OK Bostonians............

[crazyme5kids]

Can anyone give me a few suggestions for hotels that are nearby the TD Banknorth Garden arena? My husband will be there in Oct. for work so I will be joining him with some of my children. I'd like something with a pool.

Also, are there any places nearby that would be fun for my kids? We'll be going up on a Thursday, either just hanging out at the hotel pool on Friday or if something is nearby will do that. Fri. night going to the concert. I'd like to go to the Aquarium on Sat., does it get real crowded? What are the best times to go? Any ideas for a couple of hours on Sun. before heading home?

 

[debster812]

Can anyone give me a few suggestions for hotels that are nearby the TD Banknorth Garden arena? My husband will be there in Oct. for work so I will be joining him with some of my children. I'd like something with a pool.

Also, are there any places nearby that would be fun for my kids? We'll be going up on a Thursday, either just hanging out at the hotel pool on Friday or if something is nearby will do that. Fri. night going to the concert. I'd like to go to the Aquarium on Sat., does it get real crowded? What are the best times to go? Any ideas for a couple of hours on Sun. before heading home?

Well first off, what weekend? October in Boston proper can be a tough hotel room to get. You've got Columbus Day weekend, various college parent's weekend, AND Head of the Charles weekend.

If they have rooms available, Long Wharf Marriot might be a good choice. RIght on the water, practically next to the Aquarium, and close to the Garden.

 

[Dana49]

If money isn't an option, I would recommend the Westin Boston Waterfront. Another wonderful hotel is the Boston Marriott Long Wharf. Enjoy!

 

[crazyme5kids]

We'll be pulling into Boston Oct 19 leaving on the 22nd. How close are the hotels to the arena?

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Boston is a very easy city to walk in no where near as big as NY, if you can find a hotel in the Fanuiel Hall area or Back Bay area its a short walk to the Bank North Garden.

Here is a list you would be best off staying in the Boston Hotels

http://www.tdbanknorthgarden.com/directions_hotels.asp

 

[TLinden16]

Another hotel you may want to consider is the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge. It's about a mile from the Garden (you can see the Garden from it). It definitely has an indoor pool, and it's right along the Charles River. It's a very nice hotel (my office is right next door, and we use it all the time for our attorneys). It would take about 17 minutes to walk to the Garden from this hotel (I walk there every day from my office, and it takes me about 20 minutes).

It's less than 10 minutes walk to the Museum of Science, where you can also pick up the Duck Tour boats. There is a shopping mall right across the street from the hotel.

The subway to Downtown Boston is also about a 10 minute walk. The subway in Boston is cheap, and easy to navigate.

I'll disagree with my friend Ed above about the hotels in the Back Bay being a short walk from the Garden. I'd say that they are at least a half hour walk. But they are a short subway ride away. The Westin and the Copley Marriott are very convienent to the Orange line, which you can take to the Garden.

The closest decent hotels to the Garden are the Bullfinch Hotel and the Onyx (where you can even get the Britney Spears suite). I don't know if either of these places have a pool.

 

[liamsaunt]

The weekend you are coming is the Head of the Charles weekend. Make your reservations now if you can! I bet a lot of the hotels are already booked.

The Boston Harbor Hotel is not too far from the Garden and it is really beautiful. There's a great restaurant in there too, Meritage, if you get a "date night" with your DH.

The aquarium does tend to get crowded. The problem is in the design--basically, there is a huge fish tank in the center with observation windows, and a spiral ramp that goes around and up. That ramp does tend to get crowded. If you go in the morning it might not be so bad.

We have a good Museum of Science that your kids might like also. If you post their ages I will try and come up with some other fun, age-appropriate ideas.

 

[crazyme5kids]

TLinden the Sonesta sounds like it might work out well. The rates don't seem bad (we won't be paying for two of the nights ), seems about the same as other hotels. Will it be safe to walk back to from the arena after the concert with my kids in tow? If it's not a good idea to walk is it an easy non confusing drive?

liamsaunt, what is the Head of Charles weekend? The ages of my children are 5, 8 and 14, but he might stay home with my other two older kids.

