Is anyone familiar with the Boston area?

[dejr_8]

Another place to check out is Harvard Square. It's an interesting area to walk around. To get there you just have to hop onto the red line.

If you do head to Harvard Square I would check out this place for lunch.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-plough-and-stars-cambridge

 

[PatsGirl]

A good home base would be Plymouth where it will be less than a hour in either direction for all your sightseeing and a great little town; don't forget to take a look at the Mayflower and maybe do Plymouth Plantation, nice beaches as well.

Provincetown (which I would definately spend a daytrip doing, not so much for the Main Street people-watching, but more for the National Seashore beaches and town harbors in Wellfleet and Orleans). It will take a bit longer, probably 90 minutes, but again, worth it. If you time it right (don't go on the weekend) traffic shouldn't be a big problem. If you've never been to a drive-in, there's one in Wellfleet if you don't mind the long drive home late at night

I would also go to Boston for the Freedom Trail, walk around the Garden, lunch in the North End, maybe the Museum, walk the Seaport area, etc. Then head North to Salem (fun witch stuff there), Gloucester, Newburyport (all about an hour from Plymouth).

Day trip to Newport, RI would take about an hour, great mansions to explore and town to walk around.

Good luck whatever you choose. Personally, I think two days in Boston is plenty, especially in the summer, I'd spread my vacation out....

 

[JESW]

Do you want to spend your vacation laying on a beach and dealing with traffic - or do you want to be out and about and dealing with traffic?

While Cape Cod is a beautiful place, it is also VERY crowded over the summer and it's tough to get around at times. You are also limited somewhat on things to do unless you like a lot of beach time.

Boston is a great walking city and if your family is into a lot of history they there is a lot to see and do. You can also leave the car behind and rely on the T or the trolley tours or even taxis. Public transportation is limited on the Cape.

Personally, I would choose Boston. We live about 30 miles outside the city and we can take the train into South Station or drive in when we want. We have never had any problems.

 

[Jeafl]

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas and suggestions!

I'm not too worried about the "big city" feel since we live not too far from Chicago. I am used to all the trials and tribulations of a large city. It is really good to know that my plan of staying in Cape Cod and commuting to Boston most days is not a good one. We'll have to come up with a Plan B as to where we are staying.

My kids are old enough that they like museums, and a tour of Fenway Park would be a big hit with my son and husband.

Does anyone know if that Go Boston pass is worth the money?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Still waiting to hear what your time share options are, then can give you a better sense of what might work for you as far as how to work it out from where you're staying.

Traffic patterns might be a big factor here, unfortunately.

 

[npmommie]

I would not recommend a trip to PTown unless you are fully aware of what you are getting yourself into. Flamboyant is an understatement.

we love Provincetown, sure it has its flamboyant side, but its also popular with families.
there are great shops and restaurants, as well as the beautiful national seashore and the dunes out there,
great spot.
I think you would find it to be a fantastic summer spot you might love

 

[MM27]

I would not recommend a trip to PTown unless you are fully aware of what you are getting yourself into. Flamboyant is an understatement.

Provincetown is a great place. I went there the first time when I was in high school. I don't understand why people get all worked up over homosexuals. It's no different than any other beach town, except for the fact that men are walking hand in hand with other men.

I'd opt for Cape Cod and take a couple day trips maybe into Boston. Boston is a a lot like NYC with smelly subways, dirty streets, high crime areas. Your best bet is to take one of the guided tours that takes you to the sites you want to see.

I couldn't disagree more. Boston is so much cleaner than NYC. The T is safe and clean in most stations. Any city will have areas that are safer than others, but I've always felt safe in Boston.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Does anyone know if that Go Boston pass is worth the money?

Yes, we bought the GO card and got our money's worth. We were there for a week. Let me see if I can remember everything we did with the GO card. Oh here is the place we purchased them for a discount:

http://www.smartdestinations.com/boston-attractions-and-tours/_d_Bos-p1.html?pass=Bos_Prod_Go

Tour of Fenway - a big highlight for the boys, and I enjoyed it too! We did take in a game too which was huge for my boys. Have to be careful of obstructed view seats.

