trip to Boston

Hi,Im Jee Yeon, from south Korea. Im planning to come to Boston next month for 7days with my son ,13years old.Its my first trip to Boston even first to USA.I want to go and see Universities and listen to Boston Symphony Orchestra, and run along Charles river, etc.So I need a place in safe to stay near to all attractions and to eat. Im going to use public transportation. Yesterday I found a hotel ';The Harvard Square Hotel';.I wonder if this hotel would be OK for me, where the nearest T station is from here, and include breakfast.

Before I found this web site,I didn%26#39;t even think of going to Boston alone, but now I have guts to do this

thanks to your help.I appreciate.

trip to Boston

I think you can do better than the HArvard Square Hotel. It%26#39;s located in Cambridge and would require a subway ride into the city. Check out some of the Boston hotels before you decide on Cambridge. Most of the hotels are either walkable to major tourist attractions and/or they%26#39;re a short walk to the subway. Also, you certainly can come to Boston alone and feel safe; people do it all the time. It%26#39;s a safe city.

For more subway info go to www.mbta.com

trip to Boston

The Harvard Square Hotel would be a great choice (I don%26#39;t understand why Healey04 is less enthusiastic about it) particularly for seeing Harvard University itself and for ';running along the Charles'; - it%26#39;s in a great location, with easy access to the T in Harvard Square.

Welcome Jee, one problem...when/where are you listening to the Boston Symphony Orchestra? They head 2.5 hours west to the Beskshire Mountains every summer. The venue is called Tanglewood. http://www.bso.org Do you have a particular performance in mind/tickets? We might be able to find you a bus tour out if your heart is set on hearing them.

What is your price range and what dates are you plenning on visiting. We might be able to help you on ythe hotel and activities for your son and you. No worries about safety. It is a wonderful city.

Hi Jee...they do have Bus service to the summer concerts. www.bso.org/bso/mods/c_09_gen_images.jsp…

Since it is organized by the BSO, I would have no concerns about using it.

Thank you so much! I%26#39;ve heard my brother listened to Yoyoma there Tangle Wood.I%26#39;ve been planning to visit Boston since then,actually.This address of Boston Symphony web site you gave me will be very helpful for me to check out.Im going to stay in Boston from Jul 19th to 26th or around.And if I go to Tnanglewood, would I prefer staying there for the night? Would you give me any advice about this?

I havent decided about the place to stay in Boston yet.The Harvard Squre Hotel might be OK as you guys told me above, it costs me $180 or more a night.I need a place about $120 a night with close T stations and attractions and safe( You guys told me Boston is safe to travel though).Would you give me any inform about decent Bed %26amp;Breakfast? Thanks

I%26#39;ve just found the round trip bus service what you,Bostoncomputerchic, told me about from Tanglewood to Boston. So I don%26#39;t have to stay in Tanglewood for the night. Actually I was worried about returning to the place I%26#39;ll be staying in Boston in the night in case.

Try the John Jeffries House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. It%26#39;s a hotel but it has a bed and breakfast feel to it. Their rates will fit into your budget, and it%26#39;s across the street from the T, walkable to many attractions, and there are plenty of restaurants and pubs within walking distance. visit www.johnjeffrieshouse.com.

Thnaks a lot for great recommendation and would be great help. I feel like I%26#39;m already in BOSTON.

As you saw the bus comes back the same day. Tanglewood and it%26#39;s surrounding area is beautiful but taking the bus will be less complicated. The drive out to Tanglewood will give you a great feel for our state and its landscape. It will be a straight drive from East to West. Be sure to take advantage and look out the window. Enjoy!

North End Restaurant Picks for Pizza and Pasta with Seafood

Looking for good pizza other than Reginas. Heard that Umertos is good for Sicilian. Any restaurants sell the thin crusted type with minimal toppings that you get in Italy? Also what is a good pick for a casual restaurant which serves al dente pasta, red sauce, with the freshest seafood?

Am mostly interested in the North End unless there%26#39;s something great near Fenway Park. Go Sox.

Thanks!!

North End Restaurant Picks for Pizza and Pasta with Seafood

I%26#39;ve never been to Italy, but I like the pizza at Antico Forno. It has a pretty thin, brick oven crust.

For red sauce and seafood, I%26#39;d definitely go with The Daily Catch.

North End Restaurant Picks for Pizza and Pasta with Seafood

For some reason I thought I had heard that Galleria Umberto had closed - I hope that was some kind of dream induced from spending too much time on TripAdvisor. We used to go there all that time on Saturdays while our son was in Italian school, particularly for the arancini.

There is only one restaurant in the Boston area (that I know of) that is somewhat reminiscent of genuine Neapolitan pizza like they make at Michele%26#39;s in Naples. It%26#39;s a new place in Saugus called Angela%26#39;s that has a coal-fired oven. If you order the plain pizza it can evoke memories of the real thing. It would be wicked hard for an out-of-towner to find, and would certainly require a car to get there, and frankly probably isn%26#39;t worth the effort. But for the record, here is their website:

http://www.angelascfp.com/

Thanks to both of you.

Had some slices from Umbertos in March as well as arancini and calzones and then basically waddled back to my mom%26#39;s house in the Boston suburbs. Hopefully Umberto%26#39;s hasn%26#39;t closed since then! Thanks for the tip about Angela%26#39;s. A trip to Saugus is in the stars next time I visit my mom.

My favorite for Italian Seafood is The Daily Catch -- the tiny place on Hanover Street or their slightly larger spot, with outdoor dining on Northern Ave. Only seafood ... no meat options.

My two favorite dishes are Monkfish Masala and Swordfish Vinaigrette. My husband swears by clams vongole in white sauce and my kids eat fried or backed haddock and pasta w/ red sauce.

Thanks for the specific menu picks forgotmypword!

Soccer Friendly Pub in the area?

Hi,

We%26#39;ll be staying in Chatham for a week at the end of June which coincides with the Euro 2008 soccer finals. Does anyone know of any good sports bars in the area?

Thanks!

Soccer Friendly Pub in the area?

The Red Nun on Main St. (Rt. 28) is a great little sports bar/restaurant. (right next to the baseball field)

Good food %26amp; fun crowd....lotsa Red Sox fans, but maybe they%26#39;ll be watching some soccer too.

The bar at The Squire (Main St.) draws a big sports crowd too,

several TV%26#39;s. Great calamari !

Worcester to Cambridge

We%26#39;re picking up our son at a NYC basketball camp (Fordham) and then need to get him up to Worcester (Holy Cross) -- he gets out at noon and needs to be in Worcester by 6 p.m.

The next day he needs to be at Harvard by nooonish. (And then we parents get three nights and two days on our own to explore the Cambridge/Boston area !!)

I%26#39;m getting worried about the price of parking in Boston (we don%26#39;t have any hotel reservations at this point). And I think we need a rental car to pull off all of this travel .... we%26#39;re currently flying into Manchester, NH and then driving down to NYC to pick him up (staying at Newport RI on the way) .... and returning the car at Manchester after our Boston trip is over.

For those wondering, the rental car companies charged a hefty drop-off fee for flying into one place and dropping off at another.

I%26#39;m worried about parking in two places, actually. We%26#39;ll need to park somewhere outside NYC and get down to Fordham to pick him up. And then we%26#39;ll need to park somewhere in Cambridge/Boston while we%26#39;re there for three days.

Ideas anyone?

Thank you!

Diane in TN

Worcester to Cambridge

I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll have a problem finding a place to park.

At minimum, there is the Alewife parking garage at the Alewife MBTA stop, though that can get full quickly on a weekday. And most hotels have parking, the real issue is your willingness to pay the hotels%26#39; big rates to park.

mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/鈥?/a>

Worcester to Cambridge

Hi,

What days will you be staying in Boston? If it%26#39;s on the weekend then the parking rates go down substantially. You could park the car in a central location like Boston Common Garage for $11 day. If you%26#39;ll be here during the week, consider staying at the Midtown Hotel. It%26#39;s in a good location with easy access to the T and parking rates are $18 day. That%26#39;s about the best weekday parking you%26#39;ll find in the city. The hotel is a clean, basic hotel, not many bells and whistles but fine for what you need to do.

http://www.midtownhotel.com/

Maybe even a better option would be the John Jeffries House. You can get a suite for three at a great rate. The Inn is mainly used by families with children in Boston for treatment or by families with kids in school at M.I.T. and Harvard. It%26#39;s a nice place located near the T as well. They offer discount parking around the corner at the Charles Street garage. (not sure what that rate is). You will have to call them since they don%26#39;t answer emails. Good luck.

http://www.johnjeffrieshouse.com/

I forgot another one for you to consider. It%26#39;s the Friendly Inn near Harvard. Free parking and close to Harvard Square. You can take the T into Boston from Harvard Square.

http://www.afinow.com/afi/

There are plenty of places to stay just outside of Boston/Cambridge where you could park your car and then either use public transportation or your car to get into town.

In Cambridge, there are also (among others, pm me for a longer list) these, most or all with private parking and all T accessible:

Harding House (Central)

http://www.cambridgeinns.com/harding/

Irving House (Harvard)

http://www.cambridgeinns.com/irving/

A Cambridge House

http://www.acambridgehouse.com/

Mary Prentiss Inn (Harvard)

http://www.maryprentissinn.com/

A B%26amp;B in Cambridge (Harvard)

http://www.cambridgebnb.com/

B and B with parking

We%26#39;ll be in Boston for three nights the end of this month and are looking for a charming B-and-B as our home base, something within walking distance of interesting things (as well as a T stop). We%26#39;ll also have a rental car ....

Any suggestions?

