ALL-AGES CRUISES

So much of New England’s history, character, and lifestyle is tied to boating. If you never leave shore, you’re truly missing out on some of the region’s most exhilarating experiences. In every New England state, there are gentle voyages ideal for all ages of travelers. Some cruises invite passengers to be a bit more active—helping to hoist the sails, for instance, or pitching in with making meals. But on all of these expeditions, you can simply sit back and enjoy stunning scenery and a feeling of escape from life on land, even if you hoist nothing heavier than a pair of binoculars or a glass of wine.

CONNECTICUT ’s most iconic riverboat, the Becky Thatcher, was built to resemble the type of steamboat that Mark Twain piloted on the Mississippi

River during the mid-19th century. At Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, you and your family will get a thrill out of boarding a historic train for a rail ride from Essex to Deep River, where you’ll board the Becky Thatcher for a second dose of nostalgia. Choose railing-side seats on one of three decks, and relax as attractions like Gillette Castle glide into view. You can catch the tree swallows’ dramatic dance on late summer and early fall evenings, or, as the colors of autumn deepen, choose this cruise as your family’s most memorable leafpeeping excursion.

In VERMONT ’s remote Northeast Kingdom, sit back and relax as you relish the uniqueness of New England’s only international lake cruise. Northern Star Cruises offers two-hour scenic outings on Lake Memphremagog, which come with the added thrill of crossing both the 45th parallel, located halfway between the equator and the North Pole, and the border between the U.S. and Canada. And if you’ve ever taken a ferry to sightsee—rather than merely to get from Point A to Point B—you’ll love Lake Champlain Ferries’ crossing from Burlington to Port Kent, New York, which offers as dazzling an experience as any scenic cruise; plus, it’s an affordable way for the whole family to get out onto New England’s largest lake.

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