Advice on GoBoston excursions
 

The wife and I are planning a trip to Boston in late September. I've been researching the GoBoston card and wanted to get any feedback on the different excursions that are offered (gobostoncard.com/freeadmissions.html#ex).

Specifically, we're looking at:
* Wrentham Village Premium Outlets shopping excursion
* Fall Foliage Day Tour
* New England Seacoast Day Tour

Wondering whether anyone has done these tours and what your thoughts were.

A bit about us to put it in context, we're late 20's, both very interested in photography, especially older architecture and landscape/scenery.

At this point the shopping excursion is pretty much definite, and of the two day tours we're leaning toward the Sea Coast one.

Anyone? *hopeful*

I'd skip the seacoast tour. Hampton Beach is about the least interesting or picturesque part of the seacoast area. How long do you have in Boston? You might be better off planning a day trip on your own.

I like the Wrentham outlets but unless you don't live near any outlets I'd stay in Boston and shop. So much good shopping here.

Given that the tours are included in the price of the GoBoston card, it might not be a bad way to go. The seacoast tour sounds okay but I would want to know more about what they mean when they say travel north through Boston and its North Shore communities. If that means they just drive up 95N until you get to Hampton Beach all you will see is highway - nothing to look at there - I do it everyday. If they drive up Rt1 - its a little better but not much. If they use some of RT1a - then you will see something. Rt1a goes through some picturesque towns (Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury and Newburyport) and goes along the ocean in Rye NH.

Overall it seems to me like a "good" plan but not a "great plan". But I would take a "good" plan over no plan any day of the week.

For one thing, there won't be much, if any,color in late September esp on the coast so I would skip the foliage trip. I like the stores better at the Kittery ME outlets which is on Rt 1 just north of Portsmouth NH. If you were driving your own car you could shop Kittery plus explore the New England Seacoast. The goBoston tour actually sounds pretty decent but you're really seeing a couple of highlights when you could be seeing so much more. But better than not seeing anything. I'm betting you don't get off Rt 95 until you get to Maine so expect at least an hour on the bus each way. If you are interested in older architecture etc it would be a shame to drive past Portsmouth without exploring. If you didn't want to rent a car, I would consider taking the public bus to Portsmouth. There would be a lot within walking distance (I think you are let out downtown) and could take a cab to Strawbery Banke.

I have to strongly disagree with the Kittery outlets being better than Wrentham. Plus, there's a 6% sales tax on everything in ME. But I do agree with exploring Portsmouth for a day, it's a great harbor town.