salem

we will be staying in Danvers for the weekend.Will it be much trouble taking our bus to Salem and park it there for 8 to 10 hours. there will be about 55 of us coming from PA.

salem

there are several areas near the tourist attractions with bus parking spaces, including in the lot at the House of 7 Gables...suggest your driver/company contact them in case there are time limits (I think another post earlier said you were coming mid-october, a great time of year but peak tour bus time!). have a great trip!

salem

OMG! I live in Salem, so I better be on the look out for you. What are you guys up to anyway? Leave lots of commuting time in October for getting around Salem. Its lots of fun, but CROWDED! And because Salem is out on a point surrounded by water there are only two roads to get in and out of Salem. Have a blast and welcome to the %26#39;hood!

Where to stay?

Trying to decide between Belfry Inne (mostly Painted Lady) - and Inn at Sandwich Center. Any advice?? thanks!

Where to stay?

My husband and I just got back from Sandwich and we stayed at the Inn at Sandwich Center. Loved it! We would go back again tomorrow if given the opportunity. The innkeepers are actually friends with the owner of the Belfry. If they cannot accommodate your request, they will most likely refer you to him.

The two places are very different. The Inn at Sandwich Center is your classic New England inn, but the breakfasts served are wonderful and the innkeepers are an absolute delight. They are very knowledgeable about the Cape and are prepared to share a wealth of information with you.

The Painted Lady is not an inn, but merely a place to eat. They serve a fantastic lobster chowder! We ate there our first night in Sandwich.

If you have any questions, feel free to let me know.

Where to stay?

Hi - thank you for your reply. We actually decided to go with the Painted Lady because it was cheaper (we need to watch every penny!) You mentioned that it wasn%26#39;t an inn, but I HOPE it is - because we have reservations to stay there! lol I think where you stayed would probably have been my first choice - I had a better feeling about it - but hopefully the Painted Lady will be nice too. Glad you had a good time there. :-)

p.s. If you have any info about Sandwich - things to see and do, places to eat, the boardwalk, etc. - please let me know - thank you!

Wow! I didn%26#39;t realize it was an inn too! Go figure! :-)

Sandwich is a wonderful little town. I love the restaurants in the area (esp. at the Painted Lady) and there are several neat little shops around (I really like Wicked Goods). While we were there, we heard that the Heritage Gardens were nice; we just didn%26#39;t make it up there. When are you going?

We will be there the nights of July 5th and 6th. I REALLY hope we will have some time to see Sandwich the day we arrive and the day we leave - because our entire day in between will be for visiting Martha%26#39;s Vineyard. Did you go to the boardwalk there? (in Sandwich) If so, how was it? Also - did you drive down there from Boston? How long did it take you (if you can remember)? thanks!

I%26#39;m assuming that you heve never been to the Cape. If so, I think that I would give Martha%26#39;s Vineyard a miss and spend all your time on the Cape.

Apologies for the grammar, but I%26#39;m sure that you know what I meant.

Oceanchelle,

My husband and I enjoyed the boardwalk in Sandwich at sunset. We were able to get some pretty pictures from there. It was also interesting to see the names of all of the local people who contributed money to have the boardwalk rebuilt after it was destroyed several years ago.

We also enjoyed Martha%26#39;s Vineyard. We had some people try to tell us not to go, but we%26#39;re glad we did. It all depends on what you expect out of the day. There are a lot of shops to go to, no matter which of the three towns you head to on the east side of the island. If I had to rate them in order of enjoyment, I would say Oak Bluffs would be first and Edgartown second. We had to board the ferry at Vineyard Haven and did not get back over there in time to see any of the shops. We wish we had made that more of a priority. The shops are a little less touristy. Oak Bluffs has these really neat little gingerbread houses in the middle of town. There%26#39;s over 300 of them and many of them are really in tiptop shape. We also enjoyed eating at a restaurant called Slice of Life (right on Circuit Street).

It is going to be difficult for you to see everything on Martha%26#39;s Vineyard in one day. You will just have to do some research and prioritize your day.

My husband and I drove from NC to Cape Cod, but we did take a day trip to Boston one day. It will take about 45 minutes to an hour to get from Sandwich to Boston. It all depends on traffic.

I am envious that you will be there. We loved our trip to the Cape!

We also ate at Aqua Grille and Tomatoes in Sandwich. Aqua Grille has good seafood and Tomatoes was good for some Italian. (After a week of eating seafood, we were ready for a change - LOL!)

wsult3 -- thank you so much for all your info. It%26#39;s really going to help! :-)

Greasy and very poor business etiquette

3rd time%26#39;s always a charm! NOT HERE! Received burnt and greasy food from here! The owner did not have professional etiquette when speaking to a customer. Returned the food for proof all times and he actually claimed we were being unreasonable with our request of a full refund AND said he wasn%26#39;t doing business w/my family ever again!! Feeling is obviously mutual here, but come on! The proof was right in front of you ALL 3X! If you didn%26#39;t think this wasn%26#39;t going to be reviewed, you%26#39;re a fool too! Unacceptable! Chinese resataurants are a dime a dozen, and this will surely affect others opinions of your NON-business like attitude and rudeness!

Greasy and very poor business etiquette

which restaurant are you talking about?

Greasy and very poor business etiquette

China Cuisine in North Reading,Ma

Why did you ever get to a third time, if I may ask?

I%26#39;d say from the number of cars parked at the CC, they do not need your business. The owners have always been nice whenever I visit.

That%26#39;s too bad about your experiences. I%26#39;m not near Reading, so I can%26#39;t say. I LOVE China Roma in Revere. It%26#39;s GREAT. Also, in Braintree, Beijing Duck is excellent....they cook food to order and everything is always super-fresh. The people who run it are very nice.

I hope you find a place you like better...

Irish Pub called the Black ';.....';

We were told it was in Finaly Hall, or Fennely Hall or Fenily Hall.

Anyone have any suggestions of what it might be and where exactly it is??????

thanks

Irish Pub called the Black ';.....';

It%26#39;s the Black Rose. It%26#39;s near Fanueil Hall, but actually closer to Quincy Market. The Black Rose on State Street near the Custom House.

Irish Pub called the Black ';.....';

Yes, it%26#39;s the Black Rose.

The establishment is somewhat of a tourist trap. Very crowded and loud.

Are you looking for a true Irish pub? Try Warren%26#39;s Tavern in Charlestown, the Pour House at Copley or anything in Southie.

Hope this helps!

My vote for anything in Southie over the downtown Irish pubs, though the one at Government Ctr is good for a meal...also the harp at North Station isn%26#39;t bad either. The Purple Shamrock or whatever it is is another tourist trap. I%26#39;m used to Irish pubs in Dorchester/ Southie/JP/West Roxbury and to me, the ones downtown never feel authentic.

True the Black Rose is a tourist trap, but a fun one! Faneuil Hall is a tough name for a tourist and locals alike. Most people pronounce it Fan-U-Elle Hall, when in actuality, it%26#39;s pronounced FAN-ell Hall, Like the word ';flannel'; without the ';L.'; Enough of the English/history lesson, onto Irish bars. The Kinsale across from Government Center is a good one. So is the Kell%26#39;s in Brighton. Go to bostonirishpubs.com for more info.

A word on a previous post-ers suggestion to go ';any bar in Southie.'; True, South Boston is a pre-dominantly Irish-American neighborhood, but the bars most people frequent (The Playwright, Beer Garden) have been affected by gentrification, and no longer have their Irish flavor. The owners have turned them into ';hip lounges'; so the new folks in the neighborhood can have a place to pay $5.50 for a beer. Nonetheless, there are still some bars that endure--The Quencher, and L Street come to mind, but blindly picking random bars in Southie, especially ';local'; random bars can end up being a bit uncomfortable for the tourist.

You%26#39;re right Healey...and I like the way you put it too.

...I still like the Harp and Bard on Dot Ave in Dorchester... Fields Corner has its pubs, but as Healey says, they%26#39;re not especially outsider-friendly....Adams Village Dorchester has a place called Gerards that%26#39;s not so much a pub as an Irish restaurant (and it%26#39;s located next to a fun little Irish bakery called Green Hills)... Gerards and Green Hills are very friendly, welcoming places. The Corib in West Roxbury is great. And is the Irish Ale House in Dedham still going? It%26#39;s been a while since I%26#39;ve been out that way...

Thanks CoCo, and yes, the Irish Ale House is still going strong!

I also agree with Healey that the Black Rose can be considered touristy however my friends and I have always had a good time here be it during the week or weekends. Being from the area I find tourists more interesting to meet %26amp; mingle with. I have also noticed many other ';locals'; hanging around here after work etc. Fanueil hall is a great area to bar hop.

I just noticed this is Mick12345 %26#39;s only post %26amp; he%26#39;s supposedly from Boston. Maybe mick%26#39;s just messing with us.

The Burren in Somerbille is fantastic especially as they hold sessiuns (Celtic Music jam sessions) in the afternoons.

Warm Cape Cod waters

I have been going to the Cape for years with my family and we would always stay in the Eastham/Orleans area. Although I always thought the ocean beaches in that area were fun with the waves and everything, I remember not being able to do much swimming because it was so cold - even in July and August.

