3 days to fill

Hello.

Myself, my husband and 11 year old son are coming to Boston in August. We are having 5 nights in Boston before picking up a car for 5 days. I have booked a hotel in Holyoak for 2 nights so we can visit Six Flags, but the 3 days between leaving Boston and arriving at Holyoak are so far not planned. Where would be good places to visit that would interest a hyperactive 11 year old and his dad? Also how far is it from Holyoak to Logan airport?

Thanks Ann

3 days to fill

Some ideas: Plymouth, including Plimoth Plantation, the Mayflower II, and of course, Plymouth Rock. Newport (RI), beautiful port, fun shopping, and tours of the mansions. Mystic Seaport (CT). Or even New York City. Three days there would be okay, or you could easily steal one of your Holyoke nights (which may be a bit much anyway). It%26#39;s a 4-hour drive from Boston, much less from Holyoke. I guess that would be my recommendation.

3 days to fill

I would drive north from Boston and visit Salem - although some of the witch-related attractions are touristy and not worth it. Visit Essex - especially the Essex marsh, then Gloucester and Rockport. Eat at Burnham%26#39;s in Essex or at The Village Inn (or The Village Restaurant - not sure of exact name) for fried or steamed clams.

You may want to consider Fruitlands Museum, which has a Native American museum plus museums of two utopian communities - one being the Shakers and the other one founded by Alcott Bronson and written about by Hawthorne. Eat at Burnham%26#39;s in Essex or at The Village Inn (or The Village Restaurant - not sure of exact name) for fried or steamed clams.

Lawrence and Lowell have a National Park devoted to the Industrial Revolution - where so many young often female immigrants from England, Ireland, and elsewhere toiled away long days in textile factories.

You can head to Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, much more interesting and covering a much longer period of time than Plimoth Plantation. Pretty little city.

If you want to continue North in New Hampshire, Franconia Notch is a nice place to head for glorious scenery. You can take a gondola or other ski lift to a mountain top, and a hike up alongside The Flume will help tire an 11 year old.

Then head to Worcester and visit the ecotarium and I was going to strongly recommend Higgins Armory, the largest collection in the world I believe of medieval armor - great for an 11 year old - but maybe being from the UK you have seen a lot of this.

Sturbridge Village to my mind is far more interesting than Plimoth Plantation, Mystic in Connecticut is probably slightly better but much further. You could miss all of these if you visit Strawberry Banke.

If you still have time - Deerfield, Mass is the site of an Indian Massacre (or vice-versa). From Worcester, head North to Rte 2 - The Mohawk Trail to get to Deerfield. West of Deerfield all the way to Williamstown (with two great art museums) is even more spectacular scenery, but you may not have time for that.

Thanks for the replies. I have now got lots of ideas.

As for the hike tiring out an 11 year old how about it completely finishing his rather out of condition mum LOL.

Ann

The place in essex to go is Woodman%26#39;s they invented the fried clams. If you like sea food it%26#39;s one of the best! There are some real nice beaches in the area too. Check out cape ann on the web

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