Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Boston, Cape Cod, Nantucket, MV

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Boston, Cape Cod, Nantucket, MV

Just begining to get started planning a four day trip to Boston area in third week of September . I have been to Boston before (stayed in Beacon Hill for a month and loved it) but my family has not. Two adults, two kids (9/6).

Here is my problem: Too many things to do! Obviously a good problem to have. My only restriction is that I have great tickets to Fenway Park on the first night, and totally flexible on other days.

I don't want to ask for specific things to do yet because I don't yet have a good idea of what we intend to do (happy to do whale watching, historical sites walk, museums, or beaches.... see what I mean?). I mean one could easily spend all four days in Boston, or quickly visit one or more of the other three. It will be too cold and unpredicable for beaches by then, that I know and am fine with it.

Questions:

1. Can you suggest a good guide or weblinks that outline MV, Nantucket, and Cape Cod information? I have reviewed Frommers guide, and it is a bit too poorly laid out for me.

2. If you have posted or know of specific links here on Fodors that are specially good, please post a link for me here. I have done a search and it just gives me hundreds of posts!

3. So, if you had to do three days in CC, MV or Nantucket, which would you choose and why. Keep in mind I will have two (extremely well behaved and always a good sport including even in museums) kids with me. I do not want to stay in more than two hotels for such a short trip (so I could do one night in Boston, and the other three in one of the other places).

Finally, don't flame me . Much appreciated.

Highly recommend "Cape Cod, An Explorer's Guide" - a very comprehensive guide - excellent for determining those places you (and your family) would find most appealing.

here is a link to a thread with a lot of MV info - and as you said, if you search for martha's vineyard, there is tons of info -

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34692877

personally, I would think at that time of year, two kids age 9 and 6 would rather stay in Boston -
it isn't beach weather, they can't swim, which leaves walking/hiking and shopping/eating in MV or Nantucket.

For me, those islands are gerat for adults any time of year, but for ages 9 and 6, I think the best times are June-August and after that, in my mind, it could be boring for kids -

yes, there is some history (the campgrounds/gingerbread houses in MV, the lighthouses, whaling museum in nantucket, - a few things on each island, but not enough for me to warrant the time to drive/ferry and what - will you take your car on the ferry? rent a car there? rent bikes/mopeds (which we've done in late sept and it can be very brisk on island to be riding)

Cape Cod, for me, I think the same - maybe the kids would enjoy a day trip, see some glass blowing, some museum, the old rte 6A and some shops/nice lunch - hit a few beaches to walk and/or just see the dunes, check out beaches/hiking areas on www.thetrustees.org

but I think with the enormous choices in Boston for ttwo kids that age, I would stay there :

In Boston , at that age: the Freedom Trail (and all that includes-Boston Common, Public Garden, North End, graveyards, etc) - the waterfront area, the Charles River, the Prudential Skywalk, the Duck Tours, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner, the new ICA, ....

For that length of time, with kids that age, at that time of year - and with one night already committed to Boston - I would stay in Boston and skip MV, Nantucket, Cape.

Try to find/afford a hotel right in Boston - lots of suggestions here on other threads if you do a search, but be prepared for sticker shock. Book lodging now.

I know this is not specifically the question you asked, but agree with above response that MV/Nantucket are lovely in early fall for adults, but would likely be boring for kids, especially if weather is not beach-friendly. To a lesser degree same thing with Cape - many of the kid-enticing things close at Labor Day - in past few years largely because they can not get labor to staff them once kids go back to school.

If you want beach, whale watch and even coastal feel, you can certainly get that on North Shore of Boston - best done by renting a car for a day or 2. And it is quite likely you will hit a warm few days so you can go to the beach - but if you do not, then Boston area offers you more options that will make everyone happy.

You have an excellent chance of having the nicest weather of the summer in September here in Nantucket, but late September is a little risky. If I look back at when we have pulled our sail boat over the past few years because of storm danger, guess what keeps coming up?

So I would spend the time in Boston with my kids, making sure that they get to the Science Museum and the Harvard Natural History Museums (have lunch that day at Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage in Harvard Square -- indescribable).

The Children's Museum is recently renovated, so you should check their site for interest as well. It is very near the Barking Crab, a waterfront seafood shack where you can sit outside on the dock and there is plenty to keep them interested.

I would suggest getting a picnic one day (local sub shop? deli?) and spending some time on the Esplanade. The kids can run around, and then when they see the Pops on television on the 4th, they can remember that they have been there. Also a good time to show them where Mom used to live on Beacon Hill.

Finally, I would take them to the Aquarium unless you live in a place with a really good one of your own, then I would trot them over to the North End for the Paul Revere House and Old North Church, followed by some Italian food and a gelato from Mike's Pastry.

Getting out on the water: The Aquarium also runs good whale watches, if you wanted to make that a focus. Don't go if it is rough, because lots of people get seasick, If you don't want to go out into the open ocean, check next to the Aquarium to see if the George's Island ferry is still running, and take a harbor boat ride out the remains of the castle-like fort used to hold Confederate prisoners during the War between the States. History, boats, scenery, what's not to like?

