Family trip to Boston
About This Page: This is a discussion on Family trip to Boston within the Globetrotting: General Travel Planning, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; We are just about to book a family trip to Boston in August and I thought where better to get ...
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We are just about to book a family trip to Boston in August and I thought where better to get some advice....
So, if there is anyone out there that can help, please chime in with any tips / suggestions
We are:
Me - Emma 37
Mark - DH 39
Evie - DD 5
we are planning on visiting Boston for just over a week in early August this year.
Mark and I visited Boston (just the 2 of us) in 2007 and fell in love with the city and loved how compact it is. We decided that it would be a great place to visit with our daughter as is a small city (compared to New York) and there are lots of kid friendly things to do.
We also thought we might spend a couple of nights over in Cape Cod as this sounds a beautiful place and in August who could not take a 5 year old to the beach?
We have a few ideas of things to do / places to visit, but any suggestions are more than welcome
We've been to Boston a couple of time, most recently last July. I'd take advantage of the hop on/hop off tours like the Bean Town trolley. You can go online to see their routes (pretty much all stop at the same places) to get an idea of what you'd like to see. I'm not sure how much a 5 year old would appreciate the various historical sites and things dealing with the Freedom Trail but you know your DD. I'd definitely do the Aquarium. It get pretty darn crowded so go early. You can tour Fenway Park which might be fun at that age. Quincy Marketplace is also good. There's some nice harbor tours. Your DD might like touring the USS Constitution and/or the Cassin Young (I think that's the modern ship's name). We also took the train up to Rockport, Mass. which is a quaint ocean town with lots of cute shops. A drive down to Plymouth would be enjoyable or you can stop en route to the Cape. Cape Cod is jammed during the summer. I'd go during the week to avoid some crowds and the traffic. For a hotel in Boston, we stayed both times at the Bostonian, it's excellent. It's right across from Quincy Marketplace, walking distance to the Aquarium and boats for harbor cruises, walking distance to little Italy as well as walking distance to getting the various trolley tours. On the Cape, The Chatham Bars can't be beat. It's pricey though but worth it. Have a great trip.
Children's Museum, for one. I mean, you've got a 5 year old ... "duh" ...!
The New England Aquarium, for another. You might want to look into a Whale Watch, too. As long as none of you are prone to motion sickness, nor afraid of being out on deep water, anyway. SPECIAL NOTE: you can buy your tickets in advance, on line, and skip a lot of the waiting-in-line bit.
Boston Common ... and the Public Gardens. Ride the swan boats ... and buy some popcorn (or bring some cracked corn, or a few pieces of bread) to throw to the ducks and swans. See if there'll be a festival of one sort or another on the Commons, too.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace (pronounced, variously, as "fan-oy", "fan-yu-el", "fan-yel", and a few others - even we locals can't decide. "fannel" will certainly be understood by anyone and everyone). There are a few stores in there that would interest even a 5-year-old, though I can't direct you to any in specific, off the top of my head.
The U.S.S. Constitution, in the Charlestown Navy Yard, if it's open to the public while you're there.
If your daughter were 7 or 8 years older, I'd recommend the Holocaust Memorial (near Faneuil - but while it's starkness would leave an impression on an adult or adolescent mind, it'd be lost on a five-year-old.
I think the Freedom trail is a bit too much of a walk for a 5 year old, but if you still use a stroller for her, and YOU'RE up to the walk ... it's a possibility. Might bore your daughter, though.
Paul Revere's house is a worthwile stop-in, though. Just pointing out to her things like how much smaller the doors are, might keep her engaged.
Another thought would be to take one of the "duck" tours - tours of the city, and harbor, provided on reconditioned WW2-design "DUKW" light trucks ... esentially, and your daughter may love this: boats that can drive on the streets. (At least that's what they look like - see for yourself here.)
There's also the Museum of Science or the Museum of Fine Arts, depending on your daughter's interests. IIRC, the MFA is [u]FREE[/ui] on Wednesdays, after 3pm or 4pm (check to eb sure, I haven't gone in a couple years myself).
