Boston Expert - Winter visit 3 days 4 nights

Family of 4 (2 kids aged 6 - girl %26amp; 7 - boy)

We are visiting Boston in late December this year. We have booked accommodation in Burlington because we wanted an extended stay 2 bedroom place and will be driving from New York.

Thursday 27th we plan on leaving early from NY and going along the following:

New York to Springfield

Springfield - Dr Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden,

Main Street (historical buildings) (1 hour)

Holyoke - Dinosaur Footprints (not sure if this is open)

Springfield to Amherst

Amherst - Scrapbooking Shop (1 hour)

Amherst to South Deerfield **must see

South Deerfield, Yankee Candle Shop, Christmas shop (1.5 hours)

South Deerfield to Historic Deerfield

Historic Deerfield – Old Main Street, Houses, Museum, Shops

(1.5 hours)

South Deerfield to Sturbridge

Old Sturbridge Village (2-3 hours)

Sturbridge to Paxton ??

Paxton: Enchanta Covered Bridge - Moore State Park

Paxton to Burlington

If we arrive earlier than expected, then maybe we could go to Concord/Lexington that afternoon.

I have listed the things we would like to see/do and would like some comments on time frames for doing these things.

I know we will be doubling back when we are in Boston city itself but because alot of the places don%26#39;t open until 10am, I thought it best if we did the things that don%26#39;t require entry first. Our kids are very early risers (6am).

I also know everyone says ';DON';T DRIVE'; but I thought we could park and walk some places. Our kids will never walk all these distances without complaining and making life miserable for us. It is so much slower using public transport with strollers etc.

We hope to purchase some sturdy strollers when we first arrive in the USA (LA).

Things marked with ** are ';must see'; for me.

Friday:

Boston City,

8.00am - 9.00am

** Beacon Hill cobblestone streets (park around here somewhere first)

Boston Common

Drive up to South Street Garage to park

Faneuil Hall (open 9am)

Boston Massacre Site

** Old State House (open 9am)

Old South Meeting House (10am)

** Old Corner Bookstore Building

Old Granary Burying Ground

Park Street Church

** Massachusetts State House (10am open)

Lunch time:

** Faneuil Hall Marketplace - shopping and looking here 2-3 hours

** Cheers Bar - Lunch

Drive back to:

Newbury Street Shopping

Prudential Centre Shopping area

Copley Square

Saturday:

Boston City:

Drive around Cambridge

Harvard Law School (What%26#39;s Harvard Square?)

MIT (just to look at)

Downtown Crossing Pedestrian Mall:

Boston Skyline Shop – Boston Themed jumper/shirts

** Filene’s Basement

Boston Harbour area

Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, play in the playground

Long Wharf

Finish off Freedom Trail:

Paul Revere House (9.30am open)

Copps Hill Burial Ground 9am – 3pm

** USS Constitution 10am open

** USS Constitution Museum kids** 10am open

Bunker Hill Monument

Charles Bank Playground (if needed)

Sunday:

Marblehead, Crocker Park, Fort Sewall

Salem – Salem Witch Museum, House of Seven Gables 10am -5pm (only open until 31/12)

The Witch House (view from outside only)

Lexington

Concord:

The Minute Man National Historical Park

Ralph Waldo Emerson House (closed) – Take photo

The Old Manse (closed) – Take photo

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House %26amp; Museum (open 10am)

After lunch:

Quincy – Adams National Historical Park

Plymouth (47 min from Brockton 38km),

1749 Court House, 1749 Spooner House, Jabez Howland House, Plymouth Rock

If we have already been to Concord/Lexington and get to Quincy/Plymouth before lunch, then drive down to Cape Cod area before coming back to Carver.

Sunday evening: ?? (open 4pm)

Carver - Edaville Fun Park

Drive home via Quincy - views of Boston Skyline

Questions:

Will we get time to go to Lexington/Concord on the Thursday driving up from NY?

Where do we taste this famous Boston Cream Pie?

Any other ';must do/see';?

Boston looks like a beautiful place and I want to see as much as I can while also trying to ';please the kids'; here and there.

The USS Navy ships will be a hit and we will probably enjoy too.

I%26#39;m not interested in zoos, kids museums (you can get them anywhere)

I know I seem to have written a book, but any opinions/suggestions from Boston people would be great.

Thanks

Boston Expert - Winter visit 3 days 4 nights

Wow!! I%26#39;m tired just LOOKING at the list. How can you do this with a 6 and 7 year old in tow? I would find this nearly impossible.

