The Improve Asylum, Frank Santos';The R-Rated Hypnotist'; or

Has anyone seen this show? It’s The North End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) at the Improv in the N End.

is it worth seeing?

or should i see Frank Santos';The R-Rated Hypnotist'; or

Andy D_ck instead?

thank you.

The Improve Asylum, Frank Santos';The R-Rated Hypnotist'; or

Didn%26#39;t you already ask this?? Or am I just imagining??

The Improve Asylum, Frank Santos';The R-Rated Hypnotist'; or

no one else replied. i%26#39;m trying to get more opinions by putting a different topic in the subject line. thank you.

Hi,

I did reply earlier. I hate Andy D..., so I can%26#39;t recommend that. Frank Santos has been around FOREVER, so I imagine he%26#39;s got some entertainment value.

The only one I have experience with is Improv, and it%26#39;s a great time. I%26#39;d recommend you go there.

frank santos is amazing--just don%26#39;t volunteer to be one of the people being hypnotized. what he does to those poor people is downright wrong (but hilarious!!). I%26#39;ve been to the Improv on Hanover but it was years ago. it too was hilarious, but frank santos%26#39; show is one of those shows that stays with you for a while.

streamreader

Is there a Northern Italian Menu in Little Italy?

I%26#39;m looking for a more Northern Italian style restaurant in Little Italy, does it exist? Most of the recommended restaurants seem to offer a Southern Italian menu. Thanks!

Is there a Northern Italian Menu in Little Italy?

Hi,

Mamma Maria offers a more Northern Italian menu.

http://www.mammamaria.com

You can view menus for many different restaruants in Boston at :

http://boston.menupages.com

Is there a Northern Italian Menu in Little Italy?

Prezza is more of a Northern/innovative Italian restaraunt in the North End. (Bostonians generally don%26#39;t call the Italian area ';Little Italy'; It%26#39;s best known as ';The North End.';

Davio%26#39;s is not in the North End, but bills itself as a ';Northern Italian Steak House.';

I%26#39;ve been to all of these restaraunts as well as the aforementioned Mamma Maria%26#39;s. They are all good, although definitely pricier than your typical ';red sauce'; Southern Italian.

Another great web site is www.northendboston.com they list most of the restaurants in the North End with links to their web pages.

yes, northern italian cuisine is not the norm in the north end. if you want to venture into beacon hill try ristorante toscano. it%26#39;s located on charles street. feel free to read my review.

mason colby house

hello.my question is when I was living in amesbury I lived on 200 main st. and on hill behind house was a cemetary and next door was a house called the mason colby house . my grandfather was care keeper for that house and for cametary and had showings for the public on sat. and sun. my questian is I%26#39;ve gone on yahoo and goole to find any info on this and can%26#39;t find any thing on the house and I can%26#39;t remember name of cemetary. could you help me? cathy blaisdell.

mason colby house

Hi Cathy,

The museum is called the Macy-Colby House. The cemetery located behind it is referred to as the Bartlett Cemetery and it%26#39;s surrounded by the Union Cemetery. The home was built in 1654 and was once the home of Thomas Macy then later Anthony Colby. It%26#39;s run by the Friends of the Macy Colby House and is still open to the public.

burts bees

Driving in Boston

I am living in Dover New Hampshire for the summer, and have a friend flying in to Boston on a Friday evening to come visit me...she wants me to pick her up from the airport. She is from DC so she doesn%26#39;t think it%26#39;s a big deal to drive in the city, but I%26#39;m from Lincoln Nebraska and am not so sure I want to do this! How difficult of a drive is it from New hampshire to the Boston airport? Are there alternatives such as having her take some sort of transportation from the airport outside the city where I could pick her up??

Thanks in advance!

Driving in Boston

The biggest factor in Boston traffic is the time of day. from 3pm til about 7pm it is brutal no matter what route you choose. If your friend is not landing in Boston during that time frame driving in from Dover should not be too bad. You would take Interstate 95 South to Interstate 93 South and then use the first exit in the Tip O%26#39;Neill Tunnel to the airport.

If you decide you really don%26#39;t want to deal with Boston, there are satellite parking lots that are served by Massport shuttles. You should check out www.massport.com for exact information.

Driving in Boston

You drive south and follow signs to the airport. Not hard. You just want to figure out your route before you leave so that you%26#39;re not unsure of where you need to be. You should also figure out which terminal you need to go to. Visit the Massport web site and look for her airline name and then when you get to the airport, you stay in the lane for Terminal C Arrivals, or whatever.

Spike is right about traffic--you could hit traffic going into the city and then traffic on your way back to NH (weekenders), but in some ways, traffic can be good for you because you%26#39;lll have time to figure out which exit you need to take, etc. One big problem people have speeding along is that it%26#39;s easy to miss an exit and that%26#39;s when things get dicey.

The airport is pretty hard to miss---there are a zillion signs downtown leading you to either of the tunnels.

The airport itself can be a little intimidating, with the car rental and hotel buses zooming around but just hold your lane, watch where you%26#39;re going and know where you%26#39;re going and you should be fine. Just remember, if you make a mistake, it%26#39;s fixable.

Have you had a lot of accidents? Are you a bad driver? Do you get lost easily? If you%26#39;ve gotten into real trouble before, maybe it%26#39;s a bad idea, but all in all, I think you should be able to do it.

I

Logan is perhaps one of the most confusing airports for tourists in the world. Getting there is easy--from NH take 93 South into the city. once you get over the Zakim Bridge and start into the tunnel, it will be your first exit ';Gov%26#39;t Center/Airport.'; Follow ythe signs for the airport, through the Callahan tunnel and you%26#39;re there Find out what airline your friend is flying. Each airport has a corresponding lettered terminal. e.g., Delta Airlines is in Terminal A, Jet Blue is in Terminal C. Log on to massport.com for all the Logan Airport info, including which airline is where once you get in. Once you%26#39;ve established what terminal you%26#39;re headed to just turn off where it says Terminal A,B,C arrivals. A warning: State Troopers who work the airport are as ornery as old bulls that haven%26#39;t been fed in a while. Time your pickup perfectly--those boys don%26#39;t let you linger too long.

Okay, so that seems a bit daunting for a girl from Nebraska. Are you ready for option B? While you%26#39;re on massport.com, click on ';getting to and from Logan.'; there are a number of options, including the Logan Express. This takes travelers from the airport to a suburban location. there%26#39;s one in woburn. It%26#39;s 10 miles north of Boston. You could have her take the Logan Express to woburn and you can pick her up there, never having to venture into the airport at all.

Actually, coming from Dover, I%26#39;d wouldn%26#39;t bother going west to 93 ... 95 S to Rte 1 S to Rte 60 (follow the airport signs) to 1A S and right into the airport. (If you keep going straight, Rte 60 just becomes 1A).

The problem on a Friday evening in the summer really won%26#39;t be getting TO Logan (if you avoid 93), it will be getting back to Dover ... Rte 1 N gets congested and the backup at Portsmouth gets really bad.

That said ... there is a bus from Logan to Portsmouth: www.cjtrailways.com

Also, you could drive to Peabody (on Rte 1) or Woburn (on Rte 93) and meet up w/ a Logan Express Bus

Woburn: massport.com/logan/getti_logan_woburn.html

Peabody: www.massport.com/logan/getti_logan_peabo.html

becky416 - has your friend booked the flights yet?? It would be much easier for you both if she could fly into Manchester NH - that airport is closer %26amp; a breeze to navigate for pick-ups %26amp; drop-offs.

Where you are unfamiliar with driving in the city you may want to look into the alternatives listed. It is almost impossible to time a pick up perfectly, they will be on you to move right away. The logan express option may be the way to go. Every pick up we have made at logan has been a hassle and there have been many - always had to park far away %26amp; meet the person.

I suggested I95 South to I93 South so as not to have to deal with rotaries which for people who use them all the time are a problem.

The Woburn bus seems like a nice compromise. It%26#39;ll cost her $20 or something like that but it will save you the hassle of the Logan pickup. I do it all the time, but I guess I%26#39;m used to the airport. The state police are all over you if you are trying to pick someone up. Sometimes they broom you and you have to go around and come back. It%26#39;s not easy, but it%26#39;s one of those things you do if your friend needs a ride... If you can%26#39;t cope, then she should ask someone else to get her or consider the bus as an alternative midway... It would save you some driving and avoid rush hour if that%26#39;s when her plane comes in.

RV camping on the Cape!

We will be travelling in a 24 foot RV during the first week of July through New York state from the Thousand Islands area and plan to hit Cape Cod about Tuesday and Wednesday. I would love some suggestions about the best places to camp with an RV of our size anywhere on Cape Cod. We do not have any fixed itinerary other than the time line. Are there any state parks in the area?

Thanks in advance!

RV camping on the Cape!

Check out Nickerson State Park:

www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/southeast/nick.htm

RV camping on the Cape!

P.S. Since you%26#39;re planning to get there the week of the Fourth of July, you might find it difficult to get reservations. I%26#39;d call right away.

If you can%26#39;t get a reservation at Nickerson State Park try Atlantic Oaks campground in Eastham. http://www.capecamping.com We have friends who travel in a large RV and stay there every year. My camping days are done...nothing but pure luxury for this bird!

Freedom Trail on a Sunday

Hi folks. I have several days to play around Boston in August and I%26#39;m trying to figure out the best day to walk the Freedom Trail. I have Friday, Sunday, or Monday.