Thanks very much,

Diane in TN

B and B with parking

I wasn%26#39;t aware that your son would be at the basketball camp and wouldn%26#39;t be staying with you. Some B%26amp;B%26#39;s to consider are Samuel Sewall Inn and The Bertram Inn. Both are in the Coolidge Corner area of Brookline. They are sister properties across the street from each other and within 1 block to the T for the trip into Boston. Both have parking, but I believe it%26#39;s $15 day. Both are very charming and have full gourmet breakfasts.

http://www.samuelsewallinn.com/

http://www.bertraminn.com/

In Boston, the Clarendon Square Inn is located in the beautiful South End neighborhood. The Inn is a beautiful Victorian Brownstone and has a touch of modern on thew roof. A Hot tub overlooing the Boston skyline! It%26#39;s an easy walk into the Back Bay for sightseeing and grabbing the T. Parking is $20 day.

http://www.clarendonsquare.com/

Another one to consider is the Charles Street Inn located in the beautiful Beacon Hill neighborhood. A very romantic Inn in a very pretty location. Parking is also $20 day there.

Just be aware that staying in Boston means no gourmet breakfasts. They are well done continental breakfasts.

There%26#39;s many more around as well. Good luck.

B and B with parking

As I replied to your other post....

In Cambridge, there are also (among others, pm me for a longer list) these, most or all with private parking and all T accessible:

Harding House (Central)

http://www.cambridgeinns.com/harding/

Irving House (Harvard)

http://www.cambridgeinns.com/irving/

A Cambridge House

http://www.acambridgehouse.com/

Mary Prentiss Inn (Harvard)

http://www.maryprentissinn.com/

A B%26amp;B in Cambridge (Harvard)

http://www.cambridgebnb.com/

Trip Report Day 2 June 6th

We got up fairly early about 8:00ish. I really wanted to be out of the hotel by 8:00 to follow the walking direction provided by BeanTownMan, but what with going to bed later than planned and the 1 hour lost in the time change between Boston %26amp; Texas, my hubby wasn%26#39;t quite up to it. (Okay maybe I was a little sluggish too. :D) At any rate we were out the door by 9:30 am and got directions for getting to Fanueil Hall from the friendly front desk staff @ The Charlesmark. We were a little dismayed when we saw it was raining (which it did off and on all day) but luckily I had brought a small umbrella and we just opened it as needed. (It did make for a lousy ';hair day'; though. LOL!)

As luck would have it there was a Green Line right across the street. The employee on duty helped us work the Charlie Ticket machine and for a mere $15.00 each we had unlimited rides on the T. Future Boston travelers take note. :) The ';T'; was such a nice, easy way to travel from place to place and we more than got our monies worth even though we didn%26#39;t actually use it for the entire 7 days we purchased. We made it to the Samuel Adams statue with about 10 minutes to spare and met up with a Boston by Foot guide for a tour of ';the heart of the Freedom Trail';. Now there was a lady at the airport who tried to discourage me from getting a guide. She said it wasn%26#39;t necessary - and while it%26#39;s true the trail is well marked with a ';red line'; - I humbly disagree. I think having a guide added to the total experience. I love DETAILS, (as hard as that may be for some of Ya to believe! ;)), and the guide was able to provide antidotes and interesting ';tidbits'; of information that really enhanced the experience!! For $12 a piece both the Mr. and I thought the experience was well worth it! (I can%26#39;t remember who initially recommended Boston by Foot to me, but thanks a million!) The only disappointment I had was when my camera battery died mid-tour and I wasn%26#39;t able to snap pictures constantly as is my habit. However that was easily rectified with a trip to CVS (across the street from the Government Center) where I purchased new batteries. I also took the opportunity to get ';cash back'; off my debit card as suggested by one of the fine people on this forum. Lunch was @ Durgin Park. There was so much ';controversary'; as to whether or not this was a good place to eat, that I almost scratched this plan, but in the end ';just went with it';. Boy, are we glad we did! I had a delicious Shepherd%26#39;s Pie. OMG! (If I could have conned the recipe out of them, I would have. I would love to make it here @ home.) That Shepherd%26#39;s Pie was so delicious (and just homey tasting) I wish I could have finished it - which I couldn%26#39;t despite my best efforts. The Mr. had Boston Scrod, mashed potatoes, and corn and was equally as pleased. If you happened to be eating @ Durgin Park last Friday we were the couple ooing and ahhing as we forked food into our mouths! I regret not having room to try the Indian Pudding as recommended here on this site. The meal was as delicious as it was reasonably priced. Don%26#39;t hesitate to try Durgin Park if you are in the midst of trip planning. The afternoon found us back @ the Sam Adam%26#39;s statue in front of Fanuiel Hall where we met a different Boston by Foot tour guide for an afternoon tour of the North End. Once again we got a lot of ';behind the scenes'; information; very enjoyable and highly recommended. :D From there it was back on the ';T'; for a quick trip to our hotel room in order to freshen up a little. Then we headed (again via ';T';) to Fenway Park for our first ever Red Sox%26#39;s experience. WoW! What an awesome experience that was (even if the Sox%26#39;s lost and neither Manny or Big Papi played.) The seat I sat in was an old wooden one, but I could just imagine the history that accompanied that seat. How many Red Sox%26#39;s fan%26#39;s butts had sat on that very seat in proceeding games??? It was a little chilly Friday night, but the close proximity of my seat mates helped generate a little heat! :D For supper we had Fenway Franks, diet Cokes, Cracker Jacks, and peanuts. It was kinda expensive, but part of the total Fenway experience. As we were leaving I insisted the Mr. get a ';Meet Me at the Green Monstah'; t-shirt. He was as happy as a little kid with a new toy! We headed back to Copley Square via ';T'; (of course) and fell asleep before our heads hit the pillow! In short what a GREAT day!

Trip Report Day 2 June 6th

Thanks for the report. Very interesting. Really fascinating to hear that they still sell cracker jacks at Fenway Park - I remember talking about this with someone 11 years ago, when I worked for a company with season tickets and I went to a lot of games because we just couldn%26#39;t get rid of them - someone mentioned how ridiculous it was that they sold cracker jacks, because ';nobody buys them.'; I really wouldn%26#39;t have thought they were still sold there.

Also good to hear that you enjoyed Durgin Park. I haven%26#39;t been there since 70%26#39;s but think we should go there someday, just to see if it has changed. As crazy as this seems, I can remember when Durgin Park was the only place near the Charles Street Cinema where we could get a drink while waiting to get in to see the midnight show of the first Star Wars movie in 1977 - this must have been just after the first renovations of the market - I remember prior to that, around 1971 the buildings were only used as a giant flea market on the weekends. Hard to imagine now.

Trip Report Day 2 June 6th

Teacher you%26#39;ve done a fine job writing up your first real day in Boston... Reading your notes I feel like I am on the trip with you!

So I am glad you enjoyed the Boston By Foot tours (and I hope you can add a TA review when you get a chance -- just copy your text from this posting). I like to promote the Boston By Foot tours because I think they are well worth it and aren%26#39;t as well know as some of the other tours.

I am so jealous that you got to go to a Red Sox game! I%26#39;ve given up trying to get tickets the last 3 years (since my company stopped having outings to Fenway).

Hi Teach,

Love the details - just like I love your attitude to planning. :)

Teacher,

I%26#39;m sorry you didn%26#39;t get to experience the full walk, but it sounds like you kept yourself plenty busy and got to see most of what you would have liked. You must be exhausted, though :)

As for Durgin Park, it NEVER changes. I remember the first time I ate there. My family was up in Boston visiting my brother and we went to eat there. This was in 1974, two years before Quincy Market was renovated into a tourist attraction. Durgin Park was the only inhabited section of the building. The rest of the block was dark and boarded up. I couldn%26#39;t believe they would allow a restaurant to be in the middle of all the decrepitude.

Then, about 5 years later, I went again to eat there. I mentioned to my brother that I was glad Durgin Park ';moved'; to a nicer location. He laughed and looked at me and said that it was in exactly the same place it was the last time...

BeanTownMan, Not only didn%26#39;t I get to experience the walk, but I never made it more than ';by'; (more details on that in day 4) the Public Garden; no swan boat ride, no pics of the ';Make Way for Ducklings'; ducklings....

One of my MAJOR regrets of the trip!! :(

Quincy Market is such a bustling busy place. It%26#39;s hard for me to picture it all boarded up. I don%26#39;t know if I would have had the ';guts'; to eat in a restaurant in those circumstances. LOL!

Glad you enjoyed your walking tours - makes me want to do the North End one, maybe on my next trip - I usually find walking tours a great way to pick up information I didn%26#39;t have before. I didn%26#39;t see you oohing and aahing at Durgin Park because I was there in the evening! Thanks for the kind words on my post as well.

Sedum, We were absolutely thrilled to get Red Sox tickets. They certainly weren%26#39;t cheap, but how could we come all the way to Boston and not take the opportunity? I will also post a review of Boston By Foot tours. It was truly an enjoyable experience and I know others would benefit from the information!! :D

Gibraltarr, planning for our trip was such fun! As much as I anticipated it now that it is sadly over, I will surely suffer withdrawals. I guess I%26#39;ll just ';lurk'; here for a while until the sadness subsides!

Thanks Warriorjan!!

OMG I will think of you every time I sit down on those wooden seats at Fenway! Forgot to mention to you how expensive the food can be! The game I went to on Sunday was sweltering.

Teacher--what a great first day you both had! BeantownMan--how well I remember when Durgin Park was the only place opened in that area. Thinking back to how the area was, it certainly has made a remarkable transformation!

