Help me plan a trip to Boston, PLEASE!!!

[Desnik]

I just wanted to thank you all for all the great advice and links!!!
We have booked the Nine Zero hotel and will be there 7/14-16!! We got a great rate of $231 per night!! So with tax we were alittle over $500 around what we wanted to spend. Boy that hotel tax is a killer!
We are leaving our kiddies at home with my mom so the weekend will be just focused on my sister. I'm so excited and she has no idea!! Her graduation is tomorrow. I got her a card and wrote alittle poem in it hinting to her gift. Then I wrapped a Boston guide book and put some pics of the hotel and ressie info in with it!! She is going to be shocked, especially because we are taking her without my kids! We always take her on trips, to WDW, Hershey Park, but always with our kids. This time we are letting her choose what we do, where we go.

How's the weather that time of year? Comparable to NY?
That ghost tour looks good and looks like something she would love!

DH and I have been to Salem a few times, but can someone refresh my memory as to how far it is from Boston? Would we have enough time for a side trip there? We will have our car.
DSIS isn't into shopping(I know, what kind of a girl is she!? )Anyway she will probably want to see the normal tourist attractions, go on a guided tour and just walk around and take it all in!

We all love Italian food. A cute hole in the wall type of place is our favorite! We love to find those small places that have great food! Any Italian places we should stay away from? We will probably go to the North End and eat there at least once. Any place we should try?

Feel free to add any other advise if you have it and thanks so much to everyone who has helped!!!

 

[Lynn CC]

I think your going to LOVE Nine Zero! I loved the pillows so much I bought them online and we are having the most comfortable sleep at night! I'm going to order a few for my DS he loves them too, and wants his own. The restaurant there at Nine Zero is award winning Spire ! Very Pricey

Restaurants we love in the north end are Giacamos and Stregga on Hanover Street (the main street), Al Dente on Salem St. (which is 1 street over parallel to Hanover). All the restaurants have menu's posted outside so you can just read them and choose which one you want. We didn't care for La Famiglia (I hear a lot of good things about it, but we have never had a good meal there). Marco's is also on Hanover St. haven't tried it yet but my hairdresser who works on Newbury St. said he loved it.
Don't forget about Mike's Pastry Shop on Hanover St. for dessert!
There are a lot of Gillato shops around too, in every flavor imaginable if you don't have room for dessert Gillato's are nice and light.

Did you call Nine Zero for that rate? Or did you find it on the Web, just curious! Did you tell them it's your sister's graduation celebration, they may give her a "surprise" if you mention it!

This link should let you check the weather for that area: You can check 10 days in advance for packing and planning purposes.
www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/tenday/BOS:9?locid=BOS:9

 

[kelleigh1]

I'd say the weather at that time of year is comparable to New York. We may be slightly cooler, but not enough to really notice the difference.

A coworker is having dinner at Massimino's on Endicott Street tonight. It is her favorite place. She's going to give me an updated review on Monday so I can let you know if she still loves it and recommends it.

Here is some info I found online about the place. Since it's not the restaurant website, I don't know how updated the menu is.
http://www.nedine.com/Massiminos.html

 

[Lynn CC]

I forgot to mention those spa showers at Nine Zero, they're wonderful! The room is a little on the small side, but we always get a nice view of the State House, Prudential Center etc. So those two make up for a room that's a little smaller than those at the Omni Parker House, they always give us an executive room and it's huge, too big! When you check in, ask if there is a room with a view of the State House, it looks so pretty when it's lit up at night! Back to the showers they give you a generous size shower kit that includes Mario Russo shampoo, conditioner, soap and hand cream...it's amazing! They have a larger one there on the shelf for sale for $90 I didn't buy that, but I'm going to have to go for another stay to get another free kit that lasts quite a long time! I just put on the All For One Body Lotion , it smells so good!! Can you tell I love Nine Zero LOL

 

[Desnik]

Thanks!!!
kelleigh1 Thanks for the email with more info!!
And thanks for helping me Lynn CC with Nine Zero. We can't wait to stay there!

We are trying to get tickets for a Red Sox game. They will be in town when we are there!!!

We totally shocked my sister with this present. She couldn't believe it and she was so happy and excited. I am so glad we can do this for her. She's such a great kid and graduated with honors!

