The New England Inns & Resorts Association is offering 10 special Fourth of July weekend packages, all based on availability. We've highlighted three here.
The Meadowmere Resort, from $159 per room per night
Ogunquit, Maine
You'll get more than just fireworks with the July 4th Celebration at the Meadowmere (although you'll see those, too). Enjoy a continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi. You'll also receive discount passes to York's Wild Kingdom Zoo and Amusement Park—just a five-minute drive away—for every day of your stay. Or you can stay in; the resort features a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and a TV room with stadium seating. Two can't-misses are Ogunquit Beach, three miles of white sand perfect for surfing, volleyball, and sunbathing (and just a 15-minute walk from the resort), and Perkins Cove, at the southern end of the village. Here you can find artists' shacks, gift shops, and working lobstering boats. Rates start at $159 per room per night.
When: July 1-6, 2008.
Details: Does not include taxes of 7 percent. No single supplement available. Kids 5 and under stay free; each additional guest is $15 per night.
Contact: 800/633-8718, meadowmere.com.
Sunset Hill House, from $229 per room per night
Sugar Hill, N.H.
Have an old-fashioned Fourth when you book this package—play a round of golf (if you play in knickers, you'll get a prize), and enjoy horseshoes, croquet, and bocce. There's also a sidewalk chalk drawing contest. You'll eat well—included is breakfast each morning, an evening Fourth of July barbecue with a view of the mountains, and for Saturday's meal, a $100 dining certificate per couple per stay for the hotel's restaurant (equal to a five-course dinner for two). Sunset Hill House is spectacularly placed, with views of six mountain ranges. If the heated outdoor pool and the hiking trails aren't enough to keep you busy, check out Sugar Hill—this rural community is home to Harman's Cheese & Country Store, Polly's Pancake Parlor, and the Sugar Hill Sampler & Family Museum. Rates start at $229 per room per night, or $458 for the required two-night stay.
When: July 4-6, 2008.
Details: Does not include taxes of 8 percent. Based on double occupancy; each additional guest is $40, which includes meals. Requires a two-night stay.
Contact: 800/786-4455, sunsethillhouse.com.
The White Mountain Hotel and Resort, from $239 per room per night
North Conway, N.H.
When you book the Fourth of July package, you'll participate in a grand New England tradition: the lobster bake. The included feast will have Maine lobsters, mussels, and more, served poolside on July 5th. You'll also enjoy breakfast each morning, plus a Sunday brunch. This cozy 80-room hotel is located in the heart of Mount Washington Valley, near the White Mountain National Forest, so you can hike or elect to stay indoors and shop at tax-free outlets such as Settlers' Green. The area also has covered bridges, railways, and even a gondola ride. Rates start at $239 per room per night, or $478 for the required two-night stay.
When: July 4-6, 2008.
Details: Does not include hotel taxes of 8 percent and a service charge of 15 percent. Based on double occupancy; single bookings start at $206 per room per night. Kids under 18 stay free. Requires a two-night stay.
Contact: 800/533-6301, whitemountainhotel.com.
For more great Fourth packages, check out Expedia. And for other summer travel ideas, see our gas rebate deals or more family packages in New England.
Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
More on New England: