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6 days in Boston - review itinerary & other recs needed

6 days in Boston - review itinerary & other recs needed

Old Jul 4th, 2015, 12:09 PM
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6 days in Boston - review itinerary & other recs needed

We are taking our children, ages 7, 9, and 11, to Boston during the first week in October. We are all interested in American History, and we like to pack in a lot of things to do when we travel, rarely spending time in the hotel.

We are staying at the Hilton Back Bay on Dalton Street. If you know anything about this location or hotel, I am interested in your input.

Here is our "rough draft" itinerary and my questions throughout and below it:
Day 1:
--Duck Tour (90 min) - anyone who has already done this - which route did you choose?
--Walk the Freedom trail, taking plenty of time as needed.
--At the end, take the ferry to downtown waterfront for dinner (suggestions?)

Day 2:
Day trip to Lexington and Concord
Should we do a tour by motor coach, touring Concord and Lexington, as well as Harvard Yard? Or should we opt for taking public transportation to Lexington and doing a Liberty Riders Tour while there?
*I think I understand that the Liberty Rider Tour allows for us to move at our own pace. Need to investigate this more.

After tour, see Boston from the heights at Prudential Observatory, have dinner at Top of the Hub

Day 3:
--Take a 9 hour day trip/cruise to Cape Cod/Quincy

Day 4:
--Whale Watching harbour cruise (3 hours)
--Science Museum

Day 5:
Take another 9 hour day trip, by motor coach. Need to choose between:
--Foliage viewing trip to New Hampshire including a tour of an apple orchard
OR
--Day trip up the coast to Maine, seeing Cape Neddick Lighthouse and spending time in Kennebunkport.
Any recommendations to help me make my decision?

Day 6:
--Boston Public Library - 1 hr tour (I am an artist and I love John Singer Sargent; all of us are book-ish.)
--Boston Tea Party ships tour with guides and interaction.
--Late in afternoon, a tall ships harbor tour with Liberty Fleet

How is the pace of this trip? And are we missing anything major? Or doing anything that isn't all that great after all? I welcome your suggestions and comments. Although I have carefully reviewed a map of the neighborhoods and communities in Boston, I don't want to mistakenly schedule a lot of things that overlap the same places.

For day tours, I am mainly using Viator as a starting point, but I see there are similar tours offered by Acorn, Grayline and Tye's. Any recommendations?

I also would like any dining suggestions, especially based on the locations where we will be on different days. The smaller people in our family will not eat Chinese food or Indian food or sushi, but we do like Asian, Greek, Steakhouses, farm-to-table, and pretty much anything else. We like to try to balance things out so that everyone has a good time on our trips, so we are open to both fine dining and "kid friendly" locations. We don't have a daily budget for dining, but if we spend too much one day, we will just cut it back the next day to make up for it.

I'm pretty sure we need a GoBoston card, but please correct me if you think otherwise!

Thank you all for any input. You have made our trips so wonderful in the past with your recommendations!
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Old Jul 4th, 2015, 01:20 PM
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If you are a fan of Sargent, you should not miss his work at the Museum of Fine Arts or the Isabella Stewart Gardner, which has "El Jaleo". Hopefully your tour to Quincy will include the John Adams properties, including furniture he had at the White House. And don't forget to eat your way through Quincy Market!
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Old Jul 4th, 2015, 01:26 PM
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The Hilton is in an excellent location. You are packing in a lot.

I am not, in general, enthusiastic about 9 hour coach tours for children, no matter how well-behaved.

Day 1. Tell the children that the Duck Tour is "just for fun" and not to think that the "history" they hear is very accurate. I would spend the afternoon on the first part of the Freedom Trail, from the Common to old North Church. Walk around Beacon Hill, the Common, Esplanade, and do the Boston Public Library visit.

Day 2. Harvard Yard is a fascinating place with two great museums. It takes time, not a stop in a coach. My kids loved both the art and the Natural History Museums when they were younger than yours, and you can have lunch at Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage before going on the the Science Museum for the afternoon. Top of the Pru for dinner or eat in the food court in the Prudential Center below. Excellent if you get a rainy day.

