Back from Boston.. thanks for the help!

We had a great mini trip to Boston. Hotel Marlowe was lovely, and the staff was great. Location was great too. Loved the Museum of Science, and the Duck Tours. I wish we%26#39;d had more time, so we%26#39;ll have to plan another trip up soon.

Back from Boston.. thanks for the help!

Glad to hear you had a nice trip.

It must have been a little cold on the Duck Tours?

Back from Boston.. thanks for the help!

Glad you enjoyed yourselves in Boston.

Thanks for the report. I love it at The Marlowe.

Hope to see you back here some day soon! Did you end up using the %26#39;T%26#39;?

Driving out of Boston on Thursday B4 Good Friday

Hi there,

We%26#39;re in Boston now and LOVING IT! Such a gorgeous place and we had lovely weather yesterday to enjoy our first day here.

We were thinking of driving out of Boston on Thursday and was wondering, with Friday being Good friday, is traffic going to be particularly heavy going out of Boston in the morning and coming in on Thursday evening.

Please advise.

Many thanks for your help in advance.

Driving out of Boston on Thursday B4 Good Friday

Just a guess on my part:

Most people who work in businesses other than those tied to the stock exchange or some government offices do not get Good Friday off. It%26#39;s my guess that many more people will ';skip out'; early on Friday than take the entire day off, making the Friday commute the worse of the two days.

Driving out of Boston on Thursday B4 Good Friday

Thank you very much for your response! :) Looks like its ok to drive then on Thursday if you guess is correct.

Except for schools (and not even all public schools), Good Friday is not a big ';day off'; holiday in the U.S. Most businesses are open as usual. I think in England you might even get Easter Monday off? Not here.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Very useful info.

Cheers.

Boston trip in April 2009

Please give suggestions for trip for 6 ladies.

We love history, food, shopping.

Will arrive in Boston on Wed. PM April 22.

We will have 3 full days, leaving on Sunday.

Would consider a day trip outside Boston, what would you suggest? We plan on doing the Freedom Trail, either on our own or with tour guide. Any ideas on which is best. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Boston trip in April 2009

Hi, there is enough to keep you busy in Boston for 3 days! One thing to consider - the week you are here is a vacation week for public school so family attractions are likely to be crowded. The Freedom Trail is a great way to experience history. Shopping - high end - Newbury Street; Shops at Copley Place and the Prudential Center Mall linked by skywalks and are anchored by 3 major hotels - The Westin, The Marriott %26amp; The Sheration - lots of other hotles nearby. Good central place to be - walking distance to Newbury St as well. Restaurants, the Symphony Hall, the Museums all close by.

Boston trip in April 2009

Boston will keep you busy for three days. If you need more places to shop you can go to Chestnut Hill. The Chestnut Hill Mall and Atrium Mall are across from each other.

Thanks so much for quick responses. Will check out the Westin, Sheraton, and Mariott. Would like to stay in a place with larger rooms, you know 3 ladies in each room, sharing the bathroom! I realize there is so much to see in three short days, but if we did venture out of town, what would be the suggestions? Can you visit Salem, Martha%26#39;s Vineyard, in one day?

Salem, yes. Martha%26#39;s Vineyard, not as a practical matter. Both, no.

Salem would be a good choice. Another would be Lexington %26amp; Concord.

Shopping for what? And what kind of food?

Wow! Great feedback!

We just love any food, but especially want to experience lobster and chowder. We plan one ';extravegant meal';, any suggestions?

We are from rural Texas, so don%26#39;t get around any big shopping except on rare occassions. We do want to check out antiques.

Thanks so much!

Charles Street on Beacon Hill would be a place to go for antiques.

There are many hundreds of choices for food. If you give a little guidance as to type and price range you are looking for we might be able to help more. Also, how ';extravagant'; do you want to go on that one meal -- dressed to the nines and $100+ each or something not as high-end?

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic

There are plenty of places to get Chowder.

Yankee Lobster is my favorite place.

How much do you want to spend on this ';extravagant'; meal? What kind of atmosphere would you prefer?

On extravagant meal, $75 to $100

Not formal dress, just ';special Sunday church clothes';. Seafood, Steak, Gourmet food, Quiet atmosphere, Good service.

this works

4th July 2009

Will be in Hyannis for a few days on and around 4th July and wonder if anyone can recommend a restaurant with a good atmosphere on 4th July, I assume I will have to book ahead?

Also I have noticed that there are two parades, one in Hyannis itself and the other Hyannisport, was wondering which would be best to see.

4th July 2009

The parade in Hyannis in Hyannis Center is a typical parade with floats and marching bands etc. The Hyannisport parade is a local neighborhood parade. Kids decorate bicycles. Neighbors create floats. It is small, informal and charming.

4th July 2009

Thanks for the reply. In Hyannisport do they prefer %26#39;tourists%26#39; to keep away do you think?

No, you%26#39;ll be welcome there. Usually most of the town is %26#39;marching%26#39; so it%26#39;s nice if there are a few clapping spectators!!

For fireworks you may want to go to the Flying Bridge in Falmouth. You will get an amazing view of the fireworks. I think there are some in other towns as well. Maybe the regulars on this thread have some knowledge of that. What say you...Fussyguest? Kendrick? Cape Cod Charlie? Senior?

