You're going to love Cape Cod. I'd spend most of my time there since you are going on to NYC. November will be chilly but it will be gorgeous. Do you have any interest in getting out on the water? On my next trip, I'd really like a boat ride along the coast of Hyannis (and to get a look at the Kennedy compound from the water). I've not done this yet but here's a link - http://bayspirittours.com/

Are the "kids" interested in sightseeing too? If not, maybe you could borrow their van to get out and about to see things. I love Provincetown and would recommend spending the night there. Maybe Saturday the 10th there? That would give you Saturday to see things on the way to Ptown and then on the drive back off the cape on Sunday. I wish it were summer so you could go to the Wellfleet drive-in, but they open just in summer. I've been to Ptown many times and it's fun just walking down the two main streets, checking out galleries, stores, grabbing a bite to eat. I love the Lobster Pot. One thing I highly recommend is Art's Dune Tours. I can't believe it took me years to go on his tour. I also like biking the trail through the dunes. The fall dune foliage is low to the ground but colorful. If you can spend most of Saturday sight-seeing, you could head to Boston on Sunday and spend the evening there and do a bit of sightseeing before you head to NYC. Personally, I'd rather spend the time on the cape rather than going to Boston - sand and sea and one city, rather than two cities. Just my personal preference.

Given that short of a period of time, I would stay in Boston.

There's a heck of a lot to see there, and not wasting a bunch of time driving back and forth would be your best bet.

Save the Cape for a future trip, when you can do it justice.

Rasta we live in New Zealand, this will probably be the only chance we get, unless the kids get a green card and stay there permanently.

Thanks Starrs, DD and SIL played the jazz festival in Provincetown last year and they loved the place too. I think we may go there Saturday, and head to Boston Sat night.

How are you getting to the Cape?
How are you getting to Boston?
How are you getting from Boston to NYC?

Starrs mentions a van, but I don't see it in your post.

5 hours from NYC to Hyannis.
1.5 hours, Hyannis to Provincetown by the scenic route, Highways 6A and 6
2.5 hours Provincetown to Boston
4.5 hours Boston to New York

Pretty much everything in Provincetown is likely to be closed at that time, and it is the life of PTown that is interesting, not the buildings.

I would skip it and spend my Saturday exploring the more picturesque parts of the Cape between Sandwich and Orleans along Route 6A (King's Highway), then along the Naational Seashore and down to Chatham, then back to US 6 to go towards Boston. It will be dark sometime around 5 PM at this time of year, maybe a bit earlier.

I am going to assume you will stay somewhere in the Waterfront or Back Bay area. Use Priceline to get a reasonable deal, though this time of year is as close as Boston every comes to a low season. A car is a huge liability in Boston. You can park yours in the Boston Common garage, which is likely to be a lot cheaper than any hotel parking, but I would not leave valuables in the vehicle overnight anywhere.

In Boston on Sunday, if the weather is good, explore Beacon Hill, walk the Freedom Trail from the Common, and have lunch at one of the Italian restaurants in the North End. In the afternoon, take the Red Line T subway to Harvard Square in Cambridge and explore the Harvard Campus and surrounding area. Walk along Memorial Drive to see the Charles River, then back to the T to return to Boston. If you want to eat dinner in Cambridge, Dolphin Seafood on Mass Ave is reliable, but there are many other places.

Monday morning, I would walk through the Public Garden to Newbury Street aand explor it as far as Mass Ave to see the trendy shops. Return on Commonwealth Avenue. At Clarendon Street, turn right for Copley Square. Visit Trinity Church and/or the Boston Public Library's historic sections. Get takeaway sandwiches at Parish Cafe on Boylston, return to your hotel, check out and leave for NYC.

My niece went to NZ for her honeymoon and her photos showed some of the most magnificent scenery I have ever seen! That would be my reason for suggesting that you concentrate on Boston. As much as I love the Cape, as you say you may not get another chance to visit Boston and it is a singular city in the US. Weather in November is iffy anywhere in MA but crummy weather in the city would be much less of an issue than it would be on the Cape.

As much as I love the Cape and area at any time of year, it's very true that November is at best cold and blustery (albeit bright with sunshine and sharp contrasts between land and sky), and at worst dreary with chilly downpours...

Agreed that it would be good to know how you are transiting from NYC to the Cape/Boston. Also what your timeframe on Friday will be.

If you have the flexibility, I would suggest driving up early on Friday, stopping for lunch in Connecticut and then have the afternoon to see a bit of what the Cape is about. Or take a little detour en route to perhaps Newport, RI.

Staying mid-Cape (where Hyannis is), you can still venture along scenic Route 6A or out to one of the beaches on Nantucket Sound on Friday, without committing to going all the way to P-town. Then come Saturday, depending on weather and inclination, spend some more time on the Cape or head right into Boston.

What are your specific interests in Boston?

I think some of the posters are missing the fact that the OP WILL be in Hyannis on Friday, 11/9 with their DD and SIL. Telling them to skip the Cape won't work.

And nelsonian, I would love to meet you at the Grand Cru!

It is my understanding that they will all be together - traveling in a van. The son and DIL are performing in Hyannis on Friday night and performing in Harlem (NYC) on Monday night. They are trying to decide how to spend their time in between.

"We are going with them to the gig Friday, need to be back in NYC Mon night 12th Nov as they have a gig at Paris Blues Harlem 8,30pm."


gomiki, that will be wonderful if you get to go to Grand Cru. nelsonian, she's delightful - as I'm sure you are.

I got that, I just meant to leave the Cape early am and spend the rest of the time in Boston as opposed to sightseeing on the Cape......

I'm sorry. I got that backwards. Daughter and SIL

The OP and family HAVE to be in Hyannis on Fri for the gig. It's not a matter of will they see the Cape - it's a matter of can they fit in Boston too - since they have to be back in NYC for Sun evening.

To play it safe you wuold have to leave Boston - or the Cape by about noon on Monday - perhaps earlier if ther is bad weather. Assume you will all be together and have hte van for tansport.