Thanks for the trip report teachah. I can%26#39;t believe you%26#39;ve already come and gone. Do you think you%26#39;ll ever come back or was once enough? Looking forward to the rest of your report.

preventing blackheads

Family Friendly Hotels

We are planning a trip to Boston with 2 children (9 and 12). What area of town would be the best to stay in and any advice on hotels would be greatly appreciated.

Family Friendly Hotels

Frommer%26#39;s has a webpage describing ';family friendly'; hotels in Boston:

frommers.com/destinations/鈥?004026921.html

Decisions Decisions...which place in the North End?

Hey all! So, I moved to Boston about 6 months ago and am still trying places out. Anyway, my Mom is coming into town from Chicago and I want to take her to the North End for a nice and tasty Italian dinner. it doesnt need to be fancy and doesn%26#39;t need to be the most expensive place. just a nice place with great food. I%26#39;ve been to Giacamos, Lucias, and Cibo%26#39;s. What do you natives recommend?? Thanks!

Decisions Decisions...which place in the North End?

Are you looking for red sauce food or more Northern Italian?

Decisions Decisions...which place in the North End?

Cantina Italiana is the oldest restaurant in the North End so you get good food and some history and tradition. I haven%26#39;t been to it in a while but last time I was there, it was till the great Southern Italian traditional dishes and a nice comfortable atmosphere.

Mamma Maria in North Square is another old establishment with very good food. More Tuscan and Northern Italian cuisine and a less casual atmosphere.

eating lobster help please !!!!!

hi my girlfriend and i will be in boston in july for 3 nights and have decided that seeing as we will be in boston we would love to go to a proper fish restaurant and have a nice meal. We have already decided on skipjacks ( i know people have mixed reviews but its what she wants so who am i to argue )The problem we have is that i personally would love to try lobster but i dont know how you are suppose to tackle it when its on the plate. Is there any way you can ask them to prepare it so it comes already out of the shell so there is no messing about with it or is there any dish that includes lobster that would give me the authentic taste im looking for. Thanks a million

eating lobster help please !!!!!

In better restaurants, they will ';crack'; it for you. That means breaking the shell so you can access the meat. If they do that for you, don%26#39;t forget at tipping time.

You can also get baked stuffed lobster, which has the lobster meat removed and mixed with a crumb mixture of some sort and then returned to the shell. Then everything is exposed and is accessible. It%26#39;s more expensive, but I prefer the taste (and ease) myself.

AlanM

eating lobster help please !!!!!

Baked stuffed...

Even people who know what they%26#39;re doing (not me, mind you), seem to struggle and make a bit of a mess.

Hi,

The baked stuffed version of lobster usually is cracked open in half, so that%26#39;s easier to eat. Also, you can sometimes find lobster pie, which is the lobster meat cooked like a pot pie. Or, many places serve a surf and turf, which is a steak and a lobster tail.

One other option is to go for a lobster roll, which is also a New England specialty. They may have one at Skipjack%26#39;s. It%26#39;s usually under the sandwich section of the menu. The classic roll is a pile of lobster meat with a tiny bit of mayo, and maybe a bit of celery, salt and pepper, piled on a buttered and toasted hot dog bun.

Personally, to me half the fun is tying the bib around your neck and going to town on a steamed lobster. It%26#39;s really not hard to do at all. Most of the meat is in the tail and the claws. You twist the tail off at the base and push the tail out in one piece with your fork. you crack the claws with the nutcracker, across the knuckle and pull the meat out.

If you are a real expert, you suck the meat out of the legs and poke through the body cavity for the tamale and the bits of meat inside. However, many people just settle for the claw and tail meat.

Good suggestion by Beantown Man that maybe a lobster roll would be the way to go for you two. This way you get to taste all the wonderful lobster meat without things getting a bit messy.

I also enjoy putting the bib on and going the traditional route. I%26#39;m sure they will crack them for you so that all you would have to do is use your fingers or lobster fork to extract the meat. Explaining to your server that you never ate a lobster before usually ends up with good advice on how to go to battle.

Baked stuffed can be quite delicious or downright dried out due to needing to bake the lobster under a broiler after stuffing it. I know your significant other wants to go to Skipjack%26#39;s for lobster, but if you decide to go the baked stuffed route, consider these two places that I just found in a very recent article from the Boston Globe.

boston.com/ae/…

Good suggestion by Beantown Man that maybe a lobster roll would be the way to go for you two. This way you get to taste all the wonderful lobster meat without things getting a bit messy.

I also enjoy putting the bib on and going the traditional route. I%26#39;m sure they will crack them for you so that all you would have to do is use your fingers or lobster fork to extract the meat. Explaining to your server that you never ate a lobster before usually ends up with good advice on how to go to battle.

Baked stuffed can be quite delicious or downright dried out due to it needing to bake under a broiler after stuffing it. I know your girlfriend wants to go to Skipjack%26#39;s for lobster, but if you decide to go the baked stuffed route, consider these two places that I just found in a very recent article from the Boston Globe.

boston.com/ae/…

A lot of restaurants actually give you a ';lobster kit'; when you order a boiled lobster. It includes nutcrackers, a lobster pick, a lobster bib, wipes and a place-mat on ';How to eat a lobster';

I have not been to a restaurant that will crack the lobster for you. I would be interested in what restaurants would do this service, they must be out of my price range.

www.youtube.com/watch…

…about.com/od/lobster/ss/aaeatlobster.htm

boston.com/travel/…

http://www.gma.org/lobsters/eatingetc.html

great advice as usual everyone thanks a million The one idea i am now interested in is the surf and turf route as i am a steak fan to say the least . Just wondering if i got a steak and lobster tail will i have any trouble getting the lobster meat out of the tail or is it simple enough even for an irish man to manage lol. Thanks again and we look forward to visting boston

I once saw on Japanese television a man demonstrate how to eat really fresh lobster by taking one out of the trap on the back of the boat, rip its tail off with his bare hands, open the raw tail, grab the meat, dip it in cognac (how I know this was cognac I don%26#39;t remember - must be the same word in Japanese), and eat it, all within about 15 seconds.

I was taught all kinds of elaborate methods to remove the meat from the tail as a child, like I was performing surgery, but as an adult I just crack the tail with one of those nutcracker things, and rip it open with my bare hands.

I%26#39;ve never had a baked stuffed lobster, nor have I ever eaten a live Lobster pulled straight from the sea. Just boiled lobster. My father was from Maine and thought the taste of lobster was boring (!) - he preferred Alaskan King Crab. My mother is from New Hampshire and lobster is still her favorite meal - she is one of those people who eats the green tamale, which I%26#39;ve never even tried.

To get a really traditional New England lobster meal I would recommend going to Summershack. It seems kind of ridiculous to pay people to boil lobsters but I have to admit that one of the reasons we don%26#39;t eat lobster at home very often (besides the price!) is that amount of mess that is left over, that has to go out with the trash.

Anyway, to answer your original question, I would just get boiled Lobster.

When in doubt, ask your waiter ... they%26#39;re accustommed to tourists and willing to help.

Also, occassionally, Baked Stuffed Lobsters will still have their claws, with only the tail meat being used to make the stuffing .... I know this cuz my Mom worked at a now-defunct restaruant that served this way and occassionally tourists wouldn%26#39;t bother with the claws so she%26#39;d bring them home to our CAT ... (we%26#39;d be eating hotdogs and the cat would get lobster ... but it was too gross to think of US eating off of a stranger%26#39;s plate ...)

As for raw lobster ... YUCK ... I can%26#39;t even picture it ... wouldn%26#39;t the roe and tamale be quite slimy? --- maybe the congac was to %26#39;cleanse%26#39; the meat?

Louthmale, if you get the surf %26amp; turf, some places serve it with the lobster tail out of the shell while others leave it in the shell. If it comes in the shell, ask if they can remove it for you. It%26#39;s really not a big deal to get it out, but you can end up with lobster juice on you.

Just looked at a few menus for surf %26amp; turf..Skipjack%26#39;s was $48 for a 6oz filet mignon. Atlantic was $44 with a 10oz. filet and Legal Seafoods was a filet with lobster, market price, so not sure what the price would be. I would recommend going to Atlantic, but Skipjack%26#39;s would be fine as well.

Take-out cooked lobster in Brewster

Does anyone know of a good place to get some fresh lobsters cooked for us for take-out when we are at a rental in Brewster?

Thanks.

Take-out cooked lobster in Brewster

Breakwater Fish on Underpass Road will cook them for you. You will probably have to pick them up by 5:45 p.m. (as they close at 6 p.m.).

Take-out cooked lobster in Brewster

Thanks ccrosner. You are a full of great information. I would get there at the crack of dawn for a freshly cooked lobster!!

