Boston, Cape Cod, Nantucket, MV
 

Just begining to get started planning a four day trip to Boston area in third week of <b> September </b>. 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, <i> don't flame me </i>. Much appreciated.

Highly recommend &quot;Cape Cod, An Explorer's Guide&quot; - 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?

&quot;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, ...&quot;

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 &quot;waterfront&quot; 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 &quot;town&quot; 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 <b>September</b>. But the poor state of the room you described is not good.

I know there are tons of good (with a character) hotels/B&amp;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 :)

<b>Day 1</b>: 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

<b>Day 2</b>: Visit Cape Cod (really Province Town)--

- Stroll commercial street while every one is sleeping!
- Visit Caf&eacute; 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: <b> Can you suggest?? </b>

<b>Day 3</b>: Marthas Vineyard

- Visit Black Dog caf&eacute; 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 &quot;On Time&quot; 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: <b> Can you suggest?? </b>

<b>Day 4</b>: 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 - &quot;ladies lunch sandwiches&quot; 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.

escargot,

Lots of food for thought. A response full of criticism but appreciate it nonetheless :)

Okay, this was my first draft of the itinerary. Let me fine tune it further and post here in a day or two. Do be around to comment on that :)

Thanks.

p.s.: my kids are special. They actually enjoy 7-8 hour long trips to museums :) But I agree I need to keep time/space for it all.

it was meant as constructive, helpful criticism not personal - your kids may like long museum trips, but please look at mapquest and also consider Boston traffic and when you post back pls do list the days of the week this is happening, b/c that makes a difference regarding traffic in all regards.

escargot, Don't worry, I am a big boy :) I appreciate criticism that is constructive, and took yours in that manner. Do stick around. I will be back within the next 48 hours. I need help to fine tune it all (the reason for the thread, obviously).

Best wishes.

Comfyshoes -

I complete agree with escargot's advise. I have a tendency to try to fit as much in a vacation myself and the itinerary you laid out so far is, to me, also waaaay, waaaay, waaaaay too much and too much going back and forth. If this is your kids' first time to Boston, there is more than enough to see in Boston. Don't want to throw a monkey wrench on top of everything else you already have but if I was going to do an out of town trip, maybe going up to Maine as a daytrip might be nicer if you haven't been there - just to drive up the coast, pass through Portsmouth, NH to walk around a little bit and then proceed up to Maine - York, Ogunquit, Kennebunk, etc. although in September, it might be quiet already - great if this is what you want, not so great if you want a lot of tourist activity in the area.


Hope that helps - not criticisms at all just my own opinion.

Okay, escargot and bonzhoor (and others), here is an updated itinerary. Note we HAVE to visit Cape Cod. Boston is very nice, I know, but we do want to get a flavor of Cape Cod.

<b> Day 1: </b>

- Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum
- Drive over to Harvard: have late lunch Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage in Harvard Square
- Fogg Art Museum
- Red Sox game
- Dinner at Grill 23

Stay overnight in Boston.

<b> Day 2: </b>

- Duck Tour
- Drive to Hyannis
- Hyannisport Harbor Cruise? Possible??
- Dinner on floating dock at Baxter’s Boat House Club and Fish’n’Chips

Sleep in Hyannis.

<b> Day 3: </b>

Spend day in Provincetown

- Stroll commercial street while every one is sleeping!
- Visit Caf&eacute; 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 at Lobster Poi

Sleep in Hyannis.

<b> Day 4: </b>

Drive back to Boston, leaving Hyannis around 8 am
- See as much of Freedom Trail as possible.
- Catch 6 pm flight back.

Okay, <i> hard hats on </i>, fire away :) Just kidding. Thanks in advance for your help.

Personally I think this is much better. And if you end up with some free time here or there, you can always find something to add in, even if it is strolling down a street, enjoying some ice cream or something at an outdoor cafe and people watching, etc. -

My only questions are - what days of the week are these days on - and are you arriving by car or flying in and renting a car immediately at Logan for the entire trip? And where is your hotel located.

Other than that -
Day 1:
Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum
- Drive over to Harvard: have late lunch Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage in Harvard Square
- Fogg Art Museum
- Red Sox game
- Dinner at Grill 23

*This sounds much better to me. You have time in the morning for a nice breakfast, see the ISG Museum and head to Harvard I am assuming this is mid week and traffic will be manageable - see the things in Harvard and then head back to your hotel.
The only ? would be what time would that be, and if it is especially between 4-5:30, you will hit some traffic but if you are patient and don't mind, then that is fine. But my other ? woudl be, why not leave the car at the hotel, and take the T to the Gardner Musuem and again to Cambridge and back to your hotel?? avoiding some traffic, having to drive, etc.