And given how much you may wind up trying to see, you should strongly consider a CityPASS ... which is on sale for a very deep discount just now.
And finally, the CityPASS website reminded me of the Harvard Museum of Natural history. If your daughter likes museums with exhibits on dinosaurs, gems & minerals, and skeletons galore, she'd love this one.
__________________
-- Sean
From left to right:
Myself, Cinderella, Jeremy, and Krisna.
Others have hit on all the high points, I think. The Museum of Fine Arts no longer has a weekly free night, but schedules free days occasionally throughout the year. They haven't posted any for August yet, but check this website: Admission | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
They have wonderful activities and programs for kids. Be sure to stop at the Visitor's center to pick up an activity kit. Lots of ideas to engage children's attention and help them to look closely at the art.
The Cape Cod National Seashore is a beautiful place and well worth a visit.
Great question! I live on Cape Cod, so I'll help you here what I can.
Cape Cod things to do........
Beaches (Nation Seashore a must, Craigville, West Dennis)
Cape Cod Rail Trail (a bike path along the Cape) in Dennis you can start and even rent bikes.
Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich
Plymouth Plantation (this is in Plymouth on the way to the cape)
Main St in Hyannis, Chatham, and P-Town (please be forwarned that P-Town is the mecca of gay people. We locals don't care, we know... and still have a great time there. But I have seen on this very site, some people who were upset they had no idea and weren't warned. Pilgrim monument and museum are in PTown too)
Scargo Tower in Dennis
Whale watches or seal watches (also available in Boston as well as the cape)
Ferry Day trip to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard
Meal at Seafood Place (a must if you love seafood and are going to be on Cape)
Mini golf
Cape Cod Railroad
Duck Mobile
Fishing Trips on a Boat
I agree with the poster who said that you should come during the week. We locals don't go over the bridges unless we have too, and we avoid it at all costs during the summer. It can take you 2-3 hours to get on or off Cape on the weekends.
If I come up with anything else, I will come back. If you have any questions, just let me know! Have fun, and we'll be happy to welcome you to our Cape!
We've been to Boston a couple of time, most recently last July. I'd take advantage of the hop on/hop off tours like the Bean Town trolley. You can go online to see their routes (pretty much all stop at the same places) to get an idea of what you'd like to see. I'm not sure how much a 5 year old would appreciate the various historical sites and things dealing with the Freedom Trail but you know your DD. I'd definitely do the Aquarium. It get pretty darn crowded so go early. You can tour Fenway Park which might be fun at that age. Quincy Marketplace is also good. There's some nice harbor tours. Your DD might like touring the USS Constitution and/or the Cassin Young (I think that's the modern ship's name). We also took the train up to Rockport, Mass. which is a quaint ocean town with lots of cute shops. A drive down to Plymouth would be enjoyable or you can stop en route to the Cape. Cape Cod is jammed during the summer. I'd go during the week to avoid some crowds and the traffic. For a hotel in Boston, we stayed both times at the Bostonian, it's excellent. It's right across from Quincy Marketplace, walking distance to the Aquarium and boats for harbor cruises, walking distance to little Italy as well as walking distance to getting the various trolley tours. On the Cape, The Chatham Bars can't be beat. It's pricey though but worth it. Have a great trip.
Thanks for all the ideas. We originally were going to go to the Cape for the weekend, so I think we need to change our plans around!
The Chatham Bars looks amazing, but we don't seem to be able to get a room
I agree with you, I don't think the Freedom Trail will interest DD, but love the ideas re The Aquarium and the hop on hop off bus
Quincy Market is a fun stop we love walking around there, a great place to grab a bite to eat.
Fenway Park (♥ the Red Sox) but they give stadium tours and if you are there when they are playing try grabbing some tickets to catch a game.
Stop by Bull and Finch the inspiration for the show Cheers and have lunch.
They had swan Boats to ride that might be fun in the Public Garden.
We did a Duck Boat tour which was fun.
