Trips around Boston
Feb 12th, 2000, 01:46 PM
#2
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What are your interests? West of Boston you could visit historic Deerfield, a beautiful colonial community or Strubridge Village a recreated colonial village. North of Boston there are beautiful seaside towns. Marblehead and Rockport are especially beautiful. Rockport is full of art galleries. Newburyport is an old historic seaside town with great shops and restaurants. Portsmouth, N>H> is just beyond, as is Kittery Maine (outlet shopping) and Ogunquit (beautiful village). South of Boston Cape Cod has many charming seaside towns, antique shops, beaches etc. In the fall you'll want to drive the Kangamangus highway from Woodstock,N>H> to North Conway. The foliage is beautiful. Hope you'll en
Feb 14th, 2000, 04:27 AM
#4
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Denise, you are so lucky! We stayed in the Boston area for a few days in 1998, and were not able to scratch the surface. I heartily agree with Paul though, Concord may be the most wonderful American city that I've visited. Be sure to visit the cemetery while you're there - the "authors" are all buried there and it's simply charming. The Orchard House (Alcott's home) has a lovely guided tour as does the Emerson house. The Concord museum is a great place to start as they will give you lots of information on the entire area. Also, you might want to visit Walden Pond while you're there - see the shack where Thoreau spent his time in the woods. Sorry to make this post so long, but this was a very meaningful trip for me. I only wish I'd had more time!
Feb 14th, 2000, 05:30 AM
#5
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Denise, you are very fortunate to be spending a full year in Boston. You will learn where to visit outside the city as you go along. We have a very long range here (or places are very close together) from NYC to Montreal for example. All less than a day's drive.
One near by place that seldom gets mentioned here is the National Park at Lowell, Mass. Lowell was where the industrial revolution in the US began, and the National Park is a fastenating place. In good weather (i.e. not winter) you can travel on canal boats and trollys to old restored fabric mills, museums of the industrial revolution and how the people lived. There is also a private Quilt museum, the new Museum of American Textiles, and outdoor concerts in the summer. It's a great way to spend a day, and I hope you will put it on your list of day trips. It's usually overlooked when there is only time for the Lexington-Concord area (don't forget to see the Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington). You won't get bored in one year here. Welcome.
One near by place that seldom gets mentioned here is the National Park at Lowell, Mass. Lowell was where the industrial revolution in the US began, and the National Park is a fastenating place. In good weather (i.e. not winter) you can travel on canal boats and trollys to old restored fabric mills, museums of the industrial revolution and how the people lived. There is also a private Quilt museum, the new Museum of American Textiles, and outdoor concerts in the summer. It's a great way to spend a day, and I hope you will put it on your list of day trips. It's usually overlooked when there is only time for the Lexington-Concord area (don't forget to see the Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington). You won't get bored in one year here. Welcome.
Feb 14th, 2000, 08:14 AM
#6
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Denise-- You will love Boston. I went to Boston College and lived there for 4 years, so I think I can offer so good advice.
For a day trip, you should drive to Salem, which is the site where the famous witch trials occured. It's very interesting and a cute town to explore.
In Boston, there are so many things to do. You should walk up and down Newbury St., where there are many expensive shops and a great atmosphere.
If you like the nightlife, then go to Lansdowne St. Check out Jillian's, which is a 3-story entertainment complex. It has a bar, restaurant, pooltables, and a huge gameroom. You'll feel like a kid again!
For a day trip, you should drive to Salem, which is the site where the famous witch trials occured. It's very interesting and a cute town to explore.
In Boston, there are so many things to do. You should walk up and down Newbury St., where there are many expensive shops and a great atmosphere.
If you like the nightlife, then go to Lansdowne St. Check out Jillian's, which is a 3-story entertainment complex. It has a bar, restaurant, pooltables, and a huge gameroom. You'll feel like a kid again!
Feb 14th, 2000, 09:33 AM
#7
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Having lived my entire life in the Boston area, I can assure you that you'll have no trouble finding ways to amuse yourselves during your stay. My husband and I frequently do 1 or 2 night weekend trips - generally to country inns within a 2 hour drive of Boston - you can pretty much head off in any direction and find great scenery, shopping and sightseeing possibilities. If you are interested in historic homes, I recommend you get in touch with the SPNEA (Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities) and get their pamphlet listing properties they maintain that are open to the public - we often base our weekend wanderings on a visit to one of these homes - some are close to the city and make nice afternoon outings or day trips.I know the organization has a website.
Feb 15th, 2000, 06:10 AM
#8
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Lucky people! My special recommendations (which I posted once and they ended up in Tampa or someplace):
1. Longfellow's Wayside/Grist Mill/Mary-Martha Chapel in Sudbury. Lovely grounds, scenic mill and chapel, nicely restored Inn/Restaurant for candlelit brunch or somesuch.
2. Favorite weekend getaway: drive up to Pemaquid Pt. and stay at Bradley Inn -- sumptuous food, too, and pretty lighthouse.
3. Favorite in-town: Boston Symphony and Boston Pops -- get schedule and tix ASAP.
4. Don't miss Cape Ann (Rockport, Gloucester -- to see "Perfect Storm" home base.)
1. Longfellow's Wayside/Grist Mill/Mary-Martha Chapel in Sudbury. Lovely grounds, scenic mill and chapel, nicely restored Inn/Restaurant for candlelit brunch or somesuch.
2. Favorite weekend getaway: drive up to Pemaquid Pt. and stay at Bradley Inn -- sumptuous food, too, and pretty lighthouse.