I%26#39;m thinking Sunday would have the least traffic and business congestion, but I wonder if anything would be closed on Sunday or if there is anything I might miss on that day.

Any thoughts? Thanks!!!

Freedom Trail on a Sunday

Dogmeat (sorry to call you that!!),

You are right, in that Sunday IS the day with the least traffic and business congestion. Aside from the idea that some people LIKE those things, the biggest downside is that many places don%26#39;t open until noon on Sundays. And to make up for opening late, they close early!! Like at 6 PM. If the big deal is less congestion and traffic and you don%26#39;t have to worry about emphasizing shopping, then it%26#39;s a reasonable choice timewise.

The other side of the coin is that you%26#39;ll end up doing SOMETHING on Sunday, so it may as well be that.

AlanM

Freedom Trail on a Sunday

Thanks. I don%26#39;t care about shopping, but I don%26#39;t want any attractions closed. Of course, having places to eat and a little street ambiance would be nice...but I would rather dodge crowds.

If you want some space on the Freedom Trail tour, go in the morning on Sundays. Tours are busier in the afternoons on Sunday (generally anyway). Will also be more traffic in the city on Sunday due to red Sox traffic.

You don%26#39;t have to worry about Red Sox traffic in the Downtown and Waterfront Areas, which would encompass all of the Freedom Trail. Fenway Park is on the other side of town.

It may see odd, but most of the Freedom Trail stops follow pretty normal business hours on the weekend opening at 9 or 10 and closing around 5. Old South Meeting House, The Old State House, Paul Revere%26#39;s House, Old North Church, and Bunker Hill are all open for most of the day every day.

Kings Chapel has some funny hours and the last guided tour of the Constitution starts at 3:30, but besides those two exceptions you should be able to see most sites if you visit on Sunday.

hosting

Trip to Cambridge

Hi All,

I am planning to visit Cambridge on this weekend, but found that most of the colleges are closed due to exam preperation leaves.

could anyone suggest me will it be worth going there? What are the places to visit. Thanks in advance!!

Trip to Cambridge

It seems that you will be here anyway, so of course it makes sense to visit the schools, to see how they are situated, to view where they are located and get a ';feel'; for them. The campuses will be open and you can certainly roam around and see what you like or don%26#39;t like. My bet is that you can still arrange tours, too. I hope you do that right now.

If Harvard is one of your choices, that%26#39;s a great area to visit even as a tourist. Harvard Square, particularly at night, has street musicians and is abuzz with activity. I%26#39;m sure you know enough to visit Harvard Yard and see Harvard%26#39;s ';old'; part of campus.

You can get to Harvard Square from Downtown on the ';T'; Red Line subway.

Hotels/Motels Near Amherst College?

We are beginning our college search and plan on visiting Amherst College. Would appreciate it if you could recommend some hotels or motels pretty close to the college? Thank You

Hotels/Motels Near Amherst College?

Good morning NYCGirlI,

This one looks SO convenient and hopefully it%26#39;s reasonable for you. I love the looks of it on their website, it%26#39;s got really cute, funky looking rooms too. Plus, it%26#39;s not a boring motel or anything like that! It%26#39;s a B%26amp;B, right in downtown Amherst. How convenient will that be for you! It%26#39;s two blocks from some great restaurants, bakeries and some neat stores and halfway between Amherst College and UMASS. It%26#39;s called Emily%26#39;s B%26amp;B, here%26#39;s their site:

www.amherstemily.com

There seems to be a lot of chain motels between Amherst %26amp; Northampton, MA. Some of them are convenient while others aren%26#39;t really getting great reviews here at all and personally they really don%26#39;t jump out at me for rates either! Others might know of places near Amherst College that could be more convenient if this one can%26#39;t accommodate you, but I have a funny feeling you%26#39;re going to really like this place. I%26#39;ll keep my fingers crossed for you!

Counties of Boston

I know this is a strange question, but I%26#39;m trying to find out what county the Amerisuites hotel, 116 Riverside Ave, Medford is in. They say they are 4 miles from downtown Boston and have a Boston zip code. Two different people have called the hotel and gotten 2 different answers - neither of which were a Boston county. Is Middlesex county a part of Boston? Is this hotel in Suffolk county?

Counties of Boston

www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elecct/cctidx.htm

That web site gives you the rundown on counties.

Medford isn%26#39;t Boston. It%26#39;s near Boston, but it%26#39;s not Boston. iddlesex County does not include Boston. Boston is in Suffolk County, along with Revere, Chelsea and Winthrop.

Medford has a Medford zip code, not a Boston zip code.

Maybe they%26#39;re trying to tell you they%26#39;re close to Boston? They%26#39;re not in Boston, though.

Counties of Boston

...oops, sorry....Middlesex County...

The county stuff probably mixed up the hotel staff. Counties mostly have to do with court proceedings, jury duty, and voting. They%26#39;re not on everyone%26#39;s license plate. Not every desk clerk is sure what county they%26#39;re in.

What%26#39;s your question, really?

Medford is part of Middlesex County.

Unlike Florida, counties really have no significance in Massachusetts. The cities and towns retain almost all control of government operations.

The Amerisuites Hotel is just of Route 93 just north of the city. (Only about 4 miles or so) Many people choose to stay there as a cheaper option to staying downtown, yet close to public transportation or highway (Route 93) access.

Thanks CoCo and Milemarker. Unfortunately the government per diem rate is based on county if the city (Medford) isn%26#39;t on the ';list';. Someone isn%26#39;t going to get reimbursed fully for their trip to Boston. grrrr

That policy makes absolutely no sense for a city like Boston. Most of the surrounding areas, some of which would be considered ';central core'; in other cities, are not only different cities, but in different counties. This includes Medford (as you now know), Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, etc.

Well, if you are only getting reimbursed for Suffolk County, you can choose Boston, Chelsea or Winthrop.

Stay out of Brookline, because that%26#39;s Norfolk County, and Cambridge, because that%26#39; s Middlesex County too.

What a dumb rule.

WOW...I guess that%26#39;s the Government for you...Chelsea and Winthrop are allowed....Cambridge would be not be....SO MESSED UP!

burts bees

Where would you eat if you were Rachel Ray and had $40/day?

I%26#39;d like some reccommendations for great local spots to eat cheaply with my family. We%26#39;ll probably have to spend more than $40 (LOL), but I%26#39;d still like it to be cheap if possible.

We%26#39;re staying mid cape.

List your restaurant and favorite dish with price (if you know it). Thanks!

Where would you eat if you were Rachel Ray and had $40/day?

Actually used Rachel%26#39;s book and tried the chowder at Captain Parker%26#39;s Pub...pretty good . Then, had breakfast at Jack%26#39;s Outback in Yarmouth....changed hands but still a good meal for breakfast and lunch...chicken salad on a fresh popover.

Best buy and best meal was the spring 3 course dinner special at the Ocean house in Dennisport for 25.00.

Where would you eat if you were Rachel Ray and had $40/day?

And on the show when Rachel had breakfast at Jack%26#39;s, a lunch of Capt Parker%26#39;s chowder and a drink in P-town she also ordered Linguini Puttanesca with extra anchovies at the Roadhouse in Hyannis to finish off her $40. day.

Bchbum....you got a TERRIFIC deal with the spring special at the Ocean House. In season just give folks their website address: www.oceanhouserestaurant.com to see if they want to pay the usual prices. We think grazing the appetizers til we%26#39;re full is terrific but you couldn%26#39;t call it cheap.

Well Buffalo - Try Clancy%26#39;s beach house on Lower County in Dennisport for lobster dinner at about $17.95. Nice casual atmosphere too. In Hyannis the seafood is fresh and delish and cheaper at the self serve side when you sit out on the floating dock at Baxter%26#39;s Boat House on Pleasant.

Others:

Clancy%26#39;s on Upper County in Dennis - portions are huge so hope you have a microwave to reheat for lunch. Menu has terrific variety but no lobster.

Sundae School homemade ice cream is not the cheapest but the best or close to it. Lower County in Dennisport.

Lunch at the Dog House on Lower County, Bob%26#39;s Best Sandwiches on Rt. 28 (two can share one sandwich if you add all the veggies trimmings that are offered), even Wee Packet. All in Dennisport.

Cheapest dinner is getting fresh fish or even lobster at the Swan River market on Lower County at Rt. 28. Depending on when you are going they also offer prepared foods (in addition to raw fish, shellfish etc) but you%26#39;ll still need that microwave.

I have all the prices but, sorry, they are in the drawer of menus that we keep for our guests in our Dennisport home.

If you really want a convenient but economical CC vacation, next summer rent a summer cottage and stock some easy items to grill and to assemble from the nearby produce stand, convenience stores, bakery and fish market. You get extra elbow room and all the comforts of home including a washer/dryer in most cases.

Have fun and good eatin%26#39;

Hey Charlie,

We actually are renting a condo this trip so we%26#39;ll have access to a kitchen. I just can%26#39;t cook fish well no matter how hard I try. It always tastes better out.

My husband likes a good fish fry...haddock. Do any local places offer it? I always hear about the clams and lobsters but I haven%26#39;t heard much about the fish.

