Louise

Hello everyone

I am planning a 5 day trip to Massachusetts, and three areas I would like to see while there are Boston, Plymouth and Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard.....Since many of you are against renting a car, how will we be able to visit all of the above towns without a car??? I am even thinking about extending the days to 7 if need be....
Should we stay in downtown boston, or maybe somewhere in the middle, but I would think in order to see all three towns one would need a car..??

Since my husband is into historical sightseeing (I am too somewhat), I thought the above choice towns would be ideal.....

Any suggestions would be appreciated.....

Thanks

lorna

The only sensible way to visit these places is to rent a car.

betsy

This is what I would do regarding the car: Ditch it when you visit Boston. You do not need a car in the city. When you go to Plymouth and the Cape, you'll need one. It's much easier to get around those areas. If you decide to go to the Vineyard (assuming you're going this summer??) you will ABSOLUTLY need ferry reservations. 5 days is a little tight, as I would give myself 2-3 days in Boston, 1 in Plymouth, 2-3 on the cape and 2-3 on the Vineyard. If your budget dictates,I would stay in Boston proper for your visit in the city. Then stay down toward or on the Cape when you visit Plymouth, Cape Cod etc. You could stay in Plymouth and take the Commuter Rail into Boston (www.mbta.com), but I feel that in order to get the "Boston experience" you need to stay in the city. Hope this helps!

Penny

I agree with the previous poster that you won't want a car in Boston. It's hair-raising driving into the city even knowing one's way around.

Here's an alternate suggestion: Start in the city, carless. Arrange to rent a car a few days later--say, in Quincy, south of the city and right on the MBTA line.

The beauty of Quincy is that you can stop at the Adams Historic Site, one of the unsung jewels of the Boston area. You can visit the house that John and Abigail, and then John Quincy, and then Henry, and then other Adamses lived in until about the 1930s. They never threw anything away, so you can see more artifacts from that family than in most other historic homes. No reproductions--the real stuff. It's great. And now David McCullough is writing a new biography of John Adams, so your husband will be on the vanguard of new historic interests.

From Quincy, you can easily drive south to Plymouth and the Cape. I don't know the distance you're traveling to get to Boston, but if it's not terribly far you might want to cut out either in-depth exploration of the Cape or the trip to the Vineyard.

What time of year are you traveling?

lynn

Hi Louise--I live outside Boston, so may be a little jaded about the sights, but here goes. You can get around Boston very easily on the T, the subway, and on foot. Take the Duck Tour to get your bearings, walk the Freedom Trail. Make sure you visit the North End, have some cannolis and coffee in one of the coffee bars at night; the Public Gardens and Boston Commons are pleasant--brunch in the Ritz bar, then window shopping on Newbury St. Faneuil Hall is popular. If you're a history fan, a trip to George's Island in the Harbor is great fun. I'd take the ferry to Provincetown, and rent a car there. Try to stay in Truro or Wellfleet and walk the National Seashore; drive up the Cape to Plymouth, stopping in Brewster for lunch (or you can go to Hyannisport). In the morning to Plimoth Plantation. Get there very early--before it opens. A mob appears very quickly. One tactic that worked for us was to walk to the far end of the village first and make our way back. That way we got to speak one on one with the actors and got a more authentic feel for the place. Get the pricier period lunch, which comes with a food historian; very interesting. Forget Plimoth Rock. You may want to stop in Newport for mansion tours while you're in the area, then back up to Boston. Hope this helps.