Day 3. Whale watch. North End for lunch. Walk to Charlestown (second part of the Freedom Trail) return by water taxi to Long Wharf, take the Schooner Liberty, dinner at Legal Seafood on Long Wharf or outdoors at the Boston Harbor Hotel on Rowe's Wharf. Lotta water.

Day 4. Lexington and Concord or Museum of Fine Arts depending on weather.

Day 5. Leaf peeping. The bus will be full of old geezers, but the kids will have iPads or iPhones to entertain themselves. They will remember the leaves. You owe them a kid friendly dinner. Jasper White's Summer Shack has a branch near the Hilton with fried seafood, fried chicken, and goopy desserts galore.

Day 6. High speed ferry to Salem. The Peabody Essex, A great museum with real houses, as well as pictures, House of the Seven Gables, the Customs House, and witch stuff. There is an incredible home-made candy shop between the House if the Seven Gables and the ferry. Great views of Boston coming back.

The Cape is a place to do things, not to look out the window. Ditto Maine unless they like to look at souvenir shops. Save them for another trip.

Have to go cook for 4th of July feed!
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Old Jul 4th, 2015, 02:48 PM
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Much too much per day. Risking overtired acting out children unable to process what they are seeing.
Duck tour route doesn't matter. It's really about splashing into the water. Freedom Trail is a lot of walking. Choose a short portion. Ferry from end? The Navy Yard end? You know the USS Constitution is in dry dock for repairs? Consider the Black Heritage Trail too.
Rent a car for Lexington and Concord with kids. Really not so much to see with kids though. Maybe Alcott museum if kids are girls. Lots of trails and fields where events happened. Harvard Square can be seen by T or on your way back. Do take a look at the Harvard museums: newly renovated art museum, esp. the glass flowers, and natural history. Top of Hub food is bad/expensive and there is no view.
The ferry runs from Boston to Provincetown. In Ptown, take Art's Dune Tour. Climb the Monument. Shop, but not much open. Or rent a car and drive from Boston to the National Seashore headquarters (2 hrs) and pick one or more of the trails to walk, to really get a feel of the Cape. Stop at the fish pier in Chatham to see seals or see if one of the Monomoy Island seal tours are running. Dress warmly.
Science Museum can make for a pretty full day. If you really want to do that and a whale watch, do the whale watch afterward, so the kids can relax on the boat on the way to Stellwagen Bank and back. Not many whales left in October; migrated to warmer climes. Dress in layers, very cold on the water.
Rent a car for foliage or Maine. There are apple orchards within a half hour of a Boston. Late for apples in October though. Mostly all picked. Google for a list of orchards. Foliage is everywhere. Nubble light is a long way to drive just to get out of the car/bus for photos (not much else there). Go through Newburyport/Plum Island, to Portsmouth for a boat ride and look at Strawberry Bank. Perhaps as far as Ogunquit. Kennebunkport is too far for one day with kids.
Salem plan above is great.
Go card is not a good value.
See Sergeant works at Gardner.
Plan by a midlander is much more realistic than yours.
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Old Jul 4th, 2015, 02:49 PM
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"By ackislander" that was
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Old Jul 4th, 2015, 04:48 PM
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I'd skip the motor coach foliage tour. I would have hated it if my parents had dragged me along on something like that. I think I'd hate myself if I took my kids on it- and this will probably sound harsh but I would hate other people for bringing their kids along if I chose to take that tour. iPads or No iPads. An alternative would be to rent a car for yourselves and do a self tour- then you can stop if any sites look interesting or for snacks on a whim.

There is so much to see in Boston though, I think those motor coach trips wouldn't even be necessary. And I wouldn't do the Cape trip unless you actually intend to spend 2 nights in PTown or somewhere. As someone above said- Cape is really more about the atmosphere and the experience than the scenery. Same with Maine. If you can split the trip- do 4 nights in Boston and two nights in Maine or Cape Cod. Salem is the only real day trip on the list- the others in my opinion are too far out. And I'm like you- I only sleep in my hotel room.

Peabody Essex (Chinese House) and Salem in general is great for kids and entertaining for everyone- I think the town does a lot for Halloween too, so that's probably a high season time there? Are your kids into Harry Potter at all? Saw a lot of that when I was there and it made me smile as I'm bookish as well.