4th of July: Nice fireworks in Provincetown. I like Thumpertown beach on the Bay in Eastham for viewing.

The fireworks shows on the Cape are typically staggered so, for example, the rockets being shot off of Lewis Bay in Hyannis are a different night than the ones in neighboring towns. The Parade in Hyannis is your typical small town Fourth of July Parade. It will NOT make you forget Macy%26#39;s or Pasadena.... LOL For local restaurants....you might want to consider Tugboats...it%26#39;s on the water on Hyannis Marina. There is also Baxters...Trader Ed%26#39;s... all on the Marina. No reservations required typically...just beware that if it is the night of the fireworks...the traffic is bad...as many streets are closed. If you are in Hyannis...park off of Mainstreet. There are a dozen decent restaurants on Mainstreet...and they will all be festive.

Chip

Thanks for the replies, I hadn%26#39;t considered watching the fireworks elsewhere, we are staying in Hyannis and I thought the traffic would be bad so planned on staying in Hyannis. If we went to the parade at Hyannisport any advice on where to park? We are coming from the UK and would like to see a typical American parade but we have been to the area before and know what the area is like around Hyannisport and can%26#39;t imagine where we would park, is it perhaps walkable from Kalmus Beach car park? Glad to know that reservations aren%26#39;t particularly necessary either for dinner and haven%26#39;t tried Baxters before so may look at that one.

Hyannis and Hyannisport will be zoos on the 4th. If you want to eat at Baxters give them a call and see if they%26#39;ll take a ressie. Also: Some places that don%26#39;t take reservations will let you call ahead and put your name on the wait list.

I can assure you Hyannisport will NOT be a zoo on the Fourth. The parade in Hyannisport is nothing more than a bunch of neighborhood kids with decorated bikes. If that is the one you want to go to...it is walkable from Kalmus beach. There really isn%26#39;t any parking in Hyannisport...as it is just a neighborhood. Truly if you want to see a parade more typical of most towns in the USA, go to the one that goes down Main Street in Hyannis. Get there about 2 hours before the parade....park in one of the many free lots that line North Street (which runs parallel to Main Street. I have been doing this for 20 years (I skipped last year...spent the day at the beach instead). There will be about 10 or so floats...a half a dozen marching bands...some politicians....clowns...little league kids...and fire trucks. It is not HUGE...but it is typical Americana. I am sure you will enjoy.

I stand corrected: Travel to that area will indeed be a zoo. I would venture to say that spots of rte. 28 will resemble a parking lot. Hyannisport is indeed a separate neighborhood from Hyannis and has a completely different atmosphere. :)

Itinery Check - Trip in Early May

Hi,

My husband and I are visiting the states from the 4th-16th May.

We are planning to hire a car for part of the trip.

We enjoy sightseeing, shopping (ME), photography, cycling, walking and eating.

We had been thinking

Boston 5 nights (with day trip to Salem on the train)

then hire a car

possibly 5 nights in Cape Cod

possibly couple of nights in Newport, or somewhere else if anyone out there has good idea?

All help would be great - had been planning for June trip but had to bring it forward, and now don%26#39;t have much time to organise stuff.

Cheers

Itinery Check - Trip in Early May

You haven%26#39;t asked what you want fromus, but I will comment that 5 nights in Cape Cod in May perhaps is not what you expect. The Cape is a great place to relax, especially with days at the beach. In May, you definitely won%26#39;t be able to swim and most of the time it will be too cool to spend any appreciable time near the ocean. There are some antique shops, although all will not be open, so shopping is limited. What were your expectations for there?

Itinery Check - Trip in Early May

We had hoped to go walking, hire bikes maybe, go out on a whale trip, swim in the hotel pool (if warm enough?). It looks so picturesque and we had decided to go there when planning our trip in June - hadn%26#39;t really considered not going now we%26#39;re going in May.

If people don%26#39;t think Cape Cod is a good option, we%26#39;re open to suggestions.

Really just looking to relax, see a bit more of America and do some sightseeing. Maybe we would be better going to another city?

Also, was thinking about Boston when I mentioned shopping, not Cape Cod.

Now wondering about a few nights to New York instead of spending as long in the countryside around Boston. Would maybe get the train down?

Running out of time to decided what to do, so any advice would be appreciated.

Within the five days in Boston, you can get a whale watching tour right from the New England Aquarium. Salem day trip a great idea. I hope you visit the Peabody Essex Museum, it is quite impressive. Newport for a couple of nights is a great idea. You can do the cliff walk, visit the mansions, and go shopping. The hesitation with the Cape is your timing. The season gets going toward the end of May (Memorial Day), the ocean will be too cold to swim in as will any outdoor pools. The one thought I had based on your interests is heading west toward the Berkshires.

what is the meaning of the name

tipping in the usa

whats the usual amount to tip in restaurants in the usa?

tipping in the usa

15-20 percent before tax.

tipping in the usa

Fifteen to twenty percent.

Good point by Eileen. I always base my tips on the pre-tax total (the actual cost of the food ordered).

thanks for that. ill base it on the pre tax cost as well. wouldnt have thought of doing that before.