Anyways, now that I have my own family I would like to find other beaches on the ocean that may be more suited for swimming and have warmer water. From what I%26#39;ve read it seems the Dennis area beaches fit this profile - are there any that you can recommend specifically? What about other areas for warm water?

Warm Cape Cod waters

Either the bay or sound beaches are warmer than the Atlantic beaches. In the Dennis area, West Dennis beach is a well known, large beach. On the bay side there are a number of beaches but sometimes it%26#39;s harder to find a parking space.

On the bay there are also some areas with long flats and lots of tide pools which are great exploration areas for kids.

The warmest water might be some of the fresh water ponds - but that%26#39;s a whole different scene.

Warm Cape Cod waters

Hey Jazzy, Did you see the Best Beaches thread? It%26#39;s the one with 70+ comments from folk%26#39;s personal experience. I always recommend South Village and Mayflower. I just wrote about them in detail to another poster. Nose around on this board a bit and you%26#39;ll find a lot of good info to make your holiday in Dennis the greatest yet.

People from outside of New England should be aware of this reality: the water temps on Cape beaches vary drastically...

And anyone planning a Maine beach vacation should be aware that the water up there is bone-numbingly cold, even in August.

The beaches on Buzzards Bay (Bourne and Falmouth) will be a little warmer. Buzzards Bay is relatively shallow, compared to Cape Cod Bay, Vineyard/Nantucket Sound, or the National Seashore and the water will warm up a little more.

Whale Watching

Hello. I am staying at Paine%26#39;s Camground and will be going to a lot of Cape Cod League baseball games. On the 27th the league has an off day so i was debating on two things to do. One, take a ferry ride to Nantucket island or two go on a whale watching cruise. I am kind of leaning towards to second. What would you pick? If i do select whale watching, what is the best? Dolphin Fleet out of Princetown looks pretty good... can anyone comment on that? Also, if i took that, where do i park where i get there?

Thanks in advance,

G Man

Whale Watching

Dolphin is a good fleet, and they have a naturalist on board to discuss the whales you might see. So far, this has been the best year for whale spotting in recent years, with large numbers of endangered right whales. Be sure to take Bonine before you go out if you have a tendency to get seasick.

There are pay-to-park lots close to the area where you%26#39;ll embark. The Dolphin website -- whalewatch.com/dolphinfleet/whalewatchdirect… -- gives you a map with parking locations.

Take a jacket, because it can be chilly on the water even when it%26#39;s a warm day.

Whale Watching

We always use Dolphin Fleet - they%26#39;re the best!

Definitely use Dolphin Fleet. My husband and I just took a trip with them last week and they were very professional and knowledgeable. They actually use the trips out to see the whales as information gathering trips. They have names for each of the humpbacks spotted out in this area during their migration. This was definitely the highlight of our trip!

We parked in one of the lots a block off of Commercial Street. Parking was reasonable for the day. Just make sure you park near Macmillan Wharf, where the boats are docked.

If you are the least bit concerned about motion sickness, take the free dramamine they offer. Several men were in bad shape on the boat and did not find the trip very enjoyable. My husband and I bit the bullet and took the medicine and we didn%26#39;t have any trouble.

Enjoy the adventure! You will not regret it!

I would just caution that if you take Dramamine, you%26#39;re likely to get very, very sleepy later in the day, so don%26#39;t take it if you need to drive anywhere. Bonine is less likely to cause that side effect. Also, I have to say that I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s a good idea that they keep the jar of Dramamine open at the snack bar for free access by anyone who%26#39;s tall enough to reach it. It%26#39;s a medication, after all.

One thing about the whale watch boats, although they are in competition with each other, once the boats are out on the water, they all work together and share information over the radio. When times are tough, sometimes they will all go in together and hire a spotter plane.

No matter which one you take, you%26#39;re going to have a spectacular show. Guaranteed.

color cosmetics

Road Trip from Boston down south for 5 - 6 days

Hi All,

We are planning to go for a road trip starting from Boston covering Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburg,Niagara falls.

Has anyone covered all these areas in a single trip in 5 or 6 days? If, any suggested itenaries would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

KR

Road Trip from Boston down south for 5 - 6 days

I believe you should rethink this. While you could do the Eastern Seaboard in that time, adding Pittsburg and Niagara Falls really makes this trip impractical. Boston to Washington is an 8 hour drive - a full day in each in direction. Throw in Philadelphia, which is on the way, and add a couple of days in Washington, and you%26#39;ve used up your whole time. Just going to Niagara Falls is a 10 hour trip each way - in the opposite direction!!

AlanM

Road Trip from Boston down south for 5 - 6 days

I agree with AlanM. This sounds unpleasant.

I could imagine a fun 7 day trip to DC and Philly and Pittsburgh (though I%26#39;d do it differently---I%26#39;d go from Boston to DC (stopping in NYC for a night) and on the way back, hit Philly and then Amish country, which is gorgeous and a nice change from all those cities. I%26#39;ve done the Boston-Philly drive and it%26#39;s not bad at all. Adding DC woudln%26#39;t be too bad. It%26#39;s like another hour south.

If you%26#39;re seriously talking 5-6 days, I%26#39;d pick two cities on the East Coast and call it a trip.

If you%26#39;re really interested in Niagara, then I%26#39;d devote the time to going that way. Maybe there%26#39;s an interesting place to stop along the way (that%26#39;s a horrible drive, from what I hear).

So if I exclude Niagara falls, can the remaining cities by covered? Planning to Start afternoon of a friday and retuning next thursday morning. Is that feasible?

My question would be what is the purpose of your trip? Just to say you%26#39;ve been there or to actually stop and take in the cities? Washington DC alone would be a fabulous trip for 5 or 6 days.

I don%26#39;t feel you could even do Boston to Washington, Philly and Pittsburg in this time frame. Boston to Washington is at least 8 hrs with no traffic problems. There is so much to see in each of these places you could spend 5 days at just one or two. Do you have any particular reason to visit these all in the same trip?

Agreed. You need to lop of at least Pittsburgh as well.

Looking for hotel for husband & son (grown), 1 night 9/14.

Got ickets for them for the Redsox/yankees game on Friday 9/14. They can only stay in town that night. Something nice but doesn%26#39;t have to be fancy. IS there a suite hotle near Copley square? They will be sharing a room.

Thanks

Looking for hotel for husband %26amp; son (grown), 1 night 9/14.

Hi,

Try the Courtyard Marriott Copley Square, or the Brookline Holiday Inn. The Holiday Inn is nice, and fairly priced. It%26#39;s also a short T ride, or a longer walk to Fenway. The Marriott is in Copley Sq, on the Green Line, or you could also walk to Fenway from there.

A week along the Maine Coast during first week of September

My husband and I are planning a drive up the Maine coast in early September. Neither of us have ever been there. We want to see Portland. People mention Camden and Boothbay.

I%26#39;d love to hear everyone recommendations. Is it worth going to Aacadia Park? Any thoughts about Ogunquit or York?

We want to hear people%26#39;s favorite towns to visit.

We%26#39;d also like to incorporate a ferry ride to an island into the trip.

Thanks so much!

A week along the Maine Coast during first week of September

Portland is okay...like a small NE city. It reminds me of Providence and Worcester, but with a Maine sort of flavor to it.

I love Boothbay Harbor. That for me is quintessential Maine.

York is kind of honky-tonk, but fun.

A week along the Maine Coast during first week of September

Our favorites on the coast of Maine are Ogunquit, Boothbay harbor, Bar Harbor, Kennebunkport, Camden in this order. Ogunquit has beautiful beaches, great walking town, good restaurants. Boothbay Harbor is charming, a tourist town but a little off the beaten path , Bar Harbor a bit larger that the previous two but further away. There is quite a bit to do in this area. There is Arcadia Park which has many areas to explore, there is the downtown area with many shops, restaurants and pubs, there are boat excursions, kayaks to rent. Boothbay Harbor is small and quaint with not too much to do. Kennebunkport is another small, charming seaside town. Lastly, Camden which is a very pretty, charming seaside town. Portland has come a long way in the last few decades. There is the area called ';Old town'; where most of the sight seeing activity is. There are ferries to islands from Portland.

Thank you for your reply. Do you have any thoughts on how many nights in each town? Any favorite places to stay? Also, have you ever taken tour boat through Acadia?

Arcadia Park is definitely worth the trip if you are in Bar Harbor. I would say at least three nights in the Bar Harbor Area. Any of the other areas at least two nights. If you stayed in one of the towns along the Southern Coast of Maine, you could stay in one town %26amp; travel from there. I find it hard to advise on places to stay. Everyone%26#39;s expectations are different. In Ogunquit we have stayed at the Grand Hotel which we like a lot. It is a good size one- bedroom suite with a balcony. Have also stayed at the Meadowmere which is also nice but right on Rt 1. In Bar Harbor we have stayed at the Bar harbor hotel with is in a beautiful location right on the water and the center of town is right there. There are many other nice places that are not in the town.

Just about 1 month from now we will be in San Francisco. We are very excited about our trip to CA.

If you stop in Ogunquit, try staying 2 or three days. Try staying at the Anchorage Inn. It is centrally located to everything in town. No need to drive once your there.

There are some great restaraunts in town - Provence (french country), MC%26#39;s - (New England, located on the water in Perkin%26#39;s Cove), Angelina%26#39;s (Italian), The Old Village Inn or OVI to the locals (New England), Clay Hill Farm, Five O, Cafe Amore or Bessie%26#39;s(breakfast).