Science museum is a MUST. I was very impressed. I think if you are bookish, the Gardner is as well. Very unique. If you don't hit the Peabody Essex (which is my favorite) go to MFA, as it was amazing. The mapparium might be of interest too.
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Old Jul 4th, 2015, 07:13 PM
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I can't thank you all enough for this wealth of information. I am going to tweak this over-ambitious itinerary and send it back to you for more help. The restaurants and museum suggestions are so helpful, as well as your comments about specific days of the itinerary. Fodorites do not disappoint!
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Old Jul 5th, 2015, 05:47 AM
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Ackislander and others have given you some excellent info. Just a few additional comments:

- Please don't shortchange your walk around Beacon Hill. It's really the most interesting neighborhood to walk around in Boston, especially the area around Mt Vernon St, Louisburg Sq, Acorn St, Chestnut St.

- For visiting the Top of the Hub restaurant, I find that lunchtime is better than dinner. It's fantastic to see Boston and the harbor from that height on a nice day, and the prices at lunchtime are *much* nicer than at dinner.

- An especially interesting spot that's less than a 5-minute walk from the Hilton is the Maparium at the Christian Science center. It's an inside-out globe of the world as it was in the 1930s, and kids of all ages will love the acoustics when you're inside.
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Old Jul 5th, 2015, 09:11 AM
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Don't rely on public transportation for Lexington/Concord. Either take a tour or (better) rent a car for the day. Getting from one to the other (if you took commuter rail out to Concord) isn't trivial. Even if you only want to do Concord it's a mile walk from the station to town, and then further walking around town(maybe there are cabs, I have never noticed). If you and your kids are regular walkers, you may not mind, if the weather is good.

Whether or not your children will enjoy these places really depends on your children. At 11 I was a Louisa May Alcott fiend and so my trip to Concord to Orchard House was a truly thrilling experience. I found Lexington on the same trip really boring, a tick off a list. My 13 year old sister loved all the REvolutionary War history along the battle road route from Lex to Concord. I thought "yawn"

I still think Concord is a much more interesting place--Sleepy Hollow cemetery where Thoreau and other notables are buried, Emerson's House, the Old Manse, also a nice old inn right in town--food nothing special but lots of 18th c. charm. The battle site in Concord is beautiful even if history isn't a big attraction for your kids (and if it is, they will love the Minuteman statue and the bridge, etc.) If you are fond of Thoreau you will want to stop at Walden Pond (if you have a car), also a ways out of town.
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Old Jul 5th, 2015, 05:00 PM
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More great feedback, thank you! We are going to love Boston with all of these things to do. My oldest children are really into American history--my son dressed up as Paul Revere for a school project and can tell you just about any fact you want to know about him. My daughter likes anything pertaining to the colonial times. All of us are big readers and will enjoy seeing the places where these wonderful authors lived and what inspired them. This is going to be a great trip! Still working on getting the itinerary right, thank you all for your wonderful input.
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Old Jul 6th, 2015, 01:48 AM
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I second Siggestions by Akislander esp about Portsmouth NH. In addition to Strawbery Banke historic area a boat ride up th Piscataqua is beautiful. We have done the usual boat rides including UNH research vessel but maybe you should look into th reproduction gundalow. Foliage ought to be great. Should you decide on a walk in the country, Wagon Hill Farm in Durham NH on rt 4 is open to the public. On the trail to the water, there's a tiny family cemetery including grave of revolutionary war soldier. I would recommend Portsmouth over Salem and whale watch. The inland river cruise that goes up into Great Bay tells about importance of the estuary.
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Old Jul 6th, 2015, 08:55 AM
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I don't have a ton to add to your itinerary planning because you've already gotten such good advice above. Just one thought...are none of your kids sports fans? because a Fenway park tour is always popular and really very Boston. And I'm pretty sure there won't be any actual baseball going on in October this year
Frankly, I wouldn't eat at Top of the Hub. its pricey, and the food is mediocre. The view is awesome. I've been up there for drinks and that's very nice. but there are better places for dinner.

Island Creek Oyster Bar would be great for seafood. Its about a 20 minute walk from your hotel, although you may be able to get a pedicab which could be fun. The Dalton Street branch of Summer Shack is closer, and I think is a decent seafood choice as well, particularly good for the simpler, classic New England seafood dishes..lobster, steamers, fried clams.