It actualy doesn%26#39;t make much of a difference, pre or post tax. Since the tax rate is only 5%, the difference becomes rounding error.

You can also do three times the tax. That%26#39;ll give you a rough idea.

May I suggest instead 20% - 2 X 10% - is a much more reasonable first ';cut';. And it%26#39;s so easy!

yes thanks for that. ill just round it off at 20%. much easier and quicker in the long run.

Booking Park n Fly thru Hotwire or Priceline

Anyone book their sleep and stay at Sheraton or Holiday Inn at Logan thru Hotwire or Priceline? If so, did it include the parking portion? and how much did you save? I am paying $160. to stay one night and park one week at Sheraton at Logan....any thoughts?

Booking Park n Fly thru Hotwire or Priceline

i always book the park stay fly package at Sheraton FourPoints in Revere. Its always a lower rate if you call the hotel chain%26#39;s reservation line and tell them you have AAA. We have a rate for 1 night plus 10 days parking and breakfast for 2 for 156.00 includes tax..

Booking Park n Fly thru Hotwire or Priceline

we have gotten rates as low as $99.0/night including breakfast for 2 at that same Fourpoints Sheraton in Revere. But the rates are somehow higher if you call the hotel directly - they get confused and say there is no discount for AAA - its better to call the main #..

Good Morning Lori!

How exactly did you get the $99. rate? Did you go thru AAA? Did it include parking for a week?

We do not have AAA but we have AARP or maybe it would be worth it to join? Do they ask you for your AAA number?

Thanks for any info you could give!

Oceangirl

i just called and asked for those rates - they didn%26#39;t ask for our membership numbers.. try it - the 99.00 rate was in January - we booked for May and the rate was 156.00 with breakfast included. I usually call both the hotel directly and the main reservation number to see which one gives the best rate. - it changes often so it depends when you call - good luck! (also try www.buyreservations.com - we%26#39;ve used them in the past with no problems.)

Trying to squeeze in a park and fly rather than drive from RI at 5 am with 2 little ones. Any suggestions at the 99.00 for tomorrow? Appreciate any suggestions.

i never did figure it out thru the opaque sites - better to call the hotels directly...or check their websites.. i still like the sheraton Revere or www.buyreservations.com...

I think your best bet is Comfort Inn and speak with Kris. She is the manager. Let her know you have found a deal on Priceline or Hotwire and she will match it and add a few dollars per night for parking. The Hotwire/Priceline rate doesn%26#39;t include the parking....too bad. but the Comfort Inn is quite nice.

South Dennis or Harwich?

I have a choice of two cottage/house rentals for two weeks in August. One is in South Dennis near to Follins Pond and one is in Harwich very close to Hinckley%26#39;s Pond. I%26#39;m so torn between the two - the Harwich location has the advantage of being on the bike path and Long Pond and the Dennis one the advantage of being close to the Dennis bay beaches and we%26#39;d have to to drive to the rail trail parking.

I need some help deciding between the two. Can anyone evaluate the pros and cons for me because I certainly can%26#39;t! The house in Dennis is only minimally cheaper by the way and actually a little smaller.

South Dennis or Harwich?

If one of the locations is close enough to ocean beaches to be able to walk, then that would be a major consideration.

South Dennis or Harwich?

I have a house near the Follins Pond location. It%26#39;s about 1 mile or so to the Old Bass River Road bike path and then over to the bike path on 134. You can go the back way by the post office. IMHO not a great rental area but maybe the house is fab? Being in Dennis allows you about 10+ beaches to use on one week%26#39;s sticker. Beaches in Harwich are so so IMHO.

OK, I love to be able to walk to our local neighborhood beach IF I%26#39;m not going with kids and a lot of beach %26#39;stuff%26#39;.

If your rental is close enough to the beach to walk to, you could always load up the car with all your gear, drop it off at the beach and return the car to your rental.

Conversely, if you don%26#39;t mind paying the parking fee, once your car is loaded with kids and your %26#39;stuff%26#39; you could drive to any beach. I%26#39;d rather drive to the beach than drive to the rail trail. I think it%26#39;s a hassle to load bikes on and off the rack, but that%26#39;s just me (maybe I have the wrong bike rack, but it isn%26#39;t user friendly.)

I think Harwich is generally a better location, but plenty here enjoy Dennis. I%26#39;d go for the slightly larger rental in Harwich.

Caribchakita - when you say Follins Pond isn%26#39;t a great rental area is that because it%26#39;s a hassle to get to the rail trail or just in general? What%26#39;s the beach like at the pond? The houses are similar with the Dennis one being a little smaller and cheaper, but it%26#39;s still big enough for us.

Going to Cape Cod is all about going to the sea in my opinion. Coming from Ontario with all its wonderful lakes, why would you want to spend time at a pond? We, and our children, liked to make a quick stop at one, especially the freshwater ones, on the way back to our cottage after a day at the beach but they don%26#39;t compare with the great ocean beaches of the National Seashore. Being on the beaches of Nantucket Sound, nice as they are, is not very different from being on the beach at Wasaga or Lake Ontario.