 

[Lynn CC]

I wouldn't worry about transportation, you can always hail a taxi for a few dollars, they are everywhere in those areas. My son takes one 4x a week and has never had a problem. Have Fun!

 

[debster812]

TLinden the Sonesta sounds like it might work out well. The rates don't seem bad (we won't be paying for two of the nights ), seems about the same as other hotels. Will it be safe to walk back to from the arena after the concert with my kids in tow? If it's not a good idea to walk is it an easy non confusing drive?

liamsaunt, what is the Head of Charles weekend? The ages of my children are 5, 8 and 14, but he might stay home with my other two older kids.

Head of the Charles is a HUGE Crew Regatta. (Rowing racing shells on the Charles River) Teams come from ALL over the country to compete. You definitely need to make your reservations soon. Boston will be busy that weekend.

 

[Dana49]

We'll be pulling into Boston Oct 19 leaving on the 22nd. How close are the hotels to the arena?

The hotels are within walking distance to the Garden.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thanks for the advice so far . I booked the Royal Sonesta. We'll have a view of the river. When does the regatta start?

Now, any restaurant advice? I will do the Science Museum on Fri., how many hours should I allow for that? Is the Duck boat tour fun? How crazy of a weekend will it be for the Aquarium? What's the best way to get to it from the hotel? Any other places we should try and go to?

 

[Linda/MA]

As far as restaurants go, I love going to the North End, which is Boston's Little Italy. There are some real good places to eat there and I've never had a bad meal. Last weekend we ate at Monica's which was very good! If it's a nice night, it's a great area to walk around after dinner. You can go to one of the cafes and have an capuccino and cannoli for dessert! Doesn't get much better than that.

I haven't been to the Science Museum in ages but they have an Omni Theater there. You might want to go on their website and check out what's playing. There is also a Children's Museum down near the waterfront. Your younger kids might like that too.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thank you for the advice so far! Has anyone been on the whale watch cruises? Would you recomend it, is Oct. a good tome of year?

Due to the regatta being in town, would it be a better idea to see the aquarium on Fri., or do you think there might be less people on Sat. or Sun. because they are watching the regatta?

Are the subways difficult to figure out? Is that the best way to get around?

 

[debster812]

Thank you for the advice so far! Has anyone been on the whale watch cruises? Would you recomend it, is Oct. a good tome of year?

Due to the regatta being in town, would it be a better idea to see the aquarium on Fri., or do you think there might be less people on Sat. or Sun. because they are watching the regatta?

Are the subways difficult to figure out? Is that the best way to get around?

I know the Whale Watches usually run to about mid-October, but it is getting towards the end of the season. It could be hit or miss. DS and I did one last year at the end of September, and it was GREAT!!!! I would probably try to do the science museum on Friday (It sits right on the Charles) and do the Aquarium on Saturday along with a Whale Watch. The Aquarium has their own boat, and we prefer them to the Boston Harbor Cruise Line Whale Watch.

The subway (The T) is a snap to figure out. Really. If you go to www.mbta.com you will see route maps, etc. If you're staying in Cambridge, you'll most likely be riding the Red Line, and the Green Line.

 

[crazyme5kids]

This little getaway is shaping up nicely. Thanks again everyone for your help .

 

[kat3668]

You might also consider hoping on the T(commuter rail) and heading up here to visit us on the North Shore... Salem is very fun this time of year.. lots of colorful people and events going on... You can take a graveyard tour and learn the history of Salem..I'm sure you will have a blast whatever you decide to do!

 

[crazyme5kids]

I just wanted to say thank you for suggsting the Royal Sonesta. My husband is in Boston today, he is staying across the street from the Sonesta and checked it out. He gave it a two thumbs up ! I'm so looking forward to visiting Boston!