Brasserie Jo very near your hotel for casual French...they do a very good steak frites. La Voile on Newbury St, also French and very authentic.

If you want an upscale steakhouse, try Grill 23 which is a local one. I've also heard good things about Boston Chops, though I've never been thee.
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Old Jul 6th, 2015, 12:51 PM
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You've gotten good advice and I will simply comment myself as a five year resident in the area (Watertown). 1st, focus on the three children of course, meaning seeing interesting things but not overtiring with the walking etc. Thus perhaps plans a bit ambitious. Freedom Trail is special but do take time out along the way to snack. Possibly break it up several days and I might question tour of public library (except Sargent) being that interesting. Copley Square is out front door.

Lexington and Concord is a must trip and again take time just to walk the trails, visit bridge, houses. Rent a car or check other getting there but don't miss. With kids consider aquarium and Charles River cruise (we enjoyed both in recent weeks). Or Boston Harbor cruise...not sure about those ugly Ducks!

Really not much to see in Harvard Yard itself imo. (Though a Yale man did go to service there last Sunday). Students conduct humorous history tours but be sure to get up close enough to hear. OK, Mr. Barclay's Burgers a good bet. You could check on half price tickets at Copley or Harvard Sq. Of course just see what's going on in town.

Now as for the Cape or Maine, etc. Yes, Cape or Nantucket more of a several day/weekend trip. Same up the coast but you might seek out a beach just to experience that. Just don't go both directions I would say. We do like Strawberry Banke for history. Thumbs up for for Salem incl. PE museum, Seven Gables.
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Old Jul 6th, 2015, 03:16 PM
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This is wonderful, thank you all. Chinacat those are great restaurant suggestions. Re Fenway - hubs played baseball in college and my great uncle was a NY Yankee, but unless there is a game I think the kids would be uninterested. They like hockey and soccer. A lot.

We will definitely take things at a good pace for everyone. I like to make a solid itinerary and drop things if needed. That way we are never bored - the kids like to GO! We have a pretty good idea of what they can do from previous trips so we will plan accordingly and go from there.

I'm almost done with a new itinerary, needs a little more work. You all are so helpful and I'm still all ears!
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Old Jul 7th, 2015, 07:25 PM
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I've been working on a better itinerary, and I am almost there, I think. I have had to tweak (or, sadly, drop) several things because of schedules, etc. *I think this is important to note for future readers who may be planning a Boston trip. Many attractions are not open daily or even seasonally so it is important to think ahead.

Maybe this is better than my first attempt?

Day of arrival: Have dinner near hotel, Summer Shack. (I plan to make reservations at several locations, which is why I went ahead and chose some of the restaurants.)

Day 1
--Duck Tour - I know it's tourist-y but my kids really want to do this just for fun. Getting it out of the way early.
--Lunch at Prudential Skywalk - don't care about food just birds eye view. (Of course lunch instead of dinner! What's a view in the dark? How silly of me to not have considered that...thank you!)
--Freedom Trail - North End - (should we do a tour or explore on our own?)
--End at USS Constitution - get there by 5 (closes at 6) - it is dry docked but we can still go on top deck.
--Last Ferry to waterfront is at 6:00
--Dinner at 7:00 at Chart House

Day 2:
--River boat tour
--Head to Harvard - Lunch at Bartley’s Burger
--The Harvard Tour 12:30 - led by students, we are excited about this--thanks for the suggestion above!
--Harvard Museum of Natural History (also a great suggestion AND we get in free with local science museum membership!)
--
Back to town, dinner at Grill 23

Day 3:
--HOHO Trolley tour (How do you feel about this?)
--Lunch at Fanuelli
--Reverse Walking Tour of Freedom Trail, starting at Faneuilli and working back to beginning - need a tour guide or do on own?
--Boston Public Library Tour - if everyone too tired, we can drop this. (I could spend a week in Boston looking at art and if I get started, well....)
--Dinner at Island Creek Oyster Bar around 7:15

Day 4:
--Lexington and Concord (Liberty Riders Tour or HOHO tour on 2 day pass?)
--Eat lunch in Lex/Concord (suggestions?)
Leaving plenty of time on this day to stick around there, as there are several places my son, oldest daughter and husband want to go in both Lex and Concord.
--Maybe a Harbour Cruise, or just dinner somewhere, depending on time and energy level

Day 5:
Going to rent a car and do a day trip somewhere. Can't decide between PTown, Portsmouth, going a little north to see leaves, or maybe even Quincy. Can't get my group too interested in Salem, not sure why. Although we have successfully done long day tours in other places and countries, I am listening to your advice about not going too far on this day.