Duck Tours - second favorite. GO card only worked with Museum of Science dpearture point for Duck Tour. Then we did the MOS - both the Duck Tour and MOS were on our GO card.

Freedom Trail - we used the tour guide I think was on the GO card. Another Great decision as this guy (dressed in period costume) was so hysterical and entertaining that my then 11 year old actually loved the Freedom Trail. If we had done it on our own, he would have been bored.

Aquarium - GO Card -a bit small, but loved it. We also hopped on a harbor crusie which we didn't plan on, but was on the GO card so we did it.

Mansions in Newport RI. THank God I remembered the GO card because we were there for a beach day, and it poured rain. Used the GO card for tours of the mansions.

Spent a day in Lexington/Concord - used the Liberty Trolley - great. GO Card again.

As a side trip, we rented a car (one day for RI and one day for this) to go to Maine. Beach day at a bit north of Old Orchard Beach, and dinner at the Lobster Shack on Cape Elizabeth -that was for me! No Go card that day.

Could have taken the ferry to P-town on the GO card, but just didn't have the time. We need to go back to go to the Cape!!

It really was the best vacation. We walked around North end and ate at Regina's pizza and went to Mike's Pastry. I researched the heck out of it on tripadvisor, and hotwired the Westin Back Bay for a great rate. I think I got the GO card for 5 days, as we didn't use it day #1 or #7 when we left.

 

[dejr_8]

Provincetown is a great place. I went there the first time when I was in high school. I don't understand why people get all worked up over homosexuals. It's no different than any other beach town, except for the fact that men are walking hand in hand with other men.



I couldn't disagree more. Boston is so much cleaner than NYC. The T is safe and clean in most stations. Any city will have areas that are safer than others, but I've always felt safe in Boston.

Well for SOME families they may not want to experience that.

 

[DMickey28]

Recently the Cape traffic has not been bad at all. Now that they finished all the stupid bridge construction I had a back up this past Sunday starting at Exit 2 getting off Cape and it added no more than 5 minutes to my ride. That was a 1:30pm.

Friday afternoons/evenings are still rough, getting off/on Saturday mornings can be a little back up as well as Sunday late afternoon but honestly never enough to make me plan around it. Last summer with the construction and only one lane over the Sagamore made me plan around it but not this year.

I drive to and from S. New Hampshire to the Cape nearly every other weekend (Friday - Sunday/Monday) and hit the most traffic mid-day in and around Boston, not the Cape.

 

[Jeafl]

Still waiting to hear what your time share options are, then can give you a better sense of what might work for you as far as how to work it out from where you're staying.

Traffic patterns might be a big factor here, unfortunately.

Sorry! Missed your question the first time. The options are:

Beachside Village in Falmouth, Marriott's Custom House in Boston, and The Breakers Beach Resort in Dennis Port. Possibly a couple of others.

 

[dejr_8]

I would stay at the Marriott's Custom House in Boston. Great location within Boston and a central location for trips North or South.

 

[crjack]

Personally I would prefer to stay in Boston and plan a visit either south to the cape or north to one of the great beach areas up there. (Rockport area is lovely)

A large group of us (parents and children) just went on Codzilla this past Sunday and we had a great time. If the weather is nice (and its been hot here for weeks) it is a lot of fun out on the water. We were wishing the ride was a little longer though.

It's right near the Aquarium and a short walk to the North End where we had dinner and of course hit Mike's Pastry for gelato and cannolis.

The Cape is it's busiest during the summer so if you stay down there it wont be very convenient to get into Boston each day and then go back at night and I am not sure if you are relying on public transportation or renting a car.

If you pick a Cape resort there are lots of great things to do down there but it will be hard to combine the two areas on one trip.

