Things to do / Travel Guide
The most expensive time to visit coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island is during the peak summer months of July and August; with some of the most popular places, such as Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, the peak season has expanded to also include June and September. Prices are lower during the late fall and early spring, sometimes by as much as 20-30 percent. They reach their lowest levels in the winter, though many of the lodging places and restaurants located on the resort islands are even closed.
Boston, Cape Cod, and Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket have higher costs-of-living than the outlying areas. This means for the tourist that many of the attractions and tours will be more expensive the closer they are to these places. Nevertheless, there are plenty of free and low-rate attractions even in these epicenters of cost.
The region offers a wide variety of places to stay, from 5-star hotels to romantic bed and breakfasts to small inns that offer just the bare essentials; so there will be something for every budget. However during the peak summer months you do need to book your accommodations a few months in advance - and for some popular lodging spots you must book even a year in advance. The same variety in prices holds true for the region's dining spots, which range from gourmet meals served in ultra-elegant, high-priced settings to crowded waterfront clam shacks where the prices are very reasonable.
If you plan to drive on your visit Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket during the peak summer months, expect to pay around $10-$20 each time you park your car at a beach. It may be difficult to find a legal parking space at all. However, there are seasonal passes with cheaper rates if you're staying somewhere for a week or longer. Gasoline prices are quite high during the summer, so it's a good idea to fill up your car on the mainland beforehand.
Although a private two-hour sunset yacht cruise in Newport Harbor will cost anywhere from $100 to $250 per person, views of the region's spectacular oceanfront sunsets and browsing through the many antiques stores of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are free of charge. Boston also has a variety of free activities, including the Freedom Trail and the USS Constitution.
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