She definately wants to do the duck tour! I didn't think she would but she said she has to do that!!

So, the plan so far is to drive in Fri morning. Check in, eat lunch somewhere, maybe do the duck tour and hopefully that night see a Red Sox game. Not sure what we are going to do the rest of the weekend!LOL She now has her guide book and will let me know what she wants to see.

Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We are trying to get tickets for a Red Sox game.

Red Sox tix are notoriously difficult to get - Fenway is such a small park and Red Sox nation is huge!! Recently I called (#on Red Sox dot com) the day before a game and was able to get Standing Room tix. Give that a try. If you are desperate there are some ticket brokers that have tix but they are mucho $$. Good Luck and have a wonderful trip!!

 

[Mike.Wazowski]

My kids always love to go into the city and just 'hang out' in Fenuiel Hall http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/, hit the aquarium http://www.neaq.org/index.flash4.html, jump a boat of the warf for a sunset ride or something!

I bet she would love to go see Blue Man Group at the Wang!

If you check the red sox website you can get a tour of the park -
you won't see a game but the park is beautiful itself and worth a trip too see!

 

[LisaB]

Salem is about a 30 minute drive or amybe even less. I remember going to the top of the Prudential Center for the view. You can see miles. The North End is definetly within walking distance of Quincy Market which is a great place to try different food

 

[Desnik]

Blue Man group sounds like something she might like too! I'll have to ask her. Thanks!

I am expecting to have to buy the tix for a Red Sox game by an online broker and pay alot, I know, but this could be a once in a lifetime thing for the 3 of us together. DH really wants to see a Sox game. We are all huge Yankees fans, but we love/respect the history of Fenway park and would love to see our rivals beat the A's on that weekend!!!! And I told DH he has to leave the Yankee hat at the hotel that night!!LOL

I am looking on ebay and stubhub.com for the tickets. Any other suggestions?

 

[Disney Doll]

Duck Tour is an absolute must!!! They are a blast, and so much fun when the thing drives into the river!!!!!

I've never been on a ghost tour in Boston, but I have been on them in other big cities and they are fun too, espcially if you're with a group off folks who will really "get into" it, if you KWIM.

Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market is a great way to while away a few hours...shopping, dining, street performers.

The Harbor Tour is nice...takes you over to the USS Constitution which is interesting. They don't leave you there for more than an hour or so, but that's really about all you need.

The John F. Kennnedy Museum is nice, but I odn't know how much your little sis would appreciate it. Does give a good history of that era in our country though.

Never been to the Aquarium, but it looks terrific.

The bar "Cheers", which the TV show based on, is over near Boston Common, so that's always a fun stop if you want to rest and have a drink or snack.

Italian food--go to the North End.

Weather is pretty comparable to the New York area.

Boston is a great city. We love to visit there.

 

[mtemm]

check into Jury's for a hotel. We stayed there for a night over the holidays and dh has stayed a couple of other nights and its always been very nice and very reasonable for Boston.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Duck Tours are excellent. So are the Swan boats.

Personally, I always like the aquarium and Fanueil Hall. Dpeneds how much time you actually have. I've always wanted to see Blue Man Group, and the tickets aren't hugely expensive.

Have a great trip - it sounds like fun!!

Jen

 

[kelleigh1]

It's too bad you need 3 tickets for the Sox. I probably could have hooked you up with 2, but 3 are harder to come by.

By the way...did you get my email?

 

[DWDreams]

You'll have a wonderful time, what a great sis you are! I'll think of more suggestions, but it seems everyone has covered it pretty well here. I'll just add my vote for my fav north end restaurant, 5 North Square. You can't go wrong here and it's just the sort of small place you might be looking for. They take ressies too, which is good since some don't. Enjoy!

5NorthSquare

 

[Desnik]

kelleigh1
Yes I did get your email and thank you so much!
How could you get me tickets? and how much? I am having a hard time getting 3 tickets and have decided that DH and DSIS can go together. I really don't want them to miss out and I know they both really want to see a game. I am not that into it and would love ordering room service and hanging at the hotel!!LOL
PM me and let me know!

She said she would love to check out Salem too. Boy, this is going to be a busy weekend!!!LOL

 

[Desnik]

5 North Square looks great and I love their menu i want to try everything!! It definately has something or things for all our tastes! Thanks for that link!