Visiting Boston Pt. 2

[Baron Samedi]

I would recommend against Gloucester for the kids. They'll be bored to death and it is quite a long ride for them. I think Gloucester is a place for adults.

If you did want to do something with the flavor of Gloucester and New England, but that the kids would enjoy, my recommendation would be to go to the New Bedford Whaling museum.

https://www.whalingmuseum.org/

That museum holds a special place in my heart because I have always loved the story of Moby Dick, and the true story it is based on with the Essex (see the movie "In the Heart of the Sea" for the Hollywood adaption, but the book is far, far, far better.)

That's my recommendation...here are a few photos I googled up to give you an idea...

While you are in Town, if you need to fill more time, there is the Ft Taber Military Museum..

http://forttaber.org/

There is also a Fire museum with old Firefighting stuff, and a glass museum somewhere around, but I've never been to those.

For my .002, I would suggest New Bedford for an out of town trip with a New England flavor.

As an honorable mention, it being around Thanksgiving time, I would throw Sturbridge Village out there as an optional day trip as well. It's a ways west of Boston, but it's right off the Mass Pike so it doesn't take that long.

https://www.osv.org/

It's basically an operational 17th century village.

These are day trip suggestions, if you are looking to see something outside of Boston.

Salem is a very good suggestion as well. I would second that suggestion.

 

[Alk]

The time is almost here. Tomorrow is my last day of work before vacation and we fly out for Boston Wednesday morning. Any last minute suggestions for me? I think we have the majority of our time filled in but would have some time for little things here and there. Good restaurants would be help too.

It looks like the weather is pretty decent there right now. We're packing some thermals just in case. Any need for a heavy coat for the night game or could we get by with a good hoodie and multiple layers under it?

 

[AkPatsFan]

If you manage to get to Gloucester, stop in at the Causeway Restaurant, we ate their this past summer and their seafood is incredible. I had their fish and chips and my buddy had the seafood marinara and there was enough food in that huge bowl for 2 people. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Alk]

If you manage to get to Gloucester, stop in at the Causeway Restaurant, we ate their this past summer and their seafood is incredible. I had their fish and chips and my buddy had the seafood marinara and there was enough food in that huge bowl for 2 people. Enjoy your trip!!

Unfortunately I don't think Gloucester is going to be in the cards this time around but my oldest son and I are both big fans of fresh seafood so we'll be on the lookout for somewhere to get some.

 

[AkPatsFan]

Unfortunately I don't think Gloucester is going to be in the cards this time around but my oldest son and I are both big fans of fresh seafood so we'll be on the lookout for somewhere to get some.

Shouldn't be too much of a problem finding good seafood in or near Boston I would think.

 

[Hawg73]

The time is almost here. Tomorrow is my last day of work before vacation and we fly out for Boston Wednesday morning. Any last minute suggestions for me? I think we have the majority of our time filled in but would have some time for little things here and there. Good restaurants would be help too.

It looks like the weather is pretty decent there right now. We're packing some thermals just in case. Any need for a heavy coat for the night game or could we get by with a good hoodie and multiple layers under it?

It's been variable lately with temps ranging from the 20's to 50's (last Wednesday). Bring more than you think you might need and make your decision just before you head in. I'd go with jackets. Better to drag extra clothes around than to be uncomfortably cold.

Had it been a kid-free trip my suggestions would have been different, but hopefully you will enjoy poking around Salem if you do go to check out Wynott's Wands etc.

Some of the people working in those shops are an attraction in themselves. The woman working at Wynotts was way out there, so don't forget to ask for help in casting spells etc. as I did. She knew an awful lot about the topic and I don't think she was role-playing.

It's not really the best time of year to be visiting weather-wise, but I do hope you enjoy your trip and the game. I'll be taking one of my brothers who hasn't been to a Pats game since 1978. He recalls that ticket cost him 11 bucks.

 

[bideau]

It looks like the weather is pretty decent there right now. We're packing some thermals just in case. Any need for a heavy coat for the night game or could we get by with a good hoodie and multiple layers under it?

All depends on how you cope with colder temps. The current forecast is for day time temps around 50 and dropping down to the 30's in the evening. My wife would be bundled up for a trip to the North Pole. I'll have my leather coat and warm hat.

Enjoy the trip. BTW, where are your seats?

 

[Alk]

Enjoy the trip. BTW, where are your seats?

We're sitting in Section 309. We actually got a free upgrade from Stubhub after the original tickets that I purchased had already been sold.

 

[BostonTim]

Again, if in salem I would reiterate the reco of the Peabody Essex Museum. The Nautical History of seafaring on the North Shore revolves around fishing, whaling and the China Trade. Great stuff re all 3.