I would stay in Harwich and make sure that you head down the Cape occasionally and experience Nauset Beach in Orleans and further along, Coast Guard, Lighthouse, Cahoon%26#39;s Hollow etc. All within about 30 minutes driving time. And don%26#39;t forget the Bay beaches, Skaket in Orleans, amazing when the tide goes out, and all the beaches which run the length of Eastham on the Bay side.

Senior65: Actually, we%26#39;ve experienced all that before being at the Cape a few years ago for a couple of weeks. We stayed in Eastham close to the bay beaches and went to most of the ocean beaches, some of the bay beaches etc. We enjoyed the ocean beaches over the bay beaches and we spent many days cycling to these beaches. One of my favourite days was actually riding the rail trail from Nickerson State Park down through the Long Pond area and swimming at one of the white sand beaches in that area (can%26#39;t remember where exactly). The water was clear, the sand was white and it was amazing. I wish I could remember which pond it was on.

So for this year we%26#39;d like to see parts of the Cape we haven%26#39;t been to yet (and revisit some of the places we enjoyed before) and thought Harwich or Dennis might be a good choice because of location and general raves on this forum about the Dennis beaches. Just can%26#39;t decide on exact location....

PVT - I, too would go with Harwich, if the place is located on the Bike Path and Long Pond it would appear that it is right near Rt. 6 - which you can jump on and go up to the National Seashore if you so desire. We stay at a place up the road from where this place is over the line in Brewster and love the access to the ponds and bike path. As our kids are older now, they do not like the bay beaches - they want the ocean-side for boogie-boarding. We stroll the bay beaches for their beautiful sunsets, which you can do without needing a parking sticker in the evenings.

As Caribchakita says .......Dennis has the benefit of variety in their beaches with many good choices - there is parking at the head of the rail trail but if you are sure your memory serves you well and the spot that you really loved was along the way in Harwich that might be a hug pro for your

They are both pretty similiar - Do what a friend of mine does and make two columns and list all the pros in one and the cons in the other and then decide

Near Follins Pond does not mean he is on the pond and even if he is, it%26#39;s not anything amazing..truly. If the realtor and the house is amazing, choose that which satisfies. We all have preferences. I am a beach girl so would choose Dennis for choices of beach. I am not a fan of the Harwiches aside from H%26#39;Port.

Driving from NYC to Provincetown, MA

We%26#39;re driving from NYC to Provincetown for 4-days in April. Should we stop in Mystic or Providence along the way? If so, can you recommend a good place to have lunch and get a quick feel for the town? what are the essential things to do in the Cape over a long (possibly chilly) weekend?

Driving from NYC to Provincetown, MA

We make the same drive every year - though earlier in the day - and stop at Mystic for breakfast. Mystic is just about mid-way on the trip, and there are several restaurants immediately off the highway - McDonalds and Friendly%26#39;s - which are OK for breakfast and/or lunch. Have a great trip.

Driving from NYC to Provincetown, MA

We make the same drive too – but again we leave much earlier in the day. By the time we’re ready for lunch we’re already there. I do suggest you leave really early like that too – everyone here on TA is always talking about summer traffic getting on to the Cape but for New Yorkers getting across a bridge and out of the Bronx is just as big an issue. Leaving at 5am vs 9am can save you hours in traffic. Make sure to tune into 1010wins for the latest traffic the moment you get in the car. I also suggest you take the Merritt until it runs out before you get on I-95. We always stop for breakfast at one of the McDonald’s along I-95 in CT (well before Mystic). It’s just so much easier to slip on and off 95 and get back on the road.

There are two sections to Mystic – the historic seaport and aquarium (sort of cheesy, expensive and probably only appropriate for kids) or downtown Mystic (home of Mystic Pizza). I find that getting to downtown Mystic is a pain: it’s easy to get turned around, hard to find parking and while it’s nice to get out of the car for a bit I don’t think it’s worth the two hours it’s going to take.

You’ll find there is a lot to do in P-Town. Outside of that you’ll want to see the lighthouse in Truro. There’s also a vineyard in Truro that has a nice tasting. I might head down to Wellfleet on day to try the famous Oysters if you’re into that – the Bookstore by Mayo Beach should be open. While you’re in Wellfleet check out one of the ocean beaches for a nice walk – these are the famous Cape Cod beaches of tall dunes and wild waves. Have a great trip!

Once you get to the Orleans rotary, watch for the Fort Hill Area in Eastham with a brown sign on the right about 1 mile along Rt heading toward P-town. Take a short detour to Fort Hill for one of the best panoramic views of the National Seashore on the outer cape. If you leave NY early and get to the cape before you can check in, have lunch at the Land Ho in Orleans (Rt 6A and Main) and then take the glorious walk along the Fort Hill Trails. From there is a short 30 minute drive to Provincetown.

If you are there during April vacation you will find that the Park offers several activities/tours etc that might interest you. Take a look at www.nps.gov/caco for a schedule of events in April.

Having read the other responses, I will agree that an earlier start is probably better. We also arrive in P-town too early to check in - so we stop at Fanizzi%26#39;s for a great lunch with water view and great cocktails! Great lobster roll, too!! Fanizzi%26#39;s is open year round. As for things to do - well strolling up and down Commercial Street and jumping into the open shops is usually a lot of fun - if you%26#39;re there for a Monday night, there is open mike at the Mews. A stroll on the beaches at Herring Cove and Race Point - even when windy and chilly - is always refreshing for us. Have a great trip.

this works

Hotel Deals

That Kimpton deal is great. Any other April deals around?