Have a great time. I've lived here my whole life and I still love Boston.

 

[PatsGirl]

While Plymouth would have been my first choice, neither Falmouth or Dennisport would be good options for your family, IMHO. I'd stay at Marriott Custom House, touring the city for a few days but break it up by heading to a beach north of there (Hampton or York maybe, about 1 hour away), a day in Newport, and a ferry to Provincetown for the day. You can do a whale watch out of ptown as well and kids just love that!

And I second the opinion that traffic shouldn't stop you on the Cape. FWIW, it has not been an issue at all this summer and I'm not sure why but it hasn't. Even drove Route 28 to Hyannis with very little backup on the last cloudy day With a little planning, you can avoid the traffic altogether except the city traffic

Have fun

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I would not recommend a trip to PTown unless you are fully aware of what you are getting yourself into. Flamboyant is an understatement.

Well at least I would not go with young children seening as some of the storefronts are a little risque.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

While Plymouth would have been my first choice, neither Falmouth or Dennisport would be good options for your family, IMHO. I'd stay at Marriott Custom House, touring the city for a few days but break it up by heading to a beach north of there (Hampton or York maybe, about 1 hour away), a day in Newport, and a ferry to Provincetown for the day. You can do a whale watch out of ptown as well and kids just love that!

And I second the opinion that traffic shouldn't stop you on the Cape. FWIW, it has not been an issue at all this summer and I'm not sure why but it hasn't. Even drove Route 28 to Hyannis with very little backup on the last cloudy day With a little planning, you can avoid the traffic altogether except the city traffic

Have fun

I agree with York but instead of Hampton (which should not be confused with THE Hamptons in NY) a day at Rockport would be nice.

 

[Evi]

You have to admit. Riding the Orange line can be scary at times.

Sorry I don't agree with you. I'm not afraid of riding the MBTA. But then again I'm not from the burbs I'm a city girl and though where I grew up and live is probably one of the nicer areas within the city limits. I'm not afraid of any of the other areas. The worst part of Boston is 100X safer then a a lot of other cities. Sorry but I also volunteered for years working with inner city youth and love ptown and I'm not gay, so I do take offense to some of these comments.

I guess Boston is a little more open and not as uptight and yes it is very culturally diverse. So if you don't feel safe in a multicultural city then maybe you won't feel safe in Boston but then again you won't feel safe in NYC, London, or pretty much any other major metropolitan area. Hrm actually I've seen some dodgy alley's in Disney world you may want to be careful in Epcot and on the Monorail those stations can be really lonely later at night sketchy if you ask me.

 

[dejr_8]

Sorry I don't agree with you. I'm not afraid of riding the MBTA. But then again I'm not from the burbs I'm a city girl and though where I grew up and live is probably one of the nicer areas within the city limits. I'm not afraid of any of the other areas. The worst part of Boston is 100X safer then a a lot of other cities. Sorry but I also volunteered for years working with inner city youth and love ptown and I'm not gay, so I do take offense to some of these comments.

I guess Boston is a little more open and not as uptight and yes it is very culturally diverse. So if you don't feel safe in a multicultural city then maybe you won't feel safe in Boston but then again you won't feel safe in NYC, London, or pretty much any other major metropolitan area. Hrm actually I've seen some dodgy alley's in Disney world you may want to be careful in Epcot and on the Monorail those stations can be really lonely later at night sketchy if you ask me.

I don't care if you take offense or not. PTown is not going to be appropriate for some families and even some adults. It is not a place that I would universally suggest that someone should visit when coming to Boston.

I always used the T when I lived in Boston. Not afraid of it at all. I just found the Orange line to be more rowdy than the other lines.

 

[redlight]

I love riding the T. I've always found it clean and efficient.

 

[aprilvaca04]

I agree with York but instead of Hampton (which should not be confused with THE Hamptons in NY) a day at Rockport would be nice.

Love York! And Nubble Light is soooo beautiful