Boston - fun ideas?

[TinaLala]

So no one mentioned the museum of fine arts which does some great tours for kids. Also check out Boston by little feet - tours with guide for children - scavenger hunts while you tour

 

[mrsap]

Hey everyone!! We are down to the wire and wanted to find a couple more restaurants for dinner/lunch and breakfast. We will mostly be in the Financial District/North End area, as well as following the Freedom Trail while we're there. Any suggestions or recommendations would be great!!! We already booked one restaurant based on your reviews and could use some more help! Thanks SO much!!!!!

 

[GC&S]

We spent a day in Boston last week (drove to Bar Harbor Maine the next day). We did the aquarium and the duck tour (that left from the aquarium - bought the combo package). If you do the duck tour make your reservation early. They book up quickly. We liked the aquarium ok. It wasn't the best one but it was good. We walked through Quincy's market (tons of places to eat in there but nothing sit down). I wish we would have eaten there. We met friends for dinner and they took us to Little Italy. If you get that way go to Mike's pastries. They have a ton of different types of cannolis and great Boston Cream pie (DD had never had the pie and loved it). There is a fountain on the street before you get to the aquarium (dancing water my dd called it) so if you kids take swim suits they will love it. There is also a carousel near Quincy's market. We didn't have time to do the Freedom Trail but loved the duck tour. But we got stuck in traffic but our guide was so much fun. It cost us $38 for parking for the day. So glad we didn't drive around - traffic is crazy there. I would love to go back since we didn't get to see as much as we wanted to.

 

[Rosebud123]

I live right in Boston and love it here!!! So much to do in Boston proper that I really wouldn't leave for other area attractions on such a short trip.

• Food: If you have two night for dinner, I'd go to the North End on one of the nights, and the Seaport on the other. After you eat dinner in the North End, you MUST go to Caffe Vittoria for coffee/drinks/desserts. Really authentic Italian place with amazing atmosphere. (Mike's Pastry has decent stuff for take-out, but it's very touristy and the atmosphere stinks! Caffe Vittoria is the real deal! http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...iews-Caffe_Vittoria-Boston_Massachusetts.html) I'd go to the South End for brunch one of your mornings. Although Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market is touristy, it's a really fun place to visit and I'd go there one afternoon for an al fresco lunch/shopping.
• Shopping: Newbury Street is very nice, but I wouldn't spend my time doing that with kids.
• Attractions: Boston has a lot of really great museums! Both the Children's Museum and the Science Museum are fantastic. Google them and pick the one that interests you most. Science Museum has very cool IMAX movies, but I think those types of experiences aren't unique to Boston so I wouldn't bother. Make sure you take a stroll through the Public Garden one morning or afternoon. Maybe you could go to breakfast in Beacon Hill and then visit the Public Garden and ride the Swan Boats. Those have been around forever and they're great fun and the scenery is beautiful. There are also walking tours of Boston that originate from the Boston Common. My kids have done those through school field trips. I wouldn't bother with the aquarium. It's fine, but nothing spectacular. I'd go on a Duck Boat ride for sure! Great way to get a little history and do some sight seeing.

Have fun! I'm super proud of my city. I live in South Boston now, but have also lived in the North End and Brighton. It's a great place to visit!

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

Pixar exhibit at museum of science

 

[clori]

I'll second the Pixar exhibit. It just opened but my kids did a Pixar Study and got to play with some of the Pixar exhibits. It looked like fun. If your going to go get tickets ahead of time ($5 over the cost of museum entrance). If you walk through Fanieul Hall on one side they have an area with free games for people to play such as board games, pool, and ping pong and a place for coloring. I can't remember if it was mentioned but the USS Constitution Museum has a lot of fun activities for kids. Also the Boston Tea Party Museum has some special interactive event going on July 2, 3rd, and 5th that the 7 year old may enjoy.

 

[mrsap]

Thanks so much everyone!!! We're only going for 3 days, so we won't be able to do as much as we'd like to. My little ones definitely want to do the children's museum and the aquarium and my hubby definitely wants to walk the Freedom trail. I guess we'll improvise from there!!! Would love some other restaurant suggestions- breakfast/lunch/dinner. So far we only have one reservation at L'Osteria. Thanks again to all that have offered help and suggestions xoxoxo

 

[LuvOrlando]

I just got back from a trip a few weeks ago & two different people suggested the Duck Tour & we all loved it! Boston is an amazing city- clean, safe & suprisingly courteous for such a busy & crowded place - we can't wsit to go back.

PS- while drivers in Boston are courteous, the passing and cutting off without signaling is positively bananas - then add in the crazy crisscrossing traffic patterns and it's a nightmare for newcomers. Avoid traffic in rush hour when you're coming in, park your car at your hotel and do yourself a favor and use Uber. I was told the same thing and promise you it is the best advice people gave me . We went for college visits and if I had dared to drive I would've needed a sedative by the time I showed up Lol. Parking is very very pricey anyway so Uber evens out the expense

 

[twinkie567]

If you are coming to Boston for the 4th of July, do yourself a favor and ride the "T" (subway). It's safe, kids ride for free, and then you can avoid the traffic and holiday associated road closures. Boston is a very walkable city--driving and parking are brutal.

