Hello..Looking for a special vacation in MA with my husband, possibly a long weekend (3-4 nights) but not sure exactly when�could be early July. Thought we�d try Boston first (coming from New York) but would also like to see Salem and surrounding areas. (I actually thought of just the Salem area first but if Boston can be done also, then why not??!!�depends on how long the drive is between them?) Help! I�m hoping someone can help me organize this trip. I�ve read on here that you only need a day to see Salem and not to stay overnight. Looks like people have suggested staying overnight in the nearby towns. Please correct me if I�m wrong, here are the highlight towns people have mentioned: Marblehead, Lynn, Swampscott, Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Lexington and Concord. I guess what I really should be asking is which ones should I stay overnight and what B&B, hotel, inn? (including ideas for Boston) and which areas should/can be visited ? As for things to do, here is what I have found as must do�s�please feel free to comment.

Salem: visit the Witch Museum (not the Witch house), House of Seven Gables, Peabody Museum, Park Service Museum and Pickering Wharf.

Gloucester: Hammond Castle Museum

Concord: Louisa May Alcott tour

Rockport: best place for shopping

Boston: (still working on it)

Also would love some great restaurant ideas, and any great ideas on nightlife in the surrounding areas�even a little romance would be nice on this vacation!

I would love your feedback and I appreciate your time in helping me with this�.

--S--

(wanted to mention we're in our 30's)
--S--

I've been to Salem twice. The first time I went was in October for "Haunted Happenings" which seemed to be the North Shores answer to Mardi Gras. I also drove to Concord/Lexington one day and I highly recommend that. The Witch house is interesting, 7Gables, the Peabody Museum and Essex Institute are definite must see's. The second time I was in Salem was during the summer and I drove to Rockport and Gloucester for the day. Dear God dont stay in Lynn whatever you do! I think you could use Salem as your base and still see surrounding areas. I think Boston is all of 16 miles from Salem, but dont drive take the T. I did that one day also and went to Quincey Marketplace and Fanuiel Hall and took a trolley tour all around the city.

Forgot to mention where I stayed. The Amelia Payson house on Winter street is a small B&B and probably one of the best run ones I've ever stayed in. The second time I wanted to be near the water and stayed at the Morning Glory which was also nice. Its directly next door to the House of 7 Gables and the roof deck had nice views of the harbor.
Salem also has a LOT of walking tours that are very interesting.

I don't know if you will be driving to Boston, but if you have a car I would recommend staying in Boston. All of the towns that you want to visit are an easy driving distance from Boston. Also, while driving in Boston is certaining challenging, as New Yorkers I think you can handle it! I live in Concord, which is a nice place to visit and I would highly recommend stopping here. In addition to Orchard House (Louisa May Alcott's home) there are other historical homes (the Wayside, the Old Manse and Emerson's house) as well as the North Bridge. We also have an interesting Museum, Walden Pond and a quaint downtown area. If you want to stay in Concord, I would recommend the Colonial Inn. It's a quiet town at night, though, so if you want night life, stick to Boston. I would avoid Lynn and Swampscott and go to Marblehead instead (which is also fairly close to Salem). Gloucester and Rockport are further away and there is not as much to see as in Salem and Marblehead, but Gloucester has a very nice beach (Good Harbor). Essex is also charming and is the "antique capital" of Massachusetts (if you are into that). There is a great restaurant for fried seafood (Woodman's) located there. With 3-4 nights, you need to figure out what you want to do. You could easily fill that time in Boston alone. For info about Boston, there are many postings on this website and you could also check out www.bostonusa.com or www.boston.com. I would recommend spending some time in Boston and then exploring some of the towns that you mentioned, if you have the time. FYI Concord is west of Boston (off of Route 2) and the other towns are on the North Shore (off of Route 128/Route 1). Hope you enjoy your visit!

I live just north of Boston and also second staying in Boston and touring from there. You will have much more opportunity for restaurants and nightlife (and romance) staying in Boston. Everything is an easy drive from there. Forget Lynn and Swampscott, and I would also not do Marblehead - there's nothing there to speak of but a few quaint shops. Rockport has a cute art colony, nice beaches (rocky) and Gloucester doesn't have alot to see, but better beaches. Salem is interesting, but I wouldn't stay there.