"In Boston , at that age: the Freedom Trail (and all that includes-Boston Common, Public Garden, North End, graveyards, etc) - the waterfront area, the Charles River, the Prudential Skywalk, the Duck Tours, ..."

And for kids that age, skip the art museums and go to the Aquarium and/or Museum of Science. The Children's Museum might be a bit young for the 9-year-old.

A combination of the Duck Tour with the MoS is a good day, then the Aquarium and the Quincy Marketplace tie in nicely with parts of the Freedom Trail. I'd go to the top of the Pru on a very clear day in mid-visit so they can see some of the places they've already been, which helps younger kids get a perspective.

Whether you make it to the Cape this or some other time, I can recommend this guide - it's available in both print version and online:

http://www.insidecapecod.com/

For the most comprehensive, up to date Cape Cod and the Islands guide book get Kim Grant's Explorer's Guide. The 7th edition has just come out and it will give you everything you want to know. Km personally visits each place and a new book is published every other year so even the 6th edition is not too outdated. I like it much better than Fodor's (I know this is treason!) , Frommer's or Insiders guide.

Fantastic responses! Thanks so much, everyone. :)

Now let me do my research, and come back in couple weeks to post an itinerary for your comments.

Thanks again.

I would only go to the Aquarium if you do not have one or have not been to one in a few years, it is in deplorable condition compared to most aquariums - it has recently , I believe, been given back its accreditation, but it is hanging by a shoestring - unfortunately

Still working on our itinerary for this. Would some kind soul post the link to ferry schedules from main land to Marthas Vineyard? Thanks in advance.

Why not just google and get it for yourself?

Good idea. I have:

http://www.mvy.com/gettinghere/ferryschedules.php

Hopefully, this lists all ferrys if there are more than one.

You really should dispense more advice, starrsville, because you are so on the mark. ;)

Fodorites,

A bit delayed in my planning for this trip due to extensive travel for business, I badly need to book the hotel :) Has anyone been to http://www.anchorin.com/ in Hyannis? If yes, what do you think of it? Fodors seems to give it a pretty high rating (4.6 out of 5.) but I am curious if anyone has been there.

Thanks so much!

We (my husband, myself and our 4 year old daughter) stayed at the Anchor In last summer for a few nights. Our room was the Marston Mills room which was in the center part of the main building and faced the harbor and the pool. It was very spacious (we almost always get a suite when we travel with our daughter) but a bit tattered and worn. It was definitely in need of a freshening! The location was central - the harbor cruises were practically out the front door. I mistook the "waterfront" location as equal to direct beach access. A short walk away was a very small beach which was sufficient for our daughter. It was a longer walk up to "town" where most of the restaurants were.

We were also disappointed that they charged for wireless access (we usually do our destination research AT the destination)... all told, I'm not sure we'd stay at Anchor In again. I don't recall the rate we paid but I do recall, upon settling the bill, that I wasn't sure if we got good value.

iowamom, Thank you. Beach is not a concern for us because we will be there in middle of September. But the poor state of the room you described is not good.

I know there are tons of good (with a character) hotels/B&Bs in Cape Cod but since we will have two kids with us, I can't come up with anything more specific off of Fodors' Hotel link for Cape Cod. Any one with any suggestions? Prefer Hyannis or Provincetown but if you have strong recommendations for other locations, please tell me. I am looking to pay up in the $250 a night (w/o taxes) range.

Fenway....In addition to your great tickets, if you are hard core baseball fans you may be interested in taking a tour of the stadium. Most of them begin around 8 a.m. and last an hour. They take you you throughout all parts of the ball park - even better when there are no games that day - they typically take you into the locker rooms and onto the field.

I thinkt he last time I went on one the tour cost $9 a person

Just as an FYI, September could be a perfect beach time - the waters are probably the warmest of the season, and the daytime temps still could get as high as 80 degrees (although 70s is more typical). So it may be possible to spend some time on the beach, although of course you would not plan the entire vacation around it, unlike July/August ;)

Thanks guys!

Would really appreciate comments, critical or otherwise, from as many of you as possible!

I plan to stay in Hyannis for the first two nights, and one night in MV. Oh yes, I know I am trying to do too much :)

Day 1: Boston--

- Duck Tour
- Isabella Stuart Gardener Museum
- JFK Library/Museum (1 hour.... tops!)
- Drive to Harvard Square; Late Lunch at Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage
- Visit Harvard's Fogg Art Museum
- Drive back for a Red Sox game in Fenway park with family and three Boston based business partners
- Late dinner at Grill 23

Day 2: Visit Cape Cod (really Province Town)--

- Stroll commercial street while every one is sleeping!
- Visit Café Edwige for a specialty omelette and a Danish
- Visit pilgrim monument or visit PAAM
- Dine at Bubala’s or Mojo’s
- Cruise National Seashore backside dunes in a four wheel drive with Art’s Dune Tours
- Get a treat from Connie’s bakery
- Circle the freshwater pond, and go to Beech Forest Trail
- Watch sunset at Herring Cove Beach

Dinner in Provincetown or between PT and Hyannis: Can you suggest?? 