You didn%26#39;t say where you are staying but I%26#39;ll offer you another Dennisport locale for fish (et al) and that is Kreme n Kone at Rt. 28 and Rt. 134. They have haddock. Most folks think of fried food at this spot but you CAN get it broiled. Also, there is a waterview dining area in the back. Lastly, this place fits into your cheap(er) eats list.

Since you%26#39;ll have a fridge have at least the kids bring their own drinks with them to cut costs. I like to have a particular type of soda that restaurants don%26#39;t have so I started bringing it to some restaurants and never had a problem. You can do that even more so in a place like this or Baxters where you order at a counter and the kids can just go and sit down.

Don%26#39;t bother with the kreme portion of the menu which is just the soft serve, low flavor type of ice cream cause you are not too far from the Sundae School homemade ice cream shop when you are in Dennisport.

You can check out Swan River Restaurant too. Not only do they have a wide menu of fish etc from which to choose, you will have a beautiful view out over the marsh and river to the Sound especially if you can time some of your visit to correspond with the sunset.

Find the menu for Swan River and lots of other restaurants at the Dennis Chamber which is located right by Kreme n Kone.

You can also stop when you drive in on Rt. 6 at the Info. booth between Hyannis and Yarmouth and pick up whatever looks interesting to you. Also get the Cape Week insert. More activities are listed at their on line site, www.capeweek.com, but the coupons are in the newspaper version. Beware, however, of the poor food that is standard at the biggest tourist spots like Lobster Boat in Yarmouth. They advertise a lot and offer very little imo.

Great tips thanks!

For fab pizza try George%26#39;s in Harwichport - it%26#39;s a bit ruff around the edges but they do take out also.

Good grinder sandwiches too!

Mrs

We are planning a trip to New England in August. I have planned a stop in Mystic to see Mystic Seaport, in Plymouth to see Plimoth Plantation, a few days in Maine and then a stop at Sturbridge Village. Am I planning too much history? Are the places going to be too similar so that my kids get bored? My kids will be 7 and 8 by August and my older daughter just loves history. We took them to Williamsburg and Jamestown last fall and they really enjoyed it. However, I don%26#39;t know if three similar places are just too much. Thanks!

Mrs

If you%26#39;ve never been to Boston, I%26#39;d skip Sturbridge Village and spend some time in Boston (Freedom Trail, Swan Boats, Duck Tours....) even if it%26#39;s just for a day....and/or Newport, RI after Mystic, CT....

Mrs

Sturbridge Village and Plimouth Plantation are similar...

I agree with both posters. Schedule more time in Boston doing the Freedom Trail, tour Old Ironsides, take a Duck Tour.........

Thanks! I thought these activities were going to be too similar. I ruled out Newport because I thought my kids would be bored there. I think it would be a great spot for a weekend away with DH.

I%26#39;m originally from that area and I loved Sturbridge Village growing up. There are lots of things for the kids to do there--hands on activities and games. It would be an interesting contrast for them to see what the original settlers lived like at Plimoth vs what it was like a hundred or so years later at Sturbridge. We went several times on school trips in elementary school and high school and I always learned something new and had an enjoyable time.

I agree that Sturbridge Village is nice. If the kids really like history, then maybe 2 such things wouldn%26#39;t be so bad. I%26#39;d try to spend at least a day in the city. There%26#39;s a ton of stuff to do in Boston.

I agree that Newport would be boring for them. I have a childhood memory of being bored silly by one lavishly decorated room after another. zzzzzzzzz ! :-)

Thanks for the advice. I think I have ruled out Mystic. We will do Plimoth Plantation and then go to Maine for several days and then see Sturbridge Village on the way home. I was actually at both of these places when I was a teenager (many, many years ago) and they both made quite an impression on me. I think my girls will especially love Sturbridge Village.

hair cutting

Staying at the Best Western Roundhouse.

We are booked in to stay at the above hotel from the 13th to the 18th August. How easy is it to get to the major sights from this hotel? We are having a car but are not picking it up till the 16th. From Boston we were thinking of driving to the Six Flags in Agawam. Is it worth the trip. My husband and son aged 11 love the thrill rides. I fancy the Yankee candle shop more LOL. What else is worth doing between the 18th and 23rd when we fly back down to New York.

Thanks for any help.

Ann

Staying at the Best Western Roundhouse.

We visited Six Flags in Agawam about 5 years ago. It was the most disgusting place (very, very dirty) and I would never go back there again. We like Canobie Lake park in Salem NH. It is about 1 1/2 hours north of Boston. If you go to Six Flags you are looking at a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive. I do love Yankee Candle but my husband can%26#39;t take the smell. I do believe that they have added a water park at Canobie Lake. You can check their website for details.

While staying in Boston the science museum and the aquarium are really nice. They have duck boat tours that leave right from the science museum. If you%26#39;re into history you can walk the Freedom Trail. Fauniel Hall has some nice shops and restaurants. Also a tour of Fenway Park is awesome.

Staying at the Best Western Roundhouse.

If I';m not mistaken, the hotel offers a free shuttle downtown. I%26#39;d recommend taking that.

It%26#39;s not in a fantastic area, so I would not recommend wandering around after dark. However, it should be a quick shuttle ride to Copley Square.

You might check the TripAdvisor information pages about Boston and the sights you might see.

Six Flags is a typical amusement park. It%26#39;s a bit of a ride from the city but if your family is interested, then it%26#39;s worth it. (There%26#39;s another park that%26#39;s closer, but not as nice---Canobie Lake in NH.)

belfast in summer

we are a party of 12 coming to belfast in july for my best mates 50th birthday.(6 couples)

we need advice for hotels and places to party-not r%26amp;b,garage or that rubbish-and also to eat.

forget the 50th birthday as we are really 25 at heart!!!!

we have done rome,cork,paris,prague,dublin and horror of horrors-blackpool, also tucson,LA, NEW YORK ETC SO GIVE US SOME FUN GEN

CHEERS

MIKEY

belfast in summer

Are you coming form or going to Belfast

Belfast Maine

Belfast Ireland

Do you want to be on the Yarmouth MAINE website??

You are on the Massachusetts site

belfast in summer

oops sorry-we are going to belfast in northern ireland for the weekend BUT funnily enough we are also coming to cape cod in july too for our main(pardon the pun) holiday

cheers

mikey

Although I grew up in Ireland and my brother-in-law is from Belfast I can%26#39;t help you with places to stay in Northern Ireland. (Midlands in Ireland is another story),

As for Cape Cod, I suggest the Irish Village in Yarmouth. It%26#39;s very reasonable. It%26#39;s clean and definetly not fancy (in fact I doubt that anything has been changed since the 1950%26#39;s and it was basic furniture then.) The first time we went there, we pulled into the parking lot and decided that we would stay only one night in this dive and then move on. But since we had such a great night we decided to stay the week and have been going back every year since.

The Irish Village is really a motel, the staff are extra friendly. Meals are included and the food is quite good. There is a bar/dance hall in the hotel and they do have nightly entertainment but if you are used to 5 star bands you won%26#39;t be entertained. The hotel seems to cater to extreme%26#39;s -- parents with young children and middle-aged people.

If you like to holiday in ritzy, expensive hotels then The Irish Village is not for you but if you just want a clean, friendly place to put your head down each night then I suggest you go there.

Which Lighthouses and Picture Perfect Towns

From Newport to P-Town, was wondering if one wanted to see and photograph the most scenic lighthouses and picture perfect towns, where would you stop to take photographs?

Appreciate specific suggestions

Which Lighthouses and Picture Perfect Towns

I highly recommend you may find some answers to your questions in the June 2007 Cape Cod Life magazine. ...available at Barnes and Noble.

Page 52 describes in detail Chatham sights and the fact that it is the only town on the Cape to be on the list of America%26#39;s Dozen Distinctive Destinations.

The Best of the Cape and Islands will give you an idea of parks/nature areas and sunset views. Photo contest winners are also displayed throughout the layout.

Each issue usually highlights a town or two so if you ask the editor for past copies that would help you more....1-508-775-9800 or www.capecodlife.com

Which Lighthouses and Picture Perfect Towns

Check out www.lighthouse.cc/ma for a nice overview with pictures of each lighthouse in MA

On the outer Cape, beyond Chatham, the two towns worth visiting are Wellfleet and Provincetown. Wellfleet has an ';old Cape Cod'; feel to it and is quite picturesque, The central area is very compact, but you can also drive to the harbor for good views. Provincetown is not at all typical Cape Cod, but despite its honkytonk reputation, is quite lovely. The views from Macmillan Wharf are impressive. Away from the downtown are very nice residential areas, especially Commercial St. beyond the Coast Guard Station. Ptown is also known for the beauty of its gardens. It%26#39;s a wonderful spot to grow things. If you go to Ptown you should drive between north Truro and Ptown in at least one direction on 6A instead of 6. The other two outer cape towns, Eastham and Truro suffer from ';there is no there there.';

The two outer Cape light houses you can visit are Cape Cod Light, clearly marked turnoff from rte. 6 in north Truro, and Race Point Light, Race Point Rd., off rte. 6 in Provincetown, to the Natl. Seashore Visitor Center. There are two small lighthouses at the tip of the cape, Wood End and Long Point, but neither is very interesting or easily accessible.

I believe it is now possible to stay in the Race Point lighthouse keeper%26#39;s house, but I don%26#39;t know any details about that.

