Day trip to Boston

[nkjzmom]

I've read through a few other threads about visiting Boston but most of them deal with staying a few days. We are visiting family in Connecticut and want to travel up to Boston for a day perhaps staying the night and then returning to CT.

I'm thinking we'll spend some time in Mystic, drive up closer to Boston, spend the night and then spend the next day in Boston. The Duck Tour is really all I've planned. I'm just not sure where we should stay and what sort of transportation would work best. I was planning on driving in, parking somewhere near where we will meet the tour and afterwards driving or walking to Boston Public Garden for a swan boat ride. It doesn't sound like much but that may be all our kids can handle in one day.

Does that sound feasible?

 

[MichelleinMaine]

When we go, we park outside of town and take the T in. (We're other direction, so can't tell you where.) Check the MBTA website.

How old are your kids? You could easily add in the Children's Museum if they are younger (<8 or so). Or Museum of Science if they are older. Aquarium for either (or maybe a harbor cruise? The duck boats take you into the Charles River, but not the Harbor.)

There is a walking tour of Boston (Freedom Trail) if that is anything you are interested in. It is an all day sort of thing though. It ends at Boston Common (next to Public Gardens). The other end is probably the most interesting for kids though- the Bunker Hill Monument is a mini-Washington Monument sort of thing. The USS Constitution is the oldest ship in the US Navy. Great fun for younger kids to explore (though not a pirate ship, of course, my son always pretended it was . That's over in Charlestown. (We take the T to North Station and it's a bit of a walk, 15 minutes maybe?). There is probably a bus, maybe someone else local can suggest an alternative.)

You can take the T (subway) anywhere you need to go. Arlington (green line) is the corner of the Public Garden. Prudential Center is on green {get the right green for that one } too (as is the Museum of Science)- you can get the duck tour from either of those.

Read Make Way for Ducklings (Robert McCloskey) before you go. There are very well loved statues of the ducks near-ish the swan boats (walk diagonally away from where the T station is- towards the state house.) The swan boats also figure prominently into the story.

 

[nkjzmom]

Thanks Michelle...I grew up reading Make Way for Ducklings...that's why the swan boats are on our list! That's where my husband "proposed" to me sort of...long story...

We've been to lots of children's museums so we'd like to skip those kind of things and stay purely with things that are native to the area.

 

[mkel34]

Check out this card, it gets you access to almost every attraction in Boston for a decent price:

http://www.smartdestinations.com/bo...p1.html?pass=Bos_Prod_Go&cid=boscvbhome250x90

 

[Bren's Mom]

One suggestion for a place outside of town to stay in and then take the T is Woburn. (My hometown!)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g41948-d225691-Reviews-Comfort_Inn-Woburn_Massachusetts.html

I second the Aquarium idea, this would be great if the weather happens to be yucky.

And you should check out Faneuil Hall and the waterfront area if you have time.