Day 3: Marthas Vineyard

- Visit Black Dog café in Vineyard Haven for pastries/coffee
- Drive to end of Main street to see West Chop Lighthouse
- See the gingerbread houses in Westleyan Grove in Oak Bluffs
- Stop at Morning Glory Farm
- Ride "On Time" in Chappaquidick, visiting Japanese Garden Mytoi, paddle Poucha Pond
- Walk out to the Edgartown Lighthouse with a camera
- Some how visit Menemsha Hills!: Catch sunsets

Late dinner in MV: Can you suggest?? 

Day 4: Hyannis/trip back

Spend half-a-day in Hyannis:

- JFK Hyannis Museum
- Eat on floating dock at Baxter’s Boat House Club and Fish’n’Chips
- Hyannisport Harbor Cruise??

Drive back to Boston for a six pm flight home.

WOW. yup, waaay too much for me. Personally,this would be the vacation from hell for me and if I had ever done this with any of my kids when they were 6 and possibly even 9, they would have been dragging by the end of day one - BUT, I am not you, and you know your children and yourselves - so if this is what you really want to try and do I will tell you day by day what I think

(Also, at those ages, w/ so many marvelous things to do in Boston and on the harbor, I am surprised you would do the trek to Provincetown and MV and Hyannis - too much in too little time and skipping some great things in Boston.....but ok....)

Question 1: are you planning on driving to Hyannis after the Sox game? That is such a looong day....and have you used mapquest to check your drive times and plugged in the timing of the events you want to do and what days of week are you doing these things and have you taken into consideration Boston traffic, rush hour in the morning and afternoon, etc, etc ??

Day 1: Boston--

- Duck Tour
**TO be sure of this, you'd need to buy your tix online 5 dys in advance I believe is the lead time -
and the Duck Tour is 90 minutes - you need to be there ahead of time and then allow time to get to the Isabella SG Museum (which I can not picture a 6 and 9 yr old being very interested in - it happens to be my favorite museum, but my kids did not love it at that age) so even if you took a 9am tour, you aren't to the museum until 11am and that is with no pit stop for bathroom, drink, etc after the duck tour..... and are you taking the T to the museum?
are you driving?? and parking??? then longer until you get there perhaps

- Isabella Stuart Gardener Museum

*how long are you staying in the museum? one hour at least? ook, so now it is lunch time - where are you eating? in the museum cafe? not much for kids on that menu at all - "ladies lunch sandwiches" as my husband calls it - and then you are going back to the parking garage, getting your car and driving at say around what now, 1pm (and that's rushing it) to the .....
- JFK Library/Museum (1 hour.... tops!)
**It will likely take you at least 45 minutes to get there perhaps..depends on traffic - but from ISG to there and parking and in the museum, I'd say a minimum of 45 -
one hour there and now it is what ....3pm??
NOW you are when traffic really starts cooking and you are driving from JFK to harvard Sq???
yikes. ok, you'll get there around 4, park and now you think you are having lunch???
visiting a museum and drivingi back to Fenway with all the other rush hour traffic and fenway fans to a ball game......

in my opinion, not happening. But I am interested to hear what others chime in with...

(**have you driven to Hyannis after your lat enight dinner at Grill 23?? or are you waking at the crack of dawn and driving the hours to Provincetown? have you looked at a map? )

Day 3: Marthas Vineyard
**When/how are you getting to MV? on the ferry? have you booked your car? what day of the week?
Can you do all this in one day on MV, - yes, -
again, i wouldn't want to , but you can drive from place to place -

A dinner spot? sure, I can suggest - is it with the 9 and 6 yr old or just the two adults? family fare or do the kids eat large, gourmet meals? have you checked the hours and rentals if you think you are going to paddle for the days/times you will be there? You say somehow visit Menemsha for sunset but I assumed you have a car with all you want to do or plan to rent one?

Day 4: Hyannis/trip back
*Personally, there is no way I would do what you want to do in Hyannis and be comfortable getting to Logan Airport by 4pm to return a rental car and check in for my flight by 5pm - b/c you will hit some traffic (what day of week is this falling on??)
getting to Logan -

I do not know where you are coming from -is it not possible y ou will ever visit here again?
Your children have never been to Boston, I would stay put and you could have 4 marvelous days in Boston - and at a nice pace and see so many other wonderful things.

I am exhausted reading this, I just can not imagine the kids enjoying this pace or these activities compared to what they could do and see staying in Boston with maybe one day trip ifyou felt you absolutely had to - esp the kids, the history and fun they could have in Boston and instead I fear everything will become one blur for them.