Trip Report Day 3 June 7th

When we awoke on Saturday we had a little trouble crawling out of bed. Our full day the day before left us a little “sluggish”, but I was on a mission so we managed to get out and about around 10:00 am. After getting instructions from the friendly front desk staff of The Charlesmark we headed out on the Green Line and switched to the Orange for our ultimate destination of the USS Constitution and The Bunker Hill Monument. The day before had been a little cool and breezy at times, but that certainly wasn’t the case on Saturday. The weather was as hot and steamy as any Texas day might be. We arrived at The Bunker Hill Community College on the Orange Line and headed down the hill. We were hot and thirsty and I was feeling a little “lame” that day so we stopped at a shopping center for something to drink. We peeked into a Gina (or was it Gino’s) Pizza and discovered they sold Dr. Pepper! OMG, we had to have one. (Our first since our arrival and I’m a Dr. Pepper-a-holic!) While in there we decided on a little snack since we had skipped breakfast and ordered a hot dog with grilled onions. Boston has the best hot dog buns ever. Now those of you who’ve always eaten your hot dogs in the Boston area probably don’t have a clue what I’m talking about because you probably take them for granted, but they are superb! Our hot dog buns are basically “crusty brown (but soft) outside” with a “white” or “wheat” inside. This was more like a piece of bread or a roll. There was just a thin crust around the perimeter and the rest was all buttery softness. I love onions on my hotdogs, but these grilled ones really added to the flavor. I will never eat another hot dog @ home without first grilling the onions. YUMMY!! Anyway, after we thoroughly enjoyed this hot dog we headed into the CVS next door and made a small purchase so we could get some more cash back on our debit card. (It saves the transaction fee since there were no ATMS from my bank in the area.) From there we began the trek up toward Bunker Hill Monument. I loved the quaint street and the row of condos. Each front was a little different from its neighbor yet attached. There was one for sale at the end of the street. There was a flyer posted on the door with pictures of the interior. While the outside might be old and historic the insides was all sleek and modern. What amazed me was the price tag. It was under 1200 square feet and was listed @ $595,000!!! When the people sell it tell them to bring the proceeds to my area. They will be able to buy a huge home with acreage and a pool and still have money left for furniture! LOL! WoW! I couldn’t help but wonder, “Where do the teachers live?” Anyway, I digress. We crossed the street and I took tons of snaps of the BHM and we read the inscriptions on the plagues below and then started the trek to the actual monument. After browsing the side where the Ranger’s sat we decided to climb the monument. I think I mentioned I was feeling a little “lame” (old ankle injury flaring up) that morning when we started out, right? So, what in the Sam Hill possessed me to think I could walk the stairs??? Well, guess what?? I couldn’t! So, being the gentlemen he is the Mr. accompanied me down the stairs (we made it to step number 183) and we went into the Ranger’s room and totally collapsed on the benches. (My husband asked me not to tell anyone this part. He’s embarrassed.) After catching our breath we stumbled out of the monument area and climbed down the stairs and practically crawled across the street where we sat down on a ledge along the sidewalk. I kid you not every muscle I had was quivering and quaking in my thighs and calves. I was hot and sweaty and my husband was tempted to go back to the room, but I informed him that we were going to the USS Constitution or I’d go without him. We eventually made it back on our feet and walked very slowly following the red line all the way to the Navy Yard. Once we got there he was thrilled that he hadn’t given up and we really enjoyed the tour. After going through the security check point, we had to wait about 30 minutes for our turn @ the 30 minute below deck presentation so it gave us a chance to sit on a bench and rest. The tour was fabulous and well worth the long walk. I highly recommend it. I don’t know if I highly recommend the trudge up the BHM stairs. LOL!! Later I discovered a couple of “short cuts” to getting to that area that I’ll detail in tomorrow’s account. Anyway after the USS Constitution tour we visited the museum and found it very educational and interesting. By then we were hungry and ready for a late lunch, so after getting directions, we again followed the red trail to the North End. By this time we were literally barely moving. It was hot, my ankle was killing me, and I was probably a little dehydrated. Yet the pull of pasta kept me moving on. :D We just moved along verrrry slowly. It’s sad when the “old people” and people with kids and strollers in tow lap you. (It’s obvious the Mr. and I have got to get back to the gym!) Anyway, around the corner, and across the bridge we walked right into the North End. I was hungry for something with a red sauce so we stopped in @ the first place we found with a familiar name. LaFamiglia Giorgio was an excellent place to rest our weary bones, eat, and regroup. We must have drunk a gallon of water. Finally the sweet waiter just brought a big icy pitcher of water and left it at our table. Bless him! I ordered a pasta dish with onions, mushrooms, peppers, jalapenos, and marinara over linguine. My husband had spotted an antipasto dish at a nearby table and decided on that. The portions were absolutely huge and despite our best efforts of eating and eating and eating (and snagging bites off the other ones plate) we never did find the bottom of our dishes. I hated to waste so much delicious food, but we had no choice but to leave it. At that point we decided to head back to the hotel and watch Big Brown run the Belmont so we headed out of the North End toward the T at Government Center. Along the way I spotted Maria’s Pastry and HAD to stop. I ordered a canolli for each of us. I wanted chocolate with a vanilla custard center but the young man at the counter talked me into getting the “traditional” ricotta cheese filling. Truthfully a “cheese filling” didn’t sound too good, but I deferred to his expert advice and am I ever glad I did. I guess I had no clue what ricotta cheese was. For those who are as ignorant as me, the filling was more “cream cheese-like” and since I’d eat cream cheese off of an old brown boot, well it was right up my alley. I’m sorry I just ordered two!! Once we got back to the Charlesmark we lay across our bed, ate our canolli’s and watched the race. Sometime after that we fell asleep and DIDN’T wake up!! Well I did eventually wake up around mid-night when I washed my face and put on my pj’s, but I don’t think the Mr. ever did. (Again, we missed our intended dinner @ Legal Seafood.) Anyway, at that point there was nothing to do, but fall back asleep, which I did and slept like a dead woman until 8:00 the next morning!! I’m STILL kicking myself over the lost evening. Too be continued…..

Trip Report Day 3 June 7th

Enjoying every installment!

Trip Report Day 3 June 7th

thanks, you are a great writer, and funny, too :). looking forward to more! hopefully this info will be quite helpful to future tourists. sorry to hear that Saturday%26#39;s weather is typical in TX, some of us New Englanders just about shrivelled up over the weekend :(. y%26#39;all come back soon!

I am enjoying your trip reports.

I walked up the steps at the Bunker Hill Monument about two weeks ago but it was probably about 30 degrees cooler. My 4 and 6 year old kids made it look so easy. I just made an excuse to enjoy the view, for a longer time, out of the little windows on the way up. I was huffing and puffing and finally made it. Once we got back down my kids begged to go back up the stairs again. I know I would not have been able to walk up those stairs during this past weekend%26#39;s heat-wave. Maybe it was too hot for a Texan?

Thanks for the report. It%26#39;s such a bummer that you had to visit the city during a heatwave. I don%26#39;t care where your from, that kind of weather will take ALOT out of you! I hope the ankle is feeling better.

Hi Teacher...I%26#39;ve been swamped at work and I almost MISSED this...the horror. I have to dig through and find your other installments. Love it. love it, love it! Funny...when you said the price of the condo I was thinking...WOW..that%26#39;s a steal! Glad to hear you experianced Riccota. Mmmmmm.....Mmmmmmmm.

Lot%26#39;s of kudos to you for even ATTEMPTING the monument stairs on a hot day!! I really am impressed with all you packed into a day. ;)

Yes, Boston real estate is very pricey, but anything on ';monument square'; is even worse. It%26#39;s a highly desirable address ...

Glad you tried the traditional canolli ... many people think of ricotta as ';italian cottage cheese'; but it has a creamier consistency and when you add sugar and others goodies like for canolli filling --- YUM!!

Oh ... by the way, I believe you got your Dr Pepper at ';Papa Ginos';. But they sell hotdogs? I never knew that .... occassionally my office orders take out pizza from there ... but I can%26#39;t remember the last time I was in one!

Very interesting report. I can%26#39;t imagine bothering to go see the Bunker Hill Monument, especially during a heat wave (but at all really). I love the fact that the guy disuaded you from getting a canolli with chocolate and custard.

Hello Teach,

Thanks for taking the time to write up your great trip report, can%26#39;t wait to read more! So you didn%26#39;t make it to the ';top'; huh? Not too many do.

Remember how many stairs there were? 294 steps to the top and it%26#39;s 221 feet tall...

You know that was where I used to ';hang'; out when I was a teenager (back in the late 60%26#39;s, early 70%26#39;s) right on the steps leading down toward Chestnut Street %26amp; probably the street you walked down to get yourselves down to the USS Constitution %26amp; the Marina, when you were here!

Those were the days, back when there property prices were just starting to go through the roof throughout the town! My friends and I knew %26amp; remember well the very first yuppie that moved in to the town! He renovated his brick town home %26amp; then he invited all of us %26amp; I mean all of us that hung on that corner on those steps right in to see the work that he had done. He even waited for when every one of us were on the steps that night, to invite us in; I%26#39;ll never forget it! The work that he did? It was, without a doubt incredibly stunning, we had a field day checking it all out with him! This wonderful man is living in the town in this same brick ';stunner'; to this day! So we always say that he%26#39;s a ';townie';, not a ';toonie';, like the rest of %26#39;em that move there!

I%26#39;m glad that they talked you into trying the traditional ricotta filled cannoli. Although there are numerous recipes for the filling, nothing comapres to the ricotta or marscapone fillings with either citron or pistachios mixed in. Just thinking about it is making want to stop off in the North End on my way home and pick up a few.

Car rental pick-up point

We are travelling to Boston from the U.K. in October and after spending a few days in Boston (staying at John Jeffries House) are travelling to South Deerfield. I would be grateful for advice as to which rental car pick-up point would give us easiest access to the I-90 Logan Airport or Boston Government Centre, Centre Plaza. With very many thanks.

Car rental pick-up point

Either one will work, but.... From the Airport, it%26#39;s a little easier to see signage directing you to I90, but it%26#39;s a little further east (and you wantto go west) plus you would have to pay an extra $3.50 toll. From Government Center, you would have to go a little bit on city streets to reach I90, but not too far at all. And, if you didn%26#39;t have a lot of lugguage, you could actualy walk to pick up the car, where you would have to take the subway to the Airport to get a car. All in all, if prices are the same, Government Center looks like it wins!

AlanM

Car rental pick-up point

Alanm is right that the Government Center location is the closest. It%26#39;s inside the parking garage located beneath the Holiday Inn Beacon Hill on Cambridge Street. I think the company is National. Avis is up at Center Plaza itself.

