Help with visit to Boston

debatha

Earning My Ears
Joined
Sep 11, 2001
Messages
37
Hi All,

I have just got a great deal on Aer Lingus flight to Boston for 21-24 November and would really appreciate any info on :-

Weather - will it be very cold???
Any fun restaurants for children (DD aged 11)
Things to see/do
Shopping - planning to get some Xmas pressies.

Thank you in advance
Deb
Liverpool, UK
 
Welcome to Boston!

The Holiday season will be in full swing in the City. It's a fun time to visit.

Weather - We can get cold in November. We can also get some snow but not huge storms. Be prepared for weather in the 30's to 40's. For the latest updates before you travel check out The Boston Channel

Restaurants for kids - I've given a general list of good restaurants in each section of town. Also check out the listings in Boston Magazine.

Things to do - Seeing the Nutcracker tops my list for the Holiday season. It is staged at the Wang Center each year. Go to nearby Downtown Crossing or Newbury Street shopping districts to see the Holiday displays. Wander through the North End to enjoy Italian cuisine. Stop by Fanueil Hall to shop, eat and be entertained. Visit the New England Aquarium and Childrens Museum.

Shopping - The Prudential Center has lots of shopping and dining options. Nearby Copley Place also offers more upscale choices. For exclusive gifts, there is Newbury Street.


Boston Tourist Bureau

Boston.com - General news and links to the Boston Globe newspaper. Check out their Thursday Calendar section for events listings.

The "T" - Our public transit system here in the Boston area.



Here are a few places to eat:

Chinatown Area - Green line to Boylston or Orange line to Chinatown or New England Medical
(I worked in this area for 14 years)
Golden Palace - Very good for Dim Sum any day. There is a large dining area on the second floor. Inexpensive, fresh food.
14 Tyler Street

New Shanghai - Excellent chinese cuisine and drinks. Often overlooked by the tourist crowd who go to the big, flashy places. Look for the long outside stairs.
21 Hudson Street

Ginza - Beautiful, tasty sushi or all kinds can be found here. Other Japanese items too. The place is quiet and comfortable, open real late also.
16 Hudson Street

Pho Pasteur - Vietnamese soups made to your order. Inexpensive and small place. Warning - It may not appear to be the cleanest place but non of us who ate there for years ever had a problem.
123 Stuart Street

Brew Moon - If you want burgers, BBQ, some creative meals and microbrew beers you'll like this restaurant. Lots of pre and post theatre crowds. They have other locations too.
115 Stuart Street


South Station Area - Red Line to South Station
Les Zygomates - One of the best wine selections in town with a very knowledgeable staff. French Bistro cuisine is served. Live music on some nights.
129 South Street


Cambridge/Somerville - Red Line
Elephant Walk (Porter Square) - Unique combo of French/Cambodian that is popular with locals.
2067 Massachusetts Avenue http://www.elephantwalk.com

Red Bones BBQ (Red Line to Davis Square) - Good old messy BBQ with your choice of sauces. Soft drinks and lemonade are served in mason jars. There is a bar also. Excellent desserts too (yummy pecan pie with REAL whipped cream is my favorite). Very casual. They have some seats near the cooks for singles and you often get samples!
55 Chester Street (off Elm Street) - follow your nose

Rebecca's Cafe (Kendall Square) - Good lunch choice with plenty of gourmet sandwiches and entrees for a quick meal. Good desserts (co-workers love the Chocolate Mousse cake).

- Lots of little places in Harvard Square too!