At that time of year I would head to Boston Sat am and get a hotel there for Sat nd Sun nights and park the van. Boston is best seen on foot - driving and parking are a real bear. there is plenty to see and do in the city - don;t miss the Freedom trail and visit Lexington and Concord on the way into Boston (to see where the Minutemen faced down the British regulars - and started the revolution). If you've never been you might want to consider a whale watch - but you may get a lot of that at home.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions everyone. I think we will spend most of Saturday doing some of the Cape depending on the weather, and then head to Boston Sat night, spend Sunday and Monday morning there. However A & J want to be back in NYC by 4pm so thought as an option we could take the Bolt Bus back later in the afternoon and still get there in time for the gig.
I did see that it is Veterans Day on the Monday so it's a long weekend. Will that make a difference traffic wise. Probably a silly question really.

Gomiki love to see you at Grand Cru also.

Monday traffic, and bus availability, will be something to contend with. Plan accordingly.

btw: I love the Cape during most months of the year but November is Not gorgeous on the Cape. You might luck out and have crisp, clear days but you're just as likely to have dismal, dark, cold, rainy days. Daylight savings time adds to the gloom.

If the surf isn't wild, and you find someone to take you out on the water, layer up with hats, gloves, scarves, and thermals. It'll be frigid on the water in November.

The Cape starts to shut down after Labor Day but is really very sleepy in November. Boston, on the other hand, will be fabulous in November!

Enjoy your stay in Hyannis, there are a few wonderful restaurants on Main Street. Inaho, nearby, is great for sushi and is open year round. I always enjoy Hyannis. If you do get a warm day, set out early and drive up to the National Seashore in Eastham. Nobody will be there and with any luck, the roaring surf will put on a show.

I used to go the third week of October for several years and we had glorious weather. Perhaps we just lucked out, but the heaviest jacket I wore was a leather bomber jacket - and it remained unzipped most of the time. Maybe two weeks later (Nov 9th) would make a big difference or maybe we just lucked out. The first time I went to the cape was in March after a conference in Boston. It was cold but not as bitter as Boston has been during December and January meetings. A lot of the places in Ptown are closed, but it was the weekend and we had plenty galleries and restaurants to choose from. Ptown in March was like entering a frozen winterland - but I loved seeing a seaside town that way. The weather in Ptown in late October was delightful. Maybe that was just a birthday present from the weather gods.

You just lucked out.

Lexington and Concord are a long way out of the way coming from the Cape, esp since it getting dark early that time of year since Daylight Savings Time ends Nov 4.

A whale watch in November would not be my idea of a good time, and they have plenty of whales in NZ, or did before the Nantucketers went there in the 19th century and killed as many of them as they could.

Yes, it will be a holiday on the Monday, but that will have no effect on commerce: schools, banks, and government offices will be closed, and there may be the odd parade.

I don't think the whale watches continue into November but I could be wrong. I meant to have written the 'end' of daylight savings time adds to the gloom.

All the parades on the Cape are odd..

Dolphin Fleet out of Provincetown stops touring on October 28th, 2012.

Provincetown is fairly well closed up by November. No whale watches - the whales leave for the Caribbean during October. No harbor cruises that late in Hyannis. Sightsee between the Canal and Chatham if the weather is good enough. Boston is fab.

I lucked out several years then. Hopefully nelsonian will be as lucky.

nelsonian has said that they plan to spend part of Saturday on the cape before driving to Boston that night. Perhaps it would be helpful to share suggestions that will help her enjoy a partial day on the cape - rather than predicting a gloomy visit.

nelsonian, this is a book I discovered in my 20s and I really enjoyed reading it. I like reading books before visiting a place and you may enjoy the book as well - http://www.amazon.com/The-Outermost-House-Great-Beach/dp/080507368X

starrs, the difference in even just a month between Oct and Nov is dramatic in both weather and what is open or not on the Cape. You have definitely picked a great time of year with the crisp sunny days of Oct.

I was going to say what Ackislander did: Lexington and Concord are *not* on the way from the Cape to Boston! You can get a flavor of Revolutionary War fervor in Boston itself: walk part of the Freedom Trail if the weather cooperates, or at least poke your head into some of the sites like Fanueil Hall...

If you want to see our "ancient" history, you could make a stop at Plimoth Plantation in present-day Plymouth, MA, a short ways up Route 3, which is the highway from the Cape to Boston. The Plantation is a recreation of a Colonial settlement. (IMO, going into Plymouth proper to see "Plymouth Rock" is really not worth it. It's just a rock(!), and all covered over by a fence anyway...)

Veterans Day is one of those bank holidays where most other workers don't get time off, so you shouldn't have to contend with many schedule changes that day.

If you'll have the rental vehicle but not gobs of luggage, you might look into parking on the edge of the city and taking public transit in. Boston is notorious for its "old cow paths" of twisting, one-way streets, never-mind the colorful nomenclature given to local drivers! Options are:
- The end of the Red Line MBTA in Braintree or Quincy
- The "Route 128" Amtrak/commuter rail station in Westwood

The Quincy station will be the most direct on your route from the Cape, but both Westwood and Braintree are a few short miles from where the highway splits towards Boston. These two are easy on/off from Route 128, which will place you in good stead to get on the road to NYC. If you opt for the Quincy station, the road is always more congested getting there, but you're still good to go when you get on the road!

As for the Bolt Bus, just keep in mind that you'll have to get from the dropoff in midtown up to Harlem.

nelsonian, what are you interested in seeing on the Cape? Are you looking for history? nature? cute shops and good eats? all of the above?

I seems that ONCE AGIAN again someone needs to be reminded that that the pretty autumnal low ground foliage in Cape Cod is POISON IVY. And it is poison 12 months out of the year. Poison ivy shrubs in the dunes, poison ivy climbing up trees, poison ivy vines. Poison ivy everywhere on the cape. It is one of the few plants that thrive in the salty conditions and helps protect the dunes and wildlife from humans - unless of course the humans are told how pretty the low lying foliage is, and decide to take a few PRETTY leaves to put in a book. Now that could make for a nasty flight home.

Some of the Cape shuts down after Labor Day, more shuts down after Columbus Day and for many Veterans day is the last hurrah, although there are quite a few places that stay open thru the December Holidays and then shut down for 3 months.

