park and more; here are Family Travel Forum's best bets for indoor and outdoor family activities in Boston, Massachusetts....

Read More    9 min read

Article
Great Wolf Lodge Brings Waterpark Fun to New England

Bringing the number of indoor waterpark resorts to a full dozen, Great Wolf Lodge New England opened in June 2014, catering to Massachusetts, Connecticut...

Read More    3 min read

Article
Top 10 Family Camps For Family Together Vacations

Family Travel Forum's picks have been compiled from more than a decade of "Top 10 Getaway Winners" to help your family begin their lifelong love of nature. The following options combine...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Nantucket on My Mind

Years after Nantucket’s whaling industry virtually decimated the Atlantic whale population and became fabulously wealthy in the process, Ahab and the White Whale are gone, but the wealth and charm...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Travel Video Review: Union Street Inn

Please watch the Video Inn Review at the end of this postYou could almost miss the Union St. Inn blending as it does with the  many...

Read More    1 min read

Article
Boston, Massachusetts Hotels And Resorts

If your family is visiting historic Boston, Massachusetts for its many attractions, or just taking the teens to see local colleges and universities, we know you'll enjoy a centrally located hotel near...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Boston Strong with the Ryan Family

When you have a young child and travel, your thoughts focus on how to keep them busy by educating and engaging them in activities that please the mind and body and help them to grow. The parents make the...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Why a Boston Marathon Victim is So Important to Our Business

On April 19, 2013, I did something I've never done before -- I used our company's email list of more than 75,000 family travelers to send out a plea for help for one of the Boston Bombing victims. ...

Read More    3 min read

Article
Nantucket Video PostCard-Poets, Whales and Celebrities

 (Please watch the 1-minute, sound-rich Nantucket Travel Video PostCard at the end of this post)Nantucket Island is one of those places where the images linger...

Read More    1 min read

Article
Massachusetts Learning Getaways Warm Up Winter

Reading a good book by a fireplace with a child in your lap is one of the best winter vacations we know, but you can make it even better by bringing that book to life. We love the winter holiday...

Read More    3 min read

Article
No-Cost Fun in Boston, Massachusetts

Step back in time on the Freedom Trail, see a movie at Boston Harbor, and make a work of art at the Children's Museum -- all for free!Step back in time on the Freedom Trail, see a movie at Boston Harbor,...

Read More    8 min read

Article
Use Great Escapes New England To Plan Weekend Getaways

The Great Escapes series of pocket guides deliver a wealth of information about regional short break and holiday escapes in a handy and easy-to-use package. It's not often we encounter...

Read More    2 min read

Article
A Pioneering Weekend In Northampton, Massachusetts

A mother-daughter weekend in the hip New England town of Northampton, in the shadow of Smith College, makes for a rewarding and fun time away.My 12-year-old daughter Maddy and I recently spent...

Read More    5 min read

Article
Camping In Massachusetts’ Mohawk Trail State Forest

This seasoned camper explains why a quiet and secluded state park in the Berkshires provides the ideal setting for novice adventurers. Any week between Easter and Halloween is appropriate...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Springfield, Massachusetts Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Let your teens imitate Michael Jordan and your little ones play with the Cat in the Hat--all in Springfield, Massachussetts. Regular readers know that Massachusetts' Connecticut River Valley...

Read More    3 min read

Article
MassMOCA: A Weekend In North Adams, Massachusetts

This contemporary art museum in the rehabilitated mill town of North Adams proves that contemporary art can have family appeal, and can attract some quality lodging for visitors.Are you interested...

Read More    4 min read