Boston Children's Museum was fun when I went as a kid.
Franklin Park Zoo
Just to give you a start.
Thanks for these great ideas too, would LOVE to go and see the Red Sox and the Swan Boats will be a bit of fun. Still can't decide between a duck tour and hop on hop off bus
Children's Museum, for one. I mean, you've got a 5 year old ... "duh" ...!
The New England Aquarium, for another. You might want to look into a Whale Watch, too. As long as none of you are prone to motion sickness, nor afraid of being out on deep water, anyway. SPECIAL NOTE: you can buy your tickets in advance, on line, and skip a lot of the waiting-in-line bit.
Boston Common ... and the Public Gardens. Ride the swan boats ... and buy some popcorn (or bring some cracked corn, or a few pieces of bread) to throw to the ducks and swans. See if there'll be a festival of one sort or another on the Commons, too.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace (pronounced, variously, as "fan-oy", "fan-yu-el", "fan-yel", and a few others - even we locals can't decide. "fannel" will certainly be understood by anyone and everyone). There are a few stores in there that would interest even a 5-year-old, though I can't direct you to any in specific, off the top of my head.
The U.S.S. Constitution, in the Charlestown Navy Yard, if it's open to the public while you're there.
If your daughter were 7 or 8 years older, I'd recommend the Holocaust Memorial (near Faneuil - but while it's starkness would leave an impression on an adult or adolescent mind, it'd be lost on a five-year-old.
I think the Freedom trail is a bit too much of a walk for a 5 year old, but if you still use a stroller for her, and YOU'RE up to the walk ... it's a possibility. Might bore your daughter, though.
Paul Revere's house is a worthwile stop-in, though. Just pointing out to her things like how much smaller the doors are, might keep her engaged.
Another thought would be to take one of the "duck" tours - tours of the city, and harbor, provided on reconditioned WW2-design "DUKW" light trucks ... esentially, and your daughter may love this: boats that can drive on the streets. (At least that's what they look like - see for yourself here.)
There's also the Museum of Science or the Museum of Fine Arts, depending on your daughter's interests. IIRC, the MFA is [u]FREE[/ui] on Wednesdays, after 3pm or 4pm (check to eb sure, I haven't gone in a couple years myself).
And given how much you may wind up trying to see, you should strongly consider a CityPASS ... which is on sale for a very deep discount just now.
And finally, the CityPASS website reminded me of the Harvard Museum of Natural history. If your daughter likes museums with exhibits on dinosaurs, gems & minerals, and skeletons galore, she'd love this one.
Thanks for the great links! Really useful!
The Childrens Museum looks like a great idea along with the Aquarium and the public gardens; I need to do my homework on what is the best ticket options.
I really appreciate all the advice
Others have hit on all the high points, I think. The Museum of Fine Arts no longer has a weekly free night, but schedules free days occasionally throughout the year. They haven't posted any for August yet, but check this website: Admission | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
They have wonderful activities and programs for kids. Be sure to stop at the Visitor's center to pick up an activity kit. Lots of ideas to engage children's attention and help them to look closely at the art.
The Cape Cod National Seashore is a beautiful place and well worth a visit.
Thanks, I would never thought of visiting the museum of fine arts - great link
We always used to take our friends to Quincy Market to eat lunch and shop. We then followed the Freedom Trail (a red painted/or brick line) that takes you all over Boston to see the historic sites. You can have a tour guide or just go at your own pace. The duck boats are neat as well as the trolley tours, but you don't get to see the sites as "up close" as you would if you walked. DEFINITELY see a Red Sox game (that's a given!)
Yep, trying to get some tickets for Red Sox, but it looks like they may be sold out for the weekend we will be visiting
Great question! I live on Cape Cod, so I'll help you here what I can.
Cape Cod things to do........
Beaches (Nation Seashore a must, Craigville, West Dennis)
Cape Cod Rail Trail (a bike path along the Cape) in Dennis you can start and even rent bikes.
Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich
Plymouth Plantation (this is in Plymouth on the way to the cape)
Main St in Hyannis, Chatham, and P-Town (please be forwarned that P-Town is the mecca of gay people. We locals don't care, we know... and still have a great time there. But I have seen on this very site, some people who were upset they had no idea and weren't warned. Pilgrim monument and museum are in PTown too)
Scargo Tower in Dennis
Whale watches or seal watches (also available in Boston as well as the cape)
Ferry Day trip to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard
Meal at Seafood Place (a must if you love seafood and are going to be on Cape)
Mini golf
Cape Cod Railroad
Duck Mobile
Fishing Trips on a Boat
I agree with the poster who said that you should come during the week. We locals don't go over the bridges unless we have too, and we avoid it at all costs during the summer. It can take you 2-3 hours to get on or off Cape on the weekends.
If I come up with anything else, I will come back. If you have any questions, just let me know! Have fun, and we'll be happy to welcome you to our Cape!
WOW that is great advice thanks!
As this is our first time at Cape Cod, we are a little lost with what to do - but this is a great list.
To be honest the one thing we are having trouble with is finding a place to stay! We have taken your and others advice a changed our trip round so as to avoid the cape at the weekend and are now visiting mid week but still lots of places
1. don't accept children, and
2. want 5 night minimum stay (we are staying2)
Can I ask....is Hyannis an ok place to stay?
Really looking forward to discovering what is a beautiful part of the country
Oh! I just thought of another thing...the White Cedar Forest. It's close to the National Seashore and it's a beautiful walk on a wooden platform type thing that goes right over and through the Whtie Cedar swamp. I know swamp sounds icky, but it is very pretty and neat.
Oh! I just thought of another thing...the White Cedar Forest. It's close to the National Seashore and it's a beautiful walk on a wooden platform type thing that goes right over and through the Whtie Cedar swamp. I know swamp sounds icky, but it is very pretty and neat.
I just had a quick look on line and that does look pretty cool, thanks
As this is our first time at Cape Cod, we are a little lost with what to do - but this is a great list.
To be honest the one thing we are having trouble with is finding a place to stay! We have taken your and others advice a changed our trip round so as to avoid the cape at the weekend and are now visiting mid week but still lots of places
1. don't accept children, and
2. want 5 night minimum stay (we are staying2)
Can I ask....is Hyannis an ok place to stay?
Really looking forward to discovering what is a beautiful part of the country
I actually live in Hyannis, and I would try to find a place in Yarmouth or Dennis. Hyannis is okay, but not the quaint village atmosphere I think you would want when visiting the Cape. It's not an unsafe place to stay but it is the city of the Cape, and if I were visiting I would want more old fashioned quaintness than small city.
Depending on your budget for your lodging and what kind of stay your looking for (on the beach, resort, hotel, bed & Breakfast) I can make a few recommendations.
Here is a listing of various B & B...there is many of them on historic Route 6A which is beautiful. These are mostly in old big homes from the 1600-1700's.
If you want...when you find a place before you book, PM me and I'll give the dirt on the location and whether its nice.
I only listed places that are in Yarmouth and Dennis....Hyannis/Yarmouth is middle of the Cape (Mid Cape) so I thought that was a good place to start. It gets more old fashioned and quaint as you move further towards PTown (Lower Cape). I don't know as much about Upper Cape (Falmouth, Sandwich area) Although, in Sandwich there is the Daniel Webster Inn which is nice as well.
From Hyannis it takes approx. 60 minutes to get to PTown at the very tip of the Cape, and about 45 minutes to the bridge in the opposite direction. Hyannis, Yarmouth, and Dennis are about 15 minutes or so apart. Just to give you an idea.
About This Page: This is a discussion on Family trip to Boston within the Globetrotting: General Travel Planning, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; We are just about to book a family trip to Boston in August and I thought where better to get ...
"Sparky" Me & Dana @MVMCP
and the Swan Boats will be a bit of fun. Still can't decide between a duck tour and hop on hop off bus
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