From the John Jeffries House I would take Storrow Drive West to the Copley Square exit, turn right on Beacon Street and then left on Clarendon. Follow Clarendon for about 7 lights. As you pass the Hancock Tower you%26#39;ll see a sign on the Clarendon Street garage saying Mass Pike West. The onramp is a little wacky but it will get you right onto I-90 and you%26#39;re off!

Many thanks Alanm and Beansandcod for your helpful information, Centre Plaza it is then.

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United Airlines to charge for first bag!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25118405/

United Airlines to charge for first bag!

No big surprise there. Once American announced it, I figured it wouldn%26#39;t be long before every other airline started doing the same thing.

It drives me crazy that they site rising fuel prices as the raeson for having to do this. Yeah, fuel prices have recently increased dramatically and are unreasonable, but the airlines have, for some time, started charging for services that used to be included in the price of a ticket while also raising ticket prices as much as possible. Yet the overall service on many of them continues to go downhill.

United Airlines to charge for first bag!

I don%26#39;t travel with much so it is not a problem. I am amazed when I see people checking 4 or 5 bags for a weekend trip. United has been going in this driection for 5 years. They quietly starting charging for bags over a certain weight a few years back.

Whenever possible, I try to fit everything into a carryone suitcase just because I hate the whole process of checking bags and retrieving them. I%26#39;ve learned to pack light over the years. However, when going by car, I still take enough clothes to change five times a day if I wanted to.

When I%26#39;m riding the T, I always wonder about some of those suitcases that people are trailing behind them which are almost as big as my closet. I wonder if they are going away for months or are just trying to be prepared for every whim over a weekend

I%26#39;m not surpised either - once AA did it you knew it was pending. They probably have the same sort rules where it doesn%26#39;t apply to certain travel like international. Article says US air also..... either way, the increase was coming whether it%26#39;s through this means or another since fuel pricing is out of control.

I fly a lot, and I fly almost exclusively United. Long, long ago I made up my mind to never check a bag, not even for an international flight.

United has e-mailed me (because of my Premier Executive customer status) to inform me that I%26#39;m not subject to the new charges. Big deal.

The amount of time I%26#39;ve saved from not waiting for a checked bag, the amount of hassle I%26#39;ve saved from never losing my luggage, and the number of flights I%26#39;ve made on tight connections because I travel light and travel carry-on only is nearly incalcuable...one of the smartest decisions I%26#39;ve ever made.

Boston hotel deals?

Hi there,

My husband and I are thinking of heading to Boston towards the end of June (probably 6/26-6/30). There are some good prices on hotels out there, but I wanted to check in with the forum - anyone know of any specials that we shoudl be aware of? We%26#39;re not too picky about location because we%26#39;ll have a car and know the area pretty well. Suburbs are OK. I%26#39;d like to not spend much more than 100/nt. A few months ago when we went to Chicago, we found a great deal for a fabulous boutique hotel that someone had posted on the forum that did not show up on Expedia etc., so I wanted to check in and see if there was anything like that out there before we booked a mediocre hotel at an OK price...

Thanks to everyone!!!

Boston hotel deals?

Hi,

That%26#39;s a very tough price range to find in downtown Boston, especially in the summer.

I%26#39;d suggest either that you try bidding on Priceline/Hotwire for a room in that range and see what you can get, OR you might try TravelZoo.

http://www.travelzoo.com

Boston hotel deals?

$139 at the Westin waterfront (not the best location but a good price) for the first night stays 3 nights your second and third night is based on your birth year the older you are the cheaper the room rate! Born in 1950 the fifty bucks per night for the 2nd and 3rd night.

hotels.travelzoo.com/lodging-hotels/421534

$189 for the Nine Zero is a great price for a Thursday - Sunday promotion.

hotels.travelzoo.com/lodging-hotels/420044

Sorry for all the typo%26#39;s and I missed quoted the price...

$139 at the Westin Waterfront (not the best location but it is a good price) per night on specific dates.

Another promotion $169 for the first night. Book for 2 or 3 nights and your second and/or third night is based on your birth year, the older you are the cheaper the room rate! Born in 1950 then the rate would be fifty bucks per night for the 2nd and 3rd night.

hotels.travelzoo.com/lodging-hotels/421534

I don%26#39;t like the location of the Westin Waterfront. It%26#39;s in South Boston and not near much of anything except a convention center. Just my opinion, others will vary.

There is a deal on hotwire right now for $92 a night for a 3* hotel in the Quincy Market-Financial District, with the amenities Fitness Center, Hi Speed Internet, and Restaurant.

The description matches The Holiday Inn Beacon Hill according to a pinned hotwire list on the Massachusetts forum at www.betterbidding.com.

No guarantee it is that hotel, just a best guess scenario.

We just returned from Boston and stayed at the Westin Waterfront. It%26#39;s very nice, and though it%26#39;s not close to all the great sights, we didn%26#39;t mind the short walk over the bridge to catch the silver line. It was a very short ride to South station and very easy to get around on the T from there. We spent very little time at the hotel anyway b/c we wanted to pack as much as possible into each day that we were there.

Getaway between Boston and NYC

hello all --

My husband and I are picking up a child at camp in NYC -- and are trying to make the most of our two nights/three days without child.

We fly into Manchester NH and can go ANYWHERE (!!) .... anyone have an idea of a great romantic getaway somewhere between Manchester and NYC? We love b%26amp;b%26#39;s (small, charming with excellent breakfasts), the ocean and history. My husband is a huge history buff -an English teacher who has a penchant for early American history and the presidents.

Any and all ideas welcomed!

Diane

Getaway between Boston and NYC

Many choices for a history buff by the ocean:

-Boston, Boston or maybe Boston!

-Plymouth, MA

-Mystic, CT

-Salem, MA

Lovely B%26amp;B%26#39;s by the ocean-

Newport, RI

Portsmouth, NH

Ogunquit, ME

Cape Cod, MA

Cape Ann, MA

Newburyport, MA

History buff B%26amp;B - 30 minute ride to ocean-

Lexington and or Concord,

Getaway between Boston and NYC

It sounds like Boston should be your destination. You%26#39;ll find charming B%26amp;B%26#39;s right in the city, however, you won%26#39;t be getting the excellent hot breakfasts in the morning. B%26amp;B%26#39;s in Boston aren%26#39;t allowed to make hot breakfasts, so they all offer nice continental breakfasts which include fruits, muffins, etc. Everything else your looking for is right there. History is Boston%26#39;s middle name. You could take a daytrip out to the Harbor Islands without even leaving Boston for your ocean fix. The commuter rail out of Boston will take you to the more intimate, charming oceanside town of Rockport as well. I say you two should definitely come to Boston.

My second choice would be the Berkshires in the western part of the state. B%26amp;B heaven out there with the gourmet breakfasts. Lots of historical places to explore there as well. The scenery is gorgeous. The downside is you wouldn%26#39;t be near the ocean. The Berkshires does have beautiful lakes, rivers and streams however.

Cape Cod also has lots of history as well as some of the best beaches on the east coast. Downside is the traffic. It%26#39;s a very busy place in the summer, but certainly manageable. You have lots of options to consider. Best of luck and enjoy wherever you end up.

Boston does sound wonderful -- and we do have some time scheduled there. AFTER we pick up the son at the NYC camp, we%26#39;re driving him up to Harvard (for yet another camp -- he%26#39;s a recruited basketball player and trying to decide on schools). While he%26#39;s at Harvard, we%26#39;ll have another two (adult) days and three nights in the Cambridge/Boston area.

So I was thinking that we%26#39;d save the Boston things for the end of the trip and do something a bit different on the front end.

My husband particularly wants to see the Adams homeplace in Quincy, but I%26#39;m thinking maybe we should do that as a day trip from Boston.

All this, by the way, is the end of this month. (Hope I can find rooms in those charming B%26amp;Bs!)

Diane

Manchester %26amp; NYC are about a 4 hour drive, so that leaves you many states you can explore. If you are not at all experienced in the Northeast Seashore, it is COLD! Unless you have thick skin, you arent going to go swimming Maine, NH, or MA. For great ocean water I would suggest the RI or CT shore.

About 1/2 way to NYC, Newport, RI is a great destination, right on the water, beautiful historical mansions, and great shopping.

Away from the ocean in MA without going to Boston, Concord is an adorable town about 1 hr south of Manchester - with plenty of history, and swimming at the famous Walden Pond.

If B%26amp;Bs are your main attraction, the Berkshires is the way to go. About 3 hours from Manchester, and 2 hours from NYC, you can relax at Tanglewood and visit some great museums.

Enjoy your child-less escape!

I like Mystic Ct. Westport Ct. is another good place. From Manchester you would not come thru Boston but take 495 to the pike. You would put most of the driving behind you. The travel time from Westport to the city I believe is 45 to 60 minutes.

You might want to travel along the Hudson River Valley and see the Tarrytown home of writer Washigton Irving, the Vanderbilt Mansion,home and library of Franklin Roosevelt,further north to Kinderhook home of Martin VanBuren, all in New York north of NYC.

This may be a silly question, but why are B%26amp;Bs not allowed to offer hot breakfasts?

Senior: That is a good question and I was not aware of it. I would bet that it has to do with fire codes.

Many b and bs can and do serve a full breakfast. I think some of the ones in major cities are restricted because the restaurants and diners have effectively lobbied for regulation on the grounds that it is unfair competition.

Summer dormitory accomodation anywhere in Boston/N.E. ?

Does anyone know of any colleges or universities in Boston or anywhere in New England that rent out dormitory rooms in the summer to travelers? We%26#39;ve done this in other countries and would like to travel on our home turf a bit but not spend a ton of $. I%26#39;ve looked at the bigger ones (BU, Harvard, MIT, but no luck). Thanks!

