familythattravels

Hi - planning two nights in Boston late July. Two kids ages 9 & 11. Never been with the kids and I only went once - nearly 20 years ago. What are the must see/do items? Considering a stay at the Hotel Commonwealth Boston and one baseball game during the stay. Not huge baseball fans but seems a shame to miss a game in such a historic ball park.

http://www.hotelcommonwealth.com/ind...anding_pages=1

Thanks for your time and consideration.

emalloy

Museum of Science is great for kids that age. Do a bit of the freedom trail and explain a bit about our history. They might also like a duck tour.

DonTopaz

Definitely a duck boat tour -- lots of fun for kids. They're very busy in July -- be sure to get reservations in advance: http://www.bostonducktours.com/

Agree w/Freedom Trail if they're interested in history. If they've ever read the children's book "Make Way For Ducklings," they'll get a kick out of the Boston Public Garden, where the story took place and where there's a set of statue/ducklings. While at the Public Garden, they might enjoy the Swan Boat ride in the lake there.

You should also know that when the Sox are in town, the area around the Hotel Commonwealth is extremely busy/noisy from about 5pm-midnight (for night games) and from 11am-5pm (Sunday games).

familythattravels

Thanks for tips/suggestions. We have done the duck tour out of philly a few years back and they loved it. Might be a nice way to learn about Boston. Didn't know about the ducklings either....that sounds ducky - sorry could not resist .

rizzo0904

Boston is such a great walkable city.

I agree the Duck Tours are great. They leave from the Museum of Science so you can combine the two.

USS Constitution.

Walk around Little Italy and grab some breads, desserts, gelato, etc. Depending on your kids' interests, you could do a food tour of either the North End (Italian) or Chinatown. http://www.bostonfoodtours.com/

rizzo0904

Oh this is fun too depending on which days you will be in town:
http://boston.langhamhotels.com/rest...colate_bar.htm

HKP

Don't miss the Children's Museum. http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/

Duck Tour is one of the best (have done Philly's which is okay/fun but you spend a lot of the time bucking the river current).

If possible, have them read McCloskey's "Make Way for Ducklings" ahead of time and then find the duckling+Mom sculpture in the Public Garden. Recently, Bostonians have been dressing the ducklings up to celebrate - or remember - significant events.

It seems kind of low-level for older kids, but riding a Swan Boat in the public garden is a pleasant rest on a nice day. They can see the boats (which travel a fairly small little pond, also pictured in "Make Way for Ducklings" book) and decide if it's just too boring.

You may have already been told that getting Red Sox tickets is a challenge. Haven't tried, myself, but be aware.

HKP

To explain - the book was originally intended to be read to younger kids while sharing the pictures, but it is a sweet story and gives a good picture of Boston in the 30s or so -- with landmarks, like the Public Garden, that are still there. It's kind of a classic for kids who grow up in New England, regardless of when they were born.

Tabernash2

Instead of the duck tour, I suggest a whale watch expedition, offered by the aquarium.
http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/whale-watch/

familythattravels

Rizzo - I love how food centric your suggestions are....wow that chocolate bar looks amazing only dates listed through June and our visit is in July - will have to see if they extent it. Looks life changing

Tabernash - I am sure that expedition would be great but....whale watching is out as there are 3 landlubbers who tend to get violently sea sick. I've been whale watching before off of cape cod and was on the floor the entire time, not pleasant.

HKP/everyone - So far looking like the duck tour, red sox, children's museum and little italy. I will also check into the "Make Way for Ducklings" book which has been mentioned a couple of times.

Thanks for the info folks this is going to be fun!

Tabernash2

That's a shame, family. I always love to get out on the water, wherever we visit. The aquarium itself is fun, of course.

familythattravels

Tell me about it Tabernash - the most we can do are Ferry rids and go fast boats that don't stop long....oh and we can all handle the duck tour unless they take it into rough water then all bets are off 9

rizzo0904

You could try this:

http://www.urbanadventurequest.com/

It's a scavenger hunt thru Boston. And it's only 3 hours.

A tall ship will be in Boston on the 27th and 28th if you are still there. "Come tour America's Tall Ship, the Eagle, the tallest tall ship in U.S.Coast Guard's fleet on Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28, at the Charlestown Navy Yard next to the USS Constitution. Built in 1936, the Eagle is a 295-foot long cutter and the only square-rigger currently in U.S. government service.

The free tours take place 10am-6pm on Saturday and 11:30am-6pm on Sunday."



This site has lots of events:
http://www.boston-discovery-guide.co...ndar-july.html

Vttraveler

This is an older thread with lots of good ideas about things to see in Boston and the surrounding area
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...and-beyond.cfm

familythattravels

Thanks rizzo0904 & vttraveler. The tall ship sounds awesome and I will check out the other ideas.

dfrostnh

The foodie tours are expensive and take a half day. Might be more than a 9 and 11 yo can do. But, there are wonderful snacks at the bakeries in Chinatown as well as the Italian North End bakeries. One of the little shops in the North End sells a lemon slushie drink that was very tasty. (Sorry, I don't remember where.) I would take advantage of the ethnic dining available for a great lunch, dinner or snack. Might be fun to get bubble tea in Chinatown.

The Museum of Science has an optional laser show and IMAX theater. Depending on what's showing, the IMAX would be great fun.

rizzo0904

Yes, the food tours would depend on your kids. Mine LOVE food an all things about it. We spent a week in CA and all they talk about is the food truck festival we went to. No one mentions the SD Zoo or Disneyland.

The highway cutting thru Boston was put underground and there is now new "green space". My kids really enjoy playing in the fountains at the Rose Kennedy Greenway...it's just outside of the North End. It's a fun way to cool off for an hour.

There is also the aquarium, which I've never been a fan of. But I haven't been since they renovated. Maybe it's better now.

There area also walking tours of historic areas. I see them at the Public Garden often. Here is one: http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/boston-tours/ I have no idea which group is best as I've never done one.

rizzo0904

And I don't know the gender and/or interests of your children. If you have a shopper, visit Newbury Street. And on a side street, take a break here: http://www.burdickchocolate.com/default.aspx My boys love the hot cocoa and cakes. I'm going assume they offer frozen cocoa in the summer but I don't know for sure.

HKP

PS re Duck tour and seasickness -- the Charles rarely gets excited enough to be a problem. I have a lot of motion-sickness trouble and this was nuthin'.

familythattravels

rizzo I want to go on vacation with your family - loving these ideas! I have one boy and one girl no one is a big shopper but we will check out neighborhoods and duck in/out of shops.

HKP - not worried about the Duck Tour but the whale watching would be brutal.

dfrostnh - Chinatown is tempting too will have to see if we can squeeze that in.