We arrive in Boston by Acela train from Newark NJ the morning of 22nd June and leave Boston for the UK late evening 6th July. We want to stay in Boston 2,3 or 4 nights your thoughts on how many will be ideal. We want to do the usual tourist things plus go on a whale watch trip from Boston. We will then rent a car and want to drive to Cape Cod, Newport and call in to Plimoth on the way. Does 3 nights in Cape Cod sound about right. We also want to take in Salem, Kennybunkport and go to Maine. Are we being too ambitious doing all this in 14 days. If not could we take in a bit of NH. Can you tell us where Lake Squam is and is it worth visiting. Any ideas on how to do this trip would be welcome.
14 day trip to New England
Sounds like a great trip. I live in suburban Boston, hope I can help you a bit here.
If you are walkers, then the Freedom Trail in Boston can be an all-day experience and gives you the history, culture and variety of Boston. Alternatively there is the tourist bus (name escapes me) which gives the overview and you can get on/off where you want. The Duck Boat Tour is fun when the weather is good - another overview and I believe also on/off (but confirm that). So, there is one whole day.
On those tours you will see The Constitution ship (you can take a tour of it) and the State House (Boston is the capital of Massachusetts) where you can do a self-guided tour I think). Also, Paul Revere%26#39;s house. So it could be even more than 1 day.
The North End is the old Italian area, many interesting restaurants, fun to walk around, festivals on many weekends during the summer, adds to the local color. (Freedom Trail takes you through it too). You can get the whale watch from the Aquarium (walk between the North End %26amp; Aquarium on the Harbor Walk). That is a second day.
We have wonderful museums, the Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stuart Garner Museum (on a sunny day as they do not have indoor lighting - in the museum charter), Aquarium, Science Museum. But you are probably not here for those. My UK guests have enjoyed the JFK Library (as in Kennedy) which is south of Boston (Boston Harbor Cruises used to run a 30 min. ride there from Long Wharf - which is by the Aquarium).
Other ideas: tour Harvard University (get there on the subway - we call it the ';T';/Harvard Square stop); walk along the Charles River (pavement on both sides, just realize that the bridges are far apart!).
Tons of good restaurants, and reviews on boston.com
As far as Cape Cod, be aware that Saturdays are awful to drive to/from the Cape as that is the normal changeover day for cottage rentals. Best to drive there on a weekday if possible. Beautiful beaches on the Cape, depends where you go, the farther out, the less developed. But getting to Provincetown is another 1.5 hours once you get onto the Cape, if no traffic. You can get to Provincetown by ferry from Boston too. Plimouth is on the way to the Cape. Because of the traffic around the Cape I would not advise staying there and doing day trips to Plimouth and Newport, but maybe others feel differently.
Kenneb. is about 2 hours drive north of Boston, Newport about 2 hours south. Personally I am not sure that Kenneb. is %26#39;worth it%26#39; but you may have a reason for picking it. Newport has the old stately homes which are impressive (been both places). 1 full day there would be enough probably.
Finally, I am not sure that Squam Lake (2 hours north of Boston, in New Hampshire, straight up I-93) has anything in particular to draw you. Check out Lake Winnepesaukee (25 miles long?) just before Squam. What are you looking for in the Lake experience?
An alternative to Kenneb. could be the White Mountains of New Hampshire (about 2 hours north of Boston). There are ski resorts %26amp; other areas that are active in summer for hiking, biking, fishing. Mount Washington is fun to visit - you can take the cog railway to the top. A word of warning - do not go out hiking on your own without good prep! Weather changes quickly in the mountains.
I have to mention that you MUST see fireworks on the 4th of July (some places may do it on the 3rd). Boston has a HUGE, free fireworks celebration with the Boston Pops symphony; some towns charge for their fireworks. Some places people come early and picnic. It%26#39;s REAL Americana.
Also do NOT forget to buy mosquito repellant - you will need it (outside of Boston)!!
Hope I did not get too carried away with this . . . Enjoy your trip.
14 day trip to New England
Thanks for the info. We are really looking forward to the trip. I think we will give the lakes a miss. We could be in Boston on Independence Day but reading some reports it%26#39;s extremely busy and didn%26#39;t want to waste a sightseeing day having to queue for everything and perhaps some places closed. Thought we would find a smaller town on our travels to watch the celebrations and fireworks. Any suggestions.
If you are going to be down the Cape then the Onset fireworks are not to be missed. They are the best ever, especially if you sit right down on the beach. Onset is right after the town of Wareham. Sometimes the fireworks will be listed under Wareham in the newspaper. I%26#39;ll try to let you know if they are going to have them this year. With budget cuts and all who knows. They will usally have them either on the 2nd or 3rd of July.
We have read in other trip advisor reports that the Cape can be really busy that week and accommodation not easy to get so thought an inland small town might be good with local celebrations. Unfotunately it is the only time we can be in New England following on from a fixed 2 week stay in New Jersey.
I agree being in Boston on the 4th of July could be crazy busy, but I don%26#39;t know about the Cape being busier that weekend than any other . . . my suggestion is to figure out where you want to be anyway 2-4 July and then check out (call the Town Hall) where the fireworks are. Ask how long they tend to last and if people picnic beforehand. I am sure someone would like to steer you to a good show, it%26#39;s such a celebration over here. Also, you can ask if there%26#39;s a parade anywhere. 4th of July parades are traditional in the US, although some places in Mass. parade on 19 April (Patriot%26#39;s Day, start of Revolutionary War) and therefore don%26#39;t do parade on 4th July. Even the smaller town parades are a great slice of Americana. Just trying to give you the full experience, if that%26#39;s the kind of thing you%26#39;re looking for . . .
That%26#39;s just what we want a bit of Americana but not with masses of people. Thanks
Come back to this board when you have definite concrete plans for the 4th. We%26#39;ll help you find some place to celebrate.
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