help me plan our Boston and surrounding area trip

[trisharog]

DS11 and I fly in on a Friday in June to Boston and return home the following Saturday. Besides Boston, I know he wants to see Salem , Lexington and Concord and Plymouth. I would love input on what towns I should stay in and for how long. He is a HUGE lover of all things war .

 

THX

Trisha

[KarenNC]

He'd probably enjoy the Higgins Armor Museum in Worcester, MA, which I think is relatively close to Boston. I have only heard of it and seen the website, not been in person. We wanted to go when we were up there but ran out of time.

 

http://www.higgins.org/

[Marla]

Have you considered Old Sturbridge Village, a large outdoor history museum?

 

http://www.osv.org/

[trisharog]

Is Salem too far for public transportation?

[dsmith]

We enjoyed the New England Aquarium in Boston. Plimoth Plantation is on our list for our next trip, along with the Boston Childrens Museum. We also are planning on visiting Fall River, MA to see Battleship Cove. If you are into gruesome stuff, there is a Lizzie Borden museum there, and you can even stay in the house where it all happened.(no thank you!) If you feel like driving about 3 hours, my ds really likes Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. There are other things to do in the area, like the Aquarium, and the USS Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum. (ds loved this) Rhode Island is a fave of my SIL, and she often visits Block Island, Providence, and Newport. That's all I have for now, we are still in the planning stage for our spring and summer travels.

[trisharog]

we are definitely open to traveling to other areas. I love the Lizzie Borden idea. DS11 will think that is cool.

[kokotg]

Is Salem too far for public transportation?

 

You can take the commuter rail from North Station to Salem.

 

My DH used to work at the Museum of Science when we lived in Boston. It's HUGE, and pretty cool. The USS Constitution is fun; you can tour the ship and then there's a (free, suggested donation) museum next door. You can also tour a WWII ship there.

[treestarfae]

Georges Island

This 30-acre island is dominated by Fort Warren, a National Historic Landmark. Constructed of granite between 1833 and 1869, Fort Warren was used during the Civil War for training Union soldiers and later as a prison for captured Confederates. George's Island now serves as the entrance to the Boston Harbor Islands State Park and provides free inter-island water taxi service, rest room facilities, running water and concession stand. George's is open to the public from May to mid-October. Park Rangers offer guided fort tours and historical and nautical programs: special events such as the Civil War Encampment are scheduled on an annual basis and school curriculum packets are available. Contact the park office for a schedule of events. The island has large picnic areas, a snack bar and an information booth. A free water taxi to the other islands departs from the pier at George's on a frequent schedule.

 

http://www.bostonislands.com/

[treestarfae]

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/castle.htm

[NicoleA]

I would like to recommend something in my city (Worcester): the Higgins Armory Museum, which is dedicated to medieval arms, armor, and art:

http://www.higgins.org/

[Lori D.]

Oo! Oo! We visited the East Coast, with Boston area as one stop, for the first time a year-and-a-half ago!

 

 

We loved the free tour of the U.S.S. Constitution ("Old Ironsides") = http://www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution/, the oldest still commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy! The ship was a crucial part of overcoming the Barbary Coast pirates in the Mediterranean around 1800, and also was a victorious ship against the British in the War of 1812. You can also take a free tour of the U.S.S. Cassin Young = http://www.nps.gov/bost/historyculture/usscassinyoung.htm, plus there's a great, free, little naval museum right there http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/

 

 

For a free guided tour of the Freedom Trail (historic Boston sites, including Ben Franklin's birth site, Paul Revere's house, the old North and South Churches, and loads more) = http://www.nps.gov/bost/planyourvisit/things2do.htm You'll end up on downtown Boston's eastside with loads of Italian restaurants, so don't miss going for coffee and FRESH wonder cannoli (whatever filling you like!) from Modern Pastry Shop = http://www.modernpastry.com/

 

 

DON'T try and stay or drive/park in Boston -- hideously expensive, and good LUCK trying to find ANY parking -- no joking!!! Instead, ride the commuter train in for the day and walk around. We stayed in Rockport, MA, at a wonderful homey inn, The Eagle House Motel = http://www.eaglehousemotel.com/, just 2 blocks from the very picturesque wharf. And be sure to walk around Rockport and have the freshest, tastiest clam chowder EVER (or huge lobster!) from the little A-frame shack on the wharf! And don't miss the little church with a cannonball lodged in the steeple -- a parting shot from the British who (unsuccessfully) attempted to land in Rockport during the War of 1812.

 

 

Drive up the highway about 30-40 minutes from Rockport and hike around or enjoy a picnic lunch at the beautiful and scenic Halibut Point State Park = http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/halb.htm

 

 

Enjoy! Warmest regards, Lori D.

Edited March 25, 2010 by Lori D.
added info

[materursa]

I would like to recommend something in my city (Worcester): the Higgins Armory Museum, which is dedicated to medieval arms, armor, and art:

http://www.higgins.org/

 

Higgins is defintiely very neat to go visit. There is a commuter rail out to Worcester, but, check the schedules before you head out on any of the commuter rails. Some of them run very often, but, some not. You can find the schedules online. Boston public transportation (buses, subway, commuter rails) is referred to as the T.

 

There's an art museum in Worcester too. Anything in Worcester will probably cost about 1/2 of what it would cost in Boston.

[Pam in MA]

Another vote for Higgins Armory. The Museum of Science in Boston is also fabulous.

[trisharog]

Thank you all so much ! Keep the ideas coming. DS is a huge war buff and loves the armory ideas that have been sent.

 

We are staying on the Boston Harbor thanks to DH Marriott travel points. Any yummy restaurant ideas for DS11 and me ? Not just near the harbor but throughout Boston.

 

Thanks a million

Trisha

[NicoleA]

When I worked in downtown Boston, my absolute favorite place was Silvertone (http://www.silvertonedowntown.com/); the menu is basically American comfort food done really well. The whole restaurant has a very funky vibe. It's basically in the Park Street Station/Downtown Crossing area.

[cranberrymom]

Museum of science. There is a great trolley tour that goes throughout the city. It is narrated and has great historical stops. Plymouth Plantation is not about war but it is a living museum. Get your questions ready, lots of fun. Cape Cod is also very pretty, if you want fit in some beaches.

[woolybear]

Minute Man National Historic Park in Lexington looks nice. They have some special events, though it may not coincide with your trip. Take a look anyway.:)

 

http://www.nps.gov/mima/index.htm

 

 

Woolybear

[treestarfae]

The North(Italian) End via Hanover St. is THE street to go for Italian. I would just go by price range on that street. It's across from Faneuil Hall(shopping and food court mecca,sometimes street performers) also next to Aquarium. They have a great pastry shop Mike's Pastry on Hanover St., it's famous. I would get the city pass, trolley tour http://www.trolleytours.com/boston/ , duck tour http://www.bostonducktours.com/ , the freedom trail http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/. Harvard Sq. has a pretty cool indie movie theater called the Brattle Theater it has a balcony. They also have a nice tea/coffee shop Cafe Algiers with a nice view upstairs. If you like fresh brewed beer there is John Harvard's restaurant, good for lunch.

[trisharog]

We are leaving on a Friday and returning on the following Saturday. Is it worth our time to try to see Rhode Island and other states with a lot of early American History on this trip? We are studying early American history thru TOG . If we leave Massachusetts what would be the top of the list to try to see in this 8 day trip?

 

Thanks

 

Trisha