The food and drinks at the Front Porch are terrific and if you are in for a piano lounge, go upstairs. Warning: The comedian%26#39;s act in the evening is quite blue.

The Marginal Way is a beautiful 1 mile walk along the cliffs that provides some terrific views.

If you find yourself looking for something new to do, Kennebunkport is a quick 20 minute drive north on Route 1 and the Kittery outlet malls are a short 15 minute drive to the south. Portland is about an hour north by car and is also accessible by train (Amtrak Noreaster) from the Wells Station (10 minutes from Ogunquit) if you would like to do extend your stay in Ogunquit and do day trips to Portland.

I love Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. It%26#39;s north of Camden but not by much - if you%26#39;re heading that way you might as well.

Acadia has plenty of trails from easy to advanced if you like hiking. Drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain and enjoy the panorama views of the coastline. The Park also boasts miles of carriage trails, created by the Rockefellers in the 1930s. The gravel trails are easy to walk and you can criss-cross the island easily.

Bar Harbor itself is a nice little town, especially once the crowds thin out. September is perfect - the kids are back in school and there%26#39;s elbow room. Take advantage of low tide and walk out to Bar Island in the inner part of the harbor. It%26#39;s a fun spot to explore and SUVs are allowed on the beach during this time.

There are tons of places to stay in and around Bar Harbor - I like the Bar Harbor Inn the best. Perfect downtown location and lovely rooms. http://www.barharborinn.com/

September is my favorite time for the Maine Coast! Crowds have thinned, driving is much easier, and rates are lower. I grew up in Southern Maine, but have lived in California since college many years ago and now visit this area as a tourist almost every year (even got married in York ten years ago!) Ogunquit is my favorite town in the area and offers many great hotels of various sizes. I would advise staying within town so you can walk in the area. I also would not miss Portsmouth, NH - somewhat gentrified but nonetheless beautiful seacost town. Great Restaurants and breweries. Same with Portland - the old Port area of portland contains restaurants that usually make Gourmet%26#39;s magazine tops lists every year. Portland is also a great area to take a ferry to visit one of the many islands. Peak%26#39;s island is popular. I would suggest you take a few days to make the drive up to Bar Harbor and enjoy the beauty of the entire seacoast. Stay in Southern Maine one night and then perhaps one or two other places along the way. Don%26#39;t miss Camden - the location of ';Peyton Place';

Hope this helps.

Cape Cod Atlas?

As annual visitors to the Cape, we rely on our Miller%26#39;s Atlas (vintage l982) for our explorations. However, I think that it%26#39;s now time(!!!) to replace it and can%26#39;t find an updated one by that company. I also checked DeLorme and didn%26#39;t see one. Anyone out there have a favorite that they can recommend ( and where to purchase it? I need it in two weeks).

Cape Cod Atlas?

I know what you mean, our atlas is from about 1971 and is falling apart. We can%26#39;t even see who the publisher is because we are missing some end pages. However we still use it each year occasionally, know the Cape well enough after nearly 40 years for the most part. I have seen updated versions in several book stores on the Cape. You can probably pick one up when you get there.

Cape Cod Atlas?

There are two independent bookstores in Falmouth. No idea what they have in stock or are able to get on short notice, but maybe they can help. Booksmith, Falmouth Plaza or Inkwell, Main Street Falmouth.

Thanks for your suggestions. We%26#39;ll be camping in Eastham, do you know of any book stores nearby? I do know about the one in Brewster, we%26#39;ve gone there often and we%26#39;ll check that one out.

There%26#39;s a Booksmith in the Hearth and Kettle Plaza in Orleans.

Right. We%26#39;ve been there when we%26#39;ve camped at Nickerson. Thanks!

I like Delorme Cape Cod atlas and gazette smaller but more details then there Mass atlas. Most sports stores carry this like REI or EMS. but it is a hard find.

from the cape to gettysburg, pa

Taking my daughter, on a historical trip. We will be going from Cape Cod to Gettysburg. Can someone tell me if there are any stops along the way that we should take. I am planning on leaving very early in the morning and having to travel for about 8 hours by car. Am I correct?

from the cape to gettysburg, pa

8 hours COULD be right depending on when you drive up. You don’t want to be driving through New Haven during a weekday AM rush hour anymore then you want to be driving on the Cape on a Friday evening when it’s a bottleneck of local people from Boston and Providence who just got off work. Just consider what time it’s going to be when you pass through major cities – try to see it through a local’s eye and you’ll make it out to the Cape in 8 hrs no problem.

The only place I’ve ever really stopped right along the way that might fit the bill for you is Historic Mystic. http://www.mystic.org/

boston 6/25-6/27 - why so expensive?

Hi - husband and I are begin our trip to Maine with two days in Boston (just decided) and when trying to book a decent hotel it seems there is very little available and what is available is very expensive! Very little decent places under $350. What is going on at this time? Has anyone had any luck with Priceline for a 4* hotel at this time?

Thanks and looking forward to our last minute trip - just got Morrissey tickets!

boston 6/25-6/27 - why so expensive?

Hi,

There are a lot of conventions in town, and it%26#39;s Tourist season here.

You might want to check the Clarion Bulfinch, or the Holiday Inn/Government Center, as they are generally around $200/night.

Another less expensive option is the Hampton Inn on McGrath Hwy in Cambridge, which is next to the Lechmere Green Line station and is a 5 minute Green Line ride to Quincy Market and downtown. It%26#39;s also walking distance to the Museum of Science.

Priceline is another way to go, which might work for you.

color cosmetics

Any trendy/modern/hip B&Bs in the Cape Cod/MV/Nantucket area

My wife and I wanted to try something a little different and stay at a more hip/chic type of place (if it existed), rather than stay in your typical victorian/whicker/old-style B%26amp;B.

The Veranda House was one place I looked at, but I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions.

Thanks!

Any trendy/modern/hip B%26amp;Bs in the Cape Cod/MV/Nantucket area

Take a look at the Belfry Inn in Sandwich. Definitely not your typical inn since the building used to be a church. A lot of the stained glass windows are still there. You may also look at the Painted Lady (owned by the same person and it%26#39;s next to the Belfry). The owner has done a phenomenal job in renovating these two properties. Very atypical of your regular B %26amp; B.

IN Boston FOR 2 1/2 DAYS- Touring,Food, Shopping?

Hiya,

in Boston 22nd-26th Sep - what should i see? what tours and how much? cheap places to eat? and shopping - not designer goods though.

Will be staying in hostel - fenway - any nice pubs locally? will a lone female be ok by herself.

Is the subway cheaper per ticket, or is it worth buying a daily ticket?

thanks

Debs

IN Boston FOR 2 1/2 DAYS- Touring,Food, Shopping?

I%26#39;d buy the daily ticket if you%26#39;re planning on using the T to get to sites. If you%26#39;re taking one of the trolley tours, this might not be necessary.

Your ';What should i see?'; question is very broad. You might want to visit the Boston go-lists and Boston Overview sections of TripAdvisor first and come back here with more specific questions.

IN Boston FOR 2 1/2 DAYS- Touring,Food, Shopping?

Take a FREE guided tour of the Freedom Trail (starts at the National Park Service Visitor Center on State Street). Once you do that, you can look around and see some other things you might like, such as Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market...you can find history, entertainment, food, and shopping in one spot. :-) The New England Aquarium is right behind it and worth a visit.

For pubs, try the Quincy Market area which has several. Yes, Boston is a safe city for singles of both genders.

It%26#39;s ';safe'; but use precautions you%26#39;d use in any big city.

Where are Omni Sox tickets located?

I%26#39;ve never been to Boston, but hope to plan a 3-day surprise trip for my husband in July. Omni offers Sox tickets with their hotel package ($289/night with 2-night min., breakfast buffet, 2 tickets).

Does anyone know where their tickets are in the park?

Is this the cheapest/best package available to stay in Boston at a decent hotel with good location %26amp; see a game?

what can we walk to from the Omni?

How much is a taxi from the Boston ariport to Omni?

Where are Omni Sox tickets located?

Hi,

If you can ask the hotel where the tickets are, we can tell you if they are decent or not. To be honest, Fenway is not like other parks; it%26#39;s smaller and there are fewer bad seats than in a cavernous place like Yankee Stadium, for instance. I doubt the Omni will be selling you obstructed view seating, for example. The only way we can let you know, though, is if they will tell you in advance. I wouldn%26#39;t buy the package myself, unless they are willing to do that.

Otherwise, the package price sounds fine. The tickets alone will cost probably $100, plus there%26#39;s breakfast included.

The Omni is in an excellent location, right in the center of Boston, close to most of the tourist areas, and close to the T. It%26#39;s about a 30 minute walk to Fenway, but it%26#39;s right near the Green Line, so you can take the T to the park easily enough.

A taxi from the airport to the Omni will probably cost you around $25-$30 with tip and tolls figured in. However, if you don%26#39;t have much luggage, it%26#39;s really easy to get there from the Airport via the T%26#39;s Blue Line to Government Center, which is only two blocks away. That will cost you $2.00 per person each way.

Have fun!

Where are Omni Sox tickets located?