 

[thr33boys]

If you are coming to Boston for the 4th of July, do yourself a favor and ride the "T" (subway). It's safe, kids ride for free, and then you can avoid the traffic and holiday associated road closures. Boston is a very walkable city--driving and parking are brutal.

Just jumping in. We leave tomorrow for Boston as well and will be there for July 4th. We're camping in Littleton, can you suggest a place to park and then take public transit? Where I live, we have 'park n rides', anything like this on the outskirts of Boston? Thanks

 

[twinkie567]

Just jumping in. We leave tomorrow for Boston as well and will be there for July 4th. We're camping in Littleton, can you suggest a place to park and then take public transit? Where I live, we have 'park n rides', anything like this on the outskirts of Boston? Thanks

Littleton is pretty far. You would have 2 options. There's a commuter rail station in Littleton itself. The line is the Fitchburg line. I'm not sure what the parking is like, but most commuter rail stops have some sort of a parking lot. You can find the MBTA schedule at mbta.com. Your other option would be to drive to a subway station and park there. The advantage of the subway is that it runs far more frequently than the commuter rail. The Riverside stop is at the end of the line of the "D" branch of the Green line. It has a huge parking lot. Trains run about every 10-15 minutes. More frequently during rush hour. To get there from Littleton you would take route 2 to 95/128. The station is right off of 95 in Newton. Have fun!

 

[MomtoGKC]

I would definitely plan for lunch one day to be at Fanueil Hall. Just walk up and down the middle building to see what appeals to you- they have everything from chicken fingers to lobster. They are all walk up stands so each person in the family can order from a different spot if they wanted then you just take your trays and find a table to eat. Only problem is it is super crowded and can be impossible to find a table so (just like Disney) it's better to go during off times.

For dessert I always get a bag of cookies from Boston Chipyard. It's a stand outside the main food building but I always forget which side it is on! They make the most delicious, buttery cookies and they are tiny so I don't feel so bad if I eat a bunch!

 

[mrsap]

Hello everyone!! Just wanted to give you an update!!!! We had a GREAT time in Boston!!!! We wished we had more time!!!!! We loved walking around the North End and following the Freedom Trail! Loved the Children's Museum and Aquarium! Loved the merry-go-round in the park and eating ice cream from 'the Blue Monstah' lol Tried Both Mike's Pastry and Modern...have to say I liked Modern a little more (but still prefer Canolli from our area!) LOVED Regina pizza!!!!! Also ate at L'osteria and it was Delicious!!!!!! Thank you for the recommendation! ...reserved a window seat as well!!! It was awesome with the windows open!!! Everyone loved their meal!!! Loved walking around Quincy market! Our hotel (Intercontinental) was Beautiful!!!!!!! Loved being right by the water and walking along the Harbor walk!) Fireworks were amazing!! My daughter cried when we left! They loved it!!! Next time we plan on taking a Duck boat tour and taking a boat tour as well. Thank you to everyone who helped me learn so much about Boston before we even got there!! You guys are wonderful and I can't thank you enough!!!!!! Xoxoxo

 

[sharona]

Hello everyone!! Just wanted to give you an update!!!! We had a GREAT time in Boston!!!! We wished we had more time!!!!! We loved walking around the North End and following the Freedom Trail! Loved the Children's Museum and Aquarium! Loved the merry-go-round in the park and eating ice cream from 'the Blue Monstah' lol Tried Both Mike's Pastry and Modern...have to say I liked Modern a little more (but still prefer Canolli from our area!) LOVED Regina pizza!!!!! Also ate at L'osteria and it was Delicious!!!!!! Thank you for the recommendation! ...reserved a window seat as well!!! It was awesome with the windows open!!! Everyone loved their meal!!! Loved walking around Quincy market! Our hotel (Intercontinental) was Beautiful!!!!!!! Loved being right by the water and walking along the Harbor walk!) Fireworks were amazing!! My daughter cried when we left! They loved it!!! Next time we plan on taking a Duck boat tour and taking a boat tour as well. Thank you to everyone who helped me learn so much about Boston before we even got there!! You guys are wonderful and I can't thank you enough!!!!!! Xoxoxo

So glad you enjoyed your visit and that everything worked out so well for you. Especially glad you liked L'Osteria! I have to get there soon, it's been too long. Come back soon! The fall is beautiful here.

 

[seashell724]

Where was your ice cream from? You mentioned the "blue monstah" but does it have a different name?

 

[mrsap]

Where was your ice cream from? You mentioned the "blue monstah" but does it have a different name?

Sorry! It's the 'Cookie Monstah!'