You can think about that - look at mbta.com and the drop down plan your itinerary bar or also you can use www.hopstop.com which will give you options on the T, bus and walking to anywhere during your visit.

Day 2:
- Duck Tour
- Drive to Hyannis
- Hyannisport Harbor Cruise? Possible??
- Dinner on floating dock at Baxter’s Boat House Club and Fish’n’Chips
Sleep in Hyannis.

* This also is not a bad day. Do the first thing in the morning duck tour and then you are leaving the city after traffic. Even though you are basically doing the 'reverse commute' and wouldn't hit too much traffic heading south in the early commuter hours, you would still hit it downtown and at some spots - so this is good, do the Duck Tour and then head south probably around 10:30 and you can go to Hyannis and get settled, have lunch, do your cruise or whatever else and have dinner and spend the night. Ifyou want, you can stop on the way and see Plimoth Plantation or do part of your drive on the old Rte 3A and see some other quaint seaside towns on teh way to the cape.

Day 3:
the day in Provincetown sounds good, I honestly can't say exactly how much of that you can fit in one day b/c I have not done many of those things, but I'm sure someone will chime in or you'll figure it out when you get there.

Day 4:

Drive back to Boston, leaving Hyannis around 8 am
- See as much of Freedom Trail as possible.
- Catch 6 pm flight back.

Initially, my reaction was why not do the Freedom Trail after the Duck Tours say from 10:30 - 2:30 and leave Boston around 3/ 3:30 to drive to Hyanbnis, arriving in time for dinner - do Provincetown the next day - and the final day do some of Hyannis and head back ...but I also get that it is easier to be in Boston and hop over to Logan - I could argue this one either way

If you are returning your rental car to Logan and have to drive to Logan to do that, just keep that in mind when planning what time to leave Boston for your flight. Flight at 6, check in at 5, return rental car at 4:30, that means leaving Boston by.....I don't commute that way so I would guess at least be in your car heading to Logan by 3:45???
Also, if you are parking and leaving all luggage in rental car while doing the Freedom Trail, keep that in mind when choosing your parking garage - another thing you might bat around with us unless you have a spot in mind.

I would off the top of my head say the garage near South Station that has access to the highway right there - minimizing traffic...is that the one called the garage at 200 Clarendon - I always get confused on that one for some reason.... but I can google it and find out.

escargot, Really appreciate the detailed response. I arrive late monday evening, pick up the car, and leave friday evening. The idea of using the T makes perfect sense while in Boston. I will look up the schedule.

Good, seems to me you are fine with my overall itinerary (I do take instructions well :) or so I am told). I also tend to occasionally drop stuff so as to not feel too rushed. We will see. Finally, I know half-a-dozen Boston locals so no issues finding a parking lot etc.

Until I started doing research, I didn't realize how many things there are to see in this area! If you live here, congratulations.

Thanks, again, so much. When I come back, I will do a quick post and tell you how it all worked out. Have a great week.

With only 4 days, stay in Boston. There is more than enough to do there to keep your family happy.

Do not rent a car. You will not need one (public transportation is easy), you will not want one (driving in Boston can be a nightmare), and parking fees are very high.

Mon-Fri is good, so that time of year you aren't hitting crowds and won't affect your drive to the Cape-
however, I don't think you need the car at all. You can take public transportation (T, bus, ferry, walking, Old Town Trolley) so easily to everywhere you are going. - I believe - but I don't know where you are staying - hotel? maybe you aren't close to a T station I don't know -

Look at the web site
www.hopstop.com
you can ask for directions from point A to point B and use the drop down menu and get them different ways - taking the T, the bus or walking -
you just need to plug in the addresses of wehre you are going -
you can also use the MBTA.com web site, you can look at a T map and get directions from that site too, but not the walking ones -

From airport to hotel you have several options, depending on the time of day/night -
you can take a bus which goes by the terminals all the time to the ferry boat and cross Boston harbor that way to the other side and from there take a cab ot T to your hotel- or take the T or a cab from the airport easily -

