Family of 6 going to Boston next week to take in some history and the Cape Cod area.
I have reservations at the Radisson Hotel Boston-is this a good location for walking, Freedom Trail, etc?

Any suggestions of what we shouldn't miss considering kids are 15,12,7,5. Places to eat, duck tour? Like historical places.

Also, would like to go to Dennis, MA to see friends, would a weekday be better than weekend?

Kids love to fish, any suggestions where they can rent poles and fish??

Thanks for your help!

You are about a 15 minute walk to the start of the freedom trail-it is a pleasant walk through the park.

If your children love American history, spending the day on the freedom trail, which also includes many places to eat/drink, would be fun.

Many love the duck tours, I have not been on one.

The aquarium is just a block off the freedom trail and the museum of sceince is about a 15 minute subway ride from the stop nearest your hotel.

Anything that involves buying a ticket I would suggest you make the purchase on-line ahead of time.

As far as places to eat, give us your price range and type of food you like.

In addition to the Freedom Trail I would recommend walking around Beacon Hill. There is a Black heritage Trail through part of this area.
children's Museum would be good for the younger kids. Museum of Science is appropriate for the whole family

If you like history and are heading for the Cape, Plimouth Plantation is a good stop.

Yes, go on the Duck tour and as TKT said book online before you go (check weather reports too). I recommend doing this before you walk the Freedom trail (which is long!) as it gives you an overview.
All other suggestions are good too.

Definitely do a duck tour.

Also, the National Park Service had a very good free walking tour of the Freedom Trial (they just do the most historic - and interesting- part.)

Sorry, don't know about fishing but someone else must. Your friends would probably know if it is easier to visit them on a weekday or weekend.

Have a great trip!

If you are driving to Dennis, you would experience much less "summer Cape traffic" going during the week - but if your friends work and the weekend works better, try and plan your departure and return to avoid the peak travel times for day trippers and cape 'weekend warriors' -
I would think your friends can help with this, if not, post back.

Radisson is excellent location for everything. We often have relatives from out of state stay there.

Especially with smaller children, I often suggest doing the Freedom trail "backwards" so to speak, from the conventional beginning, in the summer -
walk towards Faneuil Hall, grab some breakfast, and take the water shuttle to Constitution stop and start there and work back, sometimes b/c I just think esp in summer, if by end of day on Freedom Trail you are tired, it's better to be closer to hotel - you can do a pit stop at hotel if you want, a rest, swim in the pool, etc and then go out again without 'dragging' tired little ones back -

Duck Tour tix can sell out esp in summer, I think you can order them online up to 5 dys in advance or something like that, so I would do that and start a day with that. From your hotel, walk to breakfast (maybe at a smaller neighborhood restaurant or diner in South End area (Charlies, Appleton St Cafe, Au Bon Pain even ) and get the duck tour near the Pru -

Consider also the PRudential Skywalk, sometimes nice at end of trip to see from high up all the areas you visited, also has historical exhibit.

At least walk thru the Boston Public Library - it's free - and the Sargent Murals are gorgeous - it also has a nice cafe - around the corner from Duck Tour beginning near the Pru/Huntington Ave

If you have a great aquarium near you or have been to one recently,, i think you can skip ours, it's in rather poor shape right now.

Museum of Science a better bet.

Definitely stop at the great tourist center on Boston Common first off and take a look at all the possiblities and brochures -
from your hotel you might consider the following as your 'first walk' - one I often suggest to people staying near or where you are to stretch their legs on arrival whether they flew or drove and if time allows - walking down towards the Public garden, take a left to Arlington and walk up towards Comm and into the Public garden, see the swan boats, walk diagonally so you see the Make way for Duckling statue, out the other side, down Charles Street to end (passing some good bakeries or quick sandwich places that are good) at end bear left and take the walkway over the highway to the Charles River to get a good breath of fresh air, retrace steps and back down the other side of Charles St, cross the street to Boston Common, walk diagonally down to opposite corner and tourist info booth and gather lots of material - walk back to hotel Tremont/Boylston or thru the common (hotel should have map to help on this one)

Don't know about renting / fishing. Look at all the Boston Harbor Tours though, the kids might like Georges Island for history and a fun boat ride all in one - you might have better luck fishing in Dennis.

If you are driving and stop along the way at Plimoth Plantation, drive thru downtown waterfront area of Plymouth - Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, Jenny Grist Mill - are all possibilities

Not really any place to fish in Boston, at least not easily, but both surf fishing and charter boats are easily arranged anywhere on the Cape. Both would include tackle.

