I've been reading through all the posts and am still confused about which area to stay in, Back Bay or near Quincy Market. Basically Marriott Long Wharf, Custom House or Marriott Copley Place. We are going to Boston the end of June for 4 nights, Wed-Sun. It will be my husband and I and our children, 12 and 14. We are going to do alot of the touristy and historic things since my kids have never been to Boston so I'm leaning towards Long Wharf but I wanted other opinions. Thanks!!!

They are all good choices. The thing about the Marriott Long Wharf and the Custom House is they are closer to all the action involved with the Big Dig and road construction - not that you'd be driving a lot once here, but you would still have to negotiate through some road barriers/special walkways for pedestrians/etc and there is noise and traffic tie ups.

At Copley you are removed from that and close to the Back Bay/Boston Common/Public Gardens/Newbury and Boylston and all the Pru and Copley shops. It is a nice area, and the girls could even mall shop nearby solo for an hour while you and hubby sat and had coffee or a drink if you wanted to - easier than in other locations in my opinion.

You are also close to many historic things and walking things easier than waterfront (except for north end area) because you will always have to "cross the highway" to get to the city side so to speak.

I grew up in Boston and live just outside of it now, but am there weekly, my kids are now 20 and 24, but I would chose Copley area even today.

You can easily plan to spend one of your days walking to taking the T over to the Long Wharf/ waterfront area - enjoying the harbor - maybe even take one of the ferries that go to the islands - returning and walking thru North End and do the Paul Revere House and Old North Church, have dinner in North End, take girls to Mikes Pastry and make that a late morning-early evening scope of that area.

Then another day you can easily do Boston Common, Public Gardens, Newbury/Boylston/Charles St/ Charles River/ parts of Freedom Trail and maybe the girls will like ending in Faneuil Hall and eating in that area.

Another day you can acces so much from Copley area: museums, trinity Church, BPL, etc.

go to this post: Boston in May, where to stay - the link is:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34761580

near the end I listed many web sites that might help you, including the boston card, the island tours info, etc.

have fun. June should be lovely and the BPG and common will look lovely and if you get any rain, at Copley you have much to do inside walkways to the pru/copley which is nice.

Go with the Long Wharf, you are right on the water, next to Quicny Market and the Aquarium. You can also take boat rides right next to the hotel. You can walk to the north end and you can walk to Chinatown in 15 minutes. Back Bay is a great location also, I'm just bias, I always like staying on the water.

Friday is a great day to visit the fresh produce peddlers around Haymarket. It gets very crowded on the weekend. I had my first fresh figs on a culinary tour of the North End last fall and bought some to bring home ... as well as other yummies. Your children might be a little young to appreciate the old European neighborhood of the area but a short tour as well as a visit to the Paul Revere house would be good. During the day when there tends to be more residents than tourists is nice. The lemon ice at the little store is great - you'll see the antique dispensor next to the door. Try some antipasto. I think the Long Wharf is a great choice. For another foreign adventure you might try a dim sum lunch in Chinatown. We were quite sure what we were eating but it can be lots of fun.
We also ate at Durgin Park for old times sake ... we went there eons ago on a school field trip.
Late June in the Quincy Market area should be very nice, with street performers and the usual excitement of a city evening. You'll enjoy walking but definitely make sure the children get a ride on the subway if they haven't been on one before. Th Copley area would be my close second choice esp because of the proximity to the Duck Tour pickup and tickets. Boston isn't that large, you'll be able to see quite a bit. The only hotels I haven't cared for have been on the outskirts or over in Cambridge.

if you want good, fresh fish and aren't looking to pay for fancy surroundings - this is always excellent:

http://dinesite.com/info/rstrnt-93570/??&t=0

sorry, i should have added the name -
it's "No Name"

escargot, I have read some of your posts on Boston and they have been very helpful. You should be a travel agent!! I have been leaning towards Long Wharf but I think I will go with your advice and go with Copley place especially if there is rain. I wanted to start my first morning with the top of the Pru for the kids to get an overview of Boston and some history. I lived in Weymouth 17 years ago and whenever someone came to visit from PA I took them there first. I called Marriott tonight and they couldn't give me a room with a water view at the Long Wharf anyway so why bother staying there. Any other info is appreciated. We are goin to the Cape and staying at the REd Jacket Resort for 5 nights after Boston. Any info around there? Planning to stop at JFK library and Plymouth on the way down.

We stayed at the Marriott Long Wharf last year and loved the location. I thought all rooms had water view from the side. So many areas to walk to, and especially the shops and restaurants of the North End, the trolley, etc.

If you go to that link I mentioned in one of my previous posts - boston in may-where to stay -
I listed a lot of web pages, like the gobostoncard (which even if buying the card doesn't make sense for you, the web site has a lot of good info on attractions and no, I don't work for them nor am I a travel agent....I wish! that would be a job to have huh? Other web sites good for Boston are listed on that post also (like for the harbor cruises to boston harbor islands, the opentable web site for advance dinner rezzies, etc)

As far as Plymouth - of course there is Plimoth Plantation (www.plimoth.org) and a sometimes overlooked little spot that is nice is the Jenny Grist Mill (www.jenneygristmill.org).

You may never leave your resort in Yarmouth, but if you venture into Dennis/West Dennis/Dennisport area there is a restaurant Capt Williams and a little palce for breakfast w/ great blueberry muffins called the WeePacket - if you google "restaurants, dennis, ma" you can find those and others.

If you are so inclined, you won't be too far from either Hyannis or WoodsHole (the former very close to where you'll be) if you want to take the ferry over to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket for a day, - although I think MV might be more fun- you can hop on and off hte island bus all day and see Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Vineyard Haven and have a nice island day if you feel like it.

Should you decide to do MV, search for info here or repost and I can give you lots of info/eating/etc how to spend the day and all.

We lived in Weymouth when we first got married 26 yrs ago !!

If you are looking for something fun at night for the girls if they haven't seen Blue Man Group or Shear Madness, they might enjoy those - and eating outside at PF Changs, the kids usually like that place as well as Fire and Ice, which is near Copley area.