My husband and I are planning a 4-night trip to Boston the middle of September to celebrate our anniversary. We have free nights at Comfort Inns, there's a new one near the airport. Also, considering Marblehead - stayting at a B&B there the last two nights. Any suggestions for restaurants, sights, would be helpful!!

Hi Carol,

I don't think that staying near the airport is the best idea. The area around there is not particularly nice and you will be far away from all the attractions in the city. Maybe a Comfort Inn somewhere in Cambridge or Boston would be better for you. Just make sure that you will be near public transportation.

As for suggestions: visit Fanueill Hall; have dinner in the North End and visit Mike's Bakery; Harvard Square; dim sum in Chinatown (at China Pearl), stroll the Boston Commons and public gardens; window shop on Newberry Street; take a duck boat tour; have a picnic by the Charles River.

Hope you have a great time!

thanks Kathy, the comfort inn is actually in Reviere, about five miles from the airport on american legion highway. there are others but none in cambridge or boston - Danvers, Deham, etc.

Dont get me wrong, Revere is a perfectly nice place, but no place I'd like to be spending vacation time. I'm pretty sure I know where that hotel is and it's in an industrial area right on a very busy highway - nothing to see, do or eat in the area.....but the price is right - if you dont mind driving in to the city for sightseeing and spending time and money on parking, go for it I guess.

I hope you're renting a car, b/c you'll be pretty far away from most of the sights. Driving can get pretty crazy in Boston as well, so good luck!!!

Besides the driving, it's a wonderful city.
I would spend some time in Harvard square. The Billings and Stover pharmacy on brattle st. has a really cute old fashioned ice cream parlor in the front. there are tons of good restaurants in harvard square and lots of fun shopping.
The Duck tours are my favorite tourist-y thing to do. they leave from the prudential center, and if you're nice, they'll let you drive for a little while!
Do not miss the all you can eat chocolate buffet at the Hotel Meridien's Cafe Fleuri. It's on Saturday's from 1-4. get reservations. it's insanely good. everything from chocolate covered fruits to chocolate grand marnier crepes made to order.

I do appreciate all the info on the comfort inn in Revere. Here's the deal, and you can tell me whether it's worth the trouble. The hotel will provide shuttle service to the t, also from the airport and back, free of charge. the shuttle leaves every half hour or so, and as for the price, we can stay free if it's a comfort inn. if anyone knows a better comfort inn or clarion let me know.

We enjoyed walking the historical walk (wear comfortable shoes); renting a car to go to Plymouth, Martha's Vineyard, Newport, R.I.; trip to Walden's Pond, Lexington and Concord. We ate at NoName, Legal Seafood, and I can't remember the other one near the harbor. They had a New England clam chowder cook-off with some of the better restaurants so we are now experts--ha, ha.

As long as you're prepared for less than memorable scenery from your hotel's window and dont mind relying on public transport, you cant beat the price of a free room! The rooms are probably fine as it is a new hotel and they'll probably shuttle you to the Blue line - possibly the "Wonderland" T stop (I know, it sounds very romantic...but it's named after the dog track next door!)which will get you into Boston and to a fairly easy connection to Cambridge - you really need a car to do the Lexington and Concord thing. Hopefully you'll get a taste of good old new england charm during your stay in Marblehead. Have a blast - mid sept should be great weather for exploring!

Another good seafood place is the Barking Crab. It's near in the harbor, and not the easiest place to find, but it's a fun dining experience and has really fresh seafood.

Carol,
As long as they'll take you to a T stop, you'll be fine. Believe me, you DON'T want to drive into the city every day (or ANY day, as far as I'm concerned). You'll get into town quicker on the T, and the city is small enough to walk it from end to end easily. Follow the Freedom Trail (marked with red bricks or paint on the pavement) starting from the Commons, and ending up at the Constitution or Bunker Hill, and you'll get a great cross-section of the town and all the historical locales.
For a great (not cheap) meal, try the Grill 23 (on Berkley St., a few blocks south of Newberry (I might be mis-remembering, but any hotel or the phone book will get you there). It's basically a steak house (as far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as a good seafood restaurant), but they have some seafood entrees.
Boston's a neat place - you'll enjoy it.

For a great view of the city, be sure to go to the top of the John Hancock Building. The Boston Public Library (not just a library!) is also in this area, as is Newbury Street.
I understand what others are saying about using public transportation, but as one who absolutely hates using it, I would say that as long as you allow plenty of time, you can drive into the city and park in Government Center/Fanueill Hall/Quincy Market (are we spelling it right?). From there, you can go to sights along the waterfront, the North End (as mentioned - great Italian Restaurants and also an important area historically -- Paul Revere's House, the Old North Church), and you have easy access to all the other great spots in the city. You could leave the waterfront area, walk through the Public Gardens, head along Newbury Street (walking by the Ritz) and head to Copley Square/John Hancock Tower. As others have mentioned, it's a small city -- very walkable, but if necessary, you can hop on the "T".
Once in the Marblehead area, you're not too far from Rockport. This is also a touristy, but fun town to visit. There's an area called Bearskin Neck that has lots of quaint buildings housing shops, restaurants, etc. There's a very small beach and further out from town is a State Park called Halibut Point which is a former quarry. It offers fabulous views of the coastline.
Have a great time! There's so much to do in this area. I could go on and on.

I would suggest you consider staying in the Rockport/Gloucester area instead of Marblehead. There is a lot more to see, alot quainter, and a lot better located. Marblehead is a nice town but one to just walk through. There is really one road into Marblehead and once you are there is no place else to really explore. Bearskin Neck is wonderful, out of a picture book. We just had friends visiting us from the South and they fell in love with it. We had the most delicious dinner(expensive) on the most spectacular spot on the rocks over looking the water in Bearskin Neck called "My Place". Gloucester has wonderful long stretches of beaches to walk, the best inexpensive seafood, duck tours, Rocky Neck (art colony), a water taxi you can take that takes you to Rocky Neck, Bearskin Neck - you can get on and off. Marblehead I think of as more a suburban oceanside family community. It just doesn't have a whole lot to offer visitors. Just wanted to pass that info on to you. There are some beautiful Inns in Rockport and lots of oceanview hotels in Gloucester. The chamber of commerce would be helpful.