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 !!