Hotel Deals

I just stayed at the InterContinental this past weekend for $117 per night thru Hotwire.

write c program

Candlepin Bowling

Hello,

I would like to take my 9-year old daughter candlepin bowling. We will be staying at the Marriott Long Wharf and will not have a car. Can anyone recommend a place to go that is not too far? Thanks in advance

Candlepin Bowling

Sacco%26#39;s Bowl Haven in Davis Square, Somerville (right near RedBones)

(Red-line subway to Davis Square)

http://www.saccosbowlhaven.com/

Candlepin Bowling

Remay -- I was going to say the SAME thing!!! I actually went there w/ my work group as a %26#39;team building exercise%26#39;!

How about King%26#39;s over in Back Bay? It%26#39;s on Dalton Street next to Jasper White%26#39;s Summer Shack.

I thought King%26#39;s is 10 pin, not candle pin.

Yes, Kings offers ten pin and the OP was looking for candelpin bowling.

Boston Itinerary Help!

I feel so unprepared. Life has been crazy and I am just getting oy itinerary together for a trip leaving tomorrow! Eek! We are 2 single women that like history, non-risky food and fun at night. I left a lot of open time since I figure we will find things to do along the way. I feel like we don%26#39;t have enough places to eat. We are not big seafood people. Here is the itinerary:

Tuesday, April 7th 鈥?Depart LAX at 11 p,

Wednesday, April 8th

鈥rrive Boston at 0730

鈥?Check into Copley Square Hotel 鈥?Back Bay Area

鈥?Breakfast - ?

鈥?Freedom Trail

鈥?Lunch along Freedom Trail 鈥?Faneuil Hall

鈥?Afternoon nap

鈥?Dinner at Regina Pizza or Durgin Park

Thursday, April 9th

鈥reakfast at ???

鈥ed Sox Game at 1 pm 鈥?Eat lunch there

鈥arvard in afternoon/evening 鈥?red Line

鈥inner at Mr. Bartley鈥檚 Burger Cottage

鈥ar: Drink

Friday, April 10th

鈥?Breakfast - ?

鈥?Salem 鈥?House of 7 Gables, Peabody Essex

Museum, Salem Witch Museum

鈥?Lunch in Salem - ??

鈥?Dinner at Regina Pizza or Durgin Park

Saturday, April 11th 鈥?Depart Boston at 6 pm

鈥reakfast - ?

鈥inish Freedom Trail

鈥?a class=''internal auto'' href=''/Attraction_Review-g1-d108823-Reviews''>Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (11-5)

鈥unch ?

鈥eave for airport around 4

What do you think? Thanks!

Boston Itinerary Help!

Wednesday, April 8th

鈥?Breakfast - Paramount on Charles St.

鈥?Lunch along Freedom Trail 鈥?Faneuil Hall

鈥?Dinner at Regina Pizza or Durgin Park - a matter of taste for either. Both are ';OK';. The upside is that they%26#39;re both ';atmospheric'; and unique to Boston.

Thursday, April 9th

鈥reakfast at Mike%26#39;s City Diner or Flour (both South End)

鈥ed Sox Game at 1 pm 鈥?Eat lunch there (Mega bucks, but it%26#39;s all about the experience, not the cuisine!)

鈥inner at Mr. Bartley鈥檚 Burger Cottage

鈥ar: Plough %26amp; Stars

Friday, April 10th

鈥?Breakfast - go to Salem early and go to Red%26#39;s

鈥?Lunch in Salem - In a Pig%26#39;s Eye or Witch%26#39;s Brew

鈥?Dinner at Regina Pizza or Durgin Park

Saturday, April 11th 鈥?Depart Boston at 6 pm

鈥reakfast - Mike%26#39;s Pastry

鈥inish Freedom Trail

鈥?a class=''internal auto'' href=''/Attraction_Review-g1-d108823-Reviews''>Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (11-5)

鈥unch - Isabella Stewart Gardner Cafe or MFA Cafe

鈥eave for airport around 4

Boston Itinerary Help!

Sorry for not explaining... I just copied your itinerary and added a couple suggestions. Also should add that while you%26#39;re in Salem, in addition to the 2 suggestions alreafdy made, there%26#39;s a Victoria Station. It%26#39;s one of the last I know of from the old chain, but since you%26#39;re not seafood people, it%26#39;s a nice place with a nice waterfront view.

For breakfast, we%26#39;ve had a whole diatribe that you can search for in the box above. My biggest concern is Saturday. You%26#39;re not going to have much time to finish the Fredom trail. How about instead doing a little window shopping along Newbury Street instead? I would also plan a dinner in the North End (beyond Pizzaria Regina) and one nice dinner in the Chart House or one of our fine steak houses.

One thing I think is that if you get off the red-eye from LA and walk the Freedom Trail before you have a nap, you will qualify for some sort of prize. Don%26#39;t you want to consider switching sleepy time with walkies time?

In Salem, the Beer Works is good for lunch. Be sure to go to the Tercentenary Memorial.