Hi mrsP2b,

I was also looking into the Omni package. As you know the price is $289 a night with a two night minimum. I rounded that to about $600.

I called the Omni and the reservationist wasn%26#39;t sure where the seats were located. She then asked a concierge who said the tickets were ';grandstand seats.'; That didn%26#39;t narrow things down very much because there are infield and outfield grandstands, and those seats are all over.

As this is a special occasion (my 25th wedding anniversary and husband%26#39;s 50th birthday) I wanted good seats (or at least to know where the Omni ones were so we wouldn%26#39;t be disappointed).

So I priced tickets for the same game on stubhub.com and found a pair of good seats marked up at a reasonable percentage compared to the original ticket price (I checked the Red Sox site to compare prices.)

I then decided to check out priceline (because there are just the two of us) to see if I could get a 4* hotel on the cheap. I got the 4* Marriott Copley Place for $85 a night. Priceline offered me another night at the same price, but we only needed the one night as we are going to Maine for the rest of our trip. Our total is $385. To compare apples to apples, adding in another night at the hotel would bring the total to $470. The only thing missing is breakfast.

So, I%26#39;m not really convinced the Omni package is a great deal, but it%26#39;s ok.

Looking for a weekly rental ?

Fiance and I are looking for a weekly rental condo or small home ? any suggestions of where to look ?

Looking for a weekly rental ?

www.weneedavacation.com

great cape cod and islands rentals. this is where we found our cottage for the last week in June and it was a tough decision! we%26#39;ve also used www.vrbo.com and www.cyberrentals.com.

Good luck!

Erin

Looking for a weekly rental ?

The online listing sites can be a great resource for finding your rental. However, don%26#39;t overlook the Real Estate Companies. I know it sounds like they might be more costly, but they often have the best inventory of properties. They also do a great job of getting your rental clean and tidy and you always know that if you have a problem, they are just a phone call away. That can be a big plus on a one week vacation. Good luck

go with congdon and coleman on nantucket. they are great

Where to stay? Help!

At last I have booked my flights for 20 Oct. Staying for 7 nights. Now where to stay? Its my first trip to Boston so I have no idea where to go. Central would be best but I dont want to spend more than $150 a night. What will I get tor that price. If I do go out of town , then where would be easy to get too and from. I want to do the normal tourset stuff and have a few beers in an Irish bar as my husband is Irish (only way I get him to come is the promise of a beer).

Where to stay? Help!

LOL!!!!

You could take your chances with Priceline and see what you can get for $150-/night downtown. Others on these boards have pointed out inexpensive places downtown (the Midtown and John Jeffries, I think....). I%26#39;d try Priceline/Hotwire to see if you could land a fancy place....

Check the recent post on Irish pubs... the query about the Black...

Plenty of ideas there...

Where to stay? Help!

Hi,

For central Boston at $150/night, you are looking at either the Midtown hotel, the Oasis Guest House, 463 Beacon St. Guesthouse, or a small room at the John Jeffries House. Basically, you are looking at a 1-star budget hotel or guest house, except if you luck out with a Priceline or Hotwire bid. If you can squeeze your budget a bit higher, to just under $200/night, you might get a room at the Clarion Bulfinch, or the Holiday Inn Select/Government Center, either of which would be a good choice for you.

Just keep in mind that you are coming at one of the busier times of the year. Winter discounts won%26#39;t be available yet.

Look up any of those suggestions here on TA; there%26#39;s plenty of reviews etc. for each.

To please your husband, take a tour of the Harpoon Brewery or the Sam Adams brewery. I prefer the former as it is more extensive. You hotel%26#39;s concierge will direct you. They also have websites. The tours are free or have a minimal charge.

There are many great sports bars in the North Station area on Canal Street among others and also pubs in th Quincy Market area.

If you don%26#39;t have your heart set on a particular hotel, try priceline. It will ask you what area of Boston you want to stay in. I would choose Copley or downtown boston with 4 stars. I recently bid on Copley area for August and received a rate of $89.00 for the Marriott, Copley Center which I am very excited about. Boston is a very walkable city so either area will be fine for seeing tourist sights. Both are central locations. Look into www.biddingfortravel.com You can find out what hotels have recently been won and the winning amts.

seeking more romance and nature in Dennis--

My sweety and I are Rhode Islanders staying in Dennis (near 6A) this week and we%26#39;d love to soak up as much local culture and nature as possible. We%26#39;re 30 years old, active, nature-lovers, don%26#39;t drink but love to dance. We%26#39;ve explored a lot so far, visiting three of the kettle ponds for hikes/picnics (Fresh Pond, Swan Pond, Flax Pond), several beaches. We picked up maps at the Chamber and enjoyed the Crowe%26#39;s Pasture preserve (lovely, wild, lots of birds, wow!). We checked out Nickerson and Bass River too - lovely reeds! I%26#39;ve been to the Cape many times before (camping in Wellfleet) and I always love finding hidden kettle ponds so we drive around with the topo map pond-seeking :) (any favorite ponds?? shhh, I know they%26#39;re supposed to be secret!)

*Food* -- I%26#39;m interested in suggestions for a few inexpensive (less than $10 each) places for us to grab a bite (breakfast or lunch or snack is fine). We love to cook and are cooking most dinners here with the local catch and produce, but I%26#39;d love to find a great bowl of lobster bisque. I hear Brewster Fish House is the place for that -- right? We really liked the fish sandwiches and hand-cut fries at Captain Frosty%26#39;s.

What%26#39;s the best local fish market? I want to find some scallops :)

How about ice cream? We thoroughly enjoyed excellent desserts and sweet goodies at Cafe Alfresco in Lemon Tree Village, Brewster.

Breakfast? Friends suggest The Cottage. Sandwiches at Bob%26#39;s?

Culture/nature: We%26#39;re going to visit the Ladies%26#39; Library of Brewster, plus the trails at the Musuem of Natural History (on a less chilly day). Where else should we stop? We%26#39;re from RI so we%26#39;re lovers of salty coastal food and culture.

Can we do a campfire on any of the beaches?

How about the prettiest kettle pond for a romantic picnic?

Thanks so much in advance. I always gain such great tips here -- that%26#39;s how I really learned to explore the hidden treasures of the Cape when I started camping here several years ago.

seeking more romance and nature in Dennis--

For Ice -Cream try Sundae School in Dennisport on Lower County Road. There is the ice-cream Smuggler on 6A if you%26#39;re looking for something closer, but I like the ice-cream/atmoshphere better at Sundae School (They hvae lots of old ice cream parlor memorabelia)

Near the Sundae School (also on Lower County Rd) is the Swan River fish market.

Red Cottage has a good breakfast,

Don;t know of anyplaces where you can have a campfire on town beaches though....maybe somebody else can give you some advice.

seeking more romance and nature in Dennis--

I think it’s only the towns of Truro or Wellfleet will let you have fires on the beach – get permits from the local fire house.

You might want to check out the Harwich Conservation Trust website (www.harwichconsevationtrust.org) for information about protected natural areas where you can walk and enjoy the birds %26amp; animals. Rent a canoe or kayak and explore Herring River, and be sure to take a stroll up Old North Road toward the reservoir.

While you%26#39;re in Brewster for your Museum of Natural History hike, hop over to the old fulling mill and wander around the mill pond and the herring run across the road. Lovely!

color cosmetics

Arrived in Boston and lovin it !

Arrived last night for 5 night stay in Boston. Staying in Jurys (Thanks TA ) Hotel in great location and staff are great. First room offered was a bit small but was offered a bigger room at the expense of losing bath to shower only.

Whole trip planned based on reading the forums on TA.

Spent this morning walking around Beacon Hill and enjoyed the ';not to be missed'; Duck tour this pm.

Not used ';T'; yet so need a bit of encouragement from you guys to tell me it is ';idiot proof'; enough for even me to cope with.

Planning to go to Rockport tomorrow. T then a BIG train ?

Do I buy Charlie tickets for the T and then do I buy my ';big'; train ticket before I board the train.

Tomorrow night going to Loeb theatre. Looks quite straightforward ? T to Harvard Sq ?

I have to say how friendly everyone has been on our first day. Even without asking Bostonians have noticed a biot of indecision ( to say the least) and have offered assistance.

A city to be proud of.

Any help / encouragement warmly received. Thanks

Arrived in Boston and lovin it !

Glad to hear that you%26#39;re enjoying yourself! By all means, give the T a try! It%26#39;s not difficult to figure out--you%26#39;ll do just fine! Yes--take the T to Harvard Square (red line train heading to Alewife). It%26#39;s been a long time since I took the commuter train to Rockport, so others will be able to tell you how to get your tickets. BTW, it%26#39;s a short walk from the train station in Rockport to the area by the ocean. Enjoy the rest of your stay!

Arrived in Boston and lovin it !

Welcome to Boston!

Be assured, the T is very easy to figure out. Keep track of which train you need to be on (i.e. do you want to go inbound, towards the city or outbound and if the line you%26#39;re on has branches like Ashmont or Braintree, which of those do you need to be on and which train is approaching the station... not hard. The Charlie Card system is a bit of a pain, but they have T employees standing by to help out.

