vssinfl

I would love to take my grandson who is 10 to Boston this summer...just the two of us. I would love some suggestions of hotels " that would be right in the heart of things" I hope to take several days tours around the city..so an area where most of these might originate. We will do the normal sights pertaining to our history. Thanks so much.....Believe it or not, I have never been to Boston myself. So this should be great.

Myer

I'll let the Boston experts handle those details.

We just flew to a family event out of the country and took our granddaughter with.

Make sure you get two things from the parents. 1) a notarized letter, signed by both parents, allowing you to travel with him (we were asked for this a few times) and another letter giving you permission to act on medical issues involving your grandson.

HappyTrvlr

Marriott Long Wharf

DebitNM

Make sure you have proper documentation for your grandson. This link has some info that you should look at; some of it is for international travel, but there is good info for you. You need authorization for medical treatment at a minimum. If the childs parents are divorced, you may need written permission from both of them to take him to Boston.

http://www.examiner.com/article/docu...ny-minor-child

RoamsAround

What's your budget? It will have a big bearing on where you stay. Suffice to say anyplace in the city center will be higher than staying in the outskirts of town.

Boston is a large city and many of the main points of interest are spread out so not everything is "walkable" from a given hotel so you'll need transportation.

We stayed at the Fairmont in the heart of the city and found it quite convenient.

Have a great trip with your grandson - Boston is full of history.

Momddtravel2

Would your grandson enjoy a Boston redsox game? that might be a fun thing to do!

vssinfl

Thank you for the info..I never would have thought to bring documentation. I am not on a strict budget...I am hoping to just have an amazing time.

Momddtravel2

A redsox game is a life experience Try to go when they are playing and get good seats since budget is not an issue.

My son and daughter have both taken trips with my Mom and Stepdad and they both still talk about all the memories - as I type this my 16 year old is in Seattle and headed to Mount Rainier National Park for a week. Priceless memories! Enjoy!

rizzo0904

My kids are a bit younger, but...

The Duck Tours are fun. We took the one that leaves from Museum of Science.

Fenway tour and/or game.

My kids love to play in the fountains at Rose Kennedy Greenway.

Family style improv... http://www.improvboston.com/shows/familyshow

toenaillady

The Salisbury hotel! Privately owned (by Baptist org), parking included. Cheaper. Clean. Right where you want to be.

Bette

We live about 50 minutes outside of Boston. When we do a weekend in the city we always stay at the Omni Parker House. Loaded with history, one block from the Boston Common, located directly on the Freedom Trail. Very close to Faneul Hall / Quincy Market. You can pick of many walking tours in this neighborhood. One block from the "T" (local subway).

http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel...rkerHouse.aspx

gail

Red Sox game and Fenway tour - check out Red Sox website for tickets or we have used Ace Tickets (website by same name). They have some games for at or close to face value and are reliable.

Boston Harbor Cruise - they range from short lunch time ones to longer. Just nice to be out on the water. Force him to bring a sweatshirt even if it is hot - it gets cool out there on the water sometime.

One of the hop on/hop off trolley tours will work great - some of them even have a really discounted second day. You can use it for transportation and if you are really exhausted, just sit and ride for a while. Pair that with some walking of Freedom Trail.

Depending on from where you are from, just riding the ancient subway system in Boston might be interesting for him. Same thing for going someplace to eat a lobster - preferably where he can see them swimming in the tank before. (Search seafood + Boston on this forum). I love Summer Shack in Cambridge (end of Red Line of MBTA to Alewife and it is across the street). Others disagree but owner started this restaurant after many years in high end restaurants to provide a more family-friendly seafood restaurant that still had creative and excellent food. They have huge tanks with crabs and lobsters of all sizes.

Check out to see if there are any North End (Italian) religious festivals going on if you are here for a weekend (easy to search schedule on line) They parade a statue of Saint Somebody thru the streets each weekend, people attach money. Street vendors have pizza and cannoli stands, some local musicians - worth a walk by.

New England Aquarium just reopened its Giant Ocean Tank after a long renovation - have not seen it yet.

Take a day bus trip to Lexington/Concord so you can say you did some history. There are a couple of historic houses and usually costumed historical guides walking around.

Hotels - look in Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market area, Downtown, BackBay. Marriott Long Wharf as mentioned above would be good choice. I live here, so can't be more helpful with specific hotels.

You are a nice grandmother. Although in my 50s I still have very fond memories of doing things - just me and grandparents. My mother has traveled to Disney World and London with our daughter.

cw

The Marriott Long Wharf is a good location in the summer and the fountains etc. for kids on the Greenway across the street will be fun for your grandson. It's next door to the New Engand Aquarium and its newly re-opened fabulous fish tank.

Take a ferry to George's Island and explore the fort. You can also go on a whale watch. The street performers at nearby Quincy Market are entertaining, and you can pick up almost anything for lunch at the food court there.

Check the Boston Harbor Hotel's schedule of free outdoor entertainment. There is lots to do and I think you both can have a wonderful time.

Re: Salisbury Hotel-- it's in NYC not Boston.

DonTopaz

Has your grandson raed the classic children's book Make Way for Ducklings? If so, be sure to visit the Boston Public Garden, which is where the story takes place and where there's a sculpture of the story's ducklings. While in the Public Garden, be sure to take the Swan Boat ride in the lagoon there -- great for kids of any age.

The previously-mentioned Duck Boat tour is lots of fun for kids -- it goes through the city streets and then on the Charles River.

steviegene

We just went to the Boston Science Center with two boys and they loved it. It is a huge space with tons of exhibits and special shows based in science/technology/nature. Highly recommended. Can easily keep you busy for an entire day.

Ackislander

I lived for ten years about a block from the Marriott Long Wharf. Despite not liking Marriotts, I would recommend this one for being near all the things that others have described, it is at the start of the trolley tours, the T Bllue Line is at the front door, it is a stop on the water taxis to places like the USS Constitution, and it has a great pool.

If you arrive by air, take the water shuttle from Logan to the Boston Harbor Hotel. You can take the Blue Line back to Logan.

The food is typical Marriott, overpriced and mediocre, but there are tons of good places nearby for everything except breakfast.