See you at Fenway on Thursday--that%26#39;s my first game of the year. Note that it%26#39;s actually a 1:35 start, not 1:00.

If you want to go directly from the game to Harvard Square, you might do better walking to the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue and catching the Mass Ave bus (no. 1, as I recall, though I haven%26#39;t ridden that bus in years), as opposed to taking the subway. It%26#39;s more direct and probably less of a crowded hassle.

For one of the best eating experiences in the Fenway Park area, or in my world, for that matter, try the Busy Bee at 1046 Beacon Street, Broookline, about a half-mile from the ballpark. It%26#39;s indescribable. The food truly is very good and exceptionally reasonably priced, and if you%26#39;re lucky, you%26#39;ll get a floor show. I always recommend a trip to the rest room, too. If you follow this advice, please be sure to file a trip report.

Saturday sounds a bit helter-skelter. Consider doing the Gardner museum Thursday morning before the game. It%26#39;s an easy walk from there to the ballpark. This would allow you to be a bit more leisurely on your getaway day, and you wouldn%26#39;t be criss-crossing town as you will if you follow the itinerary you%26#39;ve laid out. After finishing the Freedom Trail, for example, you could wander around the North End and have lunch there.

Have a wonderful visit.

Thank you so much everyone for the quick replies! I think we will be okay as far as doing the Freedom Trail. We have done red eyes multiple times and done pretty well the following day. Ususally a 1-2 hour afternoon nap is all we need!

wpsaukee - the suspense is killing me about the Busy Bee restroom!

nurse -- for Wednesday - I%26#39;d do dinner somewhere nearer to your hotel since you%26#39;ll be heading back there for a nap. There are plenty of great choices in the area.

for Thursday - game start is scheduled for 1:35. park will open two hours prior at 11:35. So if you feel like walking around do so. Also, this month the Sox are selling some food items at half price. From their press release: ';During the month of April, fans are invited to come out to the ballpark during the first hour after gates open to enjoy the new Fenway Family Hour. A joint effort between the Red Sox and ARAMARK, Fenway Family Hour will feature nine popular food items at up to 50% off in price. Themed ';The Starting Nine';, the offerings include: Fenway Franks, pizza slices, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, fruit cups, veggie cups, bags of burgers (3 sliders), and Hoodsie ice cream Cups. The discount is available at all locations throughout the ballpark and there is no limit on the number of items purchased. The Red Sox Team Store on Yawkey Way will also have select merchandise, including Red Sox hats and T-shirts, available at a substantial discount during the family hour period.';

Bartleys is great fun. Order the raspberry lime rickey. Cash only. No bathrooms.

Friday - day in Salem sounds good. PEM has a great exhibit - Mahjong. Was there yesterday. If you are taking the commuter rail when you get back you can easily walk to the North End for dinner or Faneuil Hall. Regina%26#39;s, in my mind, is more for pizza lunch. There are plenty of great choices for Italian food - and I%26#39;d suggest you go elsewhere for dinner. One favorite-basic dishes nothing fancy - La Summa.

Saturday - seems a bit ambitious to do the Isabella Gardner Museum and Freedom Trail . I%26#39;d pick one or the other.

Welcome to Beantown!

Thursday, the only possible issue is that you%26#39;d need some time after the game and/or after you are in Harvard Square to change before going to drink. You probably wouldn%26#39;t want to go there in typical baseball game attire.

Remove Salem completely from your itinerary. It is not worth it when you are here for such a short time.

Regarding your choice of Drink: if you want well-crafted cocktails, after Bartley%26#39;s, you can go to Green Street, which is MUCH closer to Harvard Square. But if you REALLY need to go to Drink, you can hop on the Red Line, it is not that huge a deal. Although, you can always consider moving the Bartley%26#39;s meal... perhaps to the day you will not be going to Salem. :o)

I would suggest eating one night at the lounge at Top of The Hub, awesome view of the city and good lounge food.

Another fun place to have a drink would be at the ';Clink'; at the Liberty Hotel.

Enjoy!

Dear Nurse-

We just came back from a week in Boston-so much fun! I still need to write my trip report. .

If you can figure in a morning nap you might have time for a trolley tour. We found that really helpful in getting our bearings. The next day we walked the whole Freedom Trail and had a better idea of what we were looking at. OR if the weather is nicer than we had-you can do a guided bike tour (click on ';things to do'; on the left here)

We had many good meals but two that stand out where dinners in the North End. Artu and Ristorante Nico.

Artu was just plain fantastic and the service was great too. Nico was not only delicious but a really fun environment with a funky disco concept. I%26#39;m allergic to shellfish but there were plenty of non-seafood choices at both places. We didn%26#39;t eat at Ruth%26#39;s Chris because we have one here-but the location was intriquing to me right along the Freedom Trail in one of the historic old buildings. Looked pretty cool.

For a lively cocktail venue the bar at the Intercontinental Hotel on Atlantic was really hopping on Friday night.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is totally amazing-be sure to rent the audio tour for $4.00.

Have a blast!

Easter Dining Options

For those looking for upscale Easter dining options, here%26#39;s a list that boston.com put together:

boston.com/ae/鈥?/a>

Boston..Fly into NH or RI on SW Air?