There are plenty of places to check out Saturday and head to Boston for the evening. A stroll thru the Northend at an Italian joint would really be nice, offering some brownstone architecture and old world boston charm.

Whatever you decide, I would be very cautious of where you park with equipment in the van ( not clear on how much equipment they travel with) I think if you have Saturday Evening and a full Sunday, you can get a good nice quick take of Boston and leave together. Not sure how much would be accomplished with the extra few hours, unless you find something that is a must on your agenda.

Driving to the Cape, I'd take the Merritt Pkwy to the New Haven area and then pick up 95. It is a beautiful winding pkway and the foliage should still have something to offer, depending on how our summer weather goes. When you pass by Weston keep your eye out for Keith Richards, who often resides there.

On the way back to Manhattan, if you travel together after checkout, you could always make a pit stop at Mystic CT for a stretch and take in their sites or head a mile or two up the road for a quick lunch in Stonington http://www.dogwatchcafe.com/

Or a stop for pizza in New Haven. And still be back in Manhattan by late afternoon. I would expect the traffic should be pretty good on Monday as many commuters have the day off, and it is not necessarily a big travel weekend.

Another option would be to leave earlier, and take the MassPike and stop at Sturbridge Village for a couple of hours - a living history of American History http://www.osv.org/
and then head thru Hartford and pick up the Merrit from there.

Play as much by ear and let the weather be your guide.

But please do not go near the pretty colorful ground foliage on the cape.

They are not leaving enough time to get back to NYC from Boston. If the gig is at 8:30 = and they need time to set up - so arrive by 7:30 - then I would leave Boston no later than 2 pm, If they hit construction or traffic - the trip can easily take 5 hours by road.

Where did you get the 2PM departure from Boston from?

Thanks again. There is plenty of time to sort out what we are going to do, and a lot of it will depend on the weather.
If you can suggest a good place to leave the van in Boston that would be great. It is not a rental, and it will probably have music gear in it so that could be a problem.

ggreen, yes interested in the history mostly. Have always been fascinated by US history not sure why seeing we live in New Zealand. I loved reading about the Oregon trail when I was about 13, nothing really to do with Boston but Boston is one of the first cities that was settled. (Correct me if I am wrong), and I have always wanted to see it.

Veterans Day is one of those bank holidays where most other workers don't get time off, so you shouldn't have to contend with many schedule changes that day.
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Schools are closed on Veteran's Day in CT; all of CT's teachers and students will be making their way onto and off of the Cape that Monday.

or a few dozen

Cape weather changes quickly. And it may be sunny and warm in Provincetown during the same afternoon that is foggy and damp in Chatham.

that's true. I once left on ferry in Oak Bluffs in sunshine, went into total pea soup fog and then landed in Woods Hole in total sunshine.

If they hit construction or traffic - the trip can easily take 5 hours by road.
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nytraveler is right. Allow plenty of time for you Cape > NYC trip. It took us 4.5 hours to get from Chatham to Hartford on Mother's Day because of traffic delays secondary to construction.

Where will you be staying, nelsonian? It is important to have a safe spot for parking a van with musical equipment. I have read a number of stories over the years of thefts.

We live in a very safe suburb only 20-30 minutes from Copley Square and you would be welcome to park in our driveway if you need a place that will be secure.

For those of us who have suffered from severe repercussions from having contact, whether it be first hand, second hand, or airborne, Poison Ivy is not a joke. Many people on these forums are not horticulturists, so deserve the respect to be warned about the dangers of pretty ground leaves during autumnal months. Especially travelers from other continents that may not immediately recognize the beautiful leaves of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.

To take offense, rather then to acknowledge the hidden danger is sadly disturbing.

For those visiting the cape, please take due caution. To me, posting about the pretty autumnal ground foliage is like posting about the cute deer ticks. Dangerous and should not be taken lightly or dismissed.

I don't think traffic will be a problem when you are here. That's too late in the year for construction.

Mystic, CT is not on the way from Boston to NYC. It is, however, on the way from NYC to the Cape. It's a cute enough town with some good fried clam shacks (which may or may not still be open in Nov), but not something to go out of your way for on this trip... I do, however, recommend getting some classic New Haven pizza if your timing calls for lunch as you go through CT! Modern Pizza in New Haven is famous, and the almost-equally famous Frank Pepe's now has locations throughout CT. (pepespizzeria.com)

As you approach the Cape from the southwest, you'll pass through the industrial era cities of Providence, Fall River and New Bedford. Even from the highway you'll notice the large red brick former textile factory buildings; they're especially close to the road in Fall River. (Wamsutta bedding originated in New Bedford; its factories there have been converted to condos.)

Though sadly a rather seedy place, the city of New Bedford has a national historic designation for its whaling history. Indeed, this is where the story of Moby Dick commences. If you decide to sightsee at all here, check out the attractive Whaling Museum (the Keltic Kafe across the street is good for a light bite) and the Seaman's Bethel. Thanks largely to the seagoing industries, there is a large Portuguese and Cape Verdean commmunity here, with lots of influence on the food.

Just before reaching the Cape, you'll pass by cranberry bogs right along the Route 25 highway in Wareham. If they haven't been flooded yet, they should be a brilliant crimson at that time of year.

// nelsonian, if looking for US history, you can't go wrong with the Cape and Boston! But I'm sure you already know that. Indeed, this is where a good chunk of our national identity was formed! The story is that Mayflower landed in the area - ostensibly on Plymouth Rock - and after making it through their first very tough year, the Pilgrims gave thanks to the native people without whom they wouldn't have survived. This is the basis for our modern-day Thanksgiving, which is just a few weeks after your trip to MA.

A century or so later, the first incidents of what was to be the Revolutionary War occurred in Boston and environs. In Boston, the Freedom Trail will take you to many of the sites.

(Sidebar here, but being a good Massachusetts kid, I never learned much about the role of NYC in the war. Thus, a temporary exhibit on the subject a few years ago at the New York Historical Society was fascinating! The museum, adjacent to the natural history museum, has been newly renovated - could be worth a visit when you're here since their exhibitions are always interesting. Oh and likewise, a walking tour by Big Onion of the financial district was eye-opening for the layers of history from colonial times to present. Their guides are so knowledgeable!)