Don%26#39;t be scared. If you get on a train going the wrong direction, get off at the next stop and go up and over to the other side and get a train going in the other direction. The ';bad areas'; are pretty far out from the center of town, so...it%26#39;s unlikely that you%26#39;ll mistakenly find yourself in one unless you%26#39;re totally not paying attention. Once you%26#39;re on the train, just double check to make sure you%26#39;re on the right one when you roll into the next station so that you can correct any mistakes right away.

You%26#39;ll need a separate ticket for the Rockport train. Go to North Station (there are several ways to get there, via green or orange line)...follow signs for commuter rail. Inside North Station (the old North Station, which is connected to whatever the Boston Garden is called these days... (Boston Garden is different from the Public Gardens...it was the Fleet Ctr and now it%26#39;s the TD BankNorth Garden or something like that.)

Inside North Station, you%26#39;ll find ticket sellers and schedules. The big trains are more expensive but you%26#39;ll soon see why... nicer ride, faster, farther distance.

Have a GREAT time! I love Rockport. Have some fudge for me!

:-)

smithy,

log on to mbta.com. it gives you everything you need to know about public transportation--subway, commuter rail, buses, etc. Nothing to worry about on the T, except falling down! the ';conductors'; are a little heavy-footed if you know what I mean. Grab a hold of something before you start moving.

Yes,.... Healey%26#39;s right... don%26#39;t be one of those tourists who%26#39;s reading the map instead of holding on! Every once in awhile, someone goes flying! :-)

Just got home last night from our 10 day trip to Boston and area.

The T was extremely easy to use! We bought a one day pass (actually good for 24 hours). Could not find a Charlie Card anywhere. They didn%26#39;t have any more to give out.

The people of Boston were great! Everyone we talked to was extremely friendly and helpful! Everywhere we went people would ask if we needed help if we looked the least bit confused.

We drove to our hotel in Cambridge (first 2 nights) and used the T from there. Then we drove into Boston from Woburn on a Saturday and Sunday. We had no problems with a good map. We parked in the Boston Common garage for $10 a day (weekend rate). We drove through Boston a couple other times during the week on the freeway.

What Town is best for children

We are in the process of planning our summer vacation andI was wondering what town in Cape Cod would be best to keep three 9yr old boys entertained and any suggestions of where to stay. I have never been to Cape Cod so I know nothing about the area. If anyone could help I would really appreciate it.

What Town is best for children

Dennis should be good..lots of mini golf, trampolines, go karts, West dennis beach...

What Town is best for children

And if you stay in Dennis, be sure to go to a performance at Harwich Junior Theatre (www.hjtcapecod.org). The kids will love it!

And Cape Playhouse on 6 A. Ice cream at Smugglers later...

Best driving route from Boston to Cape Cod? Urgent help need

Hi! again to all Boston/ Cape Cod Expert

Will take a one day trip from Boston this Friday, could anyone be so kind to give me a quick response on driving direction that could avoid (or minimize ) traffic? Will be leaving to Boston tomorrow, appreciate your advice at the soonest.

Best driving route from Boston to Cape Cod? Urgent help need

...a Friday during summer is a really bad time to be making the drive...

I usually go Southeast x-way to Rt 3, straight shot, but ... maybe someone out there has a better idea. Some people I know go down 24 or 95, but....I%26#39;m not sure how much of an advantage if any that might give you. You might avoid traffic but you%26#39;d add distance.

128 is a mess on Fridays after 3, typically...

Best driving route from Boston to Cape Cod? Urgent help need

A one day trip to Cape Cod on a Friday?? You%26#39;ve gt to be kidding! Why don%26#39;t you take the ferry from Boston to Provincetown instead?

parking

hello the cost of parking at a garage or hotel in boston seems high, can i street park overnight, does anyone know what the policy is in boston thanks.paul

parking

You can park overnight in any legal space, unless otherwise restricted. Watch out for ';Resident Only'; signs and be sure to move your car before either the meters kick-in (usually 9 AM, but sometimes earlier) and/or the two hour limit, which covers all of the Downtown Area during the day until 6PM usually. Check any meters where you park for specific hours.

In general, it%26#39;s a real hastle that%26#39;s not worth it, as nighttime garage parking rates are at their cheapest anyway. If you really want to save both money and aggravation, don%26#39;t bring your car.

parking

I agree....

I%26#39;m a huge cheapskate, but the street spot idea is too much hassle. The ';meter maids'; are totally on the job and... how much of a bummer would it be if you got a huge ticket (or your window smashed if you chose a bad area for on-street parking) or whatever...

You%26#39;d be better off not bringing the car.

Depends where %26amp; when you are talking about. Some areas have lots of free parking on Sun. so parking overnight late eve Sat to Sun wouldn%26#39;t be a big deal.

During the week is a different story. If you park late evening %26amp; leave b4 8am you could be OK. Meter maids usually start @ 8am (that%26#39;s when you usually have to start paying the meter too) and are on top of it. If you move to another meter it has to be on a diff street or they can %26amp; do still ticket you. So you can%26#39;t just move say 3 meters up. Some of my co-workers play the meter game %26amp; it%26#39;s a huge pain - sometimes they%26#39;re gone for a looong time trying to find another open meter somewhere else..........

Meters run 8am to 8pm (it used to be 6pm). You can park overnight at any meter, but be aware for signs that say No Ovenight Parking or Resident Parking Only. There are also some areas that have Resident Only parking from 6pm-8am.

Hi,

If you are talking about parking overnight Saturday night into Sunday, it%26#39;s a reasonable option, as meters are not in effect then.

However, if you are talking about a weekday, be careful. Most meters are on until 6pm, and some go as late as 8pm. Also, most start at 8am, and to be safe, you%26#39;d need to be out of the space probably by 7:50am. You technically cannot park in a two-hour metered space for more than two hours, so if you plan to feed the meter all day, you will probably get a ticket anyhow.

Having said that, I see that you are from Ottawa...is this your own car, or a rental? If it%26#39;s your own car, maybe you could risk a ticket, because honestly I don%26#39;t think the city of Boston will be chasing you down to pay it; there%26#39;s not much they can do. If it%26#39;s a rental car, you will be held liable.

Heads-up on the overnight parking on some of the main streets, i.e., Mass Ave in Back Bay. At midnight they tow cars to make way for street cleaning. Not a fun party.

Please Help

Could someone tell me where to stay on the Cape? We are thinking of Hyannis, MV or Nantucket. Could you please tellme the differences, places closest to the beach to stay and shopping with good dining.

Please Help

Well, first of all, MV and Nantucket are not on the Cape. They are islands which you reach by ferry or plane. Suggest you get a good guide book, Kim Grant%26#39;s book is often recommended on this forum. I, personally, would not stay in Hyannis , too commercial for me. My recommendation would be Orleans or Chatham. Lots of beaches, shopping, restaurants but more of the real Cape feel.

Please Help

I would have to agree about Hyannis - it is very commercial. Falmouth is a very charming town. I could give you more specific info if I knew how long you were staying.

Sturbridge or Deerfield to visit????

Hi

We will be visiting from Australia in December.

We will be driving from NY to Boston on Dec 27th and will go up to Springfield - see the Dr Seuss garden

Holyoke to see dinosaur footprints

Amherst - visit Scrapbook shop (not a necessity, only going because it was nearby)

We were planning on going to Old Sturbridge Village after this and then to our accommodation in Burlington.

We were then planning on going to Old Deerfield Village and Yankee Candle Shop (a must visit for me) at South Deerfield on December 31 when we leave to drive to Woodstock (overnight) or how ever far we get towards our destination of Stowe for the 1st of Jan.

We were planning on driving to Deerfield and then up to Rockingham, Weston, Ludlow, Woodstock.

Question:

Is Old Deerfield Village worth visiting, I have found out that the Flynt Centre will be closed on New Year%26#39;s Eve (day) and I think the other ';houses';. I don%26#39;t know whether the shops will be open. Is this whole village shut??? I%26#39;m not quite sure I understand what the whole place is, whether it is a real town or not.

If we swapped the days for Deerfield with Old Sturbridge this would mean driving down to Old Sturbridge on the New Year%26#39;s Eve (day) and then back up to Vermont - which kind of feels like going out of our way.

I am thinking the kids will like the Old Sturbridge place and we will just have to live with the fact that Old Deerfield will be closed and just ';look'; at the stuff that is open.

Please help on whether we should still stick to our original driving plans???

Thanks

Sturbridge or Deerfield to visit????

Oops, I knew there was another question.

Shelburne Falls, Bridge of Flowers. Is this worth going to in winter?

What else is there to see here? I really like country style crafts, do they have any nice shops worth driving here for?

I also just found out Old Sturbridge Village is not open on Mondays, so I guess I can%26#39;t swap the driving days.

Sturbridge or Deerfield to visit????

Hello, I grew up in a bordering town of Deerfield, maybe I can help.

';Old Deerfield Village'; is really just a short street that is at the very most a mile long, which is lined with old house and a couple attractions, like the school house and the inn, but there really isn%26#39;t much to see or do. They have a large craft fair that is set up in spring and fall which is worth seeing, but in winter it will be cold and probably snowy and not worth the walking around. If you are going to Yankee Candle, you could easily drive through Deerfield village just to see it since it is only a few miles away. There a only a couple tiny shops in the village, not worth going out of your way for.