For a great hotel, check out the Millenium Bostonian in Boston. Great location - you can walk to the North End (authentic Italian) for a romantic dinner, walk to Faneuil Hall for shopping, comedy clubs, restaurants, and walk all over Boston from that location to tour. Best of all the hotel is "boutique", and not at all "hotelish" in feel. We had a corner room with a balcony overlooking Faneuil Hall, the room was done in French Country furniture, and we came back to chocolate-dipped strawberries and a complimentary bottle of champagne after our dinner for our anniversary - they spoil you!

Good luck!!

Stay in boston and take the train up to Salem. You can see it all in a day. Another recommendation for the Millenium Bostonian - walking distance to North Station for the train to Salem. Just ask for a room away from the Haymarket if you are there on a weekend. North End is great for dinner as is the South End.

Do not go to Lynn - you never come out the way you went in. (sorry its an old Boston joke) but there really is nothing to see there.

See the Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Its great - small museum along the lines of the Frick but with a gorgeous courtyard. Its walking distance to the Museum of Fine Arts also.

Hammond Castle in Gloucester is nice but there are too many other things that I would see first. The Freedom Trail comes to mind as well as the Boston Public Library.

Have a drink at the Top of the Hub if the weather is clear.

Have a great trip.

With only 3-4 nights, I don't think Salem is worth the trip. It's kind of dingy. Plymouth or Provincetown would be nicer and better excursions. And be sure to include Harvard Square in Cambridge on one of your days - the subway takes you right there.

I heavily recommend staying in Boston itself - it was the place my wife and I knew we would end up together. awww... ha ha.

The Copley Square area is nice and convenient but sometimes expensive. We once got a great deal at The Tremont House which is in the Theater district. I'm sure other posters can help you find something.

Forgot to mention that you can get to Provincetown by taking the ferry out of Boston.

"Please correct me if I?m wrong, here are the highlight towns people have mentioned: Marblehead, Lynn, Swampscott, Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Lexington and Concord."

Anyone who would include Swampscott or Lynn as a "highlight" still has LOTS of research to do!

I think the suggestion above of staying in Boston and doing a day trip to Salem (possibly on the commuter train) and one to the Lexington/Concord area would work out well if you're into history and/or literature.

You mentioned coming in early July -- the City of Boston usually puts on a week-long Fourth of July celebration and has a web site devoted to a full week of history and waterfront-related events.

Visitors from out of town often mention Salem as a desired sight-seeing destination. Many locals can not understand why - there is much more in Boston and within day trip of, and Salem is, as a previous poster stated, rather dingy. And I certainly would not see Salem instead of Boston.

Lexington and Concord are both west of Boston, while the other towns you mention are north. That said, if you are into Revolutionary War history, they are somewhat interesting. Gloucester, Rockport have some quaint areas, nice beaches and make a nice day trip. Am not sure why anyone would mention Lynn or Swampscott for anything.

I would still stay in Boston and pick one outside destination for a day. Rent a car for the day only, but I would spend the rest of the weekend in Boston. Be prepared for "sticker shock" on hotel prices in Boston, especially in summer. Several good suggestions have been previously made on this board, but I think there are fewer bargains on decent places to stay in Boston than in New York. Beware of hotels that call themselves things like "Boston/Revere" or some other town - check the address or ask here. Most of these places are not worthy of a "special vacation".

What can I say? You guys are GREAT!!!! I never imagined I would get such a great response in just one day! Just wanted to show my gratitude..

Once I get this vacation in order, I may have additional questions...so don't go away! =)

Thanks again...

--S--

We did a trip very similar to this in April 2001.

We based ourselves in Lexington and worked out from there.

I would highly suggest the Lexington/Concord area and alot a day or two for that...We enjoyed the Minute Man Historical Park as well as Walden Pond. Browsing and sightseeing in Lexington and Concord proper is worth the time esp if you're into history and literature.

We did Salem neatly in a day. The Witch stuff is highly over-rated (there's only one original structure from that time still standing...the rest is tourist kitsch) The interesting thing about Salem is the waterfront/maritime area. The House of 7 Gables as well as a lot of historical items from Salem's martime past are down by the waterfront.

I wish we had spent more time in Boston. We did the Freedom Trail and some other items in Boston.

We also went to Plymouth. There's more than the rock. I highly suggest the Plimoth Plantation area.

