Is anyone familiar with the Boston area?

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

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

What your getting into?????

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

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

Then you should stay out of all major cities & Europe....the things those Europeans do would shock you.
Do you also keep yourselves from museums because you may have to walk through the nude galleries?
Good Grief!

 

[PatsGirl]

Yes, there are two or three storefronts that are a bit "dodgy" and lots of homosexual couples strolling the main street, but nothing that would stop me from taking kids

I might be biased though because we live very close and several of DD's friends live in Ptown and the neighboring town of Truro. When my kids were about 8-10 there were several conversations about the "sights" but good dialogue about diversity, acceptance, and tolerance. Now the sex shops, I try to avoid getting too close to those storefronts mostly because don't want to explain the contraptions in the window to my 13 year old. Don't worry, there are only two that I can think of and they are set a bit back from the street so not really noticable unless you are looking for them.

Provincetown is a beautiful community ~ dunes, beaches, art galleries...and for the kids, penny candy stores, old-fashioned toy stores, fudge factory, souvenier shops. I wouldn't miss it if I were coming to Boston. A great ferry ride too!

 

[mtemm]

I would definitely go with the custom house. great location! and easy to do day trips to both north and south, depending on your interests.

 

[JESW]

This is also an option:

http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/

You can cruise to Ptown or just around the harbor.

Jill

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Wanted to add Ptown has great whale watching adventures!!! So much fun & so many whales!!!!

 

[npmommie]

Yes, there are two or three storefronts that are a bit "dodgy" and lots of homosexual couples strolling the main street, but nothing that would stop me from taking kids

I might be biased though because we live very close and several of DD's friends live in Ptown and the neighboring town of Truro. When my kids were about 8-10 there were several conversations about the "sights" but good dialogue about diversity, acceptance, and tolerance. Now the sex shops, I try to avoid getting too close to those storefronts mostly because don't want to explain the contraptions in the window to my 13 year old. Don't worry, there are only two that I can think of and they are set a bit back from the street so not really noticable unless you are looking for them.

Provincetown is a beautiful community ~ dunes, beaches, art galleries...and for the kids, penny candy stores, old-fashioned toy stores, fudge factory, souvenier shops. I wouldn't miss it if I were coming to Boston. A great ferry ride too!

completely agree with this

 

[Pea-n-Me]

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.

As others have said, I think your best bet would be to stay in Boston, then, and do a day trip or two to the Cape or other beach town, either by car or by boat.

And it is possible to do a beach day just in Boston, fyi - South Boston has a very nice beach and a historic fort and food shack at the end, and wouldn't be a bad trip for the day, different from the rest of your time in Boston. You could easily take a cab, and if you wanted to, you could hit the JFK Library on your way back.

There's so much to do here, you'll probably have a hard time deciding. Enjoy the planning!

 

[Jeafl]

Is the whale watching seasonal, like it is in Hawaii? Or can you see whales year round?

Also, do any of the beaches in Boston have restrooms and food?

As far as the whole Provincetown thing goes, my kids are old enough to not be freaked out by much of anything. They are 21, 17 and 14 and have been through most of the dicier parts of Chicago on several occasions. If they were younger, I probably wouldn't take them to Provincetown though, so thanks for the warning.

 

[npmommie]

Is the whale watching seasonal, like it is in Hawaii? Or can you see whales year round?

Also, do any of the beaches in Boston have restrooms and food?

As far as the whole Provincetown thing goes, my kids are old enough to not be freaked out by much of anything. They are 21, 17 and 14 and have been through most of the dicier parts of Chicago on several occasions. If they were younger, I probably wouldn't take them to Provincetown though, so thanks for the warning.

I think both Carson beach and Castle Island both have restrooms and food.

oh and we have gone on whale watches in the fall/winter. it was out of Gloucester though.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Is the whale watching seasonal, like it is in Hawaii? Or can you see whales year round?

Also, do any of the beaches in Boston have restrooms and food?

As far as the whole Provincetown thing goes, my kids are old enough to not be freaked out by much of anything. They are 21, 17 and 14 and have been through most of the dicier parts of Chicago on several occasions. If they were younger, I probably wouldn't take them to Provincetown though, so thanks for the warning.

We have gone in June, July & September~

Wanted to add that having had lived in Boston the Boston beaches are something I would never recommend. They are "muddy".......YUCK!
Take the ferry to Cape Cod...that would be an option~

http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/provincetown-ferry/

 

[Jeafl]

Does anyone know about how much it costs per person to go whale watching?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Is the whale watching seasonal, like it is in Hawaii? Or can you see whales year round?

IMO it would be too cold out there to be enjoyable in anything but the warmer months, probably late May to late Sept. Water temperatures are pretty cold most of year.

Also, do any of the beaches in Boston have restrooms and food?

What npmommie said. It ain't gourmet fare, by any means, but you could get a nice cup of Chowda and a hot dog or fried clams, lol.

 

[ccgirl]

I live on the Cape and used to work in Boston. Traffic during the week on the Cape is not bad. Traffic on the weekend is another story. I would probably liken it to the Jersey Shore. The T actually goes from Plymouth to Boston if you don't feel like driving all the way in. As far as timeshares - I don't know many near Boston. Most are on the Cape. There is a lot to do in this area. Plimoth Plantation, the Mayflower, Harbor Cruise, Cape Cod Canal cruise, zooquarium. In Boston, you have the New England Aquarium, Musuem of Science, Children's Museum, Fenway, Freedom trail etc. I would stay down the Cape and go to Boston for a couple of day trips.

Let me know if you have specific questions I can help you with.

 

[carone0318]

My family will actually be coming up to the Boston area for my dd's gymnastics meet in a few months. I booked a room at the Hilton Garden Inn in Burlington, I think near the Burlington Mall. I found the room to be fairly cheap, is the area decent? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My family will actually be coming up to the Boston area for my dd's gymnastics meet in a few months. I booked a room at the Hilton Garden Inn in Burlington, I think near the Burlington Mall. I found the room to be fairly cheap, is the area decent? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Where is the meet?

 

[carone0318]

Brestyan Invitational at Tufts in Jan.

Where is the meet?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Brestyan Invitational at Tufts in Jan.

Tufts Medford/Somerville campus?

 

[carone0318]

Yes - Meford, MA.

 

[ccgirl]

Does anyone know about how much it costs per person to go whale watching?

It is about $40 for 12 and over. So, it can be expensive but pretty neat.