Old Sturbridge Village is much more interesting, informative and offers activities for families. We took many field trips there in elementary school, though I have never been there in the winter.

The town of Shelburnfalls is a nice little place to go, but the bridge of flowers is only open from spring to fall when there are flowers in bloom. The town is also very small, one main st, but it has a bunch of little artsy stores and shops and there is a glass blowing studio that you can view. It also has the ';pot holes'; a local natural wonder where the river water has washed away deep passages in the stone, check out shelburnefalls.com/attractions/potholes.html

How old are your kids, elementary school, high school?

Depending on their age there are some other places you might like to stop at, like Magic Wings. It is a live indoor butterfly conservatory, just up the road from Yankee Candle, where you can tour the interior gardens and let butterflies land on you. There is also the Eric Carle museum in Amherst Ma, http://www.picturebookart.org/Home

and just down the road is Atkins Market, which is a great little market will a fresh bakery, deli, and lots of local product and gifts, a good place for lunch or a pastry.

Also if you have extra time Northampton is a great town to wander around in. There are a lot of unique shops, book stores, a free little art gallery (also Smith College art gallery), Thornes Market Place, and fantastic restaurants (and Harold%26#39;s Ice Cream which even smells divine). Northampton has a unique atmosphere and is deffinately worth a few hours of your trip.

Are you going to the Western Mass area on your way to Boston or on your way to Vermont? It is about an hour and 1/2 to 2 hours from Springfield to Boston and about the same from Springfield to Woodstock Vt.

I would reccomend going to Sturbridge on the way to Boston, and do all the other things when you go back to Wstern Ma on your way to VT.

There are some nice places to stop in Vermont if you have a chance, like Brattleboro, which has some cute shops, Queechee, Belows Falls and I wouldn%26#39;t miss Burlington, even if it seems a little out of the way from Stowe (maybe a hour + between them) it is a great little city, that is hip yet quaint and has lots of great shops and restaurants and winter is a great time to go.

I hope this has helped you, with out over whelming you. If you need any more info let me know. Maybe someday I%26#39;ll make it to Australia and you can tell me what to explore.

Hi

Gee thanks you have just told me almost everything I need.

Kids are 6 %26amp; 7 years old

Yes was going to Springfield, dinosaur foot prints Sturbridge on the way to Burlington.

Then after seeing Boston area leaving to drive back across to Yankee Candle shop and up through Vermont.

I have allowed 1 day to travel from Burlington, MA to Woodstock or even further.

The things I want see (**) are:

** Yankee Candle Shop

Rockingham: ** Vermont Country Store

Weston

Ludlow

Plymoth Notch

Woodstock (**) (maybe overnight here)

Then:

Woodstock

Quechee Gorge Village

Sharon

Northfield Falls (country shop here, covered bridge)

Montpelier State House, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Bragg Farm Sugarhouse %26amp; Gift Shop

Stowe

3 nights at Stowe

One day skiing or snow playing with kids

One day to drive from Stowe to Burlington, VT

and around that area

Things I like:

Quaint style village towns (tourist place recommended one of the fall drives) and suggested places like Sharon. Covered bridges, country craft shops like bathroom accessories, primitive dolls or craft, not glass or anything like that.

So if you have any suggestions on places along the way, feel free to tell me. Do you think we will get further than Woodstock?

The Yankee Candle shop sounds really great especially with the Christmas section too. So I have planned on 1-1.5 hours here.

We are early risers but things don%26#39;t open early!!

Someone said in the Boston forum that Springfield wasn%26#39;t really worth the visit? We were only going to see the Dr Seuss memorial gardens.

Perhaps there are other more worthwhile places between New York City and Burlington (via Dinosaur State Park and Old Sturbridge Village) that you can recommend?

Western Massachusetts iis very nice. This includes towns like Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Lee. I think these are the kinds of little towns you are looking for. Southern Vermont also is also nice. Even the ';big'; cities in Vermont tend to be like nice little towns.

Just be careful on New Years Eve. Almost everything closes early (like 4 to 6 PM), so most shops are not open. And restaurants often have ';special'; menues where they jack up the prices because of New Years.

You may want to try and be in Boston at that time to experience ';First Night';, where the city is abuzz for New Years eve day, with music and activities everywhere. There%26#39;s a parade at five, fireworks for the kids at seven, and superb fireworks for the adults at midnight. There are ice sculptures around and ice scating on the Boston Common. It%26#39;s really special.

You might also want to check out the Hancock Shaker Village in the Berkshires of Ma (which is where Lee, Stockbridge and Great Barrington are) It is about as far west as you can go in Ma, but it is not too far off I95 and you can continue on to VT through route 7 and get the scenic views.

http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/

I would have liked to go to Hancock Shaker Village but we just don%26#39;t have the time. I too would have liked to drive Route 7 but I guess you just can%26#39;t do it all.

So I thought we%26#39;d drive straight from NY to Sturbridge so that we make sure we have the time to spend there and then drive up to the Yankee Candle Shop (hopefully stopping at the Dinosaur Prints at Holyoke) along the way for a quick look - although this does say it is only open until November. What does this mean? If it is a reservation/park then couldn%26#39;t you just go in there (it is free)????

I sent them another email but still no reply.

Then drive across to Burlington for our accommodation.

We do have a day planned when we are at Stowe to be able to drive around, this is when I plan on driving to Burlington and depending on how long we spend there, maybe drive some of the Route 7 then.

We have a free night to book around this area before driving up to Montreal.

I am guessing that our driving on New Year%26#39;s Eve will end up with us at around the Ludlow/Woodstock area. I am not booking any accommodation, does anyone think we will have any problems finding something (but not exhorbitant rates)? We would need at least 2 doubles or something because of 2 children.

Does Woodstock and other places in Vermont really look like this (see link below) in winter? Or are they just great photos????

http://www.woodstockvt.com/winter.php

I really hope they do.

Hello, sorry it took me so long to reply this last time. I just wanted to tell you that the park probably closes in Nov. due to the weather. I assume everything there is outside and because there is a high chance of freezing temps and the possibility of snow, people wouldn%26#39;t think of it as a top destination for late fall so the place simply closes down in the slow season. This means that even though it is ';free'; entrance, when it is closed you are most likely not allowed to enter since there is no one there.This email is to contact someone from the park, they can probably give you a deffinate answer, or maybe even set something up for when you will be here, it never hurts to ask... pvregion@ttor.org

Also the pictures from the Woodstock Vt site are what the area looks like, but be prepared for the snowy scenes if you will be here in Dec...the lovely green pastures and multi color trees will probably be covered in snow, or at least all the leaves will have fallen from the trees. Snow coverd scenery is beautiful, be be causious becasue driving in it in VT can be very treacherous. They don%26#39;t always plow all the roads and there have been a few time when I have gotten stuck driving up the highway in a big snow storm when the road became impossible to drive on...but it just adds to the adventure.

Good Luck.

Thanks for your help. We are really looking forward to the scenery.

color cosmetics

Suggestions for Mass. Summer Vacation?

Has anyone visited the area near the Yankee Candle shop?

Is this a touristy area? Are there other things to do around there, we are looking for a nice area :

- no more than 4 hours from NY

- no more than 1/2 hour drive to antique malls

- nice hotel within walking distance to breakfast or restaurant

Thank you!

Suggestions for Mass. Summer Vacation?

From what I hear, Yankee Candle is a big draw to this area. There is also a butterfly conservatory near by. Northampton MA is a nice college town with a busy downtown, but since you would be there in Summer, it should be a little quieter. The Basketball Hall of Fame is in Springfield, just off I-91 about 20 minutes south. I don%26#39;t know the area real well, but I aside from Yankee Candle, I would not think of the area as a ';touristy area';

I%26#39;d suggest you check out the southern Berkshire hills of western Massachusets. Towns like Great Barrington, South Egremont, Stockbridge, Sheffield, New Marlboro and Lenox would offer lots of cultural things to do and also have a number of antique places.

Westernmass

Suggestions for Mass. Summer Vacation?

There are some good antique shops in the area. As the previous poster mentioned, there is the Basketball Hall of Fame, the cities of Springfield, Amherst and Northampton (lots of shopping in Northampton).

There is also a Six Flags out that way. You can spend the better part of a day at the Yankee Candle factory in South Deerfield. There is quite a bit to do there.

I lived 10 min north of Yankee Candle until I was 23 and it is a nice area, but there isn%26#39;t a lot to do. There are not many if any nice hotels, and none with in walking distance to anything. Like listed in the other comments, Northampton is a great town with lots of restaurants and artsy shops, but I wouldn%26#39;t spend more than a day there, the butterfly conservatory is alright, the Mohawk trail is a nice drive with a couple antique places, though most of them around here are not that great. Shelburne Falls is a tiny little town with some nice little shops, the bridge of flowers and the ';pot holes'; where the river has carved away stone, but again only entertaining for a few hours. There is nothing in Springfield and I would completely avoid it. Also in Deerfield is the historic center which you can tour. There are some nice inns around there, if you like the old traditional style, the Deerfield Inn and the Whatley Inn, and they both have restaurants. Yankee Candle is a nice place with lots and lots of candles, as well as home decor, the Christmas Villege and such but I wouldn%26#39;t reccomend basing a vacation around it, especially in summer when it is hot and very humid and there are no places around to swim around here. I hope this doesn%26#39;t sound too negative, I just wouldn%26#39;t want you be dissapointed. I do enjoy my home area but there just isn%26#39;t a lot to do. The berkshires are lovely or even the coast of Ct where you can enjoy the water, the little towns, tour the Thimble Islands or venture to Block Island, or I would suggest even traveling to Newport RI if that interests you. I hope this was a little helpful, not discouraging.

