Boston - Hoping For a Memorable 25th
 

In an earlier post, I had asked for some help in planning for our 25th wedding anniversary. As always, Forum readers were generous with their insights. Initially, I had envisioned a few days in Boston, with a ferry day trip to Provincetown. Since then, our plans have evolved and your reaction to the following new plan would be valued and sincerely appreciated.

We will arrive in Boston on Wed. July 11. A tentative (but changeable) booking has been made at the Lenox (we had considered the Liberty). I should add we are an active mid 50's couple who are equally at home at the art gallery or on the seashore. Thursday is for touring the area around Harvard University and the area around the hotel. For old time's sake, I thought of taking the early (Peter Pan) bus to Woods Hole on Friday and the ferry across to Martha's Vineyard (we spent some of our honeymoon there). We would spend the day there and then back to Boston by way of the last ferry and bus. On Saturday, our friends from Toronto join us. They are detouring from a NYC visit. I was thinking of dinner at L'Espalier. Perhaps readers know of a more appropriate spot for an anniversary dinner? On Sunday, it's back to Toronto. Comments on hotel and restaurant choice and the feasability of the day trip to MV will be especially helpful. Many thanks in advance.

The only comment I have, is to make sure you know that L'Espalier is no longer in the charming brownstone town house space. It is now located in the new Mandarin Oriental, and quite modern.

I know some people really miss the old world charm of the original L'Espalier location; esp for an anniversary dinner. But the food @ the new location is just as good (based on what I've read).

I love The Lenox Hotel, and stay there about once a month. The location, rooms, and service are unbeatable. I always reserve ( or try to) an executive king- either 400, 500 or 600. These rooms are extra large corner rooms with working fireplaces and great views of Boylston Street. You're really going to enjoy your stay there!

L'Espalier is a great choice for your anniversary dinner. It's expensive, but still one of the very best restaurants in town.

Personally, I think a day trip to MV via the bus would be miserable. You're looking at 3 hours travel time each way. Instead, you could take the ferry from Boston to Provincetown and spend the day there. Or, you could take the commuter rail from North Station to Gloucester or Rockport for a day trip. All of these towns are very charming and you could go to the beach as well.

I agree that a day trip to MV sounds daunting, especially on a Friday in July (and will it be the Friday of July 4th week?) You might run into some really big crowds. Once there, do you have a specific idea of what you'd like to do? Don't get me wrong... we go there every summer for a week, and I just might be persuaded to go for a day just to have dinner at the Black Dog in Vineyard Haven, but it is quite a long trip.