Then, after your duck tour, have someone go back to the hotel and the bags out of the room and do the check out, etc while the other either takes the T (or a cab) to Logan, pick up the rental car, and pick them up and head to Hyannis - then you have the car for your Hyannis trip and can drive yourselves back to Logan. I would suggest renting car in town or other locale, but then you wouldn't have anywhere to keep your luggage on that last day when you are back in town for awhile -

If you definitely want a car, google parking garages, boston, ma and you can se ethe list and costs of parking in an area near your hotel -

also look at old town trolley, beantown trolley and if you are staying near Boston Common - there is a huge tourist kiosk there with tons and tons of brochure and info good to have -maps,e tc.

escargot, I expect to book the two hotels this weekend (terribly delayed due to work related travel, lately... but still plenty of time).

Really appreciate your help and detailed responses. In return, when in Boston, I will send you best wishes for really happy children in your household. Alternatively, we can also send good vibes that you find a bag full of cash. Or a bag half full of cash and, slightly unhappy children. Let me know which you prefer. :)

Thanks again and see you back here in couple months.

While 3rd wk of September is not historically a crazy time, it is always busy in Boston so I would not wait too long to book a hotel room -
my fav locations are Copley/ Back Bay area and a fav family hotel is the Eliot - the suite are nice w/ a sitting area in between the master and the hall to the room w/ two twins and makes for a great family set up. There are others, but I like the hotel and the location. You can find many recs on this board by putting in boston hotels in the search this forum bar and also on the Eliot and other suite hotels if that's what you would like.

I am currently enjoying a happy household and 2 children in their mid 20's, one who lives in nyc and another still in college, so far so good on the happiness scale, so I will take the wishes for really happy children in the household to guarantee that for the future too ! :) thanks!

Hmm.... Eliot looks really interesting. Thanks. escargot, correct priorities in life. I wish you my best.

Just 2 adults going to either Nantucket, Cape Cod or both. Is 4 nights 5 days enough? We are coming from NJ. Any suggestions on how to construct trip? Where to stay that is reasonable? Thanks for your help!

Depends. what time of year (traffic) , what is 'reasonably priced' to you - ballpark of how much per night, are the 4 nights you mention once you arrive in MA, or are you counting the drive back and forth to NJ in this?

And, it is fine to leave it here on this post, but you might want to consider starting your own post with more specific title, something like &quot;4-5 days on Cape driving from NJ&quot; and I suggest this only b/c it might then draw the attention of those who have done that trip -

also fine to leave it here, - I am happy to help answer some questions but it would help to know the above questions :)

lindy, You really are better off in a new thread. That said, escargot is a fountain of knowledge on things-Boston, and a one-woman army :)

Comfy Shoes - lol - I'll have to tell my family when I am cracking the whip at home that I am a 'one woman army' :)

:)

escargot et al, We just spent four days in Boston and surroundings and really enjoyed it. Fabulous, hip city. I will post a short report one of these days but I wanted to say thanks to those of you who helped me fine tune my itinerary and gave much helpful advice. Much appreciated.

p.s.: What's up with the people driving in emergency lanes around rush hour?! I don't think I have ever been to any city where so many people use emergency lanes to drive for miles before an exit. Where do you go if you actually have an emergency??

Glad you liked our city. Emergency lanes allow vehicles only during crucial rushhour traffic. If it is not in the time perameters, troopers will pull you over and ticket you.

Looking forward to your trip report!!!

comfy shoes - so glad you had a great vaca - truly looking forward to the trip report - I know they can be tought to settle down and do - usually I have to chip away at mine on a separate document and then when I'm done, cut and paste it in in several installments ! or one, depending on how short or long it is - but please do one for us if you can - we love to know what you did and didn't see, liked and didn't like, etc., etc...

the emergency lane thing was instituted as kealalani said above - to MOVE traffic during rush hours - the problem with it is mammoth - exactly as you said - begging the question where does one go when you have an emergency during those hours - as if people never get flat tires, or engine trouble during rush hours - it's a fatal accident waiting to happen and there have been a few, but none fatal - probably b/c usually people even in that lane are traveling slow enough during rush hour to not have it be a 'critical' accident ...if you have trouble you have to hope there is enough land on the other side of the emergency lane..
..i know.....

none the less, other better ideas being tried - hov express commuter lanes with 2 or more in a car,
etc. - we aren't known for our excellent highway layout - like entry ramps prior to exit ramps (another boondoggle) :) .....

more, more on your trip !!