I spend 2 weeks in the Pioneer Valley every summer, and I NEVER get bored! I grew up there, and I currently live in Berkeley, CA. What these responders aren%26#39;t telling you about is the miles of bike trails (rail trails) and the many river activities, from swimming to fishing to kayaking/canoing. Plus, the area is so drop dead gorgeous, and it%26#39;s quiet in the summers, when all the students are gone. You can have all your fancy vacations and hotels and touristy shops--just give me an old country house B%26amp;B near the river and a bike trail and a good fruit %26amp; vegetable stand, and I%26#39;m good until the money runs out...

Baseball

As part of my summer-long quest to see as much different baseball as possible, I want to catch a game in the Cape Cod League. That, of course, leads me to want to see one in Chatham.

Quick question about it though. Do they sell tickets for these games or is it basically just come, find a seat and enjoy?

Thanks for any help!

Baseball

This is from the Cape Cod League website

(www.capecodbaseball.org):

Ticket Information

What Tickets ?

There are no tickets for any Cape League games.

How do they do it ?

Each Team including the Cape League is a non profit organization. The mission of the Cape Cod Baseball League is to provide affordable family entertainment. Some teams may ask for a donation at the gate, other%26#39;s may ';pass the hat';. Fund raising is a year long process with each team and the League dependent upon donations, contributions and sponsors. We hope when you attend a game, you will choose to help support the tradition of the Cape League as the premiere summer collegiate baseball league.

Baseball

Well, good to know for sure. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it! I%26#39;m going to start plotting games I think I can see. Should be fun if I can make it!

nightlife near omni?

Are there casual bars to walk to from the Omni hotel? or should we take a cab? where to go? we%26#39;re late 20%26#39;s/early 30%26#39;s couple like fun 90%26#39;s rap/dance music %26amp; current hip hop, pop with crowd our age.

any recommendations, and how to get there? is it safe to walk around at night near the Omni?

where%26#39;s the %26#39;cheers bar%26#39; located? walking distance?

nightlife near omni?

You%26#39;ll have plenty of places within walking distance. The Cheers ';replica'; bar is in Quincy Market, a 10 minute walk from your hotel, as is the ';original Cheers';, the Bull and Finch Pub, on Beacon street. It%26#39;s quite safe to walk around. Just use your nnormal ';city smarts';.

nightlife near omni?

You%26#39;re best bet for bars is Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market area. Like Alan said, it%26#39;s about a ten minute walk. There are a number of diffferent bars for all tastes.

The Porches

I was hoping to stay at The Porches for two nights (Sat. and Sun.) but was informed by the reservation%26#39;s desk that I would also have to pay for Friday night. I thought that this may be part of a rate-package (i.e. pay for Friday also and get a reduced rate). But no, I really would have had to pay for three nights regardless if I was only staying for two.

This is seems to be a strange and counterproductive policy.

The Porches

While researching hotels for my upcoming wedding, I found that 3 night minimums are quite common in the summer months! My rooms are booked for this weekend, which was the last weekend before the 3 night minimum from what I can tell.

Westernmass

The Porches

As business owners ourselves, we understand the importance of making the most of peak seasons. However, when I called, I was not informed that The Porches were booked for the weekend. In fact, I was told that rooms were available.

The bottom line is that you lost out on a customer who was willing to pay for two rooms and probably would have come back again if the experience was positive.

I%26#39;m not questioning your ability to make this decision - I just feel that it is truly counterproductive and somewhat shortsighted. We found another hotel, of equal or greater quality, who was willing to provide us with two nights lodging.

Thanks for your time and attention.

While I can understand a minimum stay during the summer and fall in New England I am quite surprised that a place in North Adams would require a 3 night stay. Most places only go for a 2 night minimum on the weekends and don%26#39;t really care if it is Fri and Sat or Sat and Sun. I guess they figure they will get enough spillover from Williamstown to make it work for them, or they just get lucky and find enough people willing to fork over another night%26#39;s lodging and not have to do any work.

I just finished looking at the web site for the Porches and while it is not easy to find information I finally did find their reservation policy and it clearly states that from May 19 through Nov 10 a 2 night minimum stay on the weekends is required, nothing about a 3 night minimum or having to pay for nights when you are not there. Maybe they didn%26#39;t think Sun should count as the second night.

Red Sox Hotel Package and Tickets Value?

Does anyone have a package booked with Omni ?

We are looking to see if they have any left or if anyone knows if $289 with 2 tickets and breakfast is a good deal for Outfield Grandstand for Boston Package?

Red Sox Hotel Package and Tickets Value?

Call the hotel to ask about availability. As for value, scroll down a few lines and check out this thread. One person thinks it%26#39;s ok, another isn%26#39;t convinced.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60745-i48-k125694鈥?/a>

Red Sox Hotel Package and Tickets Value?

Sounds good to me. My hotel qouted me 225.00 for each red sox ticket. That did not include a room or breakfast.

I was considering the Omni deal too, it%26#39;s just I found I could do better getting my hotel room on priceline and buying the tickets at stubhub.com.

If you just want to go to experience the thrill of Fenway, than outfield grandstand may be fine for you. Also, tickets are tough to find. Ont hat rare occasion when I get to glimpse of a game on TV I am amazed at how filled the park is. Quite different from when I was in college.

So, just shop around a little...and compare apples to apples. If the Omni deal works for you, don%26#39;t look back and just enjoy.

Family restaurants in Edgartown

We will be staying at the Winnetu mid-week in August. We will be doing the outdoor, traditional seafood meal at the Winnetu, but would like to find a couple other great places to eat. Our kids are 10 %26amp; 7 and well-behaved -- but, they%26#39;re still kids. They%26#39;d prefer something other than seafood, and don%26#39;t do well waiting an hour for a table or eating at 9 pm. Any ideas for us on our first trip to Martha%26#39;s Vineyard? Is the upscale restaurant at the Winnetu worth the money? Thanks for any help you can give us!

Family restaurants in Edgartown

Hi - The Wharf is a great place for families. The menu has everything you can think of on it and the food is very good. It would be my first choice of where to take your family.

The Seafood Shanty is also good and family friendly.

The Newes From America is an interesting place to go too. It%26#39;s in the Kelley House. I%26#39;d go early though as it is on the small side and does get crowded easily. The burgers are great, the salads are always good too.

If you%26#39;re considering Oak Bluffs there are a few good places there too. Linda Jean%26#39;s is family oriented, the food is always good and the prices are also family friendly.

Pomodoro%26#39;s is a good place for pizza or Italian food.

And Giordano%26#39;s is family and price friendly also.

Good luck and good eating...

Family restaurants in Edgartown

Thanks for the suggestions -- great ideas!

I agree with MV2 suggestions - however, while the Warf is good, it has notoriously bad service, takes forever to get your food. The food is good, but if you and your kids don%26#39;t like to wait, this isn%26#39;t the place for you.

In Oak Bluffs, I%26#39;d go to Smoke n Bones - it%26#39;s a fabulous rib joint..picures of bones on the ceiling, great food, great atmosphere. You do have to wait - go early - but you can wait outside and have fun while you do. Bring a card game or a frisbee. Definitely worth the wait!

Also in Oak Bluffs is Off Shore Ale House, another favorite of our family. Great atmosphere and they tout the best burger on the Island (I%26#39;d have to agree). They also have a wonderful pub salad and brick oven pizzas.They brew their own beer, which is great for adults, and have a big barrel of peanuts in the shell which you can dip into at will and throw the shells on the floor, which kids love.

Vineyard Haven - another place worth the wait is the Black Dog Tavern, a famous Vineyard eatery. It%26#39;s on the water, so bring something for the kids to do outside and you%26#39;ll be fine.

Enjoy!

color cosmetics

Need advice on a great hotel

Will sincerely appreciate any advice as to whether it would be a good idea to stay at the Intercontinential Hotel if we are going to a Red Sox%26#39;s game. I%26#39;m not certai about the transportation issue, if we could get a taxi or take the subway. I understand it is about 2.5 miles from Fenway Park. Thank you so much for any and all help

Need advice on a great hotel

Hi, Mom,

Taking the subway to Fenway Park is fairly easy. Just walk south on Atlantic Avenue (the street in front of the hotel) for maybe 5 minutes to South Station and take the Red Line T going inbound/Alewife. Ride 2 stops to Park St. and change to any outbound Green Line train EXCEPT THE ';E.'; Get off at Kenmore Station and follow the crowds! I estimate the trip will take 30-40 minutes door to door.

You can certainly get a taxi in front of the hotel. The trip to Fenway would probably take less time but, of course, cost more.

You can familiarize yourself with the route by looking at the subway maps posted in all the stations. The T system is very easy to use.

My only reservation about taking the T to the game is that the Green Line will be crowded, but for lots of people that is part of the

excitement.

