You can take the commuter rail train to Salem from North Station. You would take the Green Line T to North Station and buy your train ticket. It's about a 30 minute ride. Maps and schedules are on the mbta link above.

I'd recommend the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the personal collection of Mrs. Gardner housed in a Venetian style palace. Nearby is the spectacular Museum of Fine Arts. For a different experience, visit Gibson House and tour a Victorian Era townhouse. Harvard also has some great museums.

Back Bay Hilton is perfect - good job.

In the fall there will be a First Night website listing activities. But shows, concerts, etc should be scheduled already.

For Salem I might rent a car for the day - you can take commuter rail, but then you need a cab to get from Salem train stop to things to see.

Snow in December is questionable. I gather you are not from the north - please take seriously what you wear. It will be raw and windy. You need lined and waterproof footwear. Sometimes there is sleet and rain that collects on sidewalks.

There is public skating on the Boston Common. They rent skates. Lots of people who do not know how to skate go.

The Boston Common also will have beautiful lights. Go to the top of the Prudential or Hancock after dark and see the lit and decorated city.

Take a walking food tour of the North End (google for the website - I forget it) or Chinatown - but the one of the North End is far superior. You are not outside for long, going from shop to shop.

Copley Place is an enclosed mall - and close to your hotel.

See if the Bruins are playing (hockey). Schedule will not be out for a few months.

You can rent a car for one day, either a traditional rental or a zip car.
I agree about the Gardener.
Check out TDudettes recent Boston art trip report

Can people who are not Zip Car members rent Zip Cars?

No, but in some areas it is cheaper to join than to pay a regular rental rate.

From what I know, you need to have a zip car membership to reserve one of their cars. For multi-hour car rentals, it's always good to compare zip cars to regular car rentals, and weigh the pick-up convenience and cost.

Thanks for the info Gail!! Yeh, we are from the deep south, some say we have an accent but I don't hear it!! Lol

I think we will do ok just using the T subway or if we get stuck, a taxi. And I will google the food tour, sounds interesting! I think if I tried to skate, my daughter would never stop laughing!!

CW, I will check out the museums you mentioned, I think I can get her to go to one at least for me!

Y'all have been so helpful to me, wish I had known about this site earlier.

I must say I think you have had a pretty near perfect interaction with this site. I wish more people would do what you did.

1. Stated your needs clearly
2. Listened when people gave you answers (Peabody no, car no)
3. Didn't dawdle when you needed to jump (Gail's incredible rate for the Hilton)
4. Maintained your sense of humor throughout

It is a pleasure to try to help people like you.

As you get closer to the trip, come back to fill in the details. We will all be around.

Thanks!! I am so glad I got good feedback!! and Yesss, I will have more questions, such as where to go to eat the best clam chowder??

For clam chowder I the Neptune oyster and The Summer Shack.

Neptune Oyster's clam chowder was amazing!

Yumm, I added those to my list! Thanks!! And my daughter was online and she saw a pic of a canolli, where do they have good ones?? We have never had one!

Oh god, Bostonians, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you can get a bad one anywhere in the North End. In fact, if you go to Neptune it's in the North End, and you can wander around a bit and stop at any bakery that looks good to you--we passed at least three, some with long lines out the door, others crowded but doable. You should wander around, the neighborhood is quaint.

We had them for dessert at Nico's in the North End and they were excellent. (The meal was good, not great, the atmosphere utterly charming.)

modern Pastry , imho. Prepare to swoon

Get a freshly filled ricotta canolli at Mikes and Modern and do a taste off. Do not get the pre filled canolli's in the case.

Mike's was one of the places with lines out the door! And we saw lots of people carrying boxes from Modern. I was surprised at how late they both stay open, too.

A perfect day for me with a 16 year old daughter (having done similar things in other cities). Start late morning around Faneuil Hall Marketplace and do some shopping. Wander over to the North End and look into the many little specialty food shops. Have a late lunch at one of the restaurants that catches your eye (menus always posted outside). Linger over an afternoon glass of wine or coffee.

Then head over to Mikes or Modern Pastry and have them fill 4 fresh canolli for you. Get the traditionally sweetened ricotta filling. Get them packed to go. Wander back to your hotel (or take the T or a cab). After a huge North End lunch, canolli, a TV movie, looking through you shopping purchases and a 16 year old makes for a wonderful bonding experience.

(Do not eat any red chowder while in Boston, nor any canolli with chocolate filling - you will quickly be thrown into the Harbor like the tea at the Tea Party)

thanks for the dessert ideas! I can't wait!!!!

And Gail, I wish there was a site that would say the word FANEUIL, have no idea!! And lastly, what is red chowder???

( P.S. I love chocolate & wine!!)

cheryl

Red Chowder, AKA Manhattan clam chowder, is a tomato based soup. It is prohibited in Boston.

The word is most commonly pronounced Fan-Yull, although the exactly proper pronunciation is a bit different.

ok, so we will ask for the white clam chowder!! lol and we were calling it, Fanna-yewl

we already love Boston!! Now if it would just Snow!!!