Boston.
Very early in our trip planning, we began to realize that staying in Boston had a pretty high price point. Not only was there the cost of the room, plus associated taxes and fees, but there was usually a daily parking fee also. With a family of five, almost any hotel room would have been pretty close quarters too.
We like each other, most of the time, but should we push that??
No, we didn't think so.
Here's what we would recommend:
Here's what we would recommend:
Purchase the pass for the T (That would be the subway and bus system governed by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority - but everyone simply refers to the the system as "the T").We drove about 15-20 minutes from Waltham to the red line in Alewife and rode that into the city.
Start with an Old Town Trolley Tour.
It gives a great overview of the city with entertaining and informative drivers. The traffic is... well, worse than horrid. Many large tour buses, taxis, and general city traffic honking the INSTANT the light changes to green with jaywalking everywhere--these are not the conditions in which anyone should be comfortable driving.
It gives a great overview of the city with entertaining and informative drivers. The traffic is... well, worse than horrid. Many large tour buses, taxis, and general city traffic honking the INSTANT the light changes to green with jaywalking everywhere--these are not the conditions in which anyone should be comfortable driving.
You can thank me later on this account.
This became just a "hop on" trolley for us. We planned to "hop off" at various stops, but while we loved the trolley for a good overview, we found the T to be much more convenient for getting around the city. Do a little planning first. The T is pretty intuitive, but Zach comes up to Boston occasionally so he had a little bit of experience.
Visit Fenway Park
Fenway has been the home for the Boston Red Sox since 1912, making it the oldest ball park in MLB. I loved Fenway Park! The atmosphere is unlike any other in sports. Built originally to accommodate the expanding city and car lot behind the left field bleachers (thus the Green Monster was created), the park is entirely asymmetrical. The outfield seats have large steel beams that often interfere with the view. And the park is still awesome! And, it's important to note that I am not a sports fanatic either. My boys are though. I may/may not have taken a book, just for when I get bored, but this is a park I would go to without a book.
Fenway has been the home for the Boston Red Sox since 1912, making it the oldest ball park in MLB. I loved Fenway Park! The atmosphere is unlike any other in sports. Built originally to accommodate the expanding city and car lot behind the left field bleachers (thus the Green Monster was created), the park is entirely asymmetrical. The outfield seats have large steel beams that often interfere with the view. And the park is still awesome! And, it's important to note that I am not a sports fanatic either. My boys are though. I may/may not have taken a book, just for when I get bored, but this is a park I would go to without a book.
The Historic North End
Site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Bunker Hill Monument, USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides")
Food.
I simply cannot talk about Boston without talking about food.
While most people would probably talk about fresh seafood, of which there is an abundance or, maybe the famous "lobstah" roll of the Northeast, for me, it's the Italian food.
It's all about the Italian food.
Regina's Pizzeria is cozy, but not crowded and even though we waitedimpatiently to get in, it was well worth the wait!
While most people would probably talk about fresh seafood, of which there is an abundance or, maybe the famous "lobstah" roll of the Northeast, for me, it's the Italian food.
It's all about the Italian food.
Regina's Pizzeria is cozy, but not crowded and even though we waited
Can't you almost taste this??
I adore the old world ambiance of the North End!
The open-to air eateries, the coffee/cappuccino/pastry shops and the sound of Italian being spoken. Several years ago, a parent of another ballplayer on Seth's team, told David about La Famiglia Giorgio's.
What an amazing place!
To me, when you combine seafood with pasta, it is the bomb!
So, I got the lobster stuffed ravioli.
I could have died at the table a happy woman!
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Friends don't keep friends from knowing about Mike's Pastry!
So, there you have it.
Go. To. Mike's.
There will be a huge line.
Don't let that intimidate you--it moves quickly--and it's VERY much worth the
Oh, lawd! I'm drooling just thinking about the food!
It's amazing!
Go and eat at The North End, but for the love of Pete, bring me a canolli!
Freedom Trail
2.5 miles the covers 16 historically significant sites in Boston. We purchased our tickets at the Boston Common Visitor Center. Our 18th -century costumed tour guide was energetic and knowledgeable. And, hey, as crazy as traffic is, it's probably worth the ticket price to be able to jaywalk "safely!" We had planned to do both the guided south and north parts of the Freedom Trail. But, we didn't do the north end. We'll do that the next trip--if I can be dragged away from the Italian charm and food.
JFK Library
It was our first visit to a presidential library, as a family. And, I have zero excuse since the Jimmy Carter Library is within 40 minutes of my house. Dr. B. has been there with some of his classes and deems it to be time-worthy. But, I think we're typical of most--we don't explore our "own backyard," nearly enough. That being said, the JFK Library was fabulous and we all enjoyed it immensely.
For anyone that has stuck this out until the very end. You must be either my proof reader (aka Dr. B.) or interested in visiting Boston. I'm going to go ahead and post this but I'll come back and edit with other places that we enjoyed and recommend. And, for good measure, I'll post those we didn't visit but wish we had, or we're not something that we enjoyed as a family.
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