I am reading about motels and would like to know if the Holiday Inn Select Government center is okay for a family to stay at. Please let me know pros and cons. We have booked it for a week May 17th and would appreciate any help you can give us on things to do and see - we are SO EXCITED about seeing Boston. Thank you so much.

ibeagle: you will get more replies if you post your own separate post under here - go to United States and select "post new message" and post something in the title with the name of the hotel - like -
"Boston Hotel help: Holiday Inn select - any experiences pros and cons" and in your post say when you are going, what you like to do(museums, architecture, theater, ifyou'll have a car or be taking the T, how many people, ages, etc - bec ause this post was asking where to stay and has already been up for a week and many people might bypass it.

I ahve no experience with that motel - I believe it is close to Mass General Hospital, which might make for some traffic and siren noise, but you are near a T station and can get anywhere from there - as far as sites and attractions - but post a separate one and tell people what interests you and I think you will get more replies.

Hi everyone. Out Boston trip is coming up!!! Yay!!! I'm so excited. I've sifted through this info so we have our itinerary set. We decided to decide there about the day trip but I will have the info in case we do decide to go. Just two last questions:

First, any suggestions for a nice sunday brunch? Maybe with a nice crowd, outside seating (if it's nice weather) with great food/drink deals like maybe bottomless mimosas or bloody marys? We're staying at the Boston Plaza if that helps. Or even in Cambridge area?

Second, I'll need to start packing. My SO is currently in the UK and only have a day in between arriving here and leaving for Boston so I will need to pack for both of us. How's the weather there currently? Is it hot yet? Is it still spring like? Is Boston humid or ??? Are shorts and tank tops in order or is it still light sweater weather? Any guidance on what to bring (clothes wise) will be appreciated!

Many thanks in advance! I'll be sure to post a trip report. You guys have been great with the suggestions!

Maria M.

When we have had brunch in town we have enjoyed Sonsie's on Newbury Street - if it is nice weather the doors are all opened onto the street, but you could also likely end up more inside the restaurant, but last we went (Easter weekend) they did take reservations, so you might want to try that by either a phone call or opentable.com

We also enjoy Garden of Eden in the South End on Tremont St a block or so down from Hammersley's Bistro - for food- outdoor seating in good weather.
Your hotel can also likely offer possibilities nearby for your age group.

I'm sure there are many other places that do outside service - even possibly some hotels like Boston Harbor Hotel, but I am not sure - if no one else posts some good ideas, again you could perhaps check on line. I'm sure there must be many in also the Cambridge area, but I am not familiar with that area for brunch at all, sorry.

Regarding weather, the current extended forecast here looks like some light showers possible on Friday and partly sunny/cloudy for Sat and Sun with a high around 65-68, and maybe straight into the 70's with lots of sun on Monday, but this is New England and nothing is written in stone until we wake up in the morning !!

However, I would think you should have nice walking weather - for me anyway, not too hot, not too cool -

As far as shorts and tank tops go, I usually pack for travel in the "layered mode" - cotton pants, short sleeve jersey, light sweater layered type of thing. Good walking shoes. Maybe a tank type top under a cotton blouse or light sweater -
I would always bring a light rain jacket to Boston and/or umbrella. I would not anticipate it being humid at this time of year.

Of course, if you were my 20 yr old son, you'd be wearing shorts, t shirt and sandals already, but he would do that until it snowed

I find Boston still cool in the mornings and again as late afternoon arrives, and this time of year it can be very cool in the shade, yet warm in direct sun away from the water/harbor - and for me personally I hate being "cold" - and usually find the type of layering works better for me carrying me through - again, it's New England - on Easter weekend I was in town all day in cotton pants, a tank top under a cotton shirt and a light jacket around 9am, the jacket was in my bag by 11am, and by noon the shirt was tied around my waist, but the shirt was back on by 3 and the jacket by 5....