Okay, given that, let me ';reset'; your mind about the car. One of the reasons that cars are SOOO difficult in Boston is the parking. I sense from your itinerary that you believe you%26#39;ll be able to drive to all these places and park because it%26#39;s more convenient. Sometimes - most times - you just can%26#39;t. You%26#39;re not going to go to Newbury Street, for example, and park! Ain%26#39;t gonna happen. Never mind the cost, it%26#39;s just ough. You really need to change your plan to encompass walking and the ';T'; (which the kids will probably like, by the way).

Okay, my suggestions. Instead of driving, take one of the Trolley Tours. That way you can get off and on all day at the various stops. Plan some ';free time'; just to walk around and enjoy the ambiance. The charm of Boston is in walking through the various areas - not driving through.

Cut WAY back on your expectations.

';If we have already been to Concord/Lexington and get to Quincy/Plymouth before lunch, then drive down to Cape Cod area before coming back to Carver.'; SKIP ALL OF THIS. SKIP CONCORD AND LEXINGTON. SKIP SALEM AND MARBLEHEAD.

Plan on doing some kid-oriented things. Visit the Aquarium. Take the ferry from Long Wharf, near the Aquarium, to the Charlestown Navy Yard and get a free tour of Old Ironsides. Go to the Public Garden. Feed the ducks and go on a Swan Boat Ride. Relax.

I think you%26#39;ll enjoy things much more.

And please don%26#39;t kill me. Just trying to help you have an enjoyable time!!

Boston Expert - Winter visit 3 days 4 nights

I%26#39;m with Alan M....

When I read ';drive around Cambridge'; I had shudders...memories of the last time I tried to get across Cambridge: traffic, limited parking, etc. Driving in the city is unpleasant, even for those of us who are used to it and know where we%26#39;re going. Yes, you can get a spot along Memorial Drive, in the Financial District and even in Central Square Cambridge, but these are not easy to come by and often are found only after lots of block-circling.

You might see if the enclosed trollies are running in December. I think they are (Duck tours stop in winter) You could park in the Common Garage and take the trolley to a lot of these destinations. I';d rather lug a stroller over the T stairs than cover all this in a car...

...just to clarify, I meant the tourist trollies. Failing that, I%26#39;d suggest the T.

It%26#39;s cold in December, so walking really isn%26#39;t that pleasant but ... driving really should be a last resort.

I would also plan for the slim but possible chance that there could be snow. That will certainly change how long it takes to get from point A to point B. Driving in snowy weather can be challenging.

I also agree that doing all these things with 2 small children in tow is expecting a lot - of them and you. Do take time for the little things, like visiting the sculpture of ';Make Way for Ducklings'; in the Public Garden, or Old Ironsides. The kids may like that, as the Navy crew who give the tours are dressed in period naval garb circa 1812.

However, a dusting of a little snow on the ground combined with the season decorating will give you a thrill. Walk down Charles Street and you%26#39;ll see gas lamps decorated with greenery and red bows, shops decorated for the holidays and it will make you think of Dickens.

As for a Boston Creme Pie, you%26#39;ll have to visit the dining room at the Omni Parker House downtown and have some. It%26#39;s basically a layered sponge cake with vanilla creme filling between and topped with a thin chocolate genache. Good and sticky!

Harvard Yard is pleasant to walk through, with the brick buildings nestled within the walls of the Yard. The Square itself is just that - with shops, a T stop and restaurants. It caters to the needs of the Harvard population but is like any other neighborhood square. MIT%26#39;s grounds along the river are quite lovely in the good weather, and the Dome is a lovely example of classical architecture. I wouldn%26#39;t kill myself to get there.

Do give yourself time to just experience the city. Don%26#39;t get too caught up in trying to see everything. Luckily most of the things you wish to see in town can be experienced just by walking down the street. Things like the Granary Burial Ground are just part of the landscape. Christmastime in Boston can be magical.

Ok, ok, I hear you about driving but how long is it going to take to get into the city from Burlington? Can%26#39;t we at least drive in and park in one spot for the day?

As for the kids liking the T, they will, but only for short periods. How often do trains run to get from one point to another. I certainly don%26#39;t mind walking around pushing strollers, better than complaining kids.

I did consider the trolley tours, but wondered whether it was worth the money??? Do the trolley tours go over to Harvard %26amp; MIT?

Where do you get the ferry from to get to old Ironside? That sounds like a good idea.