On the Cape, you may want to visit the Dexter Grist Mill in Sandwich. The town itself is one of the oldest in the country (though a lot of MA can say that), and the mill is just as vintage. There's also a glass museum, since the town is famous for its glassworks. (There used to be a doll museum that was kind of creepy and cool, but it's closed.)

For old-school Cape dining, try the famous - and rich! - lobster chowder at the historic Daniel Webster Inn, near the canal in Sandwich: www.danlwebsterinn.com/cape_cod_dining/

In nearby Mashpee, the Old Indian Meeting House is the oldest church on Cape Cod, still in use by the local tribe.

If you drive along Route 6A, you will see a lot of beautiful old homes. Look for the saltbox style with roof sloping in the back down to the ground. the "Cape house" - traditionally a modest home with three windows in front separated by a door after the second one - is also original to this area.

If you make it to Yarmouthport, stop in Hallet's general store for an ice cream from the old soda fountain. They've been in business for over a hundred years. (The store was wrecked a year or so ago in a traffic accident, but I understand it's back in business now!) http:/hallets.com

(Another sidebar. New Englanders *love* ice cream, and every district has a favorite place - or three. Unfortunately, not many stay open past early October...)

Also in Yarmouthport are two nice places to walk: the Bass Hole boardwalk stretching into the bay, and the botanic trails at the Historical Society. The macabre illustrator Edward Gorey lived in Yarmouthport until his death; his house is now a museum.

// As you drive around the Cape, you may notice the Christmas Tree Shops stores. These places sell Christmas stuff all year round! I mention it because, as tacky as they are, they originated on the Cape. Unfortunately, the original Yarmouthport location - and IMO the most interesting one - closed a few years ago.

L_G is right: poison ivy at that time of year can be terrible, since it blends right in with other foliage! Always has 3 points to each leaf, almost like a trident. Do a search online for images - it's green in season, and fiery red when leaves change color. Actually, the costumes for Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy aren't far off!

Lookinglass: Basta!

re. poison ivy: My house sits on 2.75 acres of wooded gloriousness in Chatham and nobody, in the 50+ plus years of my living in the house, has Ever gotten a serious case of poison ivy! In our experience, many (most) (all) of our visitors spend most (all) of their time on the beach where there is no poison ivy but where there are sharks. The sharks have only one point (not three), which is to eat.

ggreen, Nice write up! The only thing I would mention is that Hallet's is only a summer operation.

ggreen, they can actually run a gamet of colors, mostly read, but yellow and orange also fall into place as the leaves turn, especially when you add oak and sumac to the mix. I have a lot in my woods, so see it climbing and spreading in the autumnal months and my landscaper is now treating it to keep it at bay. It is too dangerous for me to try to cut the vines off of some trees, even in the winter months.

Bowsprit? basta? I don't know what that means. Is that a compliment? How wonderful that your Chatham house doesn't have poison ivy/oak/sumac. But you must admit that it is rampant in the cape, especially in the dunes, as a person that has lived on the cape for over 50 years, you cannot deny what the authorities warn visitors about time and time again.

Well, anyway, I hope the OP has a great time planning the family trip. When you get closer to plans I look forward to offering further advice near whatever accomadations you choose. So nice that a fodorite offered to let you park the van at their house. Very cool.

It means, 'Enough'. Authorities aren't warning anyone about anything. The dunes are off limits to walkers. Just stop ranting. Once again, your information is wrong.

And don't forget to put out the word to visitors to watch out for the Browntail Moths up here! Oh my Goodness! Strange creatures and flora surrounding them at every turn! Oh my! (better head to Vegas, lookinglass)

Thanks gomiki! I forgot that about Hallet's. Too bad!

I'm sorely tempted to tell OP to take a significant detour to Tiverton, RI, just for the ice cream at Gray's-! At least they're open year round...

// As for poison ivy, call me a wimp but I really dread it, especially in the fall. When I was a kid, I could roll in the stuff and not get a single mark - totally immune. Then one summer on the Cape when I was about 13, I got it without knowing it, and managed to spread it everywhere because I scratched it and mosquito bites indiscriminately. Geez, just writing this I can picture the field and the back of the house where it happened!

After that, I had a couple of really severe bouts of it. Twice they were in the fall, once when the leaves had changed to autumn hues, and once when the leaves were dried up - but the oil remained. I think it must have been growing on a stone wall I climbed over. That time, I unknowingly rubbed it on my *face*! More recently, my mother got a bad case after clearing out underbrush in her backyard. Ugh, it gives me the heeby-jeebies just thinking about it...

sigh. more poison ivy: I love the stuff on the dunes. It's hearty and it stops erosion. It's easily spotted, changes its 'spots' in the fall though and doesn't always have 3 leaves. It's obvious and often marked on walking trails. It's easily avoided. (stay away from the underbrush)

Ticks, however, will get ya. Check your body carefully!

You do know that Hallett's sells Hershey ice-cream, right? There's better than that to be had on Cape Cod!

Actually blowing off Boston completely and all my other suggestions. . . which were fabulous. . . . . could work too.

Those that suggested Tiverton and Newport RI. . . The trees, the landscapes. And the impact of history and how the tenement lords built their summer mansions. . . there is plenty of history both nautical and otherwise

Tiverton and Newport would be interesting places to visit, plenty going on in Newport year round Mansion wise, and could be lucrative for the jazz duo to investigate new venues.

So many right answers to your dilemna.

I'm not sure what the sighing is about. Is p.i. a frequent topic/complaint in Cape threads in the forums? This is the first I've seen it mentioned.

FWIW, poison ivy is not just on dunes and not always marked - I guess that was the point I was trying to get across in recounting my early experiences from before I knew what to look for. But you're right, the chance the OP and family will encounter it in a day and a half out of Hyannis is pretty low.

And Hallet's is not Hershey's ice cream. It used to be Hood and now it's home made from Richardson's dairy - not shabby ice cream by far. Back when they served Hood, it wasn't ever so much about the quality of the ice cream as about the character of the place in which you ordered it. I'll be interested to see what it's like now that they're reopening.

Bowsprit, do you have recommendation(s) for good ice cream during the off-season on the Cape? My longstanding favorite, the Four Seas, is not open past mid-September.