Although Eastham does not have a commercial center, it boasts some of the best , most scenic Atlantic beaches on the Cape. You will find some memorable shots at Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Lighthouse Beach. Visit the Nauset Light with light-keepers cottage and oil house. Also, just down the road you will find the Three Sisters lighthouses, 3 lovely old retired lighthouses that have been moved back from the sea onto National Seashore property. If you are interested in scenic views and architecture stop at Fort Hill to walk the National Seashore trails and take a look at the much photographed Captain Edward Penniman House with its own whale-bone arch.

5 wits tour

Is this woth a visit?

5 wits tour

I wondered about this tour also. Has anyone been? Am leaving Texas 5/19 for Boston.

5 wits tour

To tell you the truth, I%26#39;d never heard of the place. My first pass would be, that if you%26#39;ve never been here before, skip it. There%26#39;s way too much to do here to spend time in an indoor amusement.

Tell us your general interests, ages of the members of your group, amount of time you have, and we can give some great suggestions.

This attraction is also known as ';Tomb';. Maybe that will help get some responses. I have never been, though, although it looks like it could be fun.

Type in ';5-wits tomb'; in the search box on this page (upper left) and you can read the reviews. Most people enjoy it. It is intriguing to children ages 7 or 8 through 13 or 14. Adults also seem to enjoy it. I believe that discounts are available at certain times and on Wednesdays. Try their website through a search in Google for ';5-wits tomb Boston MA';.

I would say it depends. It%26#39;s pricey, but it%26#39;s definitely a unique experience. I went with my boyfriend and another friend when it opened (we were in our early 20s) and had fun. If you have kids, it would be more fun.

In it, you pretend you are an archaeologist and walk through a ';pyramid'; solving puzzles with all sorts of sound and other effects. I loved that kind of stuff when I was a kid, so it was really fun, although a little cheesy, even as an adult.

I would also try to go during a time when it%26#39;s not as busy.. we went later at night and our ';tour'; was the three of us and one other couple. If there were 10-15 people going through at once, I%26#39;m not sure it would be as good.

I went with a group from work as a teambuilding thing a couple months ago. It%26#39;s definitely goofy, but the guides make a good time. The puzzles aren%26#39;t that hard, but they can be tricky, so it keeps you interested. We had groups of 8 or 10, and that seemed like a good number, not too crowded. Definitely good for kids, but the guides were talking about how they get college kids in all the time who love it. It%26#39;s definitely worth it, so long as you go in prepared... it%26#39;s not something you%26#39;re just watching or riding in. You%26#39;re actually doing stuff.

burts bees

get rid of mites on rabbit

Must see and do things on Nantucket

Coming to Nantucket via high speed ferry for one day, what should we plan to do to see as much as we can in our one day? Enjoy seeing sights, having a good meal, beautiful views, etc. Thanks.

Must see and do things on Nantucket

Be sure you take one of the Island tours. It will hit the high points and take you to the town of Siasconset (';Sconset';) which you don%26#39;t want to miss.

Must see and do things on Nantucket

Ouch! ....It saddens me when someone has such limited time to spend exploring the grey ladys charms. One day is not enough ...it doesn%26#39;t do her justice... but if you only have one day then cram it full.

Start your day early take the first boat over and arrive by 9:30 am Book a 10am bus tour which will take you around the island and show you a few points of interest for about an hour and a half... . Have a lobster roll for lunch. The best on Nantucket is made in the fish store at the bottom of Main St behind the gazabo (Next door to a sandwich shop called Provisions).

If you are walkers and love 19th century architecture. Town is a treasure...walk the core... visitor services has self guided walking tour maps... they are located at 25 Federal St. .. Start shopping so as to stimulate the economy. .. Visit the Whaling Museum and see what put the island on the map so to speak..... and last before getting back on the ferry have a waffle cone at the Juice Bar but don%26#39;t choke on the price.

Cheers

Thanks for the suggestions Man-From-Nantucket, sounds like a great day! We don%26#39;t mind being very busy, just want to pack in as much as we can.

The suggestion about the bus tour is good; however, if you can, try and see if you can book a spot on one of Gail%26#39;s Tours. Gail Nickerson offers tours by mini-van and thus are more personal and interesting that the big bus. Call her before coming to the island. Skip any of the other van tours.

On the other hand, for a really fun, cheap experience, take the public bus, the NRTA bus, out to either Sconset or Madaket for $2, then poke around on your own. Sconset would be the better choice. Then, head back into town to wander around before your boat goes back.

Seating at the Quincy Market

When we were in Boston last month, we decided to eat at the Quincy Market. What a cool place, and what a huge selection! However, it seemed as if there was only one relatively small seating area for diners. We actually ended up standing at one of the tables designed for that, but I was wondering if there is more seating and I just didn%26#39;t see it or what? This is such a cool destination, and I can%26#39;t believe that there isn%26#39;t more seating at such a popular place. I know there is some outdoor seating for the warmer months, but what about the rest of the year? I probably just didn%26#39;t see the other area(s), right?

I%26#39;m just curious. We loved the Market. Several people we know told us to avoid it due to it being too ';touristy';, but it was awesome!

Seating at the Quincy Market

There%26#39;s a ';secret'; eating area upstairs as well. Actually, not secret but not obvious if you don%26#39;t know to look. And the seating is much more comfortable - they have many chairs with backs, not just those little square stools. There are also umbrella tables outside in front of Fanueil Hall. Sorry you had to stand. I meant to tell you about sitting upstairs.......... ;%26gt;)

Seating at the Quincy Market

Alanm,

LOL, that%26#39;s okay--we didn%26#39;t mind standing at all. As I said, we loved the Market. I had a feeling that there was probably more seating upstairs when I kept seeing people go up there, but we were contented to stay where we were and just enjoy eating and watching the people. I know the Market is a hot tourist spot, but it seems like it also draws a respectable amount of the downtown lunch crowd as well, and I can see why. I have never been to a food court that has such a huge selection! You could eat there for days and never eat at the same place!

Glad you liked it. When I worked downtown, lots of people went down there to grab lunch but few stayed there to eat it--the crowding is terrible and despite the upstairs seatiing, difficult to come by.

I personally don%26#39;t like it there. You%26#39;re crowded in. It%26#39;s noisy. Not my favorite place to eat. The food really is excellent though and as you point out, there%26#39;s a great selection.

One idea is to buy something as takeout and find a spot on a bench over by the Aquarium or in Christopher Columbus Park or someplace less hectic to enjoy it.

Also, there are restaurants there that offer seating and table service.

We love Quincy Market soo much we always stop in before our flights and grab meals for the plane. Always get stares of jealousy when i pull out a carol ann whoopie pie.

There may be minimal seating but the vendors sure can take your order and get your food to you pretty quick.

A couple of weekends ago we parked in the garage ordered a philly cheese steak(ate standing up) got our food for the flight and were headed for the airport in less than 25 minutes...oh yeah, the longest wait is for the ladies restroom!

Accomodation advice for wedding in Foxboro

Looking for advice on hotels in the Foxboro area for wedding guests to stay at. Reception is at Lake View Pavilion. Need reasonable rates, decent safe place, that is not too far for taxis. On that topic, anyone have advice for getting around in that area? Looking at the two Marriot%26#39;s and Holiday Inn Mansfield. Any feedback appreciated. Wedding is in June 2007.

Also, looking for a nice room for bride and groom for after wedding. Only thing I found so far is luxury suite at Holiday Inn. Considering other hotels in a reasonable driving distance, but Providence and Boston may be too far. Any B %26amp; B ideas?

Thanks!

Accomodation advice for wedding in Foxboro

Bmancan,

These were recommended on the Lake View Pavilion site:

Foxboro Marriott Courtyard

(508) 543-5222

www.foxborocourtyard.com

Marriott Residence Inns

Foxboro (508) 698-2800

Franklin (508) 541-8188

These were from another post previously for Hotels in the Foxboro area (as well as the two Marriott%26#39;s above) and they were recommended as being very good to stay at:

Holiday Inn Mansfield

31 Hampshire Street

Mansfield, MA 02048

(508) 339-2200

Comfort Inn

4 Fisher Street

Foxboro, MA 02035

(508) 543-1000

There aren%26#39;t any B%26amp;B%26#39;s right in the town of Foxboro unfortunately that I could see. I know you say that Providence is too far for your guests to drive after the wedding? But you know, this friend I worked with lives in Foxboro and instead of working in downtown Boston she ended up taking a job in Providence and she swears it%26#39;s by far easier than commuting in to downtown Boston, that it%26#39;s only a 25 minute drive, if that, without the congestion and tie ups you%26#39;d get heading toward Boston all the time.

For B%26amp;B%26#39;s, there%26#39;s the ';Jacob Hill Inn'; in Seekonk, MA. Trip advisor has reviews on it as well. You could take a look at it to see what I mean about it:

www.jacobhillinn.com

I just did mapquest from Foxboro to this Inn and it%26#39;s exactly 23 miles away. May be if your guests stayed at one of the choices mentioned above and you two stayed at this Inn? When you see this particular Inn, it%26#39;s actually perfect for after a wedding, they have fireplaces in some of their rooms. The Inn is really pretty nice....just a thought.

Best wishes!

Accomodation advice for wedding in Foxboro

There isn%26#39;t much in the way of taxi service in Foxboro. One or two independent local taxis and that is about it. Rental cars would be a much better idea. There are several Enterprise and Hertz rental offices in Mansfield/Foxboro.