Summer dormitory accomodation anywhere in Boston/N.E. ?

Strange that we were just asked that yestderday (';Odd Accommodation Question';). The answer so far is no.

Restaurants for a single traveller

I%26#39;m visiting Boston in August from the UK and travelling alone (53 year old male)and I%26#39;m staying at the Charlesmark hotel on Boylston Street. I%26#39;m looking for suggestions of friendly, informal restaurants, typically American and which do good breakfasts and lunches. Many thanks.

Restaurants for a single traveller

I%26#39;ll start off by recommending Charlie%26#39;s Sandwich Shoppe on Columbus Ave for great breakfasts and sandwiches. Eastern Standard for lunch on Commonwealth Ave at Kenmore Square.

Restaurants for a single traveller

Parrish Cafe on Boylston.

It%26#39;s not unusual at all to see people eating alone in restaurants in Boston and Cambridge. You should feel comfortable just about anywhere. If you%26#39;re feeling social, sit in the bar. If not, bring reading material and nobody will give you a second look in most places.

Still working on the itinerary..........

Hi again everyone. Following on from the advice given to my previous post I%26#39;m wondering if you thought that Salem would be a good start for our trip? I%26#39;m thinking in terms of a 4 day stay in Salem Waterfront Hotel and using this as a base to see Cape Ann area and perhaps a trip into Boston by train. Then after that move down in the direction of the Cape and/or Newport (as suggested in the previous post). Are there nice restaurants in Salem - I%26#39;m thinking in terms of somewhere within walking distance of the hotel that we could go to after a days sightseeing so as my DH could have a drink and not worry about the car. Thanks

Still working on the itinerary..........

HI, I did see your other post so I won%26#39;t repeat anything here but yes, 4 days sounds good in the Salem area and yes, there are nice restaurants in Salem, most within walking distance of the hotels from what I remember. Haven%26#39;t been up that way in about a year but you should have no trouble finding food and drink places that are nice. As far as a trip to the Cape goes, be very, very careful of when you%26#39;re going! Avoid the weekends like the plague due to heavy traffic trying to get on and off the bridges. Early September is still too early for the cottage owners and random vacationers to have said good bye for the season so again, weekends are a nightmare, traffic wise. I believe the same would be more or less true for Newport although getting there would probably entail less back-up traffic. I%26#39;d let some Rhode Islanders speak to that as they may chime in differently.

Still working on the itinerary..........

The tavern at the Hawthorne Hotel has very decent food and is quite comfy after a day of walking. There%26#39;s a large bar and comfy chairs and small sofas around the tables. Not sure if it%26#39;s in walking distance of your hotel. Don%26#39;t know when you%26#39;re coming but they have two for one specials (three-course dinners for 2 for $28)on Sunday through Wednesday nights during June. Have never eaten at the fancier restaurant in the hotel (Nathaniel%26#39;s).

Here%26#39;s link:

www.hawthornehotel.com/dining/index.htm

When you%26#39;re on Cape Ann in Glouchester stop at Halibut Point for great chowders, burgers and a little history. Get some strudel at Helmut%26#39;s Strudel when you%26#39;re in Rockport.

Have fun :%26gt;

Am I the only one who feels Salem is not the best place to base yourself for a 4 day vacation? Probably. I mean, sure, it%26#39;s a nice place to visit, but it is a city, not some quaint New England seaside town. I love visiting for a day, but then I%26#39;m so over it. Hope I don%26#39;t offend the Salem folks. If I had to stay in a seaside city north of Boston, my choice would be Gloucester. JMO. :)

preventing blackheads

Beaches??

Hello are there any local beaches in the area??

Beaches??

The closest beach is Revere Beach, which is on the BlueL Subway.

Beaches??

A few examples of local beaches:

-Local ocean front beaches via subway train - Revere Beach (oldest public beach in the US)

-Via subway and bus Yirrell Beach in Winthrop or Nahant Beach in Nahant

-Harbor beaches Carson Beach, Castle Island and L Street in South Boston/ Constitution Beach in East Boston

-Harbor beaches via ferry- Boston Harbor Island Beaches, Nantasket Beach in Hull

Nicer beaches via commuter rail -located in Rockport and Gloucester

typo-

Nantasket Beach in Hull is an ocean front beach not a harbor beach

In addition to those mentioned, there%26#39;s beaches on Lovell%26#39;s Island and Spectacle Island reachable by ferry (the same set of Ferries that goes to George%26#39;s Island which does not have a place to swim).

I would add that any city-dwelling locals with access to transportation tend to go further out to nicer beaches, rather than to the closest urban ones.

Nantasket is a lot of fun (although crowded). There%26#39;s a nice hotel right on the beach (Clarion?) My cousin stayed there recently, loved it. Across frm the beach are arcades, ice cream/hot dog places. The best hotdog/onion rings I%26#39;ve ever had were from the stand on the beach side, in the pavilion there.

Revere is another one with good food across from it. I think the water is probably cleaner in Nantasket, but it could be a tossup.

People in Southie tend to love/trust Pleasure Bay near Castle Island... I don%26#39;t trust the water cleanliness, but...that%26#39;s me. Forget Wollaston. Yech.

the MWRA website has water quality info...

The beaches in Southie are raked every morning. There are people swimming all the time, especially down by the skating rink.

Oh yeah, they%26#39;re totally trusted...loads of people in the water.

The water in Pleasure Bay is also slightly warmer than the water you%26#39;ll find at an open ocean beach.

I%26#39;m sure your asking about local Boston area beaches, but I just spent a couple days down in Rhode Island. The beaches there are SPECTACULAR! I%26#39;ve spent many a day at the good beaches on the Capes, (Ann and Cod) and R.I. blows them away. Maybe not the National Seashore beaches on Cape Cod, but pretty close. I was just so happy to be there. Galillee, Roger Wheeler, Scarborough and Narragansett Town Beach. All A+! There%26#39;s even this little private (but very public, if you know) beach called Breakwater Village at the end of Route 108 in Point Judith. From Ocean Drive in Narragansett, follow to Aunt Carries clamcake and chowder shack. Take a left (108 south) and follow to Camp Cronin. ( hidden dirt road). Take a right in there and you are in New England beach paradise! Beautiful scenic overlook with a lighthouse on your left, Block Island in the distance, the jetties in front of you (saw 2 kids reel in a 42'; striper) and a beach to the right. I was just loving it ALOT! I wish I were there right now. :)

If we%26#39;re talking city area beaches then my nod goes to Revere Beach. They%26#39;ve done a lot to revitalize the area over the past years and it looks great.

The Southie beaches (Carson, Pleasure Bay) are also great but if you need to use the faciltities you may have to walk a bit to Castle Island.

However, Massachusetts%26#39; best beaches, in my opinion, are located in the North Shore, specifically in the Cape Ann towns of Gloucester and Rockport. You can get to the Cape Ann area via the Commuter Rail. Go to www.mbta.com for more info.

Trip Report Day 4 June 8th

On day 4 we had an unplanned deviation from the original itinerary. I failed to mention that while eating @ LaFamiglia Giorgio the day before I called to confirm our hotel pickup time for the next day’s planned Cape Cod Excursion on Boston Tour Corps (suggested by Will.) I was a little distressed that the tour had been cancelled due to lack of interest on Friday and no one had notified me either via e-mail, on my cell, or by calling The Charlesmark Hotel and leaving me a message. I was also hopeful that I would be reimbursed the $110.00 tour cost I had put on my credit card. However, I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and the added day to spend in Boston turned out to be a bonus! The Mr. and I got out and about around 9:00ish and headed to Government Center on the Green Line. I headed to CVS to get some daily cash and he headed to Model’s concession tent where he purchased a Celtics t-shirt and cap for himself and his son. At that point with just the little bit of walking we’d done I knew we needed a different game plan so we headed over to Quincy Market and the first manned “Hop Off and Hop On” tour company kiosk we came to. It happened to be “City View” which wasn’t familiar to me either from my readings on TA or from Frommer’s, but the salesperson was super nice and offered us a small discount because my husband was now wearing his new Celtics cap! The tour also included a free harbor cruise so we paid the $29.00 each and headed toward Long Wharf for boarding. The tour turned out to be a wonderful idea. The first go around we just rode the entire loop. The driver not only provided some commentary we hadn’t heard before but also took us to some places our legs had yet to carry us such as; China Town, The Boston Common area, The Public Garden, in front of the Grannary Burial Ground, (our Heart of the Freedom Trail tour had only gone as far as King’s Chapel), and by the Rose Kennedy Rose Garden. This is also a foot friendly way to get to the USS Constitution. It will drop you off right in front and you can either pick it up after your done when it makes a return trip or head over to the BHM and check it out. The trolley won’t pick you up @ Bunker Hill so you will have to walk back to the USS Constitution pickup spot, but it will save you many many steps on your feet.

