Boston area information

[TracyK]

I am having a week in Boston before my summer trip to Orlando. I have always wanted to visit this area as it looks so lovely. I will be visiting with my DS age 13. I have already decided to do a whale watching trip. Any other ideas? I don't want to travel too far afield.
Thanks
Tracy

 

[aprincessmom]

What week during the summer? There's so much to do. You could take a swan boat ride, take the boat to Provincetown (the tip of Cape Cod) for the day, visit the Museum of Fine Arts (really wonderful) or Museum of Science. There's also many free concerts at the Hatch Shell concert stage during the summer (it's right along the Charles River). The Freedom Trail is a great walking tour of the city. Perhaps you'd like to see a Red Sox game -- a visit to Fenway park is a real treat and you'd get to see our great American pasttime.

You could also rent a car for the day and travel to Plymouth and see Plimouth Plantation where the Pilgrims landed and settled. It's a beautiful ride (about an hour) and you could also check out some beaches and seafood up that way.

Also during the summer you'll find lots of great al fresco dining.

Have fun! Boston is great anytime of year.

 

[TracyK]

Thanks for the quick reply. We'll be arriving 7 August. How easy is it to get to Martha's Vineyard, I've always wanted to go there.
Tracy

 

[aprincessmom]

You could drive or take a bus to Hyannis or Falmouth and then take a ferry over to the island which could take some time. Conversely you could fly out of Logan Airport which is about a 35 minute flight.

 

[TLinden16]

You should also take a Duck Tour. It's a tour of Boston by land and by water. It's a lot of fun, and your son will love it when the vehicle drives right into the Charles River. Very cool. They leave from the Museum of Science, so perhaps you can plan both of those for the same day.

If you are in the Back Bay area, a nice diversion is the Maporium at the Christian Science Church. It's a huge walk through glass globe. It's really neat to walk inside the world.

If you are looking for a day trip, you may want to consider Salem, MA. You can get there via the commuter rail trains. There is a neat pirate museum, and also a witchcraft museum. It's a fun area to walk around, and it's right on the water. I believe they run Duck Tours out of Salem as well.

Karen

 

[TracyK]

Thanks so much for the great replies. Looks like we'll be spoiled for choice. We've done one of the Duck tours in London and loved it so we'll probably give that a go. I'd already considered a trip to Salem and Provincetown so I'll put those on the itinerary.
Thanks again
Tracy

 

[mtemm]

If you do go to Salem make sure to check out the Witch Dungeon Museum. there is also a Witch Museum, but I think the Witch Dungeon Museaum is far more interesting and better done.

I love Salem...very intersting. Agree Duck Tour of Boston would be fun. Don't forget taking a ride to Concord and/or Lexington. I first visted Boston when I was around 14 and found it facinating to see stuff we studied in history. Not sure how much the revolution or the american colonial period is studied where you are. Walden Pond is in Concord, as well as Louisa May Alcott's home.

walk the freedom trail in Boston...check out the old north church, and walk up behind it to the old cemetary...there is the thinnest house right across from it! Anther cemetary is called the granary, and is right near the common. Really interesting...Mother Goose is burried there, victims of the Boston Massacre, Sam Adams. John Hancock, among others. To connect your salem trip, there is also the judge (?) that was involved in the witch cases buried there.

Enjoy your trip to Boston!

 

[beattyfamily]

Where will you be staying?

If you have time take a walk over to the North End and try some amazing Italian food and bakeries. There are many Festivals there in the summer time; almost every weekend there's a new one going on.

You can get to the Duck Tours by going to the Prudential Mall. That is where they leave from and where you can buy the tickets.

All other suggestions are great!

Have fun!

 

[rbuzzotta]

Since you'll be visiting in August. The North End hosts a feast every weekend. The food is great......also you can walk arounnd Quincy Market Place and Fanuil Hall at the same time...........

The above posters hit it all.

If you have any specfic questions, please feel free to PM me and hopefully I can help.........................We will just be returning from 2 weeks at WDW then.....

 

[SeaSpray]

I live just a half hour south of Boston, between Boston and Plymouth, and I've been saving various "vacation" sites for a while now. I will list some here for you. I hope you and your DS have a WONDERFUL time here in Massachusetts.

Here is a map of Boston, from a sightseeing trolley company. You pay one price to be able to use the trolley and get off and then on again at any of these various stops around the city, at your own pace.
http://www.brushhilltours.com/maps/large.html

Here is a whale watching company that leaves out of Plymouth.
http://www.whalewatchingplymouth.com

Here is a trolley tour for Salem.
http://www.trolleydepot.com/Trolley_Tours/trolley_tours.html

Here is a site for Boston Harbor Cruises. A very nice way to see the coast of the city and surrounding sites.
http://www.bostonharborcruises.com

The web site for the New England Aquarium which is right on Long Wharf, which is also the same pier that the Harbor Cruises depart from.
http://www.neaq.org/index.flash4.html

The Museum of Science in Boston
http://www.mos.org/

The official web site for info on all the restaurants and shops at Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market. FYI: Just a couple-minute walk from Long Wharf!
http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com

I have more sites, too. Let me know if you'd me to post them.

P.S. I LOVE Boston and don't need much of an excuse to go there... If you'd like, my DSs (ages 15 and 12) and I could come and meet you and your DS for lunch one of the days that you're there

 

[gallaj0]

Take a Boston harbor lunch cruise; or a ferry to one of the islands in the harbor; George's island has an old fort on it,a and rangers give tours during the summer; and Castle Island in South Boston you can actually drive to.
FYI- the Hatch Shell free concert for August 9th is K.C. and the Sunshine band. Not my cup of tea, but you may like them.

 

[Kallison]

Go to Quincy the John Adams residences are amazing, if you are into American History. Definitely do the Freedom Trail. The subway system is very easy to navigate. Provincetown is fun, it gets kind of crazy in the evening though especially with kids and the alternate lifestyles they will see. We are ok with this but some may not be. Most definitely do the Duck Truck - quack-quack. You have to make a ressie early in the day or several days in advance, they do sell out.

 

[sue Z]

the "newest" spot to go to is my home City of Quincy !! has the book on John Adams made this a very popular stop!!!
Here in quincy you can go to the Adams Birthplaces, the "summer" white house, Dorothy Quincy homested -John Hancock's wife, the church of the presidents-where john and john quincy adamses are buried along with their wives!
gee my home town and I forget what is there
The library which is closed in August!
city hall and there is a cemetary next door where a few historic people are buried ! Don't ask me who I never been in !!


August 15-23 rd we will be hosting the 14 yrs olds Babe Ruth World Series!!http://pilgrims.net/quincy/sites.htm http://quincymass.com/home.html

 

[TracyK]

I'd just like to say a HUGE thank you to everybody for the great information.
THANK YOU