The hotels you mentioned in Mansfield are the nicest in the area. They%26#39;re in or near the Cabot industrial park in Mansfield and cater to business travelers mostly. Foxboro isn%26#39;t a big tourist area, so there are no notable B%26amp;Bs in the area.

I live in Norwood and we have a whole bunch of hotels on Route 1. We are about 15 minutes North of the Football Stadium via Route 1. Most are business type hotels but do a search and see what they have to offer.

Oh and about the transportation idea...I would hire a van or 2 to shuttle guests to the location. Also there are quite a few commuter rail train stops in the area if anyone wants to go into Boston for a day. And the Amtrak trains stop at the RTE 128 station in Westwood, which would be a 10 minute cab ride for most of the hotels in Norwood. (In case any guests want to take the train up from NYC or DC areas.)

It is with great pleasure that I would like to propose the Residence Inn by Marriott in Foxboro. We provide spacious suites and a complimentary full hot breakfast buffet for our guests. Please call me or email me your date and I will make sure you receive the best value in town.

Sincerely,

Maria Elena Beras-Vogt

Director of Sales

Residence Inn by Marriott Boston-Foxboro

mberas@colwenhotels.com

Direct 774-219-1963

Tel. 508-698-2800

Where was this Maria when I asked for a manager to straighten this unpleasent situation out????????

Kennedy Compound

If I wanted to get a glimpse of the Kennedy compound, could I see it from the ferry in Hyannis on the way to MV?

Could I see it from the ';Pirate Cruise'; in Hyannis?

Could I see it from whalewatching out of Hyannis?

I%26#39;m just wondering if one of these trips goes by it. Thanks.

Kennedy Compound

Whale watching leaves out of the North Side...so no, you wouldn%26#39;t ee it.

Pirate Tour...not sure but I doubt it...usually they stay a little south of the Compound in Lewis Bay and are more geared towards pointing out the treasure for kids....IF you knew where to look, you%26#39;d see it in the distance (maybe ask a crew member)

There ARE harbor tours that point it out....check out Hy-Line Tours for info....

Kennedy Compound

1-800-492-8082 is the number for Hyline

They have a nice harbor Cruise that talks about the Kennedy houses - it is out of Ocean Docks

Thanks, I%26#39;m interested in seeing the Kennedy Compound, but not interested enough to book a whole seperate tour. I will definitely be sure to ask the captain on the Pirate Cruise if we might get a glimpse of it.

Yes, Hyannisport Harbor Cruises: www.hy-linecruises.com make a point of coming in close to the compound shoreline. Another one is www.catboat.com.

Have fun.

To get an idea of what to look for, here%26#39;s a link with a picture:

…nytimes.com/2006/…18down.html

You can get a good look if you know where to drive and know to ignore certain one-way signs, that only the locals know to pay no attention to.

Omni Parker House, Boston

Has anyone ever stayed in a junior suite at the Omni Parker House in Boston?

Five of my girlfriends and I (6 total) are staying in 2 junior suites rooms. According to the hotel, they are between 520 to 600 sq. ft., and most have 2 double beds and sofa beds.

Any comments please? Are the rooms going to be big enough for 3 people?

Thanks in advance for your help in this matter!

Omni Parker House, Boston

this has been discussed recently on this forum. use the search box and either type in Omni Parker House or look for the poster Quindad who frequently references this accommodation.

Omni Parker House, Boston

Sorry to be ignorant, but I%26#39;m not quite sure what you mean.

All I want is a comment from someone who has actually stayed in a junior suite at the Omni Parker House.

If you type in Omni Parker House in the search bar right above all the posts you will get tons of posts that people have already posted regarding this topic. An easy way to get answers to questions that have already been asked without waiting!

I guess I was just being impatient. It took awhile to find what I was looking for, but I finally did!

So thank you both to Mahj and Annikasaunt for your suggestion.

If a family of 5 was satisfied with 1 junior suite, myy 5 friends and I will definitely be happier with 2 junior suites!

Gotta love Trip Advisor!

Thanks again for your help!

The Junior Suites are spacious and beautiful. The bathrooms are compact, but immaculate and well stocked. Many of the Junior Suites are on the back side of the hotel which directly faces a new construction site, so if you have early morning noise issues, it could be wise to book through the hotel directly (617-227-8600) and find out the details. Who knows? You may be able to get a lower rate on these suites. This is a very service oriented hotel and the reservationist will be upfront and honest about any such issues. Also it`s a good idea to join the Omni Select Guest Program (omnihotels.com/800-FOROMNI) which has nice benefits including room upgrades when available, morning newspaper and hot and cold morning beverages delivered to your room at your specified time, late check out, turn down service, etc. It`s free to join.

I forgot to mention that not all the Junior Suites have a sofa bed, so make sure about that detail when reserving.

Hi guindad!

Thanks for the helpful response! I really appreciate.

I am already on the Select Program. My husband and I stayed at the Omni Berkshire in NY in March, and found out about that.

I did book the rooms directly with the hotel, and requested both of our junior suites to have sofa beds. Although they cannot guarantee, I am hoping that we get our sofa beds.

Thanks again!

I discussed this recently in a post. I%26#39;d call them again a few days before. Then ask again on check in. Take the squeaky wheel approach, without being a pain.

They didn%26#39;t give us sofa bed, but offered to move us or give us a rollaway. We took the rollaway and it worked fine.

The buzz is that many of the rooms at the OPH are small. Looking at our suite, we decided that our Junior suite was formed by taking the common wall down between two small rooms. One bathroom was left as the bathroom for the suite and the other bathroom became the closet.

There was ample square footage.

To me the term ';suite'; connotes two rooms (or more) but their Junior Suite is simply the square footage of two small rooms in one big room. (Hope that makes sense.)

I think you%26#39;ll do fine, even if you decided to take a rollaway for each suite instead of the sofa bed. My choice would be to avoid a room nar the construction.

Thanks MicheleS for taking the time to give me your input. I truly appreciate it! Gotta love Trip Advisor!!!

burts bees

how is my pc

going to boston tomorow !!!! weather?????

hello: I live in the caribbean and my husband and I are going to boston tomorrow for the first time tomorrow until wednesday for uor anniversary. How is the weather? Here in Puerto Rico is 100 degress and I do not know what clothes should we bring to Boston. Thank you

going to boston tomorow !!!! weather?????

Right now it%26#39;s like 90 - tomorrow%26#39;s forcast is mid 80%26#39;s for a high, then Sun-Wed says 70%26#39;s.......... Sun %26amp; Mon say chance of showers.

Now - that is the forcast at the moment. Best to pack layers (light sweater,jacket,raincoat) because you never know!

going to boston tomorow !!!! weather?????

Your weather got here before you did!!! :-)

Need Help!

I need some advice. After reading the boards for several days, I still have a few questions about my upcoming trip. My wife and I (late 20%26#39;s) will be in Boston for a week and had hoped to visit the Cape on our last weekend (Aug. 10-11) before we fly out on Sunday. I had planned on renting a car in Boston on Friday morning and driving to Plymouth for a short stop and then on to Provincetown for the afternoon and evening. Then on Saturday, after hanging out in P-Town that morning, check out the National Seashore and stop in Eastham, then on to Chatham for a stop if not to stay overnight.

My questions are:

Will P-Town be out of control on Friday Aug. 10 (Jazz fest / start of Carnival Week). We are very open and fun people but don%26#39;t want to turn our relaxing trip in to a mardi gras type weekend.

Also will it be impossible to drive into P-Town on that Friday afternoon?

If you think P-Town will be doable and enjoyable, are there any B%26amp;B or Inns that will take a one night reservation?

Thanks!

Need Help!

What you propose is certainly feasible, except the part of getting a one night stay during Carnival. Finding a single night accomodation anywhere on the cape in August will be tough. I suggest you try to find a place further up cape, like Wellfleet or Eastham to stay and drive to Ptown from there. It%26#39;s only about a half hour from Eastham or Wellfleet. Summer traffic may add to that time but it shouldn%26#39;t be too bad if you get to Ptown early enough in the afternoon. In Ptown park in a lot and walk. It will be very crowded and active, but really not much more so than any July or August weekend. Carnival is just getting started. The parade is Thursday and the following weekend will be the really jammed one. Traffic can be bad but remember that Ptown is a small place. A major traffic jam can extend for blocks, not for miles like in a big city expressway.

Need Help!

Good advice above on where to stay and why. I also think Truro would meet your needs (a little more rural but very close to P-Town) but of all those places Wellfleet is my all time favorite.

I would advise you to make reservations ASAP – I’m sure lots of the places you’ll be looking at have been long booked so I expect you’ll be narrowing down your choices by availability.

I agree. You might find it difficult to find two nights on a weekend in August... even in Wellfleet or Eastham. For some choices take a look at www.wellfleetchamber.com and www.easthamchamber.com where you will find all of the local listings for hotels, motels, B+Bs and inns that you might not find on one of the more commercial, nation-wide sites that advertises on Google. You had better get started, however, because the nice places fill up fast!

Just in case you end up needing it there is a B%26amp;B in Harwich whose owner posted that he will accept one night stays in high season. Perhaps someone will remember more about this or you can look back and find it. Good luck.