For an eating adventure you might take the family to a dim sum restaurant in Chinatown. I've only been to one in Boston once and, sorry, don't remember the name. I think it's only available on weekends for lunch. We went on a Saturday. The restaurant is large and carts containing 3 or 4 food choices are rolled thru the restaurant. You pick what looks good. None of it may be familiar but the plates are only small portions maybe only enough for 4. You can also order off a menu but the fun is trying new dishes.
Do not miss the Friday or Saturday in Haymarket Square (next to Quincy Market/Fanueil Hall) when the pushcart vendors are there. It's an experience plus a good time to buy some fresh fruit. Friday would be best to go, it's mobbed on Saturdays. And an Italian bakery in the North End would be a nice treat.
An Imax movie at the Museum of Science is usually wonderful. See what's playing. It will require a separate ticket.
The duck tour is fun. I first went to Durgin Park many many years ago. The menu is traditional New England. We visited not to long ago. Very nostalgic for us. Some people don't like it but it's a good place for some "comfort food" and Indian pudding for dessert.
Expect to hear Italian spoken in the North End and Chinese in Chinatown. Of course, almost everyone speaks English but it's a good opportunity for your children to see a different kind of city/neighborhood than what they are used to. Take them inside a fish market. See what a Chinese grocery looks like.

Dim sum in Chinatown is a good idea on the weekend. We ate last summer at the Hei La Moon at 88 Beach Street with my brother-in-law and his extended Chinese family

You will see people fishing in several spots in Boston (along the Charles, along the harbor islands and waterfront ) - but you asked about renting poles, etc and that I do not know where you would do if you didn't bring your own with you - but these spots are not 'fishing watering holes' type of things -
There are also charter fishing boats out of Boston and nearby but I did not think a 1/2 day or day charter was what you wanted either

Smaller rivers, fishing holes, small bridge drop-line fishing, that type of thing you would find more of on your drive, if y ou are driving , to Dennis or perhaps your friends down there can assist on this one.

you might also want to look at
www.thetrustees.org and
www.swimmingholes.org

for some nice spots

Thank you everyone for your help.

Thanks for all the great restaurant ideas. I know this is a dumb question, but if you have kids like mine, you know right where I'm coming from. I have 2 teenagers and 2 young ones who only eat mac and cheese and chicken nuggets (yes, it's tough to admit it.)

Knowing that, does your recommendation still stand for dim sum? Are there any (reasonably priced) seafood restaurants the kids would find something at?

Also, since my teens are really into history, is there anything else besides the Freedom Trail area we shouldn't leave without seeing? What about Salem?

What are the Blue Men or something like that? Is it kid appropriate?

Thanks again for your help. It's tough traveling with kids, especially when you have 2 different age groups. My oldest will be leaving for college in a few years and I still have to show him so much of our great country.

You are thinking of Blue Man Group, I'm sure it would be appropriate for your oldest I don't feel qualified to say how the others would respond. It is one block from your hotel.

The freedom trail had 17 or 18 stops, if they like history it should take up a lot of itme, it also includes sights across the river in Charlestown.

The JFK library museum is a pleasant way to spend 2 hours, if they are interested in JFK they would enjoy it.

I thought of you today because we took our boat out to Spectacle Island to listen to the Sunday jazz today - I happened to notice a sign at the concession stand that they rent fishing poles, tackle boxes, etc - just thought I'd let you know.

The link for Spectacle is:
www.bostonislands.org/isle_spectacle.asp

There are activities listed, etc and a swimming beach, walking trails (to the highest point on the harbor islands, albeit the manmade island that it is) - anyway, thought I'd mention it if you decide to spend some time on Boston harbor - you might like to do the boat 'cruise' that allows you to go to George's Island (lots of history) and then connects to Spectacle (for some fun, swim, fishing) and the outdoor concession/grill on the other side of the porch has great burgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, etc.

Restaurants you might consider that could appeal to all the ages you list:

Charlie's Diner (Columbus Ave) not a high end tourist restaurant for sure, - a definite neighborhood favorite with exc food at what I consider reasonable rates - amazing breakfasts and also great burgers and while I haven't had the steak, my cousin loves it. I often find a diner has something for everyone and Charlie's is a neighborhood spot if you don't always want to be a tourist.

