Touring - New England family mini-tour route suggestions

We are moving to central-Mass this summer and have had to scrap our plans for doing the C&O/Allegheny. I am hoping to get away for a short 2 or 3 days somewhere nearby in August. I'm talking easy riding and 20 - 30 miles per day tops since this will be our first overnight ride with our young daughter.

Thanks for any suggestions.

It is busy season, but when in college many years ago, I enjoyed cycling Cape Cod and Islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Looking at the American Youth Hostels page: http://www.usahostels.org/cape/index.php
There are still four hostels not too far apart that may allow for shorter family rides as well as interesting scenery along the way.

Three day tour from Central Mass? I'd do it from home. It would be a great way to get to know your new area. There are probably plenty of B&B's around, you don't even need to camp.

Another option would be to drive to New London CT; take the bikes on the ferry to Orient Point, LI; camp first night on Shelter Island, camp the second night near Riverhead, ride back to Orient Point on the third day, ferry back and drive home.

Thanks - both are great ideas.

Welcome to Massachusetts.

I would recommend a weekend trip to Martha's Vinyard. We did this trip last labor day weekend-- it was a perfect time of year. The water is at its warmest, the campground uncrowded, etc. Park in the standard satellite lot for the Woods Hole ferry, and pick up the Shining Sea rail trip immediately adjacent to the parking lot. This nice path goes ~2.5 miles directly to the ferry. Nice views of the sound and an opportunity for a swim along the way. Take your bikes over on the ferry, leaving your car behind. Either ferry (Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluff) will do, and no reservations are needed as a walk on. Ferries leave every 60-90 minutes, so planning is easy. There is one campground (very nice but a little $$ for a campsite) near Vineyard Haven, which we used. Since it's so close to the ferry, we took a lot of our car camping gear over on our bike. There is also a Hostel, although it's a bit far from the towns. And many hotels and B&Bs, of course.

Edgartown, Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs are all very nice. These three towns are all accessible with short (<=5 mile) non-hilly rides. A lot of the riding is on bike paths along the roads. Chappaquiddick is also supposed to be a nice intermediate distance ride (mabe 20 miles rt), but we didn't have time for it on our visit. We also did a very nice and scenic, somewhat hilly loop ride out to gay head. That ride was 35-40 miles rt.

I always love leaving my car behind and taking my bike on a ferry to an island. Not only is it practical (Martha's Vinyard has limited roads and bad traffic in it's towns), but it is somehow romantic. Your young daughter will probably get a kick out of arriving by boat and riding away. It also instantly gives me that away from my car/ on a real tour feeling.