You are planning to cram a lot in for just 2 days. Provincetown is pretty charming and engaging and along with the adjacent National Seashore could easily fill up that time. Have you considered taking a boat from boston? (bostonharborcruises.com/baystatecruises.com). You could avoid the harrowing Cape traffic and relax getting to and from Ptown. Renting bicycles would be a good option when you arrive and it`s much easier to get around. You also wouldn`t have to deal with the parking nightmare. Accomodations are expensive and the minimum stay requirements are annoying and absurd. I`ve found that most of the places that refuse my requests for shorter stays almost invariably have their vacancy signs out when I arrive there. If you`re somewhat of a risk taker, you can call The Provincetown Chamber of Commerce (ptownchamber.com) on the morning of your arrival. The local innkeepers call in any vacancies they may have for last minute, shorter stays. We`ve frequently had good luck with that.....even for Carnival week, but you have to be somewhat flexible with the kind of accomodation you`ll get. Another option is capecolonyinn.com (800-841-6716). It`s a motel on the East end of Bradford Street when you first come into town. You`re about a 15 minute walk into the center of town or a much quicker bike ride. The walk along parallel Commercial Street is very enjoyable. The motel is well run, clean and well maintained. The rooms are surprisingly spacious and air conditioned (both rarities at many other options) with a refrigerator and there`s a nice outdoor pool. Parking and a somewhat scanty continental breakfast is included. The best part is that they only require a 2 night minimum. I checked for your dates (Aug. 10, 11) and rooms are averaging around $165 depending on bedding. While you may be surprised, that`s a pretty good deal considering that it`s high season and the amenities. They still have availability, so it`s worth considering.

wondering..which beach in mv with large family...

We are traveling with our large family to MV this summer and wondering where to rent. Looking for an awesome beach, not too far from a cute town. Kids are 10 and under. Ideas?

wondering..which beach in mv with large family...

The island is only 100 square miles so where ever you find a rental in your price range will work. We rent a house in Edgartown but we’ve also rented houses off of Edgartown Vineyard Haven Road (lots of newer neighborhoods filled with rentals hidden in the woods). Rentals on the water are out or our price range; but there are a lot to choose from.

Make sure you make your plans soon though as ferry reservations for a car(s) will be difficult to secure. We usually sign our August lease in January and book our ferry reservations ASAP. We couldn%26#39;t book our return for the last day of our rental so we had to take a chance with the wait list. We were just notified that we can now leave on the day we want to! Phew! This is the first year in 8 years that we were worried about our return trip and we always book in early February as soon as August dates open up.

Here is a link to a map of the public beaches on MV:

http://www.mvol.com/beaches/

We have been to 3/4 of them and they are all wonderful in their own unique way. I suggest trying a different beach every day of your stay. We even go back to the beach after an early dinner with watch the sunset! We bring beach toys for the kids, a bottle of wine for DH %26amp; I and sweatshirts to throw on if it gets chilly. South Beach (Katama) is a favorite for kids but we also love Joseph Sylva Beach on the bay side of the island. My kids fondly call them the big wave beach and the little wave beach respectively. We go the busiest week of the year and yet you’ll find beaches that are not crowded (except for South Beach) everywhere!

wondering..which beach in mv with large family...

If you rent a house up-Island in Chilmark or West Tisbury, your rental lease will allow you access to two of the most beautiful beaches on the island - Lucy Vincent Beach and Squibnocket. You can only use these beaches if you live or rent in one of the towns. Since the Island is 5 times the size of Manhattan, you will need a car to really enjoy all the island has to offer. Then you could drive wherever you want to go. These beaches are not walking distance from any town - you%26#39;d have to be down island (Edgartown, Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs) to be walking distance to a ';town'; center.

There%26#39;s information on the Martha%26#39;s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce website too.

magic

If you rent a house in West Tisbury you can get onto Lamberts Cove Beach, but not Lucy Vincent or Squibnocket. Those two beaches are for Chilmark residents only.

kbiss, thanks for catching my mistake.

Have you looked at Great rentals.com? We just rented a house on Martha%26#39;s Vineyard and another one on Nantucket. Have talked to both owners ---wonderful people! Have%26#39;t made the trip yet.

Portland ME to Cape Cod

Would it be too much driving to go from Portland Maine to Cape Cod in one morning, on a Wednesday? Would we be limited on only seeing Hyannis?

We thought we%26#39;d spend one night then go back into Boston the next day.

We%26#39;ll be up there the first week in June, but I%26#39;m kinda getting freaked out on how to gauge the driving distance vs. time in all of New England. We want to see a lot in a short time, but don%26#39;t want to overdo it.

thanks.

Portland ME to Cape Cod

Personally, I think that%26#39;s a lot of driving for just one day on the Cape. You%26#39;ll be passing right through Boston, so how about stopping in Boston - and staying there!! If you must see Cape Cod, you can take a ferry from Boston to Provincetown and make a day trip of it. I think that would make much more sense and not have you spending your vacation in the car.

Anniversary Celebrations Ideas?

We’ll be in Boston June 6-10, and I was wondering if you have any tips to celebrate an anniversary? We were thinking of maybe taking one of the dinner cruises like the Odyssey, but do you have any other suggestions?

Anniversary Celebrations Ideas?

hi: My husband and I are going to boston tomorrow until wednesday to celebrate our anniversary too. A friend who already visited boston told us about a restaurant named Tapeo and said it was very good. I am looking to celebrate my anniversary in a most informal way. Do you have any other idea? The activities I already booked are a haunted tour( i love this stuff) and the duck tours. We want to go to Salem and Rockport ( in the same day ) too.

Anniversary Celebrations Ideas?

I hope you’ll have a great time! And thank you for the tip about Tapeo. I personally prefer something that’s informal too, but it doesn’t have to be. We would like to go to a place with a nice view, decent food (doesn’t have to be gourmet), and a nice atmosphere. We’re visiting there to look at apartments, so we won’t have that much time to look at other things, but something like that an evening would be nice.

Can%26#39;t wait to see some ideas....

We are thinking of going for our anniversary also ,June 7-10.

Pretty much looking for same things, Good informal places to eat, etc,etc

Thanks to everyone in advance!

The Top of the Hub is always a tourist favorite. Located on the 52nd (top) floor of the Prudential Center, it%26#39;s a classy (and expensive) place, but the food is great and so is the view.

Also, just about anywhere in the North End will be memorable.

Coincidentally, there was another Odyssey Cruise question on this forum earlier in the week. I%26#39;ve done them, but I always end up a little dizzy from the motion. Keep in mind that I get motion sickness on the slow ferry over to Nantucket, so it may not bother you a bit.

drawing a circle

Bostonians can you help Maine?

Dear Boston pals,

I am trying to get rec%26#39;s about where to vacation in Maine. (It is still called the Vacation State isn%26#39;t it?)

The Maine board on TA doesn%26#39;t seem to have much traffic and my post and a similar one are just vegging there unattended.

If anyone here has experience with Maine travel would you please help us out on the Maine board?

Much appreciated!

Voy

Bostonians can you help Maine?

What sort of Maine vacation are you looking for? There%26#39;s coastal Maine, inland Maine, etc. My experience is limited, but it includes visiting York and Old Orchard and also Boothbay Harbor.

What we found was that things get nicer and less cluttered the farther up you go. Old Orchard and York are fun, but they%26#39;re also sort of cheesy, with loads of carnival amusements and cheap hotels and all that. Boothbay Harbor is more elegant. I enjoyed that a lot but i didn%26#39;t necessarily like the drive.

Last year, we rented a house in Old Orchard, though, and had a lovely time. We were two tiny blocks from a private beach and it was really WONDERFUL...relaxing, great swimming (water was too cold for me but not others) and fun times. The amusements were fun enough and we brought bikes and biked all over the place. It was a blast.

We went to Freeport for a day of shopping and we did one of the LL Bean Adventure Schools, which was GREAT. We learned archery. It was FABULOUS!

Bostonians can you help Maine?

I agree that it would be very helpful if you were to give us some guidance as to what you are looking for or desire. By the way, Maine used to be part of Massachusetts!!

Thanks all,

On my post on the Maine board I said I am looking for Maine coast, right on the ocean. Looking for more New Englandy and quiet, not amusement parkish.

Or...should I perhaps consider Gloucester... or Rockport instead...? I need ocean badly.

Rockport is very quiet and pleasant, but the beach is very small.

I think Wells and Kennebunk offer quieter places to stay that are more removed from the honky tonk of Old Orchard and York. Boothbay Harbor is lovely.

Voy,

Two words: Bar Harbor. Lots of good B%26amp;B%26#39;s and miles of that rocky and wild Maine coastline!

For the quintessential quiet, coastal Maine experience check the Camden area. You won`t find the touristy summer crowds and traffic of Southern Maine or the Bar Harbor regions. I can highly recommend glenmoorbythesea.com. One of their private cottages with a deck overlooking stunning Penobscot Bay could be just right for you. This is a family run and very service oriented property. If I can`t convince you, read the stellar TA reviews.

You all are the best!

Thank you so much,

Voy ;-)

As a Maine resident working in Boston, I can suggest my hometown of Moody. It is part of Wells but connected to Ogunquit Beach, not Wells Beach. Moody is separated from Route 1 by marsh and is a private beach - no crowds. There are a number of rental units on the beach - single family homes, rooms and condos. You have 3 miles of beach and can easily walk to Ogunquit. Plenty of fine dining options and entertainment.

The best part is it exit 7 off of 95. You do no need to drive for hours to get here.