Cheers

 

[Alk]

Things were just going way too smoothly. We woke up this morning to our youngest son having a pretty nasty bark. My wife took him to the doctor first thing because he has a history of strep. Guess what. He has strep. We got him on antibiotics already so hopefully he'll be on the mend or at least not contagious by tomorrow when our flight leaves. Anyway, with the night game, what time would everyone suggest that we get there. Also we have someone that is going to drop us off. Is it feasible for them to pick us up after the game as well or should we just plan on catching a train back?

 

[bideau]

Things were just going way too smoothly. We woke up this morning to our youngest son having a pretty nasty bark. My wife took him to the doctor first thing because he has a history of strep. Guess what. He has strep. We got him on antibiotics already so hopefully he'll be on the mend or at least not contagious by tomorrow when our flight leaves. Anyway, with the night game, what time would everyone suggest that we get there. Also we have someone that is going to drop us off. Is it feasible for them to pick us up after the game as well or should we just plan on catching a train back?

That sucks.

I believe that the train requires a round trip ticket and you would need to purchase it ahead of time. You should goggle it.

If you're not tailgating, a couple of hours before kickoff should be fine. The stadium gates open 2 hours prior. The restaurants in Patriot Place will likely be packed, so if you want to eat at one of them, you should definitely be there as early as possible.

There is now an Uber lot, although I have no idea where it's located. Check the Gillette Stadium site. If someone is picking you up after the game, that will probably be the only viable way to do it since traffic will be virtual gridlock for sometime afterwards.

 

[BostonTim]

Tough break. Picking up? I can't imagine how.

You're not in Kansas anymore.


Good Luck

 

[bishbash]

Any last minute suggestions for me? I think we have the majority of our time filled in but would have some time for little things here and there.

Rent the city bikes located all over and bike along the Charles on the bike paths! With the warmish weather you get great views of the city and a good physical activity for the boys.

Agree with Museum of Science! Plenty of stuff for you and the boys.

Boston Aquarium.

 

[JD10367]

If the weather's nice, I like to just walk around Boston. I train into South Station and walk up the water past the Aquarium to, and through, Faneuil Hall. Then from Government Center up past the burial grounds to the Common, then up past Copley and the Pru, up Newbury Street, and down through Kenmore Square, all the way up Beacon Street to Coolidge Corner in Brookline.

The Aquarium and Museum of Science are okay but nothing you can't see anywhere else. The MFA, on the other hand, has something for everyone--classical paintings, Egyptian relics, colonial furniture, etc.,.

Salem is a nice trip. You have the House of the Seven Gables, and the kitschy Witch Museum, but you also have the Peabody Essex Museum which is awesome (lots of stuff from the seafaring era). In Gloucester you have Hammond Castle, one of my favorite buildings on earth; look it up, it's great. Then up in Rockport you have great shops in Bearskin Neck (although I don't know what their season is--they may only be open on weekends).

Down in Rhode Island you have mansions in Newport; I prefer Rosecliff, The Breakers, and Marble House.

If you've never been to the casinos in CT they're worth seeing (Mohegan Sun more so than Foxwoods).

 

[Alk]

We got in yesterday at like 2:30. Didn't do much besides recover. Spent the day up in Salem today. It was kind of disappointing. It probably would have been better without the kids because they just weren't that into it. The wand shop was okay. I was expecting more of a Harry Potter experience than that though. We had some really good pizza at Flying Saucer Pizza. My wife and our older son went to the witch museum. Our younger son didn't want to go so I went and walked laps around a park across the street while he hunted for Pokemon. There must have been a field trip in town because downtown was swamped with kids. The craziest part was driving back. Our friend had to work so she let us borrow her car. Talk about not being in Kansas anymore.

Tomorrow we're doing the freedom trail and hanging out downtown before we go to the Celtics game that night. Saturday we're heading south. Going to Patriots Place and scoping out the train situation while we're there then heading down to Plymouth and Cape Cod. We didn't plan things very well as far as ou flight home. The game on Sunday night starts at 8:30 and our flight leaves at 8:30 Monday morning. That's going to be rough.

 

[deec77]

Have fun!!!

~Dee~

 

[Alk]

Well, despite the outcome of the game it was a fun trip. I procrastinated too long so I ended up having to drive to the game. We got back to the house at 2:30. Our flight left at 8:30 so I only ended up getting 3 hours of sleep. I have no idea how I'm still functioning right now. My son was very happy with the seats. We brought a pair of binoculars and he surprisingly put them to good use. It was an added bonus when Ernie Adams and one of Belichick's sons came walking up the steps right past us to their box. We were pretty bummed after the game but it was all laughs as some drunk female Seahawks fan was trying to rub the victory in to the whole mob of Patriots fans walking down the ramp. Everyone ignored her except for one Patriot fan. He basically kept asking her where their Super Bowl trophy was. She was beyond pissed to the point that I really thought she was going to swing on the guy. Eventually everyone was just laughing at her which I'm sure was not the result she was aiming for.