Socialworker, thanks for the offer, have sorted out accommodation in Boston yet, that was going to be my next question!!!!

That should be haven't sorted out accommodation yet.

Back to the trip. In Hyannis, across the road from the hotel where Grand Cru is located, just past Cumberland Farms gas station, is Cooke's Seafood, consistently rated one of the best on the Cape and reasonably priced as seafood goes. They now remain open until Thanksgiving. I strongly recommend them. Many of the waterfront seafood joints will have closed by the time you are there.

ggreen, great suggestions!

Bowsprit, do you have recommendation(s) for good ice cream during the off-season on the Cape?
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Nope. Sorry.

re. Hallett's: Yes, you're right it was Hood. Not wonderful. The atmosphere is 'Olde Time Cape Cod' at Hallett's,'tis true.

My 'sigh' simply marked my impatience before your reply re. the likelihood of a visitor having a serious encounter with 'PI': "But you're right, the chance the OP and family will encounter it in a day and a half out of Hyannis is pretty low."

Thanks starrs! And thanks for clarifying the 'sigh', Bowsprit.

Boston is an incredible city. You will be glad if you visit it.

The only two hotels we have stayed in there are:

1. Marriott Courtyard in Brookline (a great walking neighborhood with restaurants, shops, and T-station right there). This hotel offers underground 'secure' parking for a fee.

2. The Park Plaza, which is an historic building downtown, right near the Freedom Trail, the harbor, etc. Valet parking is expensive there, but there is also a parking structure across the street. This hotel gets bad reviews for some smallish rooms, but we stayed on the concierge level to get a larger room, which was well worth the extra cost. Because at the time, the hotel offered a complete breakfast buffet on the concierge level, and a full cocktail hour with appetizers each evening (enough for a light meal). Plus a concierge desk is on that floor for personal assistance.

(In any event, I suggest you haul the expensive musical equipment up to your hotel room.)

Thanks for the hotel suggestions PeaceOut. I will check them out. I don't know if you remember the Hammond organ from the 60's and 70's era, but my DD plays one of those. They are super heavy take a lot to shift and they won't be taking it into the hotel room. The SIL's guitar on the other hand goes everywhere with him so won't be left in the van.

Please get in touch with me at socialworker71 at gmail.com if at any point you decide that you want to use our driveway for parking your van, nelsonian.

Is the organ the only other equipment besides the guitar? No speakers, amplifiers, etc? The organ does not sound so enticing to thieves, (for what I know about music gear, which is nothing!) but I do remember a story in the Globe from some years back where all of a musician's equipment was stolen from his vehicle.

Ooh, a Hammond organ! I'd think it would be fine covered inside the van inside a parking garage affiliated with a hotel. (I'm no expert on criminality, but I'd think your average smash-and-run criminal wouldn't know what it is.)

In Boston, for an event every autumn we used to stay at the Colonnade opposite the Prudential Center. They have a parking structure integrated into the hotel and they'll validate the ticket so you get a little discount on the parking fee. I really like the location, nicely roomy rooms (recently renovated), and the Brasserie Jo is a good hotel restaurant and bar. (For breakfast, though, we pig out at Charlie's, a Boston institution a few blocks away in the South End.)

Another time we stayed near the hospital complex in Brookline. Basically the only hotel there - a Holiday Inn if I remember correctly - takes advantage of their monopoly on the location so that the quality is really poor. And the parking structure was dark and narrow to maneuver even our compact car!

Last year (for the same event), we stayed at the hip Liberty Hotel. Not my "cup of tea" at all! (By contrast to Brasserie Jo's cozy crowd, the bar was way too loud, and didn't have the selection we're used to at the former.) However, your kids might get a kick out of this converted jail, if even just to peek inside if you're in the area.

I'll try to remember what other hotels I've stayed in and provide more suggestions...

Socialworker, there will be a Leslie speaker, to go with the Hammond, which again is large and very heavy. There will be a guitar amplifier also, but SIL may take that with him to the hotel room. I need to have discussions with DD and SIL about what they want to do, but they are gigging on a cruise ship at the moment, only getting short e-mails and brief Skype calls. Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Not to turn to trivia, but I offered my advice a long way up thread.

What I want to know, "Is this a Hammond B-3?" If so, awesome!

My apologies for the poison ivy detour. I was simply commenting and then replying to an angry retort - a now deleted post. I find it irresponsible to continue to wax poetically about the beautiful ground foliage when you have been told most of it is poisonous. Of course I didn't think the likelihood of nelsonian and family exploring Hyannis for a few days would likely have the time for a hike that could lead to a painful outbreak, but others who read this thread might decide to collect the pretty leaves.

Not sure I would lodge in Brookline as a one time visitor with limited time. The reason I don't like the Park Plaza, is that many of the rooms are small and stuffy with windows that don't open, or they open above the dumpsters and delivery area which in the heat of summer is vile. The lobby is quite nice and old school though.

I would consider priceline for two rooms in backbay.

Again, I am sorry for putting this thread off track, but I did it to protect other people that might read this thread.

Colonnade does have that roof top pool!

There is absolutely no rush, for me to know what you will eventually decide nelsonian. We should be home at that time and will not need any extensive advance notice if you do decide to take me up on the offer!

I find it irresponsible to continue to wax poetically about the beautiful ground foliage when you have been told most of it is poisonous.
-------------------------------------------------------
lg: YOU are the Only poster who tried to make a little joke about the colorful ground foliage!! Are you forgetful? I know a great visual motor exercise that can increase your coordination and improve your memory! You seem to be a little obsessed about poison ivy as you've brought it up once again. Perhaps you could focus on something else now?

socialworker: You are the nicest person!

Bowsprit, no need to accuse me of your false accusations and distort my genuine and kind intent negatively. I was only defending my intent that had been completely reinterpreted and distorted.

Meanwhile I have tried to add some very helpful commentary and advice in regards to the poster's plans.

I've noticed that I need not provoke you for you to be unusually aggressive towards me. It is a habit, I hope you grow out of.

Ackislander yes, it is a Hammond C3, but the top has been cut from the bottom for slightly easier transportation. The only difference between the B3 and the C3 is the B3 is already chopped.