The other spot is Clery's on Dartmouth Street - at the time you would be eating dinner is prior to when it turns into more of bar crowd - and you will see families, couples, etc. - and they have good food, reasonable - my favorite burger in Boston, fish n chips that, while I don't eat them, my family enjoys - pizza, pasta, great fries and sweet potato fries, big tv's , big booths or huge upholstered chairs/tables - very comfie and good for family - you can check out the menu, although there are always changes, additions at
www.irishconnection.com

You could walk to both these places from the Radisson (if your 5 yr old can hike a bit -) - you'd go up Tremont to Dartmouth, take a right and walk a block or two and you'd be at Clery's - they cna show you on a map at the Radisson -
Charlie's is further down to the left on Columbus, but again, they could show you

Next to Charlie's is Giacomo's, which is a family italian restaurant, - there is also one in the North End - or just go to the North End one night for dinner and walk around and you will find somethin reading menus in the windows or find pizza, etc
In this forum, type in "north end restaurants" in the search this forum bar and a ton of great famiy recommendations will come up

You could also walk to Fire and Ice on Berkeley St -
www.fire-ice.com
we always find that a good place w/ a group and esp with teenagers - check out the menu, young people usually enjoy the grill, choosing their ingredients, sauces, etc -

And there is a Benigans right on Stuart St a stone's throw from your hotel

The food court at Fanueil Hall is always a good stand by - it is one long food court with a central spot for grabbing a table/chairs and kids always find something there (and adults too) and you can do plenty of people watching and I think the light show is nightly now in the summer, but I'm sure you can either google that or ask at your hotel - lots of roaming entertainment, etc.

Salem:
If you decide to make the trip to Salem, you might want to think of going by boat - a great way to get up there and fun for the kids instead of the car ride, if that's wha tyou were going to do - and less aggravating for you!

www.salemferry.com

I'm not sure how the 5 and 7 yr old would feel about Blue Man Group - but I remember a thread here on that, so you might want to put "blue man group" into the search this forum bar and see ifyou can find that thread - my kids were older when they have gone so I don't have a point of reference on that one -

but would you consider splitting up fro a night?
When we were doing a longer family vacation we used to do that sometimes finding it also helped the kids not get on each others nerves being together 24/7 -
you could all eat together and the teens could go to BMG and it is so close to your hotel they could easily walk back after or one of you could meet them and walk them back and the little ones could do something else, rent or go to movie, etc.

What about some time in Harvard Sq/ Cambridge - outdoor street performers, Nat'l Hist Museum at Harvard, etc?

Also, you might want to go online and look at the Go Boston Card - depending on what yuo are going to do and how many are going to do it, it may or may not be worthwhile for you - it really is one of those things yuo need to go through, add up what you realistically will do, and see if the price makes sense for you.

Just thought of this -
South street Diner - you can get mac and cheese for 5 or $6 and lots of dinners for that and up to $10 or 12 range -
you can walk - it's on Kneeland St
southstreetdiner.com

it's an oldie but goodie 24 hr greasy spoon but it's been around and an old standby "forevuh"

here's a few of those threads on blue man group, i am sure you can find others -

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=35003904

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34849417

Ohoh, my sister and her family do not like strange food so I understand where you are coming from. You might try it as an introduction to a different culture. Let each one pick a dish and try something or not but don't go for the entire meal. My niece finally got to the stage where she would try new foods but her father is the most finicky eater I know. Since we live in a small town I made a big effort to make sure our son was familiar to different things, knew how to use the bus system, etc. I did not expect he would end up choosing the military instead of college. He spent one year in Japan and although he didn't enjoy the food, I'm glad he tried things. We traveled to the Caribbean when he was 5 so I explained to him that people would speak English but with an accent ... on our arrival he complimented a lady from Atlanta on her English! He has always been able to get around on his own and figure things out so I'm glad we made sure he tried different things when we vacationed. It's very possible that they will hate the dim sum (you can see the food on carts so they have a little bit of an idea if they might like it) but this might be a good occasion for a talk about different foods/different experiences. Keep in mind that there are times that I haven't liked something but this is a lot different than my sister who always orders the same thing because she knows it's something she likes and then sits there making comments that what other people are ordering looks good.
Your older 2 would love Blue Man Group. It would be okay for the younger ones if you don't mind the expense.
Salem can be a little hokey but the Peabody Essex Museum is excellent. We skipped the pirates museum as looking very hokey but later heard it was good. However, I would choose Plimoth Plantation over Salem. If you do go to Salem there's a local lunch place with a great variety on the menu at reasonable prices. Very crowded but the wait isn't long. Re-post if you're headed to Salem and I'll research the name. We went last year.

Sarahbella.....how was Boston? Come back and tell us what you liked and did not like !!

I have an 8 year old with the same picky eating habits and I live in Boston. Many dim sum restaurants also serve more typical dishes as well so my husband and I will have dim sum and my son will have "Chinese pasta" aka shrimp lo mein and everyone is happy.