by What could be better than a vacation in New England? A cheap vacation in New England.
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What you ll find along the Massachusetts Whale Trail
Find travel offers for lodging, meals, transportation, and activities in the area in August.
Transportation
Get one-way tickets on Breeze Airways’ new route from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to Myrtle Beach for $49 until August 4.
In honor of National Wellness Month, receive a $31 Bluebikescredit from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. You can enter the code BLUECROSSMARIDE in the Bluebikes app’s Rewards section to use the credit all at once or over several rides.
Through December 31st, the Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) is offering free rides on all regular bus services, including seasonal summer services, so you may save money while visiting the Cape Ann towns of Gloucester, Rockport, Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton.
Families with small children can benefit from Amtrak’s kiddie discount, which offers all children under the age of two free rides and 50% discounted rides for those ages 2 to 12.
This season, ferry tickets to the Boston Harbor Islands are less expensive. Massachusetts residents can save $15 on weekday ferry tickets by purchasing them for $10, or they can use a discount code from their local library to receive 50% off tickets for up to four persons. Take a look at our 2025 Boston Harbor Islands guide.
Restaurants
During Dine Out Boston, which takes place from August 3–16, you can get a bargain while dining at numerous Boston restaurants. Savor lunch and dinner prix fixe menus at various price tiers. Take a look at the participating eateries.
Italian-American eateryFor those in need of a carbohydrate fix, Pazza on Porter in East Boston is offering $10 Pasta Tuesdays during the week. Rigatoni pomodoro, spaghetti with pesto, fusilli alfredo, and other items are included in the fantastic bargain, which is available for both dine-in and take-out.
The day following the Red Sox victory, any Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub will give away a complimentary kid’s meal when you buy an adult meal.
Discover where to grab $1 oysters every day of the week in Boston, including at Trillium Fort Point, State Street Provisions, and Publico Street Bistro & Garden.
Hotels
Ladies, get your best friend and go to Lake Opechee Inn & Spain Laconia, N.H. The girls’ getaway package includes a $50 gift card to either Fratello’s Restaurant or O Steaks & Seafood, a welcome gift, 60-minute massages and signature pedicures, and two nights in a luxurious guest room with a gas fireplace. For two visitors, the package starts at $880 plus tax for two nights. The deal cannot be booked online and is valid until December 31.
You will receive two complimentary tickets to The Breakers, the renowned Gilded Age home in Newport, when you stay at The Pellin Middletown, R.I., which is part of the JdV by Hyatt collection. The coupon code 78439 is good until January 31, 2026. There may be promotional blackout periods.
Get up to 20% off nights during the week at the Grafton Inn in Grafton, Vermont. The offer is valid through September 11 for midweek stays.
Visitors between the ages of 13 and 21 can stay for free with a paying adult at Canyon Ranch Lenox in the Berkshires, which was recently voted one of the top vacation spas in the United States. Reservations for stays that occur by September 15 must be made by September 1.
From now until September, the Revere Hotel in Boston is running a special Canada Resident Offer that will save Canadian guests 15% off rates. Residents of Canada are required to check in with a valid ID.
Museums / Attractions / Activities
For all reservations made between July 24 and August 7, Huttopia Southern Maine is giving New Englanders a 20% discount on stays of two nights or longer. Residents of New England can use the code RESIDENT20 when making reservations, and they will require a legitimate ID when they check in.
The Boston Landmarks Orchestra hosts free weekly concerts along Boston’s Charles River in the Hatch Shellalong. Both classical and contemporary music are featured in the free two-hour performances. The timetable is available, and they start at 7 p.m.
Whale’s Tale Water ParkThis season, after 2 p.m., the price reduces from $52 to $29 at Lincoln, New Hampshire’s Waterpark, which was recently ranked among the top 10 waterparks in the United States.
Parking is available for $10 Monday through Friday and $20 on Saturday and Sunday in the Hampton Beach Village District of New Hampshire during the month of August. The parcels are situated near the intersection of Brown Avenue at 164 Ashworth Avenue and 64 Ashworth Avenue.
This summer, are you looking for a trip to the White Mountains?Free downhill mountain riding instruction are available at Lincoln’s Loon Mountain Resort. Bike rentals are available and can be booked in advance for $25, although reservations are not necessary.
Summer Sketch is a free program that offers live sketching courses to the public every other Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Boston’s Seaport. All art levels are welcome, and all art supplies are provided by the program. This summer, August 12 and 26 and September 9 are the remaining dates. Sign up using this link.
The public is welcome to attend a free stargazing party this summer at the Tides Beach Club in Kennebunkport, Maine. Interested parties can congregate on the lawn for a night sky gazing tour led by professionals from the Astronomical Society of Northern New England using powerful telescopes. The dates of the star parties are August 14, 21, and 28.
Every Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Boston provides free admission. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on the day of the visit, and advance reservations are advised.
This month, there are a lot of free outdoor film screenings in Boston. To learn where to attend, see our comprehensive guide to free outdoor film screenings in 2025.
Kristi Palma writes about New England tourism as a culture reporter for Boston.com. She writes about hotels, airlines, and activities in Boston and New England. She is the writer of the weekly travel newsletter Scenic Six.
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