I was thinking about Priceline, but if you bid for two rooms wouldn't there be a possibility you would end up in different hotels.

Re: Priceline

Not if you bid for two rooms in one bid. I've been lucky getting the Weston, which was slighly dated last year but has heavenly beds for a fraction of the going rate. It's worth checking out the betterbidding and other bidding for travel site to find what hotels are likely in what areas. I suggested back bay, because I think it is a safe choice for bidding. No real live wire choices.

Of course there are lots of great places that you could book with a 24 hour cancellation policy and then try pricelining before you leave manhattan.

I've not read one helpful reply from you, lg. Not. one.

"I was simply commenting and then replying to an angry retort - a now deleted post. I find it irresponsible to continue to wax poetically about the beautiful ground foliage when you have been told most of it is poisonous"

Ridiculous. There was no angry retort. My comment was deleted and I was commenting on how interesting it was that a "brand new" poster was obsessed with poison ivy on the dunes of Cape Cod - just like a previous poster was. I suppose my mistake was listing three of the names that poster used.

For those who are wondering, that previous poster was really upset that something I wrote about the fall foliage was actually chosen as a quote used in a guidebook. That previous poster was quite sure that the fall foliage I saw was poison ivy. Kind of like THIS poster.

Silly, silly stuff. Silly stuff indeed. How ridiculous to sidetrack a thread with suggestions for nelsonian's visit with cautions about poison ivy. Ridiculous, indeed.

Not quite for the first time, Starrs and I agree.

(and I really Like the quotes Fodor's chooses as additions to their guidebooks!)

We teach a class in the Boston suburbs and usually take the class on the Boston Duck Tours. Not open during our last Nov. class so I made my own tour:

1. Symphony Hall - built in 1900 for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which continues to make the hall its home.
2. Christian Science Center - is The Mother Church and administrative headquarters of the Christian Science Church founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879.
3. Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music.
4. Left – Apple Store – the largest in North America
5. Prudential Center - The Pru,[1][2] is a skyscraper in Boston, Massachusetts. The building, a part of the Prudential Center complex, currently stands as the 2nd-tallest building in Boston, behind the John Hancock Tower.
6. Boston Public Library - the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to borrow books and other materials and take them home to read and use.
7. Old South Church - was built on newly filled land in the Back Bay section of Boston home to one of the older religious communities in the United States.
8. Boston Public Garden - established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray[4] petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Home to the Swan Boats.
9. Boston Common - During the 1630s, it was used by many families as a cow pasture. The Common was used as a camp by the British before the American Revolutionary War, from which they left for the Battle of Lexington and Concord. It was used for public hangings up until 1817.
10. Cheers Pub – where everybody knows your name.
11. Beacon Hill - a neighborhood of Federal-style rowhouses and is known for its narrow, gas-lit streets and brick sidewalks. Today, Beacon Hill is regarded as one of the most desirable and expensive neighborhoods in Boston.[4]
12. State House - The original wood dome, which leaked, was covered with copper during 1802 by Paul Revere's company. (Paul Revere was the first American to roll copper successfully into sheets in a commercially viable manner.) The dome was first painted gray and then light yellow before being gilded with gold leaf during 1874. During World War II, the dome was painted once again, this time black or gray (depending on the source), to prevent reflection during blackouts and to protect the city and building from bombing attacks. During 1997, at a cost of more than $300,000, the dome was re-gilded, in 23k gold.
13. North End - the city's oldest residential community, where people have lived continuously since it was settled in the 1630s. Though small (⅓ mi²), the neighborhood has approximately 100 eating establishments, and a variety of tourist attractions. It is known as the city's Little Italy for its Italian-American population.
14. Old North Church - is the location from which the famous "One if by land, and two if by sea" signal is said to have been sent. This phrase is related to Paul Revere's midnight ride, of April 18, 1775, which preceded the Battles of Lexington and Concord during the American Revolution.
15. Paul Revere’s House - Paul Revere owned this house from 1770–1800, although he and his family may have lived elsewhere for periods in the 1780s and 1790s.
16. Faneuil Hall - The ground floor was originally used to house African sheep brought over from the northwestern region of New Hampshire. The program was short lived however, due to a shortage of sheep and reasoning behind the program in the first place.
17. MIT- Founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States,
18. Harvard Square - Harvard Square is a large triangular historic center of Cambridge.[2] Adjacent to Harvard Yard, the historic heart of Harvard University,
19. Boston University - BU is categorized as an RU/VH Research University (very high research activity) in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
20. Fenway Park - has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use.
21. Copley Place - constructed in 1983

I have the driving map for my tour available in a PDF if you want it.

Wow thanks Mary_Jane what great information. I would love the PDF, my e-mail is sharon dot f at clear dot net dot nz.

Can you actually go inside the Berkley College of Music, DD was interested in going there when she was looking at colleges after high school.

Thanks so much

You definitely can go inside Berklee. It's very close to Symphony Hall and the well-regarded Huntington Theater, as well as to the Christian Science center if you have an interest in viewing the Mapparium. (FWIW, all of these are a short walk from the hotel I mentioned earlier, the Colonnade.)

Map of Berklee:
www.berklee.edu/visiting/directions.html

Events at Berklee in Nov 2012:
http://www.berklee.edu/events/month/2012-11

Mapparium:
www.marybakereddylibrary.org/exhibits/​mapparium

Huntington Theater:
www.huntingtontheatre.org/

// Coincidentally, just this afternoon I read an article in the Guardian UK about Berklee. Nothing new for those who know about the school, but cool nonetheless to see it in an international newspaper!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/may/29/berklee-college-grammy-music

Nelsonian--
We took two friends from Japan to Boston some years ago. I didn't think ahead of time how much we took for granted of American History and had some explaining to do.

If you want an easy way to brush up on the pertinent American history, hunt down the Liberty's Kids cartoons on youtube.(We get them at the library.) They are well done, and famous actors do some of the voices. Here's an index of the episodes, with summaries if you click on the different episodes. The first several pertain to Boston. There are others related to New York.
http://libertyskids.com/story/index.html

You have gotten great recommendations; Freedom Trail, Paul Revere's house and the Plimouth Plantation were all excellent. We also enjoyed Sturbridge, but I think you'd do better to see things in Boston given your limited time.