Which would be the best to fly in and out for a short visit to Boston? Which would have the best public transport to downtown Boston?

We don%26#39;t want to rent a car for the entire trip as we will be in Boston for 3 days and then rent a car for a day to got to Concord/Lexington area for a night and then to what ever airport we fly out of.

Not sure of dates yet, but Southwest Airlines has great rates into NH Manchester or Providence RI from our local Albuquerque airport. Almost 1/2 of what it costs to fly into Logan.

Thanks.

Boston..Fly into NH or RI on SW Air?

When I fly South West, I fly out of Providence but I have my own car. If you don%26#39;t want to rent a car until the end of your trip, you need a way to get from the airport to downtown Boston. Manchester has a regularly scheduled bus that goes to a subway the Sullivan Square subway station at the Charlestown/Somerville line. From there you%26#39;d take the train (or call a taxi) to whereever. Public transportation from Providence is a bit trickier. There%26#39;s a few bus routes, or you may need to get into downtown Providence (the airport is south of the city) and take a train to Boston.

My advice is to find pick a flight, and check the availability of transportation at the time of your arrival. THEN you can make a decision.

Also, renting a car in Boston and dropping it elsewhare, might come w/ a slight surcharge ... just be aware of that when you book.

Boston..Fly into NH or RI on SW Air?

My advice would be to fly into Providence and then take the Peter Pan bus service direct from the airport to South Station in Boston. From South Station, you can hail a cab to take you to your hotel. The bus is $40 per person roundtrip. I%26#39;ll leave you the link so you can see whether the bus shedule coincides with your arrival time.

http://www.peterpanbus.com/

I agree i think Providence would be easier.

I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s quite so easy. believe Peter Pan leaves from Providence, not Green Airport, which is in Warwick. That would mean you would have to get from the Airport to Providence first. Once you%26#39;ve done that, you could also take the commuter rail to Boston.

Maybe it IS so easy. I just looked on Peter Pan%26#39;s website. They don%26#39;t list it as Warwick, but call out TF Green instead. So there IS direct bus service to Boston%26#39;s South Station.

I think that the bus link between TF and south station is relatively new. Nice tip.

Will.. good to see you posting.

Will...I was wondering what happened to you. You always give great advice along with the regular posters to this forum. Good to see you back.

Manchester has a bus service to Boston. I have a car so I don%26#39;t use it.

Manchester is a better airport than Providence in my oppinion

We%26#39;re in the same boat coming from Denver. I haven%26#39;t priced everything out yet, but if we rented a car for the entire time, should we find a hotel in this area, or somewhere between Providence and Boston? Any ideas? I%26#39;m just beginning my trip research. Thanks!

Just don%26#39;t plan on driving your rental car into Boston, or face the prospect of $30-40 a day for parking.

Bar to watch the Red Sox

I will be in Boston when the Red Soz take on the Yankees. As you can imagine we do not have tickets for the game, but we were planning on heading to Fenway Park on the Friday before the game just to check out the atmosphere. Can anyone suggest any bars to watch the game in? They don%26#39;t have to be near Fenway Park by the way.

Bar to watch the Red Sox

Any of the bars near Fenway are great. That way you%26#39;ll get a feel for the atmosphere and you%26#39;ll be able to hear the ';roar of the crowd';. I%26#39;d go early, as they tend to be packed when the Yankees show up!

Bar to watch the Red Sox

I%26#39;d either go very early to try to get in before the pre-gamers, or try to make your way in 15-20 minutes before the game, just as the pre-gamers are leaving the bars. Try Cask%26#39;n Flagon or Game On - they%26#39;ll both be very crowded, but the energy level is great.

Also, try the Baseball Tavern. Cool place about a block from the Park. A little harder to find but is usually a little less packed than the others. The best part, if the weather is nice there is a roof deck where you can see Fenway and the scoreboard.

What kind of atmosphere are you looking for? Any place with a tv will be showing the game, so it%26#39;s up to you what kind of bars you like.

I%26#39;ll also add McGreevey%26#39;s 3rd Base Saloon on Boylston. About a 1/4 mile from the park, this is another place that is a great spot to catch the game. Have fun!

http://www.mcgreevysboston.com/

this works

a scottish name

Martha's Vineyard in March

My friend and I are hoping to take off from our families next weekend and we thought off-season MV would be an inexpensive option. The main goal is really just a change of venue for two stressed out moms. Any advice for where to stay and what to do in the off season?

Martha's Vineyard in March

Sorry ... I%26#39;m no help, haven%26#39;t been there in years. I went once in late April and it was VERY quiet ... but things may have changed since then.

You might get a better response if you post on the MV forum. http://www.mfa.org/visit/index.asp?key=3

Martha's Vineyard in March

OOOPS -- forgot to cut the proper link before posting!! Try this: tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g29528-i562-Martha…

MV in March, Wow……..

I get over there a lot, due to clients. Right now it is very …………quite.

Not much to do, if that’s what you’re looking for.

Kelly, it really depends on what you are looking to do?

Not much seems to be open now. Just basic stuff.

The islands off-season can be chilly and grey, but it%26#39;s also potentially nice (the forecast is pretty good now) and not as crowded. If you%26#39;re just looking for quiet time, walks on beaches, etc. it could be nice. Check the MV forum for specifics from locals there.