Fenway/Kenmore Square Area - Green line to Kenmore
Brown Sugar Cafe - This small restaurant serves excellent Thai cuisine. All of us at work eat here often. Take a cab since a tourist may have a difficult time finding this place.
129 Jersey Street (off Boylston)

Boston Beer Works - A lunch favorite for our weekly outings. They brew their own special beers and serve all sorts of pub foods such as pizzas, burgers (beef, veggie), fish, chicken, etc. Excellent fire fries.
61 Brookline Avenue


Prudential/Copley Square Area - Green Line to Copley
Abe & Louie's (Green line to Copley) - Steak, nuf said. Bring fat wallet and appetite too.
739 Boylston Street

Casa Romero (Green line to Prudential) - Serving authentic Mexican food for decades. I first went here when I was in High School. This small place may be hard to find.
30 Gloucester Street (between Commonwealth & Newbury)

Cheesecake Factory - The famous chain serves up a huge menu of meals plus terrific cheesecakes of all kinds.


North End/Fanueil Hall - Green or Orange Line to Haymarket, Green or Blue to Government Center
Durgin-Park (Faneuil Hall) - A "classic" in Boston. Hearty, New England style foods including Pot Roast and Indian Pudding are served by the infamously "rude" wait staff. You'll be seated at community tables to boot.
1 Faneuil Hall Marketplace

The Black Rose (Faneuil Hall) - Fun Irish Pub with basic pub foods. Great for a casual night out.
160 State Street

The Daily Catch (North End/Haymarket) - Excellent, fresh seafood prepared in a Sicilian style.
323 Hanover Street

Massimino's Cucina Italiana (North End) - This has won Best Of Boston awards for cuisine.
207 Endicott Street

Mike's Pastry (North End) - The spot for cannoli, rum cakes, etc. for the masses. Open late.

Caffe Vittoria (North End) - Better place for cannoli and an espresso (check out the beautiful coffee machine) after dinner. Lots of locals.
294 Hanover Street


Multiple Locations
Legal Seafoods - Known for its fresh seafood and enjoyed by many, locals and visitors alike. The wait may be very long however. Be prepared.

Bertucci's - Brick oven baked pizzas plus pasta and other entrees.

Skipjack's - Another seafood restaurant which is good.
 
That the wait staff at The Cheesecake Factory was GREAT with my DS (2) he was hungry and more than a little cranky. I know a lot of restaurants will bring out your childs meal early but in my opinion they went above and beyond to make my son happy.

I just added this comment because you asked for kid friendly.
 
It can be very cold in November, but its also possible...slightly...to have a freak warm spell. Bringing layers is usually a good choice. A lot of good advice above by the way! You might want to consider a Duck tour...its a great way to see the city. The Museum of Science and the Aquarium both have IMAX movies, and both museums in general are very kid friendly. I love seeing the Nutcracker, too...its a beautiful production.

Lots of good shopping in Boston, from pricier Newbury street to dirt cheap Filene's basement in downtown crossing.

depending on your interest in colonial history, Boston has a lot to offer. Hate to tell you though the english don't come off very well! LOL! But it might be interesting all the same. I've never done the Boston tea party (historical demonstration about colonial rebellion on the tea tax), but my husband did as a child and said it was fun.

Check out the granary burial ground near the common...Mother Goose is buried there, among many others.

If you have a car and are interested, Salem is a facinating little town not far from Boston. Are you are familiar with the Witch Trials of the 17th century? Facinating. There are many places to visit there but I highly recommend the Witch Dungeon Museum...very cool. There is also a Witch Museum that I don't like nearly as well.
 

Frog Pond is located right in the Boston Common's. In November, they freeze the water and turn it into a skating rink. Skate rentals are $5 and I believe admission is $3.

The Spirit of Boston offers a brunch cruise on Sunday and also lunch and dinner cruises. Seeing Boston at night this way is truly incredible.

The Boston Park Plaza offers a formal afternoon tea service from 3pm-5pm Friday-Sunday. They also have a fantasic dessert restaurant called Finale's. It is definitely worth a checking out. Here is the link for the Boston Park Plaza hotel http://www.bostonparkplaza.com/

Enjoy your stay in town.
 
Thank you all so much for your help.

It sounds great, can't wait.

Will check out the websites.

Thanks again
Deb
 


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