After riding the loop around once we got off in the North End. During our North End tour we had not gotten to hear the commentary of the docents in the Old North Church. (Our tour guide offered the option but someone didn’t want to invest the extra ten minutes. Go figure!) Today we did. The speech was short and they offered a tour of the steeple and crypt area for $4.00 per person, but I just knew I couldn’t climb any extra stairs so sadly we had to pass. Otherwise I would have loved to have done it. From there we went in search of Neptune’s Oyster and a lobster roll! I wasn’t sure how to order it; cold with mayo or hot with butter. The waitress suggested we get one of each and share. However; when we got ours (mine was the hot with butter) and tasted it – well - neither one of us was willing to share even a small bite in exchange for one! That’s how good it was!!! I guess it’s possible the cold with mayo was better, but it’s hard for me to believe. If you ask my husband he will have a similar opinion except the other way around! BTW the sandwich was served with fries and they were very good as well. Surprisingly when I asked for some salt I was given sea salt, which worked. That was probably the priciest sandwiches we will ever eat, but you will never hear either one of us complain. That lobster roll was THAT good. Incidentally when the TA contributors described the lobster roll as lobster stuffed into a hot dog bun I was still picturing the hot dog buns I’m familiar with and I was a little iffy, but once I knew Y’all had “special” hot dog buns well I knew I had to have one! :D After paying the bill @ Neptune’s Oyster we headed back to the pickup point of the trolley. We passed Mike’s Pastry and for purely scientific taste comparisons I wanted to stop and pick up some canollis to go, but the Mr. said it would probably spoil in the heat before we could get it back to the hotel and we were too full to eat it @ the moment. Sadly with my bum ankle and all it was the last chance I had for a quality canolli. If I knew what I knew now I’d have just stuffed myself and ate it right then and there on Mike’s sidewalk. We caught the trolley and this time rode it to the point by the Massachusetts State House and the back of the Boston Common. From there we walked up the hill and around the corner and spent some time in the Grannary Burial Ground. I took pictures of all the famous resident’s tombstones. Wherever there was a tour going I tried to eavesdrop on the info but it didn’t seem to work out to well. LOL! From there we walked down the hill to the Omni Parker House. Our intention was to go into the Last Hurrah where we were told JFK held his bachelor party and try their famous Boston Cream Pie, but unfortunately it was Sunday and therefore closed. At this point I was able to get some pictures of the area that I missed on the first day when my camera battery died. I tried to get my husband to crawl on the back of the donkey in front of the old City Hall for a Christmas card photo op %26lt;%26lt;kidding%26gt;%26gt; but he chose to stick in his feet into the foot prints and grab hold of the ears instead. I also tried to get a picture of the mosaic on the sidewalk from The Latin School but it probably won’t come out too clearly. (I haven’t had a chance to develop my pictures yet as I’m still trying to catch up with the mounds of laundry!) From there we headed back toward the trolley stop but stopped in at a 7-11 for two bottles of water. We really love the way you can be walking along and wa-la there’s a 7-11 just amongst everything else. Here such stores have a free standing building and a parking lot. Anyway, after boarding the trolley at The Massachusetts State House we rode the trolley back to the Long Wharf to take advantage of the harbor cruise included in our admission price. The Harbor Cruise was really nice. The driver again provided commentary and the cool breezes were ever so refreshing as the day was absolutely scorching by this point. I got a lot of what I think are going to be excellent pictures. We also stopped at the USS Constitution and the driver said he’d be back in an hour for anyone who wanted to get off. I’m not sure an hour would be long enough to do the tour and the museum, but if it wasn’t the last stop of the day you could probably stay longer. This would be another excellent alternative to walking. (Dang! I sound awfully lazy don’t I?) After the harbor cruise we went to the Legal Seafood located at Long Wharf for a dinner that I thought would never happen (you’ll know what I mean if you’ve read my other installments.) My husband and I decided to order the surf and turf but truthfully it look like so much food we asked them if we could split the plate. Since we each started with clam chowder it was truly more than adequate. I can’t imagine being able to eat the whole thing alone and it would have been a crime to leave any of it uneaten! For dessert we split a piece of Boston Cream Pie. I have no idea if it was as good as the piece we would have gotten @ the Last Hurrah, but it was definitely delicious. From there we planned to browse a little in Faneuil Hall but by the time we got back there they were closing up for the day. Instead we headed back to Copley and walked up the street to Prudential Center, but again was everything was closing. I was tempted to eat some more clam chowder at the Legal Seafood there, but that would have been just plum piggish! We stopped off @ Walgreens and got a couple of Dr. Peppers and you guessed it, some cash! After that we went to our room and relaxed a little before drifting off in happy land. And so ended another awesome day in a city I’ve come to love, Boston!

Trip Report Day 4 June 8th

Teacher, the energy that you and The Mistah have is amazing. That you managed to accomplish everything you did despite a sore leg, is jaw-dropping amazing. I%26#39;m tired just reading it!

Your love of our hot dog rolls is extremely amusing. I don%26#39;t think I am speaking out of school when I say pretty much everyone takes them for granted. I do confess though to a preference for the Martin%26#39;s brand of potato rolls for both hot dogs and hamburgers. Seriously soft and delicious. But I digress..

As for lobstah rolls...hard to believe that this gourmet treat was once the food of the very poor. New Englanders started eating it out of desperation.

Trip Report Day 4 June 8th

Well done. Next time I go away, I%26#39;m calling you to arrange my itinerary!

Great trip report. You%26#39;ve given me plenty of ideas for my trip later in the year.

Again, an outstanding post. Your personality shines through your writing and you have been a wonderful addition to this TA community. I second Healy%26#39;s nomination of you as best poster of the month. I think I can speak for many of us regulars, we%26#39;re going to miss you! So please make sure you visit Boston again. Lastly, assuming you are a teacher, how lucky the students are to have an individual such as you!

Oh yeah, one more thing, GO CELTICS! Phenomenal win last night.

thanks again, and wow- I%26#39;ve had dozens of cold lobster rolls w/ mayo and LOVE them, but have NEVER tried hot with butter! Now I will have to. Although I%26#39;ve had plenty of whole lobsters w/ butter and of course they are yummy :). Good point about us taking the larger hot dog rolls for granted, the other thing I like is when the buns are grilled for a minute instead of cold/raw and getting soggy sooner than later!

teacher91, I remembered that you should be due back from your trip about now and decided to check out the Boston forum to see if you happened to check in. I%26#39;m so glad I did, I%26#39;ve enjoyed reading about your adventures so far. Sounds like all your planning paid off and I look forward to reading the rest!

As for the Lobster Roll, I always order mine with just hot butter and lobster meat with a little extra melted butter on the side. I love to first savor a few forkfuls of meat just dipped in the butter. Then I pour a bit of the extra butter over my roll and devour the rest! A bit indulgent but it is one of my favorite treats! I absolutely prefer the toasted (and buttered :))split roll to a potato roll, I don%26#39;t like the flavor of the roll competing with my wonderful lobster! I think between your lobster roll and mister%26#39;s, you definitely ended up with the better of the two, although others may disagree with me.

Glad you had a great vacation!

Teachah- yet again another great post! Like ';Bostonbased'; I have never had a ';hot lobster'; roll. I think it must be specialty of Neptune Oyster and now I need to get over there to order one. The traditional New England lobster rolls are served cold with mayo on a grilled hot dog roll. I am also a fan of the New England hot dog rolls. When I lived in other parts of the country, that was something I missed when we grilled hot dogs and sausages.

Reading these trip reports and those of other visitors to Boston has given me a whole new outlook on the city. I was born here and lived here all my life and have not paid much attention to many of the sites I pass by on a daily basis.

I%26#39;m also a photograher, so I tend to look at even the most common thinsg with an artistic eye. I%26#39;ve noticed lately that I%26#39;m walking through the city looking at archetectural detail that I%26#39;ve never noticed, looking at people and the surrounding areas more closely. Tomorrow, I%26#39;m even planning a cruise out to some of our Harbor islands which I haven%26#39;t done since I was a kid. Camera in hand, I%26#39;ll be rediscovering the resources we have here in Boston%26#39;s Harbor and along the waterfront.

Thanks for the inspiration :-)

Thanks for these reports. It%26#39;s always great to hear how out of towners perceive our city. It makes us appreciate things we%26#39;ve taken for granted like the hot dog rolls and the fact that there%26#39;s a convenience store on every corner.

Really interesting reports. The details are fascinating, and make me think about the choices we make when we travel. For some reason I continue to be fascinated by the idea of going to see the Bunker Hill monument, of all places to visit in Boston.

I%26#39;m pretty sure I%26#39;ve never eaten a lobster roll. I asked my mother about this a few years ago - when did lobster rolls become such a big deal, and she assured me that they had always been around, but growing up in the 50s here in a large family I think it just wasn%26#39;t something that we got to eat. On the other hand, as a child, going to Crane%26#39;s beach for the day pretty much meant we would have lobster at home that evening, so it%26#39;s not like we didn%26#39;t eat lobster (my mother is one of those people who devours pretty much everthing except the shell itself).

Very unfortunate that you had such horrible weather while you were here. Although heat waves are not exactly rare, they are not the norm either. I only got an air conditioner for our bedroom last year for the first time, for example.

Large Lobsters at reasonable prices

Greetings,

Another couple, my wife and myself will be in Boston next weekend, and we are looking for some restaurants that are charming, but not killer priced. We as well are large lobster (2 pounders) eaters, and as well would like a recommendation on restaurants that sell them , and don%26#39;t rip your lungs out on price. Please help! Thanks!

Large Lobsters at reasonable prices

Check out Yankee Lobster at 300 Northern Ave.

http://www.yankeelobstercompany.com/

Large Lobsters at reasonable prices

Note: Yankee is also kindly loaning space to the recently burned out Hook lobster company until that family can rebuild.

Yankee as well.

Dear Forum responders,

Thanks for your suggestions from a New York Yankee fan. Well, we always have the Football Giants. We%26#39;ll try to make the Yankee for our lobsters. Cheers from the Big Apple.

Ghost Tour?

Has anybody taken the this walking tour of P-town? I%26#39;ve been to the website, but it doesn%26#39;t say much.

We were in Truro and P-town this past weekend. I noticed a sign in the window of The Coffee Pot%26#39;s new seating area for the Ghost tour. In the past year or so my kids (ages 9 and 11) have become very interested in the %26#39;unexplainable%26#39;. They%26#39;ve got books about ';Haunted Cape Cod'; and ';Wierd Cape Cod'; (or something like that). We%26#39;ll be back to the area in August (maybe sooner) and I%26#39;m thinking of taking my kids on this. (My husband can%26#39;t make the 90 minute walk due to physical limitations.)