That%26#39;s a great inside tip. Thanks MDon.

The Norseman in Ogunquit is a nice property, but if you are a beach goer Old Orchard is much nicer. 6mi. of beautiful beach. If you stay north of the pier it is a lot quieter.The Royal Atlantic and The Friendship Inn are both on the beach. These places sell out fast in the summer.

burts bees

Trying to Please Everyone

We are planning a family trip to Boston this summer. My husband is looking for a quiet vacation, a nice room, with a good view of the water. My teenage daughter wants to be close to shopping, restaurants and the subway so that she and I can explore the city easily. Any ideas on hotels that would best satisfy them both?

Thanks for your suggestions!

Trying to Please Everyone

If you want a good view of the water, a place that can be quiet, and one that%26#39;s convenient to shopping, restaurants and the subway, I would opt for either the Boston Harbor Hotel or the Marriott Long Wharf.

Trying to Please Everyone

I agree with AlanM. Those are great hotels.

Another option would be the Marriott Residence Inn at Tudor Wharf. Tudor Wharf is in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, it%26#39;s right on the water, and it%26#39;s a short walk over the North Washington Street Bridge into the North End/North Station area. Once over the bridge take a right onto Causeway St and North Station (comuter rail, subway) will be 200 yards up the street. Visit mbta.com for all public transport info.

Healy,

One of their criteria was to be near the subway.

Hi,

The Long Wharf or the Marriott Custom House hotel would both have great water views, and are within a block of the Subway and Quincy Market.

If your budget allows, you can go more upscale at the InterContinential or the Boston Harbor Hotel, which are both on the harbor, near shopping and the T as well.

go to the marriott long wharf. near aquarium blue line stop (blue line is not the greatest in fairness but it%26#39;ll get you going.) hotel is right next to the re-planted and quaint christopher columbus waterfront park, 5 mins walk to north end, 5 mins walk to quincy market, 3 mins walk to the aquarium, 1 minute walk to the ferries to take you to the harbor islands and the uss constitution as well as p-town and hingham. there are nice restauarants too.

Thanks so much for your help! We have reservations at the Mariott Long Warf. For others planning trips, don%26#39;t forget to check the chain%26#39;s web site and check their rates. We were able to get a summer getaway rate and saved $500 total over the rates presented by the travel sites.

visiting cape cod in november 07

hi

my wife and i intend to visit cape cod and the boston areas in the second week of nov 07. we come from the tropics and write to enquire about the possible weather conditions around that period of time.

we realise that it is difficult to give precise indications about the weather but some sort of guide line will be appreciated so that we can prepare ourselves accordingly.

of course we welcome suggestions about dining places and activities that one can engage in.

regards

musaphir

visiting cape cod in november 07

November can be the start of Winter, be cold and rainy, or very pleasant - or probably both! However, one thing is clear: there won%26#39;t be a lot to do on Cape Cod at that time of year. Yes, you can do a ';ride-by'; or a walk along the Cape Cod National Seashore, do some shopping and dining in Provincetown, and take a ride along Route 6A, but alot will be closed and you know, obviously, it%26#39;s not beach weather.

Boston CAN be very pleasant at that time, but we never know. Take layers. A warm jacket, sweater, even gloves (and hope you don%26#39;t need them), rain gear.

What were your expectations to see in both places?

AlanM

visiting cape cod in november 07

It can often be gray and cold in November.

For the last five years we have gone to the Cape in Nov. and it seems to us that the nice weather (and by that I do not mean tropical temperatures) window closes right at Thanksgiving which is Nov. 22 in 07. There are still lots of things to do. If you want to know what and what will suit you then there is an excellent guide book that you can get. It has symbols next to the year round items too. I think you can order it from Amazon.com. I have the sixth edition but the seventh and most recent edition was due out this month. $20. An Explorer%26#39;s Guide: Cape Cod, Martha%26#39;s Vineyard %26amp; Nantucket by Kim Grant.

Parking in Boston

hi,

I%26#39;m driving into Boston on the night of Memorial Day, and I was wondering what kind of parking options are around the following area: 12 Hemenway Street; 02115. That is the address of the hostel, but I need to know how much to allot for parking from Monday night to Wednesday early morning.

What is the general cost for overnight parking in the city? And what areas should I avoid parking in?

Thank you!!

Parking in Boston

Generally, overnight parking costs anywhere from $25-$35/day. You should ask the hostel for garages close by, and which ones might offer a discount. Luckily, the Red Sox are on the road, or you%26#39;d be out of luck.

Parking in Boston

The cheapest garage in Boston is the Boston Common Garage. Unfortunately, it%26#39;s a bit of a walk to Hemenway Street. However, the rates are cheap if you move the car by 10am each morning. Go to bostoncitylinks.com/boston_commongarage.html for all the info. Once you park you could easily hop on the Green Line Letter E train at Park Street and take it to the Northeastern stop. Hemenway Street is a couple of blocks away. Sounds like a lot of work, but you could save yourself $40-$50. Go to mbta.com for all subway and public transport info.

Healey,

Just inquisitive, but where would you think they could move their car to?? Wouldn%26#39;t they have to park it somewhere anyway??

West Harwich Accomodations

I am interested in Running in the Irish Pub roadrace. Does anyone know of close-by family accomodations? It is August 4th.

West Harwich Accomodations

The Tern Inn is right around the corner, on the other side of the Herring River bridge. (Turn right onto the side street just past the Yankee Doodle shop.) We stay there often and recommend it highly.

www.theterninn.com

Good luck in the race!

lock file

Duck Tour-Tix in advance?

My mom and I are going to Boston the 3rd week of June. We are planning on going on the Duck Tour. I was wondering if it was necessary to get tickets in advance (before we leave). Also, what is the best time of the day to go? We are both early risers, so I was thinking that the first tour (9:00 a.m.) would work for us. Thanks.

Duck Tour-Tix in advance?

On two consecutive visits I tried to get tickets, no luck. You have to go to that high-rise mall to purchase tickets at their booth, which sell out early, and also to board there.

Except for going in the water briefly, I would recommend Old Town Trolleys, or one of the others. You can purchase tickets at your hotel or shops around town, and board and deboard at all their stops around town, using your pass all day. I bought a two-day trolley pass, and used it to go everywhere, saving several cab fares. The Duck Tour is a set length of time with no stops.

Duck Tour-Tix in advance?

I don%26#39;t know how often they sell out, but if it is a weekend and the weather is nice, I would guess it%26#39;s a sure bet they will. I went 2 years ago in November on a nice day and we got the last two tickets! It is a very popular tour. BTW... I bought mine from a booth in the round center hall at Quincy Market... not at the Prudential Center.

The Duck Tour is fun and quirky (or is that quacky?) !

Westernmass

oh yes,, I forgot. they have a ticket booth in the market. Then where did you go to board?

You can also buy the tickets online 2 weeks prior, which is what I would recommend. I think anytime is really fine to go ...

Whale Watching in June

What are your thoughts on whale watching during the 3rd week of June? Is it worth it? We are thinking about getting the Go Boston Card and the trip is the Mass Bay Lines. Thanks.

Whale Watching in June

I think whale watches are fun, especially on a hot day, but it%26#39;s really a matter of personal preference.

Do you really want to see whales? Would you like a shorter, harbor cruise instead? If it%26#39;s a boat ride and harbor views of the city that mostly interest you, you can take a harbor cruise or go out to George%26#39;s Island, etc. Whale watching is a longer ride, but then there%26#39;s the benefit of seeing the whales, which can be really cool, depending on how close they come to the boat.

I%26#39;ve been and seen tiny whale tails in the distance, but others have had more dramatic experiences. It all depends on how it goes on your trip, where the whales are, etc. I think it%26#39;s worth a try, if you%26#39;re at all interested in seeing whales. Mass Bay Lines is one of the well-established outfits in the city.

Whale Watching in June

Thank you for your advice. I would definitely like to get the chance to see a whale.

June is good the whales are well established in there summer feeding grounds and you start to see more playful behavor.

burts bees

Which Harwich beach.....

would you recommend?

Trying something a %26#39;lil different this summer. For the past few summers, we%26#39;ve stayed in S. Yarmouth %26amp; Yarmouthport.

We%26#39;ll be renting a house in East Harwich for a week at the end of July. Can%26#39;t wait.

Love, love, love Mayflower Beach in Dennis. Great for our boys (not strong swimmers). They enjoy using their boogie boards, inflatable boat, etc. Is there a comparable beach in Harwich?. Although, I%26#39;m sure we%26#39;ll still hit Mayflower at least once or twice ;-)

Thanks in advance,

Naomi :-)

Which Harwich beach.....

Anyone??????

Which Harwich beach.....

Our children used to enjoy Red River Beach when we stayed in Harwichport many moons ago.

Great, thanks. I%26#39;ll look into it :-)

Naomi

If you want to venture a little further afield, you could also go into Orleans to Skaket Beach or a little further into Eastham to First Encounter Beach. Not sure about costs for these beaches and not a huge parking lot at Skaket. We go in September now so no charges and usually plenty of parking.

I remember the first time we saw Horseshoe Crabs was at a little beach on Pleasant Bay between Orleans and Chatham, I believe at that point it%26#39;s actually a section of Harwich. It%26#39;s right on the road and hardly any parking unfortunately. Such excitement seeing this very ancient species of crab.