If you google "outdoor brunch in boston" a bunch of links come up too.

have a ball and let us know how you make out ! and do enjoy some time in Boston Public Garden, Boston Common and along the Charles if weather is as sunny as it looks it might be -

wonderful escargot. thanks for responding. My director was telling me of a place they had lunch at by the river. A hole in the wall shack that has live music and fresh seafood but can't remember the name. Do you happen to know what she's talking about? She said it was so much a hole in the wall and seems to be a place locals go to that you had to walk outside to get to the bathroom. They had picnic tables as the tables in the restaurant.

Thanks!

Boston weather can be unpredicatable and variable. But the forecast for the coming weekend (if that's your dates) is for warmer-than-normal weather, so be prepared for days in the 80s and very cool evenings. As was mentioned above, layers are the only viable strategy -- just make sure that your innermost layer is OK for a hot day!

Thanks anonymous! Just what I did. Layers.

BTW, the restaurant she was referring to is the barking crab. Looks like fun. Has anyone been there?

The Barking Crab is a bit of a tourist trap. For seafood I'd recommend either Skipjack's or Atlantic Fish in the Back Bay, Atlantic Fish has outdoor dining. I also like the Sail Loft by the waterfront, located right near Faneuil Hall and the North End. Great Bay in Kenmore Sq is also excellent.

I personally liked the Barking Crab; picnic tables in a festive tent right on the wharf where we had cold beer and huge lobsters. It was a fun atmosphere. For a pub stop I liked Jacob Wirth.

The Barking Crab is lovingly referred to as a dive, but I think it's great if you are looking for seafood and very very casual - different than 'fancier' seafood places like a Jasper Whites or Legals or whatever.

Greetings to you, my fodorites friends! Thanks so much for all the advice. We had a fabulous time in Boston - what a lovely city! Radisson and Boston Park Plaza was ideally located! ...and you were right, we didn't even think of doing the day trip out of the city and we still need to come back and do more!

Flight was delayed Friday night so didn't get to the hotel until about 11:15 (Radisson on Stuart St.) and only had enough energy to make it across to Legal Seafood for a late dinner and we decided to head back to the hotel and crash so we are refreshed for the next day. That Radisson room was really big (roomy) and the beds were fantastic with the sleep number system (first I've ever seen in hotels!)..and a bargain at priceline for $90!

Sat morning, we checked out of Radisson and checked in to Boston Park Plaza. Nice hotel, nice staff, but considerably older. It's ok though. My only complaint about the place is our second day there, housekeeping did a horrible job of "cleaning up" our room - no fresh supplies of towels, etc and we saw an apple core under the tv cabinet when we checked in and was still not cleaned up on the second day.
Then we went to Newbury street and I went shopping!!!! His friend's got there at 1pm and we had drinks downstairs and then headed to lunch at the irish pub next door then headed to the prudential tower for sunset drinks then to a place called tiger lily for dinner.

The next day we started the day with a nice breakfast at au bon pain then we did the freedom trail. The weather was gorgeous! We made stopped for a beer at cheers (in quincy market) and a bit of shopping then headed towards the harbor for a late lunch at the barking crab! Love that place! Then wlked back through the financial district to do more shopping ending up at the boston commons park area then back to the hotel. We then went back to the hotel, got dressed and headed to Cambridge for dinner at Harvest. Yummy! Then we checked out The Miracle of Science bar then back to the hotel to check out Whiskey bar.
On Monday we had lunch at Parish Cafe 9we sat inside but right at the window to sight see. Great food. More shopping then took the subway back to the airport.

Kudos to MBTA for a wonderful subway system! For $1.25, we got from the airport to our hotel with little to no hassle. I have to say it was the easiest airport transportaion I have yet to find in any other city in the US. LOVE IT!!!

So as you can see, we didnt' get to see alot of Boston. No worries, we'll be back. Maybe next year....

Thanks again for all your advice! We had a fabulous time! Great city!

Thanks for posting back ! So glad you had a good time in Boston - and that you may come back for more. You should think about posting your last post as a separate "Boston trip report" for those planning a trip, so others searching for posts on Boston may get some ideas from what you did when planning their visit !

You're so right escargot. Will do this now. Thanks for all the help!