Enjoy your trip!

Nelsonian, www.lastminutetravel.com often has some very good deals for hotels in Boston. They are "mystery" hotels but pretty easily identified by the photos they show (which are the same as on the hotels websites). So I'd happy to help ID any hotels you find there. You can reserve two rooms at one time. It's not showing any great deals right now but it may be too early. And I don't know if there are any large conventions in town that week.

Another new resource in Boston is a new app by the National Park Service. It covers the Freedom Trail and the Black History Trail and allows you to customize your own tour. It is available right now for IPhones and IPads for free. At ITunes, search for NPS Boston and it will come up.

cw, that app looks very cool! FWIW, it's available for both Android and iOS. Here's the page on the NPS Boston site for both apps:
http://www.nps.gov/bost/planyourvisit/app.htm

ggreen, I was at the ceremony last Friday for the new NPS Visitor Center and re-opening of the first floor of Faneuil Hall. They said that the Android app was "coming soon." So they weren't kidding! Thanks for that additional information.

I've played around with the make your own tour feature and it's a lot of fun.

I'm commenting #1 because I want to be able to find this thread in the future and #2 this is all great information (even the stuff about poison ivy!) as I will be in this area the same weekend. Even though the weather may be iffy this time of year, if I had the chance to take an extra day on the Cape, should I? (Sorry to piggyback on the OP, but so many great responses!)

Buffy, I can't tell you about the Cape, but I can tell you we spent nearly two weeks in the Boston area and still could have stayed longer. Not sure the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum made Nelsonian's final cut, but I'd encourage you to consider it. The art was first class, but the clincher for me was that the setting was just so different than other museums.

Have found this hotel on Hotwire. Looking at Better bidding I think it is the Westin Boston waterfront. I realise it it not downtown but we will have a van. I'm not sure how easy it would be to get to the CBD if we didn't use the van. Does this look like a good deal?

http://www.hotwire.com/hotel/details.jsp?actionType=2&inputId=hotel-results&searchId=6591154173&selectedSolutionId=182360323029&selectedP

All comments welcome.

You are not going to want to drive the van into Boston. The Silver Line comes very near that hotel and will take you to the Red Line at South Station.

There is almost no on-street parking that does not require a resident sticker in most of the areas you will want to visit. You could leave the van at the Common Garage cheaply on a Saturday or Sunday, but then you have to drive it there and back, which is not trivial as there is no exit from I-90 (the route from the airport to Masspike) on the outbound side. You would have to drive through Boston's maze of non-gridded streets.
There are non-residential areas south of the Masspike where you could park the van, but with out of state plates, any indication of musical equipment or any other valuable cargo might well get it broken into since they know you won't be around to prosecute even if the perpetrators are caught.

Ack is (as usual ) correct in what he is telling you. Boston is not a city for driving even when you know your way around and have lived in the area for many years!! I can only imagine the difficulty that those unfamiliar with the area would have.....

I tried to access your link, but it only takes me to the Hotwire main page, not to your selection, as that is probably tied to your individual search. I also apologize that I do not know what the initials CBD stand for in your post. I do think that you should only park your vehicle in secured hotel parking if you do not want to take me up on the (admittedly a bit of a pain in the neck for you!) offer to park it here out in the suburbs.

CBD is Central Business District, and the Silver Line and Red Line are your friend.

The Red Line takes you to Park Street, the beginning of the Freedom Trail, the entrance to Boston Common, the access point for scenic Beacon Hill, the headquarters of the Park Service.

It is the point of connection with the Green Line, which will take you to the Back Bay (shopping), the area around Berklee College of Music (guitar and other instrument stores, Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Brighton music scene.

If you stay on the Red Line, you can visit MIT, Central Square (funky music scene),Harvard, and Davis Square in Somerville, another serious music scene. Pick up one of the throwaway entertainment papers on the street.

If I tried to tell you how to get from the "Seaport District" to a bar called "The Burren" in Davis Square, you would give up in defeat.

nelsonian, I know you'd want the van close to you because of the gear inside. Ack is right that that area is not the best to drive into... (The link has expired but like you I'm assuming we're talking about the Westin Boston Waterfront.)

However, the actual drive from the Cape to the hotel isn't as bad as it would be for 99% of Boston and environs! You'll be taking Route 3 from the Cape to Boston regardless. Once it bends towards Boston at Quincy, it is called the Southeast Expressway which is congested at almost any time of day or year... but it IS straightforward to get off it, onto the eastbound Mass Pike (I-90), and to the hotel.

That said, if you were okay with leaving the van in a public parking garage, the Red Line becomes even more your friend. Coming from the Cape, there are two T stations with large parking structures and easy on/off from the highway: Braintree and Quincy Adams. Both are just off Route 3 as you approach Boston from the Cape. (You can see them on Google Maps if you turn on Transit looking at the Boston area.)

Actually, Ack, for the Burren isn't it just the Red Line straight to Davis Square and then a very short walk? (The Burren is a Tufts student fave!) By car, OTIH, to quote the old Pepperidge Farm Yankee, "You can't get there from here."

OTOH!!

I agree with ggreen that the Westin Waterfront is, for Boston, easy to reach via auto. Why not contact the hotel and tell them you'll have expensive musical equipment in the car and ask if there is a secure place for you to park. If they can't provide secure parking maybe they would have some suggestions.

socialworker is right, The Burren is a bar (also serves food, mostly pub grub favorites) located right in Davis Square. Davis is a stop on the Red Line subway, and The Burren is a short walk from there. The closest Red Line stop to the Seaport District will be South Station.

I definitely would not try driving there from the Seaport District, myself, unless you know where you're going. And from there, it's going to be a pretty challenging and confusing drive without a GPS or the like.

In fact, all advice you're getting to take public transportation in Boston is well-founded. I'd heed it, myself.

Thanks everyone. I have also been looking at places in the suburbs through VRBO and AirBnB, there are a couple of places that look interesting.

I agree about not driving into Boston itself, even though the van has a GPS. I thought this hotel was a great price, and will contact them to see what they say about secure parking.

