Anyone been to Boston and New England?

[bengunn]

DW and I are thinking of going to Boston for a week or two at the beginning of September. It is our 30th wedding anniversary and we have Virgin airmiles to use up before they expire, so we are thinking of flying Premium Economy (only a little more than economy with the airmiles), staying in Boston for a few days, then getting a car and exploring Cape Cod and some more of the New England area.

Any tips, as we have not been to this area before?

[*source*]

I have been before but we were thinking of doing it again with the kids this time.

One piece of advice I got from Trip Advisor was DON'T DRIVE in Boston! Apparently it is just CRAZY!!!

New England is beautiful ~ you will have a great time :)

[bengunn]

That was quick Joanne :grin:

I have read that Boston is easy by public transport and walking, so had always intended to get a car the day that we move on; nice to know that was a good decision :)

[bowcutt]

We spent our honeymoon in Boston and New England. We stayed in Boston for 3 days, you certainly dont need a car, even the airport is really close. Everything is walkable or there is an underground train called the "T" which we used. We then drove up the coast (which is very beautiful) as far as Bar Harbor and back down through Vermont to Cap Cod where we stayed for 3 days. In all it took two weeks. It is certainly somewhere I would return to.

[Floridafan]

We very nearly went to Cape Cod once in August. We researched everything right down to traffic congestion. In the end, my husband met somebody from that area who said it was a mad idea. They said that it would be packed with locals and that the roads would be jammed because there aren't too many roads. It is still on our "to do" list when the kids have flown the nest. Where did we go instead? Where else is there to go! However, wouldn't do Orlando again in August - ever! Hated being so wet and freezing cold all the time. Incidentally - been to Boston airport once and it terrified me. I haven't been out much and the sight of two runways filled me with horror!

[BevS97]

Thats exactly what we did on our honeymoon. We didn't have a car in Boston, but we did pick up a car and drive out to New England through the middle of Boston rush hour traffic and it was indeed crazy.

We didn't spent long enough in Boston itself (only 2 days), so I would recommend 3 or 4 days for Boston, then we went down to Plymouth and went Whale Watching, and then back to Boston, before we headed off to New York for the 2nd leg of our trip.

edited to add: I have been to Cape Cod in August, many moons ago, and the traffic is v. bad, because there is basically only one road through the pennisula, but it is beautiful. You can get a boat directly to the tip of the cape (provincetown) which might be worth doing, as it's a v. long drive from the mainland.

[Nicksgirl]

We have been to Boston and hope to go again very soon, its a wonderful place. It felt like we were on a film set the whole time we were there, it was just wonderful.

Any questions just ask.
x

[ticky15]

We went 4 yr ago..Love Boston...love to go back...the BIG DIG was in full swing at the time so there was alot of roadworks everywhere but it didn't spoil the trip...:grin:

[Karen Mouse]

We spent a week there and loved it.
Public transport is great - no need for a car.

[Dcool]

A great place for a city break and more....we had a week there in October and loved it.
The flight is short, the airport is close to the city

In Boston everything is close and most things are within walking distance - try to get a hotel in the centre - somewhere near the common is good.
Follow the red brick trail to see the history of the city, and lots about the Boston Massacre etc. We stayed at the same hotel they have used for the President, cant remember the name at the moment, but its a triangle (not joined to other buildings)which means it can be secured easily with just three sides.

We had three nights there, then three nights in a B+B at Ossett which is just off Cape Cod. It was beautiful especially in the fall.
Most of the restaurants were closing for the winter though, many saying they were off to Florida for the winter !

Lovely place - would love to go back one day

[NAGS]

Hi,

Not been on holiday but spent a fair bit of time in Boston (and just north) with work, spent many a weekend traveling about though.

Agree it's a lovely part of the world, I especially enjoyed (and spent most of my time) to the north though, up to Vermont (visit the Von Trapp's), Maine, New Hampshire. The time your are going will also be good for the scenery so a wee drive through New England will be great.

BTW, I've driven in Boston I would agree that if you are going straight into town you'd be better off sticking to public transport/walking which is all pretty straightforward and civilised.

The Freedom trail (follow the red painted line) is a good way to have a good walk around the city and captures many of the historical points of interest, as well as the "Cheers" bar i seem to remember, certainly close to it.

Shopping in Boston is all pretty contained and you'll have plenty of choice, although if you head up to New Hampshire or Maine all shopping is tax free. For eating, plenty of seafood, I'm not too keen on fish myself but you do get some good clam chowder there. Also, plenty of micro-breweries too for a wee drink.