So have you done it? Is it scary and fun? (like halloween) or is it major kitsch?

Ghost Tour?

hi, we went last summer 8/07, and it was alot of fun!! well worth it..the tour we went on Provincetown Ghost tours.. we are huge fans of the Ghosthunters show on the sci-fi(wed at 9pm) channel,,

you visit quit a few places,and the guide told great stories.. from the libray,to the cemetary to a bar (where a guy came out and told his own experience to seeing a ghost ..totally fun.. and he was in drag.. )to store (used to be a residence) to the bay.... take a camera.. we forgot ours but people who had digital camera%26#39;s showed white orbs everywhere!! totally cool!! our 11 year old can not wait to go again,, we are planning to go into the library when it is opened and try to record voices.. hope this helps.. feel free to ask more questions

my email is nb.email@yahoo.com

Where to Stay?

We are a family of five - dad, mom, 14 yr. old daughter, 10 yr. old daughter and 4 yr. old son. Can someone recommend a part of cape cod that is very family oriented and has lots for children to do? We love the beach and that would be the focal point of our vacation.

Where to Stay?

The mid-cape area of Dennisport/Dennis seems to be the most popular with families. If you do a search, above right, with a few key words you will find a wealth of information about the area.

Seaport Hotel or Renaissance Hotel

I have read through the reviews of both of these hotels and can%26#39;t honestly make a decision as to which one might be a better choice for us although the Seaport seems to offer a better pool choice. I will be going to Boston the end of July with my daughter and 2 grandsons and am looking for a kid friendly hotel with a pool. Many of the hotels I have looked at don%26#39;t offer a pool. We hope to buy the Go-Cards as we will be doing a fair amount of sightseeing and no matter where we stay I figure we will have to make good use of the ';T';. What do you think about the locations of these hotels? It looks like the Seaport is directly on a ';T'; line? Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Seaport Hotel or Renaissance Hotel

I think it would depend on the ages of your grandsons. If they%26#39;re young, it%26#39;s ideal because you%26#39;re within walking distance to the Children%26#39;s Museum and the NE Aquarium, plus there%26#39;s a bus stop a block away from the Seaport Hotel, you can%26#39;t miss it. The staff will probably want you to take a taxi, but the bus is right there, so remember that and we always see them going by empty, so take it as much as you can, they run them all the time down through there! From what I understand through friends, the pool at the Seaport is gorgeous and it%26#39;s not a lap pool at all, but an olympic sized pool? You%26#39;ll have to let us know when you stay there what you thought of it!

Another thought for you is the Holiday Inn at Government Center, it%26#39;s located at the foot of Beacon Hill and within walking distance to the ';T'; and Faneuil Hall Marketplace. It%26#39;s also been renovated in the last year or so and I know for a fact it%26#39;s definitely kid friendly with an outdoor seasonal pool up on their roof that families enjoy. They have specials on their site that you could check out for 4 family members! For instance one of them is for 2 adults %26amp; 2 kids 4 tickets to the Museum of Science and another package is the same thing only to the Aquarium. Just google Holiday Inn Government Center and brownse through their site under specials and you%26#39;ll see all their deals. Another one on there had free valet parking while you%26#39;re there, so that%26#39;s a place that you could consider too, but like I said,it depends on the ages of your grandsons %26amp; how much walking you want to do along the waterfront....just another thought to throw out at you!

Have a wonderful time wherever you stay!

Seaport Hotel or Renaissance Hotel

I forgot to tell you that the Marriott Renaissance Hotel would be really nice too. It%26#39;s within walking distance from the Seaport Hotel you know. They have the silver line right near it as well. So if you do decide to stay here, it%26#39;s convenient with either the bus or the train right near it.

There%26#39;s a few good places to eat around there. Sebastian%26#39;s Cafe is really good. Salvatore%26#39;s was wonderful when I tried it, IF you can get in the door. This time of year they have their high top tables %26amp; chairs outside, so doesn%26#39;t Legal%26#39;s Test Kitchen which is located right near it. A good place for you to check out either for lunch or dinner is the Barking Crab located on Sleeper Street right before the bridges heading in to the Financial District. It%26#39;s across from the Daily Catch in the Federal Courthouse Rotunda! If you can try to get there in the middle of the afternoon before the office workers invade it, you%26#39;ll luck out! It%26#39;s got a great menu when you have kids too, so look for this place. They%26#39;re opening one in Newport, RI if they haven%26#39;t already from what their site says!

www.barkingcrab.com

Another place that is right near BOTH of these hotels if you end up at one of them is the Yankee Lobster Company. GO here if you get the chance and if you want great seafood. I finally tried it and loved it here. Here%26#39;s their site to see what I mean,

They have daily specials so look for them:

www.yankeelobstercompany.com

Another place...honest it%26#39;s the last one. I wanted to make sure you knew about Flour Bakery %26amp; Cafe! It%26#39;s SO good here. If you end up going to the Children%26#39;s Museum? It%26#39;s the street in BACK of it a few blocks. It%26#39;s located at 12 Farnsworth Street. There%26#39;s a short cut throught the brick buildings and the parking lot in back of the Museum to get to it quicker. It%26#39;s an awesome bakery %26amp; cafe for lunch or breakfast if you think of it...

www.flourbakery.com

Okay, I%26#39;m done, that%26#39;s IT, have a great time!

Thank you so much for all the info. especially regarding the eating choices. The grandkids are 4 and 8 and we probably will go to the Children%26#39;s Museum, Duck tour, science museum and the aquarium. Is the Seaport a good choice for location to see all the sights. Which hotel has the silver line right at the hotel??? As we will get a go card we might consider the hop on/hop off trolley for transportation. Would this make since??? Or, are we better off at the Holiday Inn government center???

I totally agree with Nomo both these hotels are great spots a minute walk between the 2 hotels, Renaissance Hotel is only 4 months old and both are a 1 minute walk to the Silver Line stop.

Where they%26#39;re still young and will enjoy the Children%26#39;s Museum, it%26#39;s ideal to stay down on the waterfront. The Seaport Hotel OR the new Marriott Renaissance Waterfront Hotel would be where you%26#39;d want to stay. The Seaport has the ';T'; right at their door, also from what I remember of walking by the Renaissance Waterfront Hotel? It also has that silver line ';T'; right within walking distance of it, either hotel would be ideal. Like I said though, the Seaport Hotel has the olympic sized pool rather than a lap pool, it might be better for the kids?

I probably shouldn%26#39;t have mentioned the Holiday Inn at Government Center to you, it%26#39;ll add to the confusion of where you want to stay! It%26#39;s on the other side of town too, so it%26#39;s up to you whether you want to stay at that end of town or not. You%26#39;d still have access to the ';T'; and like I said last night the Quincy Market would be within walking distance as well from this hotel.

The Seaport Hotel %26amp; Renaissance Hotel are newer, especially the Renaissance, but also they renovated the Holiday Inn recently too, and I guess they did a great job with it. So it%26#39;s up to you, think about it and compare them to see what you%26#39;re going to get as far as amenities in each hotel to see if that%26#39;s what you want to do. Where will you be spending most of your time during this visit? No matter where you stay, you actually can get to each end of town in no time either by walking it or via the ';T'; and that%26#39;s the beauty of staying right in Boston without a car.

YES your idea to take the trolley is a great idea. You%26#39;ll really like the fact that you can hop on %26amp; hop off it, GO for it as it%26#39;ll be ideal for this visit, especially for this time of year!

Have a wonderful time!

There is a nice Dunkin%26#39;s across from The Seaport as well. I like the coffee here and plenty of donuts for your grand kids.

preventing blackheads

2 days in Boston, Advice on Sights

Myself and 2 friends are coming from a trip to New York to Boston by bus and will be in Boston for 2 days. We will arrive mid-day the first day and we are going to a Red Sox%26#39;s Night game the second day. We are just looking for some ideas about what to do, we were thinking Sam Adams Tour, Cheers something like that. We like to drink beer watch baseball, see some history etc.

Any help would be great!

2 days in Boston, Advice on Sights

When you arrive mid-day, I%26#39;d hit a great tourist spot, Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, grab some lunch and a few beers at an outdoor bar. Next, I%26#39;d hop on a Duck Tour. It%26#39;s a fun and informative way to see the city. www.bostonducktours.com

The Freedom Trail is a great slice of history, and you%26#39;ll see a fair amopunt of the city. www.thefreedomtrail.org.

I%26#39;d avoid going to Cheers unless you want to get your picture taken outside on the street. It%26#39;s located on Beacon Street across from the Boston Public Garden. Inside bears zero resemblance to the t.v. Cheers. For that, visit the Cheers at Faneuil Hall.

I%26#39;d also avoid doing a Sam Adams Tour. It%26#39;s tucked away in the Boston neighborhood of Jamaica PLain. Tough to get to, not too forthcoming with the samples. For a more ';user-friendly'; brew tour go to The Harpoon Brewery located on the South Boston waterfront. Lots of tours, lots of samples, and it%26#39;s close to downtown. www.harpoonbrewery.com

If you%26#39;re thinking of actually attending a game at Fenway then go to www.stubhub.com for tickets. They%26#39;re tough to get anywhere else. The atmosphere at Fenway on game day is unrivaled. They%26#39;re are a number of bars around the park that will suit you%26#39;re

beer-drinking needs.

2 days in Boston, Advice on Sights

Healey 04,

Thanks for the info. This is exactly what we are looking for.

We do have tickets to the game already. I have heard about the area around Fenway on game day, we cannot wait to go!