I have also been looking at places in the suburbs

IMO, depending on what the hotel says, you'd do better to stay there in Boston than in the suburbs. (Which suburbs in particular are you looking at?) With such a short amount of time for your visit, I wouldn't want to spend it commuting in...

I guess I assumed from the earlier conversation on this thread that the van is simply for getting to/from Boston, but you'd leave it at the hotel for your sightseeing (of course). If that's still the case, I'd say the amount of "driving into Boston itself" you'd do to get from the Cape to the Westin Waterfront is negligible and very straightforward. (That part of the South End is fairly newly renovated and completely unlike Boston's historic cow paths-cum-roadways!)

ggreen, all the places I have been looking at vary from 15 minutes to 30 minutes using the T, which doesn't appear to be too long a commute. DD thinks they could use the van to drive downtown, I will be trying to convince them to use the T.

I have looked at lots of suburbs, some close to the airport, some in South Boston, Revere, just about everywhere!!

"Actually, Ack, for the Burren isn't it just the Red Line straight to Davis Square and then a very short walk? (The Burren is a Tufts student fave!) By car, OTIH, to quote the old Pepperidge Farm Yankee, "You can't get there from here."

Yep, but they are starting from what is now called the Seaport District, across Fort Point Channel and would have to take the Silver Line to South Station to get the Red Line.

I agree with you wholeheartedly that you can't get to Davis Square from the so-called SeaPort District.

The OP's somewhat headstrong family seems to me to think that driving in Boston is like driving in Manhattan, busy but gridded.

It isn't. It is a lot more like Rome, lots of little streets that wander all over the place and change their names while they are doing it. Of course many of them are one way and very few allow on street parking. What makes Boston really hard is that the main streets are not signed, only the cross streets, so you have to guess that you are on Mass Ave because no sign will tell you.

Then there are local anomalies: the Harvard Bridge goes from Boston to MIT, not Harvard. There are two Beacon Streets in Boston, one leading to Brookline, the other in Brighton.

Bostonians think in terms of Squares: Dewey, Post Office, Central, Harvard, Porter, Davis, but many of these are not on maps and they are no signs to tell you that you are there unless you see a sign on a T station or local business.

I am inclined to drop out of this discussion. If they want to drive to Davis Square or Brighton and try to find a legal place to park a van, let 'em. If they want to find out how fast Boston or Brookline (2 hour limit) or Somerville will tow a van with out of state plates in a residents only parking area, let 'em.

nelsonian, you do not want to be commuting back and forth into Boston via the van. Park it in a safe place and use public transportaton. Please reread Ackislander's last paragraph.

For whatever reason, in my cluelessness, I never saw where they said that they wanted to drive around Boston in a van. As someone who has lived in this area for 40+ years I must echo that it is not a good idea.

I remember our early years in Cambridge, Ack, where as we drove down main streets with no names, how I would look out the windows of the car and tell DH things like, "Oh, that store was called Prospect Spa (the old time local word for convenience stores, for you non-locals ) so we must be on Prospect Street!!" That was our "GPS" for all our years in Cambridge.

We lived just a couple blocs outside of Harvard Square, just off Mt. Auburn for years, and I cannot tell you how MANY times in returning home from Star Market on Mt. Auburn St, we ended up on Storrow Drive at the (dare I call it an intersection, more like a maze!) where Mt Auburn, Fresh Pond and Storrow/Soldiers Field Roads all come together such that you have very little clue as to which one you have taken. Driving in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville is very akin to Alice's trip down the rabbit hole.

If your family wants to drive, some garages are much cheaper on weekends, e.g. the Boston Common garage is $11, but I'm not clear if their equipment will be in the van. If so, parking in Boston with an out-of-state van full of equipment is like waving a flag saying "break into this car." Boston is a safe city but it is silly to leave anything in your car of value. It's just too tempting.

If you drive into Boston, park once and walk or take the "T." Driving from place to place will take up what little time you have to sightsee.

If staying out of town, you might check the Quincy Marriott (it often has a very cheap price on lastminutetravel). It's about a mile from a Red Line Station. I would concentrate on areas South or West of Boston because those areas are more convenient for arriving from the Cape and leaving to return to NYC.

You also mention South Boston. There are some lower cost chain hotels there but I wouldn't leave a full van in the parking lot and consider it safe. If you're looking at some other place in South Boston, make sure it has parking.

I would recommend that you make a reservation now that you can cancel later if you find a better deal. It's really too early to find any hotel deals for November. I don't see any conventions listed in town for your dates so that will work in your favor.

If you find a outlying location, run it by the folks here first.

DD thinks they could use the van to drive downtown, I will be trying to convince them to use the T.
_____

For whatever reason, in my cluelessness, I never saw where they said that they wanted to drive around Boston in a van.

Driving in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville is very akin to Alice's trip down the rabbit hole.

Exactly! I definitely was under the impression that the van would be left in the parking structure at the hotel, not least because not all the gear would be removed from it to the hotel room.

nelsonian, you really want to impress upon your DD that you need to drive to the hotel, park the van, and explore the city on foot and public transit.

The most similarity that NYC streets have to Boston ones are in the Financial District, the West Village, and parts of Queens. The West Village is extremely straightforward compared to Boston. The Financial District comes close: lots of traffic (auto and otherwise); ancient one-way streets; no available street parking to speak of; and a distinct sense that "you can't get there from here". So does Queens, its curling paths with overlapping street names, but even there the street signs at least are a help! And in Boston/Cambridge/etc., it's all of these things *at the same time*.

But really, there's no comparison, just a matter of faith! I spent the first half of my life living in Boston/environs and of course return often. I can count on one hand the number of times in the last ten years that I've parked on the street (all of which were to go to the theater in Cambridge, and we parked in my family's "secret parking area" we have known for 40+ years and then walked into Harvard Square).

I have looked at lots of suburbs, some close to the airport, some in South Boston, Revere, just about everywhere!!

I can't speak from personal experience for the places you list, but I'd take the Westin Waterfront over them any day. (None of those have a reputation as great neighborhoods/towns; services like nearby restaurants won't be the same as being in Boston. I do know that driving from either the airport and Revere is a PIA...)