I could go on ..... but in short, I'd say go for it ;)

Cheers

[amumof2]

:) i haven't had the opportunity to go but i sure would like to, perhaps i could live out my dream through your trip reports! ;)

[mainecoon lover]

This is our dream. We have booked the holiday three times and sadly DD has always been taken sick just before we leave. DH said its an omen and not to book again. One day i will get there. The only problem i will have is all those lovely Maine coon cats :spin:

[WTP]

I used to live in Maine. It was like living in another world. My DS (8 at the time) went to the local elementary school in Winslow, then Tarpley in Oakland when we moved into our own home. I could write pages on Maine once I get going, but to condense it into one sentence, it is the next best place to Florida. It is such a laid back way of life, the scenery is fantastic...lakes, mountains and forests. It is known as Vacationland and this is displayed on the car licence plates. Cost of living is very low compared to Conneticut and Boston. We went to up state New York and to Buffalo to Niagara Falls over Labour Day weekend. We flew into Logan airport and have only spent a few hours in Boston, but it left me really wanting to stay there for longer. New England is poles apart from Florida and what Florida has to offer but it is magic in its own right and if you have the chance of going...then do it. You won't regret it.

[BarrettFamily]

We did this about 12 years ago. Spent a couple of days in Boston and then drove up to Niagra Falls, across country abit and then down to Woods Hole. Woods Hole was a lovely place to stay but be warned there is no parking in the town (or there wasn't then). We only booked our first 2 nights accomadation and 2 nights in the middle all the rest we left to chance. Found some great places to stay and some dire ones. All in all a great holiday.

[bengunn]

Thanks for all the replies. I think that we are likely to be going, so hope to be using your ideas.

I will try to do trip reports in due course.

[ju_itfc]

We have been to Boston twice now and love it.

First time was for 6 nights and I think it was about the right length of time for a first visit, last year we finished there after a round the world trip and had 3 nights, which was ideal to revisit some of the places we'd been to before.

As people have said, don't drive in Boston. The "T" is so efficient and takes you everywhere at very little cost.

There is so much to do in Boston but for me the highlights in the past have been:-

Freedom Trail - essential.
Boston Common - it's not Central Park, but it's not trying to be. Lovely.
Tour of Fenway Park - amazing old baseball park.
Samuel Adams Brewery Tour - free beer, what more do you want??
Filene's Basement - for bargain upon bargain shopping!!
Prudential Center - for great views over the city.
Cheesecake Factory - at the Prudential Center, the best I have been in.

There is loads more, try including a trip to Salem as well. Sure it's touristy but also very pretty. Well worth a train ride.

Enjoy!!

[bengunn]

Mmmm, cheesecake :cake: and :beer: but best not at the same time :erm:

Thanks for those ideas, I knew it was worth asking here :grin:

[SusieK]

I'm sure I read that Filene's Basement had closed down????

[Jes]

Boston is lovely. I went about 12 years ago and would love to go back. Everything is really close and within walking distance. They do have crazy drivers though!! Our minibus transport back to the airport crashed into the back of the car in front and I ended up with stitches above my eye. Apart from that mishap I had a lovely 3 days there. :)

[Mrs_Dazzle]

We were over there this Easter. We flew into Boston, then drove to Killington in Vermont (4hrs) for a week and a bit skiing. We then drove back leisurely to admire the beautiful scenery, spending another 4 days in Boston.

We stayed at the Parker House Hotel - superb location, great hotel, fabulous history.

Boston is my fave US city now, even surpassing Miami and San Fransisco. There's loads to do - or not if you don't want to!

Plenty of extra space needed for all that shopping . . . . :grin:

[parker]

Hi
We went 2 years ago and loved the city. We did the Duck boat tour which was great fun and a good way to see the city.
We drove in and out of Boston and the Big Dig was still ongoing but didn't find it too bad.
We stayed at Jury's hotel which was very near Copley Place which is a huge shopping mall.
We drove down to Cape Cod and caught the ferry over to Marthas Vineyard where we stayed for a week.
MV was fantastic and we felt we saw the 'real' American vacation and lifestyle whilst there.

[lilack]

One of the best holidays I've ever had was New York/Boston/New England. We drove up to Maine/Bar Harbour which was my very favourite place. Explored Acadia - USA's smallest national park.

Too many great experiences to mention but definitely the best bit was whale watching - if you can you should do this.

Can't wait to go back but thinking we will wait until the children are a little older, (currently 3 & 5) as there was quite a lot of driving involved.

We went end of August/beginning of September. It quietened down significantly into Sept and hotel rates fell too. Even though it was quite early we got the fantastic fall colours driving through New England and weather was lovely and sunny.

