Where should I vacation this August? Charleston, Chicago, or Boston... Please help!

[TexanMinnie]

We visited Charleston for a couple of days in august 2019. It was so hot that even at 8am it was too hot to walk around. We are used to Florida in August but this was something else.

Oh gosh, Cheryl! That sounds miserable!!!

Ok. That helps me to cross Charleston off the list. I'm from Texas, but that just seems way too hot to enjoy doing things outside. I'll have to check Charleston out in March or April.

 

[Mle8308]

Oh, I should add... I have already looked up the main attractions in each city. I just want to hear from those who have been or live there as I wouldn't want to add something that isn't worth visiting to the list of "Must Do's". Thanks!!!

I live in Boston and I highly recommend it! It's a great walking city and contrary to our reputation, we are very friendly! Maybe a little loud... All the mentioned touristy suggestions are good with the exception of one - don't go to Mike's Pastry, it's the tourist trap. Modern Pastry across the street is much better! Or Maria's at the end of Hanover Street. It's kind of like Pat's or Geno's debate in Philadelphia. I wouldn't be beyond suggesting to try both! As others mentioned, the Boston Trolley Tours are a good way to see the city. The guides are fun and you can get on and off the trolleys throughout the city. It's about a 2 to 2.5 hour tour, depending on traffic. I tell people to do the tour in it's entirety once, decide what you want to see more of or spend more time at, then get off at those stops on your second trip. Your ticket is good all day, so you can ride or hop off and on as many times as you want. During the summer, if you are beer fans, Trillium (highly rated brewery) has a beer garden on the Greenway across from the Boston Harbor Hotel. It's a great place to relax and people watch - with a nice view! I'm probably biased, but I love Boston. I actually left my great job at Disney to return to it. I regret it in the winter but..... So that's my vote! Enjoy whatever your decision is.

 

[CynBeth]

Boston!

I believe there is transportation from there to Salem if you wish to visit. We had a car so drove there.

 

[Pink Partridge]

You must visit Charleston one day. But not June thru September. Way too hot and uncomfortable.

 

[RogueX]

Boston!

I believe there is transportation from there to Salem if you wish to visit. We had a car so drove there.

Yes, take the Newburyport or Rockport commuter train and it stops at Salem. Having 2 trains run through that station is a great benefit.

 

[Dan Murphy]

www.choosechicago.com/

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Yes, take the Newburyport or Rockport commuter train and it stops at Salem. Having 2 trains run through that station is a great benefit.

You can also take a ferry to Salem, for a different experience...

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have been to Chicago in August, it's great. I would like to see Boston, but I have never been there so I cannot vouch for what that is like.

 

[RamblingMad]

I like Indy in August.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Boston is a ton of fun. No way I'd head south in the summer. Save Charleston for a fall or spring trip.

 

[TexanMinnie]

OK. We have made a decision. BOSTON IT IS!!! So excited!! Question for y'all... is it worth it to take a day trip from Boston to Salem?

 

[JimMIA]

.

OK. We have made a decision. BOSTON IT IS!!! So excited!! Question for y'all... is it worth it to take a day trip from Boston to Salem?

YAY!

We have not been to Salem, so I can't comment on that.

However, Plymouth would be a nice day trip even if you don't go all the way to Cape Cod. Salem is about 20 miles north of Boston; Plymouth is 40 miles south, so either is very doable in a day.

Plymouth has the actual Plymouth Rock, and nearby a full-scale replica of the Mayflower. And just south of Plymouth (a whole 3 miles) is the Plimoth Patuxet Museum -- the correct name of the Plimoth Plantation I incorrectly identified earlier.

We've been to all three of those, and they are interesting for folks who still think the English were the first Europeans to establish a permanent settlement in the US. (Actually it was the Spanish, in St. Augustine, FL -- in 1565, 55 years before the Pilgrims.)

 

[Mle8308]

OK. We have made a decision. BOSTON IT IS!!! So excited!! Question for y'all... is it worth it to take a day trip from Boston to Salem?