Thanks BeansandCod, mentioning the gas lamps, sculpture of ';Make Way for Ducklings'; in the Public Garden etc etc, they are the kinds of things I like to see and to be honest, our kids are just happy enough to see things like Old Ironside or playgrounds etc. They are not particularly interested in aquariums, we have them everywhere here, you seen one, you%26#39;ve seen them all!

I hope it does snow!!

Thanks for your help.

As others have said, this itinerary is impossible--way too many things on the list in the time you have. I want to respond to your ideas for the drive up from New York. Either Deerfield or Old Sturbridge Village could be a nice choice, but not both. Deerfield is a more beautiful setting but there%26#39;s less to it, though maybe if you throw in the candle factory everyone will be happy. Sturbridge is a complete, enacted heritage site so maybe better for the kids. You can%26#39;t really do both in a day, plus stop in Springfield, Holyoke, and Amherst. I don%26#39;t know about the Dr. Seuss thing--maybe that%26#39;s a reason to visit Springfield but looking at historic buildings on Main St is not a reason, IMO, with so much else on the agenda. You want a nice Main St with historic commercial buildings, visit Northampton, right across the Connecticut River from Amherst. Springfield was a busy place in its day but that day is past. Don%26#39;t know about Paxton and the bridge and park, either, but either Deerfield or Sturbridge would give you the feeling of an old-fashioned New England country village in the winter time. The dino prints might be a thrill for the kids, and there are quite a few scattered around the Connecticut valley--one is a Trustees of Reservations property, an easy stop off Route 5 between Holyoke and Northampton, on the way to Deerfield.

In Boston and Cambridge, just hail a taxi if you get tired of walking around. Have fun, and take it easy!

Yes, I have been sitting here working on times and driving from New York. I did realise that we wouldn%26#39;t get to do both. So have opted for the Sturbridge place because I know we would probably all enjoy this.

As for the Deerfield, we may drive through that way after leaving Boston area as we are driving up through Vermont anyway.

I know my son would really be thrilled with looking at dinosaur prints so I do hope we can see them off that Route that you mention.

Thanks for your suggestions.

The drive from Burlington to Boston with no traffic is 30-45 minutes. You obviously can do what you want, but in our experience, you%26#39;re planning WAY too much. That%26#39;s especilly true because you%26#39;ve got little kids.

The subways run very often, like every five minutes during the morning and late afternoon and less often other times - like 10 minutes or so. The commuter rails run much less often. You can view the schedules on mbta.com.

Most of the trolley tours do go to Cambridge, but you need to ask specifically. The ferry to the Charlestown Navy Yard and Old Ironsides runs from Long Wharf (actually Central Wharf, but nobody knows that). It%26#39;s between the Aquarium and the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel. That also is where the Trolley Tours begin as well.

Good luck on your trip planning!!

Ok thanks for all the transport information. That%26#39;s good.

Does this sound better?

I%26#39;ve revised my Fri %26amp; Sat days for Boston:

Friday:

Boston Common and Beacon Hill area in the morning

Have coffee around here somewhere to wait for State House to open

Freedom Trail walk (kids in strollers) to Faneuil Hall Marketplace to shop

Lunch at Cheers

Catch train to Downtown Crossing

Visit Filene%26#39;s Basement (is this the best one?)

Saturday:

Boston City North End - walking around

Paul Revere House

Ferry to Navy Yard

Sunday:

Marblehead

Salem - Witch Museum

Monday

Leave for Vermont via Old Deerfield and Yankee Candle Shop

Up via I 91 stopping at Rockingham

to Stowe

I looked up Omni Parker House and it is located at School Street but their web site doesn%26#39;t say anything about menus etc. Do we have to go there for lunch/dinner to have this Boston Cream Pie?

Is it an expensive Restaurant (sounds like it is). Would it be suitable for our aged children? We normally are in and out of a restaurant within one hour (with kids!) Would they have an early dinner time (say around 5-6pm) that we could eat there and have this pie too. Any ideas what they serve? I have sent them an email to request menus, but not sure if they will respond or not.

Another quick question.

Charles Street seems a long street.

Should we walk from Boston Common up Charles Street and turn right into Mt Vernon Street to see the ';cobblestone streets'; gas lamps in the street etc?? What are the streets to be walking along? It doesn%26#39;t really say which ones in the guide books.

I did read Charles street was nice but as I said, it seems like a long street.

Thanks

i enjoy an extra barrier