[*source*]

Thanks for all the replies. I think that we are likely to be going, so hope to be using your ideas.

I will try to do trip reports in due course.

Look forward to it :grin:

We are thinking of it for next August (first couple of weeks before the schools go back...) I wonder if that is a good time :spin:

[borntoshop]

In feb we landed at Boston but did not stay however, it did look like a very nice city. My husband drove from Logan airport but luckily we had missed the rush hour traffic. We stayed at North Conway in New Hampshire, we were trying to ski but we would visit there any time of year. The area is fantastic. The funniest thing was that the wy people drove changed at the weekends it was little bit crazy but we were told by the locals that it would be the Bostonians up for the weekend.

[Sue]

I love New England - only spent two days in Boston but thought it lovely. Then up the coast to Maine - fantastic views. Love Bar Harbor area, then overland to New Hampshire, Vermont and New York State - Lake Placid is fantastic, but SOOOOOOO expensive if you wanted to live there!!
The crime rate (particularly in Maine) is very low, people really do leave their doors open all the time - so genteel and laid back.

Would love to live there.

[*source*]

Would love to live there.

Me too :d:

[sl555i]

It is a great idea to go their for your wedding anniversary, I went with girlfriend last year. New England is fantastic. Their was still loads of roadworks in Boston and driving in the city centre is a nightmare. Boston city centre is quite small though and I would not recommend staying their for more than two days. The surrounding areas of cape cod are fantastic, we drove the pilgrim trail and the beauty is fantastic, I would love to go back their next year and go inland to Niagra.
If you are staying in Boston stay in the Marriot on the Wharf next to the Boston aquarium we found it brilliant, and the restaurant Legal Seafoods opposite was great. One place I would not bother going to is Cheers bar as it is very small and a waste of time getting over to the place.

[MandM2]

We went in June 2005 -
2 days in Boston
3 days in Ogunquit, Maine
1 night in Augusta
4 days in Acadia
2 days in North Conway, New Hampshire
2 days in Franconia
3 days in Waterbury, Vermont

It was fantastic!

[ceri]

We are doing this in Sept, flying to Boston for DBIL wedding and staying with him in Salem for a week. We are then flying to Miami and driving to Orlando for 2 weeks. It was actually cheaper for us to fly to Miami with a free stop over in Boston than to just get return flights to Boston !!! (thanks val :) ) Haven't stayed in/near Boston before but we love New England it is so pretty.
Last trip there we stayed in New London (DH went via submarine lol)
Ceri x

[BB139]

We stayed at the Radisson for 6 nights in Boston, it's nice to say youv'e been, but it wouldn't be a personal first choice to go back to. We walked all over Boston, (nine hours one day) saw everything we wanted. Got cabs to go a bit further out at night.

[AlltheHoggs]

Musts for a trip to Boston- Boston Common (but not at night!), Freedom trail (historical trails through the city, v,v interesting), Quincy Market (loads of lovely food) and Cape Cod (well worth the trip, lovely place) or an if you're like me - a baseball game in Fenway Park, heaven!

[sam_b]

Hi,

We went for a city break to Boston a few years ago (in January Brrr). Stayed at the Boston Park Plaza - very grand old hotel and nicely situated for the common.
In addition to other things mentioned we took a trip out to Harvard which was pleasant. defintley try Quincy market for food - yummy!

:grin:

[gpoll]

We have done Boston and the Cape, Boston is a wonderful city they do hop on/hop off city tours that threw in a cruise when we were there or there is a duck tour which goes on land and water so you see everything. We loved it there. The Cape is beautiful, we went out to Marthas Vineyard and hired bikes to explore the island which I would recommend, and went whale watching and were very fortunate to see an abundance of whales which made the 6am start well worth while, Autumn is meant to be one of the most beautiful times to go and we will probably go then next time,we went in July (quite a few years ago now).

Hope you have a great time

Gill
www.disneyapartment.com

[kmt]

we went in sept 2002. stayed 3 days in boston - no car, at the omni parker house hotel, really lovely and ornate on the freedom trail. walked everywhere as it is all so close. did a duck tour and a river cruise. we then collected a car and drove to north conway, great outlets and the best restaurant ever called 1768 (or a similar date - sorry) which is also a b&b but we didn't stay there. went to canterbury shaker village, salem, portland and then drove back for a week in chatham in cape cod. stayed at a b&b run by an english couple. it also included afternoon tea, big enough to skip lunch for! and a whale watching trip to province town. one of the best hols ever and second only to wdw. would love to go back when dd older- too much driving for a little one