Day 6:
Maparium
Science Museum - Pixar exhibit, yea!
Lunch at Alice’s Tea Room and
Boston Tea Party Ships Museum (closes at 5:00)
6:00 Sunset cruise on Boston Harbour cruise
Dinner after at Legal Sea Foods

Depart Saturday Oct 8

I read that these are good breakfast places:
--Mike and Pattys - Church Street
--Thorntons - Huntington Ave
--Pour House - Boylston
We are early risers and we also go to bed early, so each night after dinner we will retire, and get up at regular time to have a hearty breakfast to help us with busy mornings. We can eat in the Hilton restaurant or head to the Pru for quick stuff, but sometimes we might want a heavier breakfast and I wanted to run some of these places by you - and get any other ideas you may have.

REALLY loved some of the other ideas: gundelow, whale watching, several others. But many boats will have stopped service or the schedule of the particular tour didn't fit ours. Next time!

My kids start school in less than a month, and then fall break will be here before we blink. We are so excited for something to look forward to!
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Old Jul 8th, 2015, 04:24 AM
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Two suggestions for very casual lunch in Concord: Sally Ann's - www.sallyannsbakery.com/ - is a small bakery on the main shopping street with excellent sandwiches. If you're looking for a wider choice, La Provence - www.laprovence.us/ - is a wonderful foodshop that has a big selection of salads, sandwiches, and house-made dishes. While many people buy stuff at La Provence to take home, they do have several tables where you can eat in-store. La Provence is about a half-mile from the center of Concord, across the street from the train station. Lexington's lunch places don't stand up to the ones I mentioned in Concord, but it does have a terrific ice cream shop -- Rancatore's, right at the traffic lights in the center of town.

For a day trip, Provincetown is a bit far, and there won't be nearly as much activity in town as there would be during the summer. Portsmouth is closer and an excellent choice. If you're going to see the leaves, heading northwest out on Route 2 would be s good choice, then maybe turning north toward the Monadnocks in New Hampshire and the town of Peterborough. The key to leaf-peeping is to get off the main roads and onto quieter local roads.
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Old Jul 8th, 2015, 04:38 AM
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Much, much better!

You will still be plenty busy, but not wiped out, and the combination of Mr. Bartley's and Grill 23 means something for everyone!

There are always things people can quibble about -- and certainly will on Fodor's -- but your ideas and DonTopaz's refinements will make a nice trip.

Be prepared to shift days around in response to weather. Places on the coast are a wee bit unpredictable!
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Old Jul 8th, 2015, 05:58 AM
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You may want to decide on day 3 if you really need to take the HOHO. By that time you will be familiar with Boston.

I'd consider renting a car for Lexington and Concord. It will be easier to go at your own pace. Don't miss the excellent movie at the Minuteman Visitor Center on Rt. 2A between Lexington and Concord.

Breakfast: Mike and Patty's is pretty small. Only a few seats. Thornton's is a good choice and it's close to your hotel. I've had lunch at the Pour House (bar type food) but never breakfast. Take a look at the Trident Bookstore Cafe on Newbury St.

If you wanted to see the Adams homes in Quincy, it's easy to do by taking the Red Line to Quincy Center but you may not have enough time. Portsmouth is a good day trip and Plymouth with a visit to Plimouth Plantation would be fun too.
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Old Jul 8th, 2015, 06:23 AM
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Meant to add that you should add up the costs of your attractions to see if the Boston Go card is worth the price. It often isn't.

Children under 12 can ride the MBTA for free and you and your husband might want to buy a weekly T pass for $19 each. It's a good deal.

You can get a free pass at the information desk at the Prudential Center for discounts at Pru shops and restaurants.
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Old Jul 8th, 2015, 10:33 AM
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Thank you all again for these wonderful suggestions. I will add in the newest information and update accordingly - it's all perfect advice! I can't wait to give you a fun trip repost, as I just know it will be a great trip.
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