3. Favorite in-town: Boston Symphony and Boston Pops -- get schedule and tix ASAP.
4. Don't miss Cape Ann (Rockport, Gloucester -- to see "Perfect Storm" home base.)
Feb 15th, 2000, 07:02 AM
#9
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You could take a summer weekend trip to the Berkshires to hear the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood, or visit the terrific museums, or just enjoy the scenery.
Just about anyplace along the coast of Maine is great. A visit to Camden, or Boothbay Harbor, or if you have a long weekend go all the way to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.
Definitely I agree with Ginny about doing a foliage trip along the Kancamangus, or anywhere up in the White Mountains. Make sure to book an Inn early, as they get very crowded at peak foliage season.
If you are in to gambling and such you might want to visit Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. In fact, they also have a very good Native American museum there as well.
There are many, many more possibilities. If you have particular interests (history? art? beaches? deep sea fishing?) you might post them and we could make more suggestions.
Just about anyplace along the coast of Maine is great. A visit to Camden, or Boothbay Harbor, or if you have a long weekend go all the way to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.
Definitely I agree with Ginny about doing a foliage trip along the Kancamangus, or anywhere up in the White Mountains. Make sure to book an Inn early, as they get very crowded at peak foliage season.
If you are in to gambling and such you might want to visit Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. In fact, they also have a very good Native American museum there as well.
There are many, many more possibilities. If you have particular interests (history? art? beaches? deep sea fishing?) you might post them and we could make more suggestions.
Feb 16th, 2000, 08:52 PM
#10
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Denise, I came to Boston once for a week, and couldn't wait to move up here. Now that I have lived here for a few years, I do enjoy taking daytrips and weekend trips to many of the areas listed in these posts....
Also, don't forget Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket (islands off the coast of Cape Cod), Newport, Rhode Island... Block Island.
It is fun to explore the towns on Cape Cod in the Spring or Autumn (during summer it is crowded with tourists).
If you like winter sports, there are dozens of skiing/areas within a couple hours' drive from Boston.
In the summer, hiking in the hills and mountains in Western MA, or in N.H. or Vermont .
Exploring the city itself is an adventure on weekends, when the pace is relaxed.
On days where the weather is bad, you can go to one of our many great museums (Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardener in Boston, The Fogg..there are so many!)
Marblehead is close by on the north shore--a lovely seaside town with a nice harbor and beautiful houses. One time my wife and I stopped by their town hall and stumbled across one of the most famous paintings in American History--"The Spirit of '76"
Also, don't forget Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket (islands off the coast of Cape Cod), Newport, Rhode Island... Block Island.
It is fun to explore the towns on Cape Cod in the Spring or Autumn (during summer it is crowded with tourists).
If you like winter sports, there are dozens of skiing/areas within a couple hours' drive from Boston.
In the summer, hiking in the hills and mountains in Western MA, or in N.H. or Vermont .
Exploring the city itself is an adventure on weekends, when the pace is relaxed.
On days where the weather is bad, you can go to one of our many great museums (Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardener in Boston, The Fogg..there are so many!)
Marblehead is close by on the north shore--a lovely seaside town with a nice harbor and beautiful houses. One time my wife and I stopped by their town hall and stumbled across one of the most famous paintings in American History--"The Spirit of '76"
Feb 28th, 2000, 05:56 PM
#11
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1. Definitely Sturbridge Village, as Ginny said in the first response. You could visit it several times a year, as they plan special activities depending on the season. Lots of fun.
2. Ciala mentioned Longfellows Wayside Inn, etc. in South Sudbury. Great place, not only to eat at but to stay in. Very romantic and you get a real feeling for the history of the place. The grounds are beautiful to walk around too.
3. I don't remember which town it was in, but my husband and I also enjoyed Louisa May Alcott's house.
4. It's a little cheesy, but we also had fun on a tour bus trip to Salem, that took us to a museum on the Salem Witch Trials. Kinda tourisy but still learned alot about the trials and it was fun.
5. Hop a subway train to Cambridge and walk around Harvard area. Some nice museums and it's a beautiful campus.
6. JFK Museum (on the outskirts of Boston). Lots of great presidential history,especially loved the movies they showed. Plus, if you have the unfortunate luck of having limited mobility (see note below for this to make sense), they are very wheelchair friendly (loved the marble floors, made rolling around a breeze!).
I am so jealous that you get to stay for one year +. We were there a few years back for a couple weeks and I spent most of the time on crutches (long story). I'm just dying to go back and actually see alot of the stuff I missed because I couldn't get around easily.
2. Ciala mentioned Longfellows Wayside Inn, etc. in South Sudbury. Great place, not only to eat at but to stay in. Very romantic and you get a real feeling for the history of the place. The grounds are beautiful to walk around too.
3. I don't remember which town it was in, but my husband and I also enjoyed Louisa May Alcott's house.
4. It's a little cheesy, but we also had fun on a tour bus trip to Salem, that took us to a museum on the Salem Witch Trials. Kinda tourisy but still learned alot about the trials and it was fun.
5. Hop a subway train to Cambridge and walk around Harvard area. Some nice museums and it's a beautiful campus.
6. JFK Museum (on the outskirts of Boston). Lots of great presidential history,especially loved the movies they showed. Plus, if you have the unfortunate luck of having limited mobility (see note below for this to make sense), they are very wheelchair friendly (loved the marble floors, made rolling around a breeze!).
I am so jealous that you get to stay for one year +. We were there a few years back for a couple weeks and I spent most of the time on crutches (long story). I'm just dying to go back and actually see alot of the stuff I missed because I couldn't get around easily.
