kalanamak Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 With a 9 year old. SS Constitution and Paul Revere's House? Other ideas. What about the seaport at Mystic? Historical value or tourist trap? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Have you read about the Freedom Trail? I have heard that the guided tour is better than going it alonr. I also think the duck boats are guided tours of Boston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 Have you read about the Freedom Trail? Too long. What ONE thing did you like the best? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 You probably know about the FT since both sites you mention are a part of it. In case you are interested in the entire tour: http://thefreedomtrail.org/visitor/visitor.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsbeth Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 The USS Constitution is okay. I grew up outside of Boston and never went to Paul Revere's house. Since you mentioned Mystic, which is a good drive away from Boston (still feasible as a day trip though), may I suggest Plimoth Plantation instead. We no longer live in New England but if I had to choose 1 historical activity up there for my kids to experience it would be Plimoth hands down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Too long. What ONE thing did you like the best? Oooops! I am embarrassed to say that when we planned to take the boys, ages 9 and 12, we had to cancel due to my parents health crises.... And they lasted for years. Now dd's are 9 and 12 and we plan to go this summer. I asked dh, who has lived here all his life, and he said Paul Revere's House. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocCityMom Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 We lived in Charlestown for a few years. The USS Constitution is fantastic, and my kids loved the interactive second floor of the USS Constitution museum. Of course, once you're in Charlestown, you should go have lunch at the Warren Tavern, which was frequented by George Washington and Paul Revere. Plus, they make some really great burgers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 What time of year? Mine loved the USS Constitution -- there's also a very nice, small museum for the ship nearby which was a big hit. Small enough that it wasn't overwhelming, with a few hands-on exhibits that the kids liked. Plimoth plantation is interesting, but it's an outdoor thing, and I don't know if you'd want to to this time of the year (might not even be open). Paul Revere's house was not a big hit here, nor was the Tea Party ship. I've never been, but surprisingly, I've heard very good reviews of the Duck tours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 The USS Constitution is okay. I grew up outside of Boston and never went to Paul Revere's house. Since you mentioned Mystic, which is a good drive away from Boston (still feasible as a day trip though), may I suggest Plimoth Plantation instead. We no longer live in New England but if I had to choose 1 historical activity up there for my kids to experience it would be Plimoth hands down. Mystic is nearer to our "hub" and my husband is madly in love with the sea and all things seafaring. However, we hate tourist traps. We are doing Sturbridge Village. Is Plimoth Plantation significantly better than Olde SV? Plimoth is out of our way, OSV is on our way to my great grandparent's house from our "hub". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 What time of year? Mine loved the USS Constitution -- there's also a very nice, small museum for the ship nearby which was a big hit. Small enough that it wasn't overwhelming, with a few hands-on exhibits that the kids liked. Early April. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 When we were in Boston there was some trolly that you paid one price for the day and you could get on and off it along a circular route that hit all the historical spots. It was a great way to see lots of things. We stopped at place for the Boston Tea Party (and bought some Tea), the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere's house, the Old North Church, Chinatown, an a market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 We stopped at place for the Boston Tea Party (and bought some Tea), the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere's house, the Old North Church, Chinatown, an a market. And the one or two best educational for a 9 year old things were ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 With a 9 year old. SS Constitution and Paul Revere's House? Other ideas. What about the seaport at Mystic? Historical value or tourist trap? Thanks. My ds loved the SS Constitution. He also enjoyed Revere's house. There are a few Freedom Trail stops right by Revere's house, so you could bundle 2-3 of them into one afternoon. Both my kids also liked Old North Church. My son also LOVED Plimouth Plantation. It is so well done! You could take a day there easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Mystic is nearer to our "hub" and my husband is madly in love with the sea and all things seafaring. However, we hate tourist traps. We are doing Sturbridge Village. Is Plimoth Plantation significantly better than Olde SV? Plimoth is out of our way, OSV is on our way to my great grandparent's house from our "hub". We LOVE OSV. My 9yo speaks of it often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higginszoo Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 (edited) When I was 10-12, we lived in Newport and had an annual membership to Mystic Seaport (and the Aquarium). There is a lot of hands-on stuff, it was definitely a favorite of mine and my brother's (he's 3 years younger than me). I haven't been back since I took dh when we were between weddings of college friends 15 years ago this May, but it wasn't overly touristy then. I didn't like Paul Revere house as a child. Boston Common was more of a hit -- we didn't even go on the swan boats, but just saw them, the various sculptures, the historical markers, etc. Our favorite Boston outing as kids was the Children's Museum (even when I was 12) and the U.S.S. Constitution (cool, even though we saw LOTS of ships as Navy kids -- even old ones, living in old port towns). Edited February 24, 2012 by higginszoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 my husband is madly in love with the sea and all things seafaring. However, we hate tourist traps. Then you absolutely, 100%, do-no-pass-go, must go to the USS Constitution and the adjoining museum. They both are the real deal, nothing touristy about them. There is a water taxi line that stops right by the ship, which is officially part of the "T" system, so a "T" pass is valid on the boat, which might also be fun for the maritimely-inclined. There's also the Peabody Essex Museum, which is unfortunately located in the middle of Salem, probably the epicenter of Tourist Trapdom. Nonetheless, there's a lot of maritime stuff in the museum (huge exhibit on ships-in-bottles when last there), and a bunch of interesting art as well. We are doing Sturbridge Village. Is Plimoth Plantation significantly better than Olde SV? Plimoth is out of our way, OSV is on our way to my great grandparent's house from our "hub". I've only been to Plimoth, but I get the feel that it is about the same as OSV. I certainly wouldn't do both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 With a 9 year old. SS Constitution and Paul Revere's House? Other ideas. What about the seaport at Mystic? Historical value or tourist trap? Thanks. Our favorite was Paul Revere's house. And if I recall correctly, there's some fantastic gelato just around the corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassoonaroo Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Have you read about the Freedom Trail? I have heard that the guided tour is better than going it alonr. I also think the duck boats are guided tours of Boston. :iagree: this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Any would be fun. If I remember correctly I think was a submarine to explore around Mystic if your kids like that kind of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Paul Revere's house takes like all of 5 minutes to see. You could go to Paul Revers's house then go to the Old North Church as they tie in together. The USS Constitution was very cool. Our favorite things to do there are to ride the subway and just be among civilization. We walk everywhere and just people watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iucounu Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Mystic = tourist trap. The Constitution is wonderful IMO. You can also have some educational fun on the harbor islands; DS liked Georges Island. (Hmm, just noticed that that one is not open in early April. I got nothin'. But I second the recommendation of the Cambridge science museum, and the Nautilus.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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