I would frankly forget any excursions out of Boston and enjoy your four days there! Fantastic city, full of history, lots of fun.

Certainly a spin up to Cambridge (gotta hit Harvard Yard!) can be worked into your plans, but that hardly counts as an excursion (what is it, a ten-minute ride on the T?!).

I don't know if the Big Dig has improved the driving conditions in Boston, but gawd, I hope so! Maybe the second most confusing city to drive in (Pittsburgh PA is by far the very worst). Still, once you're in Boston, it's all Paradise!

Paradise??? I thought paradise would have attractive women.

One thing I must add to all the mostly excellent advice above is that traveling by public transportation in the Boston area will probably save you a lot of aggravation and expense. I can't imagine anyone wanting to drive around Boston, which is notorious for its crazy drivers and general confusion. There are even trains to Concord (but not Lexington), although driving there shouldn't be problem either. If you do plan on going to Cambridge and Harvard Square, do by all means take the T; parking in the Square is a dicey proposition at best!

Have a great time in the Boston area - from one who happily lives and works there!

One more vote for Rockport! If you can streatch the trip to 7 days, Arrowhead Farm on the Merrimac River - (off the Atlantic Ocean) in Newburyport is a neat piece of heaven! The entire house is for rent and is a beautiful combination between an aged lovely farm house and an inn. But there is a one week Min. rental. The location is great for day trips to Boston, Rockport, Marblehead, Kennebunk & Portland!

Dear Slicari,

It seems like you really have three different trips as possibilities: to the western suburbs (around Concord), the north shore (Salem and environs), or Boston. Or, alternatively, a bit of all three, which seems ambitious for three to four nights.

I live near Salem--in one of the towns people said not to bother with--and I'd say there's plenty for 3 to 4 nights here on the "north shore" if that's what interests you. I agree that you could "do" Salem in a day, by visiting the House of Seven Gables and also the Peabody-Essex Museum. Personally, I'd skip the witch stuff, but if you want to do something kitschy, try one of them. Staying in Salem gives you the advantage of the commuter train to Boston, and also gives you the option of leaving your car somewhere and avoiding driving in Boston, if you go there. Gloucester would be a good day trip, as would Marblehead, if only to walk around "Old Town."

If you want more choices, then definitely do Boston instead, if you can afford to stay there. There's tons to see there, depending on your interests. Don't drive if you can help it. The T will get you almost anywhere you want to go.

There's wonderful art in Boston, particularly at the Museum of Fine Arts and at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. If you don't get overloaded, you could do them both in one day.

Definitely walk the Freedom Trail, or at least part of it. Check out the Christian Science Center's "Mapparium." Try to get tickets to symphony, or go to a Pops concert on the Esplanade, or go to a Red Sox game in historic Fenway Park.

Eat in the Union Oyster House or Durgin-Park for a historic experience. If you walk the Freedom Trail, you'll be in the North End for a few sites--plan to eat lunch there, or return there for dinner. Make some time to eat in Chinatown as well.

Take the T across the river to Cambridge and Harvard Square.

You could go out to Concord for a day--or, alternatively, base yourself west of the city and tour towns near there instead. Again, there's plenty to see and become in absorbed in there for three to four nights.

Hope this helps!

I have a question about a Boston hotel. We are looking at stay in the Radisson Boston Hotel. It is in the theater district.

Does anyone have any feed back on this hotel? We are looking to be able to walk a lot of places, but also take the train/taxi anywhere else. We are not planning on going outside of Boston at this point.

I'll second votes for Newburyport, Gloucester, Salem, Boston, Plymouth, and Concord, and the ferry to Provicentown. For "T" info, you can use www.mbta.com (I bet if you contact them, they'll send you a pocket map/schedule in advance). A great place to stay in Concord is the Colonial Inn, it has entertainment every night, usually jazz/blues, it's romantic, and historial. Their website, www.concordscolonialinn.com, has lots of area info. and tours too. If there, I would suggest renting a canoe at the Boathouse and it's just a short paddle to the Old North Bridge, where you can get out and walk around or picnic. Plymouth is a good overnight too. As for Boston, I'd do Quincy Market, and there's a "Nick's Comedy Stop" on the second floor, check out online to see who's performing. McCormick and Schmick's Restaurant is right there and very good too! Good luck piecing these all together and have fun!