Great advice, thank you!!!

Naomi :-)

Hi there Naomi,

Consider getting a Dennis beach pass again cause you love Mayflower and there are terrific Sound beaches as well not far from Harwich. Your kids should love South Village beach. When you arrive walk east to where the Sound meets Swan River. Kids have a great time swimming or using a float to traverse the narrow channel over to the opposite side and back. Then there are sand bars farther out that are fun to walk, swim or float to at low tide. And there is usually very little wave action too. (Your house should have a book of info including high and low tides) If you walk in the other direction YOU will be interested in all the homes along the beach that are for rent and the kids can see the lighthouse at the Inn. Then there%26#39;s the %26#39;drive in%26#39; beach at West Dennis where there are swings and a snack bar plus (from the other side) access to the Lighthouse Inn if you%26#39;d like to enjoy that hotel%26#39;s lunch out on the deck one day. Your husband might like to rent a jetski in front of the hotel too.

As you know Harwich doesn%26#39;t have a bay side and the Brewster beaches are not as nice as what you have experienced in Dennis on the bay.

Whatever you do try Bonatt%26#39;s (in Harwich) for breakfast this year. Go with one of the blackboard specials like lobster eggs benedict or raspberry stuffed french toast. If you can%26#39;t take the line then just drop into their bakery for some yummy items.

Bank Street beach in Harwichport is fab. You will likely have to park in the town, however, and walk.

Pleasant Road beach in West Harwich...

Thanks to all that took the time to reply, I appreciate it! :-)

Definitely don%26#39;t want to over-plan this vacation, a stretch for me LOL

Plan on getting as much R%26amp; R as we possibly can, easier said than done ;-)

Naomi :-)

Restaurant Recommendations

My mom and I will be staying near Copley Square. Please recommend restaurants around the area and other areas as well. Thanks.

Restaurant Recommendations

Check ';Dining'; up above. It covers all areas of the city.

Alanm

Restaurant Recommendations

MMMMM..........where to start??? So many to choose from.......maybe if you could narrow it down by the types of food you are looking for. The Copley Square area on Boylston Street alone has several good choices such as Morton%26#39;s Steak House and the Atlantic Fish Company to name two. There is Turner Fisheries at the Westin Copley Place, Legal Seafoods at the Prudential Center, Jasper White%26#39;s Summer Shack on Dalton Street next to the Back Bay Hilton.

One block from Boylston Street is Newbury Street where you have the Capitol Grille.

Park Square in the Theatre District you will find Smith %26amp; Wollensky%26#39;s, McCormick %26amp; Shmidts, Maggiano%26#39;s well you get the idea.

Then of course there is the North End.....www.northendboston.com for a complete listing of the various choices.

I have no doubt that you will get even more specific suggestions. Click on the dining tab on this site and you get even more varied choices.

First, Boston%26#39;s a small place so you really don%26#39;t need to limit yourself to Copley Square.

Second, you%26#39;d need to give us information...price range? cuisine? atmosphere? There are hundreds of restaurants around Copley area.

getting to and from boston airport

I know that one can take the ferry from Ptown to boston airport however does anybody know how much it would cost to go by cab to Ptown from Eastham or a cheaper way to get there? Thanks Liz

getting to and from boston airport

I think the ferry to P-Town and then the bus down to Eastham would be a good idea. I’ve never taken one but you do see stops all over – I’m pretty sure it’s the ‘flex bus’ you’ll be looking for.

http://www.theflex.org/

But you might also want to look into busses that leave directly for Boston to the Cape as that might be cheaper then the ferry.

You can get around without a car even in the more remote areas. But I might consider renting a bicycle once you get to Eastham as that would really open up the Outer Cape for you.

Enjoy!

getting to and from boston airport

The Flex Bus is a great option for getting around. The trip from P-town to to Eastham was $1 last year! Here is the site, have fun

http://www.theflex.org/

Take the flex bus down to the Hyannis Transportation center and get on a Plymouth Brocton Bus which will take you to Logan

http://www.p-b.com/index.htm

$21 one way from Hyannis to Logan

By all means take the Flex. It will pick you up (with advance notice) if you are near the route.

nails painted right

Harvard and MIT

Is it possible to visit both Harvard and MIT in one afternoon? I will be taking the T, and I don%26#39;t plan to spend too much time at either location. I just want to take a few pictures, buy some souvenirs, and quickly visit the landmarks. I heard that there are more to see at Harvard than at MIT, is that right? Thanks.

Harvard and MIT

You surely could do both in a day. But maybe you would like to do Harvard Square and Harvard Yard in the evening. They%26#39;ve got a totally different feel than versus during the day. Really eerily cool. Harvard Square is unique and MIT doesn%26#39;t have anything comparable. To me, Harvard feels much more like a campus than MIT (don%26#39;t kill me, please).

AlanM

Harvard and MIT

I agree with AlanM. MIT is a great school(obviously) but the campus is...awkward. You should definitely check it out but you%26#39;ll find Harvard and the accompanying area a lot more interesting. The Red Line T will get you to both schools easily. Take the Kendall Square stop to get to the edge of the MIT campus. Then hop back on the T for two stops to Harvard Square. My two favorite spots in Harvard Square to eat? The Border Cafe and John Harvard%26#39;s Brew House. You can easily spend an afternoon just walking around.

The nicest spots on the MIT campus run along Memorial Drive facing the river. The Dome is a lovely example of Classical architecture, and also the oldest section of the central campus. Right now the grounds are at their best and make for a nice stroll along the river.

Harvard Square has unfortunately lost some of its quirkiness over the past ten years or so, but kids still gather in the area around the T station called The Pit, and street musicians are still aplenty. Walking through the Yard can be a quiet and soothing activity, as well as an afternoon (rainy, of course) at the Fogg Art Museum.

Thanks so much for the advice everyone.

Someone also told me that the MIT campus looks more ';industrialized';. Maybe people there study too hard.

MIT is less of a destination--unless you%26#39;re there to study! (Though they do have a funky new building. I forget the name, but I';m sure someone out there will know it! Very cool. I found it by accident and the sight of it made me laugh. Walking the %26#39;smoot%26#39; bridge from Boston (Mass Ave) is a nice way to see MIT. MIT also does have a neat little museum near Central Square. If you like puzzles and math, you%26#39;ll like it. If not, don%26#39;t bother.

That said, Harvard has more appeal, feels more like a campus (yes, they have ivy!), and the square is right there with lots of restaurants, shops, etc.

Thanks CoCo Sandy. I just went today. Was running out of time so I didn%26#39;t get to visit MIT, but it was great to visit Harvard.

Leashed dogs on beaches

Are dogs allowed on most (or any) of the beaches on Cape Cod if they are leashed? What about the National Seashore Trails?

Thanks in advance.

Leashed dogs on beaches

Dogs are not allowed on the Dennis beaches from May -Labour Day. I suspect the same all over the Cape.

Leashed dogs on beaches

Here%26#39;s a page with the rules, beach by beach:

dogfriendly.com/server/travel/uscities/guide…

Fireworks July 2007 over Lewis Bay

What date is scheduled for the fireworks over Lewis Bay (Hyannis) for 2007 ?

Fireworks July 2007 over Lewis Bay

July 6th according to the Chamber calendar

Fireworks July 2007 over Lewis Bay

Thank you so much for the information!

burts bees

Parking at Fenway for someone on crutches

We could really use some advise. Our family is planning a trip to Maine and Boston in a couple of weeks. We thought we had everything in line, but unfortunately my son recently broke his ankle. and is now using crutches to get around. We%26#39;re trying to make some adjustments to make things as easy as possible for him.

We have one day in Boston, traveling in from Maine. Our plans are to arrive early Tuesday morning (9:00 am or so), check out the city by using the Old Town Trolley, and then ending our day at a Red Soxs Game.

My question is - is there any handicapped parking or garages very close to Fenway that we could park our car at in the MORNING? We%26#39;re thinking if there were, we could park our car there first thing, take a cab to the Trolley, use that throughout the day to get around, and then take a cab to Fenway that evening. We figured that would require the least amount of walking.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks so much!!!!

Parking at Fenway for someone on crutches

Your idea makes sense, but I%26#39;m not sure it will work, unless you have another family member with a permanent condition that has resulted in official handicapped plates/plackard. My friend has a child with a permanent disability, and she was given a ticket for parking in a handicap spot when her son was not with her (but she was in a hurry and thought it was ok). So I do not believe you would be permitted to use a handicap designated spot for ';only'; crutches. There is plenty of parking around Fenway on game days when most nearby businesses charge to park in their lot, so you will be able to find a spot and pay. I don%26#39;t mean to sound negative, just sharing what I have observed. Maybe someone else will have a great idea. If you are staying overnight in Boston, then the taxi idea may be best, since it would bring your son directly from door to door. Have a great trip!

Parking at Fenway for someone on crutches

Thanks so much for your input!!!

My son was given a handicap permit, so parking in handicap designated areas shouldn%26#39;t be a problem, if they%26#39;re available. :)

I guess my concern was that the parking specifically at Fenway may not be ';open'; until later in the day - I didn%26#39;t know if we could park there first thing in the morning.

Thanks, again, for your taking time to share your thoughts and ideas. It%26#39;s such a great feeling to know there are so many people out there helping each other. (My husband hates it when I%26#39;m cheesy like that!)