Have a great time,

Steve

Need advice on a great hotel

Confused Mom hopefully you%26#39;ll be ';enlightenedMom'; after some good replies to this post. No, the Intercontinental isn%26#39;t a great hotel if you%26#39;re going to a Sox game. Bostonian_in_Exile gave you spot on instructions as to how to get to the game via the T, but why not opt for a hotel a litle closer--maybe within walking distance. I vote for The Hotel Commonwealth. It%26#39;s located right in Kenmore Square, a short 3 minute walk to Fenway Park. There%26#39;s also a Green Line T stop (Kenmore) right outside the hotel if you want to navigate the city for the rest of the trip. visit mbta.com for all public transportation info.

Hi,

If your main criterion is getting to Fenway easily, then I%26#39;d second a vote for the Hotel Commonwealth. It%26#39;s a very nice hotel, on a par with the Inter Continential, and it%26#39;s in Kenmore Sq., about a 5 minute walk from Fenway.

Other options which would be easier for getting to Fenway:

Colonnade Hotel, Back Bay Sheraton, Back Bay Hilton, Eliot Hotel, Omni Parker House, Westin or Marriott at Copley Place. All of these hotels are either a decent walking distance from Fenway, or are on the Green Line, so you can get directly to the park without taking taxis or changing trains.

Check out the Omni Parker House they have Baseball Packages with Tickets

Intercontinential is THE best hotel in boston, very hip! anywhere is close when the ';t'; (subway) is close by, and u are right there if u stay there

outside boston city...

Hi

I%26#39;ll be in Boston in late Aug 07 - I%26#39;d love to find somewhere a drive away from the city; a smallish more personal town with a harbour / fishing village feel :) Would love any suggestions. Don%26#39;t mind a bit of a drive either.

Many thanks

J.

outside boston city...

Any of the North Shore towns should fit what you%26#39;d like... Try Salem, Gloucester, Manchester, Rockport, etc.

outside boston city...

Cape Ann, which includes Gloucester, Rockport, etc., is what you%26#39;re after. I love Gloucester, but it%26#39;s very much a working town, with commercial fishing boats coming and going, etc. -- that%26#39;s part of what I like about bit, and it sounds like you might too. Whenever I%26#39;m in the Boston area with a little time to kill, I try to make it up to Gloucester. Rockport is a bit more picture-postcard-ready, with lots of small stores, etc. I really enjoyed the half-day I spent hiking around the old granite quarry at Halibut Point State Park near Rockport. Gettting all the way out to Rockport would be less than an hour drive from Boston, or if you%26#39;d prefer not to drive you could take the MBTA Commuter Rail Rockport/Newburyport line out. I also like Newburyport, which is a little bit farther north of Cape Ann. For more details, Google ';Cape Ann';, ';Gloucester';, ';Rockport';, etc.

For a much smaller, less touristy area, you could visit Hull, Cohasset and Scituate. The drive along the shoreline is gorgeous (mapquest Jerusalem Road)... Scituate Harbor is quaint, has shops and seaside dining.

Another fishing-focused area is New Bedford, which is more of a city, but it has an historic area complete with cobblestone streets. Like Gloucester, it%26#39;s a real working fishing town. If you want something more picturesque, try Rockport.

Hey - thanks a lot for the suggestions... I love the internet! I%26#39;m busy researching the area and finding somewhere to stay. Thanks again for your efforts :)

Regards

John

Hi,

Also, you might like Newburyport, Ipswich or Marblehead, all on the North Shore of Boston, only an hour or less drive away.

Marblehead and Gloucester for sure, make sure u eat some clam chowder when there because it is great and THE spot for new england clam chowder, check out gordons as in the fishery! (gloucester) also when in marblehead, try finn%26#39;s its great eat and great view of marblhead neck (ocean)....then make your way to swapscott (5 mins from marblehead) make some time for drinks @ red rock....RIGHT on the water. good luck!

Boston Whale Watching

Hi all! I%26#39;m going to Boston at the beginning of August and have recently booked a whale watching tour. I was just wondering if you are guaranteed to seer whales and if it is a worthwhile experience?

Boston Whale Watching

We took the Aquarium%26#39;s Whale Watch tour -

the guarantee was if you don%26#39;t see a whale, you get another ticket for another tour.

Yes it was worthwhile - it was fun trip for us.

Boston Whale Watching

In my opinion, there are pro%26#39;s and cons to whale watching trips:

Whale Watching Pro%26#39;s:

- nice boat ride if the weather is good and if the weather turns bad, there%26#39;s shelter in the boat.

-nice boat ride includes gorgeous city views exiting and entering the Harbor

-chance to see whales, pretty cool

-chance to photograph said cool whales

-fun and educational for kids especially

Whale Watching Cons:

-long boat ride

-terrible if the weather is not good (too hot/too cold/cloudy)

-sometimes when you see whales, all you see it a tiny tail or two faraway, which can be disappointing if you expected to see a giant whale twenty feet from the bow

I think anyone who%26#39;s never been whale watching should give it a try. Just bring sunscreen and a light jacket/windbreaker (you never know) and don%26#39;t eat anything funky before getting onboard if you%26#39;re prone to seasickness. (If it%26#39;s choppy, that%26#39;s more of an issue than if it%26#39;s calmer.)

Went on Seven Seas Whale Watch in Gloucester last Friday. Since it is not yet the busy time of the year we waited until the night before to make reservations. We wanted to make sure the weather was good. They did a fantastic job.

The boat ride in and out was about an hour. We spent about an hour and a half looking at the whales.

I was prepared to be disappointed - but was not!!

We had 3 whales swimming around our boat, turning over, showing their tails, fins, etc. One came right up next to the boat and along side the boat. Everyone along the railing could have practically reached down and touched the whale. He was about 10 feet away.

It was amazing and definitely worth it.

Hopefully this is not a stupid question.

Is there a ';season'; for whale watching. We were in Boston in April, but didn%26#39;t get a chance to even think about whale watching. If we return to Boston (which I certainly plan to!), it%26#39;s something I would like to do.

What would be the best time of year for that?

Thanks!

I%26#39;ve been whale watching three times. Once in Bar Harbor, once in the Saguenay, and once in Cape Cod. We had great luck all three times, and so I%26#39;m a big fan!

But the best whale watching experience I ever had was in Cape Cod. I believe that August is the best time to see whales (correct me if I%26#39;m wrong?). Anyhow, it was the only time I ever saw whales jump completely out of the water - so high that we saw the entire whale in the air! It was like being at Seaworld. They were even jumping in pairs like big whale synchronized swimmers.

I hope you have as much luck as we had that time. It sure is a sight to behold.

Restaurant suggestion in the North End

Would like suggestions for a nice Italian restaurant in the North End where they will take a reservation on a Friday night. Any idea on the prices for entrees??

Thank so much, looking forward to my stay in the area.

Restaurant suggestion in the North End

A website with a good listing of restaurants: www.northendboston.com/dining-restaurants.htm

Other than a restaurant that takes reservations, any other parameters? We have enjoyed La Summa. It has pleased every member of the family, they did take a reservation, and entrees if I remember correctly were in the $12 to $19 range.

Restaurant suggestion in the North End

I second La Summa (of course!).

Third time is the charm i agree La Summa.

Airport to Copley Square???

Hi,

My travel party (2 of us) together with probably 2 roller suitcases will be arriving in Boston early (9am) on a Saturday morning.

What is the best way (quickest, cheapest) for us to reach our hotel which is in Copley Square it%26#39;s the Courtyard Boston Copley Square to be exact.

I appreciate your time and advice, you guys are great!

Can%26#39;t wait to experience Boston.

Thanks!

Airport to Copley Square???

Quickest is a taxi. Cheapest is taking the Silver Line to South Station, then the Red Line to Park Street, then the Green Line to Copley.

Airport to Copley Square???

The expensive but easy way is to take a cab.

If you want to economize, you can take your suitcases on the T. Take the shuttle bus to Airport Blue Line station, hop on an inbound train. Switch to the green line at Govt%26#39; Ctr and take that to Copley. (Another route: blue line to orange, switching at State, getting off at Back Bay)

If the suitcases are super bulky or heavy, I%26#39;d spring for the cab. If you%26#39;re budget-conscious and like an adventure, take the T.

That%26#39;s right...the Silver Line is another option.

Well, can be one thing, cheapest another. At that time of morning, on a Saturday, traffic is pretty quiet. It might be $20 - 25.00 USD to get to Copley Square via taxi.

If you wished to take the T, hop on the shuttle which will zoom you to the Blue Line/Airport Station. Take the train Inbound to Government Center, and change for the Green Line. You can take any train heading Westbound to the Copley station.

The Courtyard property is located at the corner of Exeter and St. James right behind the Boston Public Library. You%26#39;ll come above ground at the corner of Boylston and Dartmouth, kitty-corner to the Library. Walk a block to Exeter Street and then around the corner.

You will need to purchase Charlie Tickets at the Airport Station. This is the new fare system on the T. The tickets work in a debit system, so you can put at much as you think you might need for your stay. The kiosks have touchscreens where you can program how much %26#39;value%26#39; you wish to assign to the ticket.

And at most %26#39;T%26#39; subway stations there is someone there to help you with any questions about the Charlie cards.

we paid $25 for a taxi to copley sq and that was inc a$5 tip. its not that much to save you hassle with luggage and it was pretty quick cheers!