It is, especially if the history of Salem interests you. There is a ferry from Boston to Salem, it's not expensive and would be a nice way to get there. Boston traffic is a whole 'nother kind of awful, so drive the least amount you can! Glad you chose my city, good decision.

 

[TexanMinnie]

.

YAY!

We have not been to Salem, so I can't comment on that.

However, Plymouth would be a nice day trip even if you don't go all the way to Cape Cod. Salem is about 20 miles north of Boston; Plymouth is 40 miles south, so either is very doable in a day.

Plymouth has the actual Plymouth Rock, and nearby a full-scale replica of the Mayflower. And just south of Plymouth (a whole 3 miles) is the Plimoth Patuxet Museum -- the correct name of the Plimoth Plantation I incorrectly identified earlier.

We've been to all three of those, and they are interesting for folks who still think the English were the first Europeans to establish a permanent settlement in the US. (Actually it was the Spanish, in St. Augustine, FL -- in 1565, 55 years before the Pilgrims.)

You mentioned Cape Cod, and I was wondering what could be done if we spent a day there. I'm assuming we would have to rent a car to get there, right?

 

[JimMIA]

You mentioned Cape Cod, and I was wondering what could be done if we spent a day there. I'm assuming we would have to rent a car to get there, right?

Yes, you would definitely need to rent a car.

As I mentioned above, Boston to Plymouth is 40 miles. To Sandwich, which is the beginning of Cape Cod (and I assume the birthplace of the Earl of Sandwich )...is 58 miles. To Provincetown, at the extreme north end of the Cape is 120 miles from Boston.

Google Maps says about 2 1/2 hours, but that assumes no stops...which would be nuts. Plymouth would definitely be a doable day trip; depending how far out on the Cape you went, maybe not. We stay at least 3-4 days when we go to the Cape, and I think I would do at least an overnight just because of the distance.

Things to do: lots of quaint little towns, some nice beaches and lighthouses, and Cape Cod National Seashore (https://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm). We saw a lot of seals in the ocean when we were there last.

Provincetown is kind of an artist colony and reminds me a bit of Key West -- some interesting stores, restaurants, etc.

The summer is THE season on Cape Cod, but I'm not sure when it ends. We were last there during October (pre-Covid) and it was quite cool, but I haven't been there in August. I'm sure some local DISers can give you better advice than I can.

 

[RogueX]

If you do visit Salem, there is a shop that sells wands and such, which Harry Potter fans go to (for those who know about it)

 

[monsterkitty]

You mentioned Cape Cod, and I was wondering what could be done if we spent a day there. I'm assuming we would have to rent a car to get there, right?

We did not rent a car in Boston. We did a tour bus to Plymouth and Cape Cod.

Because I'm a crazy person, we rented bikes one day and rode to Lexington and then Concord and back to Boston. We even visited Sleepy Hallow Cemetery. If you're a crazy person like me, I mean a cyclist, it's an easy ride on mostly old railroad tracks they turned into bike paths.

 

[CynBeth]

Yes definitely visit Salem. I would allow a few days at least for Cape Cod. When we were on a Boston and Cape trip years ago we were in Cape Cod 4 days I believe. We stayed in Hyannis and were close to the ferry dock which we took one day to Martha’s Vineyard and another day we took it to Nantucket and the other day visited some of the different towns all the way to Provincetown. I remember we were at the Cape Cod Chips factory in Hyannis and one of our days there was the 4th of July and in the afternoon they had a parade down the main road and fireworks at night.

 

[mrs. magoo]

Absolutely visit Salem. It is awesome. I was terrified as a kid in the Witch's museum. I also loved Plymouth Plantation as well. My mother was a history teacher so we have visited every historical landmark on the east coast. She also turned me into a history teacher and I have turned my daughter into one (3 generations of history teachers all went to the same college too). Really Boston is awesome we visited for many years when my girls had a lacrosse tournament at Harvard.