Boston

Hi all.  I have noticed that a few of you regular RNY-ers are from Boston, or that you visit Boston enough to offer opinions.  And that you all have LOADS of opinions.  Ha ha.  I know I could post on Trip Advisor, and I probably will by the end of the week, but I would rather ask you first, because I trust your real-ness.

Our family's summer vacation plans are in flux for various reasons, and we are considering taking our kids to Boston and possibly the coast around July 4.  June 30-July 9 is our window--we will probably aim for 7-8 days, including air travel from the western US.  It may be too late to put this together, but we are considering it anyway.

Advice?

Is this a good or bad time to visit--July 4 and all?

Can you recommend neighborhoods in Boston to look for lodging.  With our big family--4 kids ages 11-21---we are looking to rent through Airbnb.

How many days would you recommend for Boston?

Is it reasonable to split the week half Boston proper/half coast?

Where would you recommend for a coast visit?

Things are crazy here, and I may not be able to respond immediately, but I really appreciate any thoughts.

I should add that neither my husband nor I have ever been to Boston.  I lived in upstate NY for a college internship, traveled around quite a bit but never to Boston.  I also vacationed in Maine once before getting married, and had some business trips to NYC in my late 20's.  Husband lived in Quebec City for a college semester.  Otherwise, we are not very familiar with the northeast. 

xoxo

Yay--come visit us! I'm running around tonight, but I'll take a few minutes tomorrow and send you a PM with details and recommendations! 

Thanks again for your PMs on this!

Hello! Bostonian-area here. I live in the suburbs now but I was a visiting nurse in Boston so I got to know the city well.

July 4 is a great time to visit, though it may be crowded due to all the festivities. On or around July 4, the Boston Pops Orchestra holds a big concert on the waterfront of the Charles River at the Hatchshell (an open air concert facility). They often set off cannons too :) And have fireworks.

To me, a must do is the Freedom Trail. It's a self-guided (although there are plenty of guided tours around it; look for people dressed in 1700s clothing) walking tour. You can start at Faniuel Hall (another great visit; lots of shopping and restaurants and street performers) and simply follow the red brick path all the way around the city. You'll see things like the Boston Common, Beacon Hill, the North End, and so forth. 

China town is a great place to visit; it's like a whole other world.

A visit to the New England Aquarium is also great, especially with kids.

Just a few suggestions. Have a great trip!

Thanks for these great ideas.  That concert sounds like a really special thing.  It sounds like the Freedom Trail takes in a lot of varied sites.

Sorry it took me so long to respond--some real craziness at home lately.

Absolutely come to Boston!  If you decide to come around the 4th of July, be sure to do some thoughtful planning.  Ideally - you'd rent a car so that you could stay in a hotel just outside of the city.  Parking in the city is expensive, but if you're close to a "T-stop" you have it made.

Boston has a great HOHO (hop on hop off) bus option for you.  Do check out GROUPON for discounts to Boston events such as the HOHO bus, Duck Tour, Museums, Aquarium, etc. 

If you wanted to see the Boston Pops but didn't want to get into the thick of things on the 4th, there is an open rehearsal, I believe, the day before.  That's a good option to avoid a really crowded situation. Or what the heck, join the crowd!

Venture to the outskirts to Lexington, MA and enjoy some history.  Take a short trip up to Maine for some "lobstah and steamahs".  There is so much to do around here - we could go on and on.  There's a lot available on line - and there would be no wrong choices.

Sandie

Those are some great tips!  IT is good to realize how close other states are, too.  Where we live, even another city in the state can be a far drive!  At least, it's a far drive for the landscape to change.

Thanks, and I am sorry to have taken so long to respond.

Be sure to take the Duck Tour!  It's especially fun for kids when they get to drive the duck boat.  Take in a Red Sox game - no place like Fenway.  If it's too hot or rainy check out the Boston Museum of Science and the Aquarium.  Both are very kid friendly. There may also be whale watching trips out of the harbor. Worse comes to worse -- take a 30 min ride north and do some tax-free shopping in NH.

HAHA.  The NH shopping made me laugh.  Had not thought of a baseball game.  Great idea.  Thanks so much.

Definitely hit the coast

With the 4 kids I would day trip into Boston on the T. Red Socks Fans? Walk around Fenway, and the hall. Get tickets to the Pawtucket Red Socks. You can see the up and coming Socks players, and the BEST Fireworks you have ever seen, played to whatever theme night is. For the fireworks your family can choose to watch them sitting on the field. Tickets are under $20 each and there is no bad seat in the place. Your husband will say as he watches the Socks at home, that he watched this one and that one, play in Pawtucket.

You must spend a day in Newport. I have been spending the week of the 4th there for 27 years, thanks Mom!? I haven't checked yet. But there is usually an "old" headline band playing under the tent. A few years ago it was Foreigner. I'm dating myself! ? You can walk The Cliffwalk, tour the mansions on a ...the standup rolling thing**** a beach, rent a little 2 seater bug scooter and zip around. Newport is a day trip so you could do all that, plus shop in the shops on Thames St. The tall ships might be there too.

There is a new Casino Hotel- Twin River in Lincoln,RI. Again, not sure who will be here in concert. Exactly 70 minutes from the tip of Newport. Kids could go to the movies, bowling, laser tag or paint balling. Then hit  the 3 screen 2 movie each Drive-in.

Head back to paak ya ca in Havad Yad. "Park your car in Harvard Yard." Just pronounce it the way I wrote it. In Bawston - Boston ?  You don't need to pronounce R's, a vacation already!

I know ya di'en' tah come tah Bawston an' see whut we do to pah'té. ?