Well we went and stayed at the Mansion House in Vineyard Haven. The room was really affordable ($129/night).

Vineyard Haven was just waking up for the season but we found plenty of things open including a fabulous book/toy store right around the corner (Riley%26#39;s) and the most amazing bead store (Beadniks). But I think the best part was walking on the beach collecting shells and rocks.

We ate a Zephyrus for most meals. The breakfast was included in the hotel rate. We even used the provided tray to bring breakfast and the paper up to the room for some serious lounging.

We took the bus to Edgartown (#1 out and #13 back) and had a lovely time walking around on the beach and at the lighthouse. Not much was open, but what was had serious sales going.

All in all it was the perfect escape. Quiet, but not deserted. Enough shopping to not be bored. Beautiful scenery and human friendly architecture. We ate well and slept well and were restored by all the friendly people we met.

Can%26#39;t wait to do it again next spring.

Shopping suggestions

We will be in Boston next week with our 16-year-old son for college visits and would like to get some ideas for good shopping areas. We%26#39;ve shopped at the stores near Faneuil Hall, which I%26#39;m sure we%26#39;ll do again, but I know there were a few other areas that were recmmended that we didn%26#39;t get to and I can%26#39;t remember what they were. One I think was either Charles St. or Newberry St. We%26#39;d like something that our son would like, too, that%26#39;s not overly expensive. Thanks for your help.

Shopping suggestions

Yes, there is:

Charles St.(Beacon Hill) - quaint shops/antiques

Newbury St. (Back Bay)- higher-end shops and boutiques

Prudential Center Mall -- Mid-range mall

Copley Place Mall - high-end mall, think Tiffany%26#39;s, Neiman Marcus

Copley Place and Pru Mall are connected via glass walkway

Downtown Crossing -- Macy%26#39;s, H+M, others, a little rough around the edges with some vacant storefronts as it undergoes redevelopment (stalled due to credit crunch)

I don%26#39;t think there is too much that would excite a 16-year old. There is a big Apple store across the street from the Prudential Center on Boylston. On Newbury there is an outpost of the funky Newbury Comics chain.

Shopping suggestions

Also, there is Harvard Square, an easy ride on the Red Line. Tourists seem to like going in to the Harvard Coop and buying Harvard sweatshirts, etc. There may be some shops in the square that are of more interest to a teenager.

Great job by Cabinet! Only thing I would add is Kenmore Square area for Red Sox paraphenalia (sp?)

There%26#39;s an Urban Outfitters at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Newbury St., and just off Harvard Square.

Express in Copley Place/Prudential or Cambridgeside Galleria

Abercrombie at Faneuil Hall or Cambridgeside Galleria

These chains are everywhere, but they%26#39;re about all that I can think of since the demise of Allston Beat.

There are also the various Coops and the BU Bookstore Mall in Kenmore Square (not just books), though the Harvard Coop, as a previous post mentioned, is the best of that type.

All things considered, I%26#39;d take the Red Line to Harvard Square and wander...

My favorite Boston shopping spots are:

- Newbury street - The closer to the Public Garden you get, the more expensive the shops get. But the west side is reasonable, with Best Buy, Newbury Comics, etc.

- The Prudential/Coply Place Mall - These two malls are connected. You%26#39;ll get the really expensive Tiffany%26#39;s and Louis Vuitton right downstairs from a reasonable Gap and Express, so it%26#39;s not one way or the other.

- Faneuil Hall - You%26#39;ve mentioned you%26#39;ve been here before, but I love the atmosphere. I%26#39;d rather go during the week than the tourist-crazed weekends. Except avoid eating right at lunchtime, of course... the financial area is right next door.

- Cambridgeside Galleria - For when you want to shop at a ';normal'; mall.

- Charles Street - You can find Charles street at the north side of the Boston Commons, to the left of Cheers (the real one, not the fake one in Faneuil). There are lots of neat boutiques, from clothes to antiques to fancy chocolates. And all the locals walk their adorable pets here.

Maybe he%26#39;d like the Garment District, in Cambridge?

Thanks so much for all your great suggestions. I had forgotten that my son had purchased a coat from Urban Outfitters when we were there a couple years ago and he just loved that store. Newbury Comics also sounds like something he%26#39;d like. And it would be worth it for me to go to Charles Street just to see people walking their dogs. When we were last in Boston, we saw so many dogs. An older man was walking a pug named Pugsy Malone that was just adorable. We even saw dogs in some bookstores we were in. It was great. We%26#39;ll definitely go to these shopping areas. Thanks again for the information.

There is also an H%26amp;M on Boylston Street (runs paralell to Newbury). That same block has Marshalls and Borders Bookstore.

Which colleges are you visiting?

';Boston's Best Dining Deals';

Hi, heard this website advertised on the radio %26amp; checked it out. It is really helpful, you can check daily for restaurant specials in town:

http://www.hubeats.com/

';Boston's Best Dining Deals';

This is great! Wish I had known about the North End Progressive Dinner, that sounds so fun.

Kimpton Hotels Weekend Blowout!!! $81/night thru Sept 6th

Hey guys:

Just wanted to post a recent email I got concerning a Kimpton promotion. …ip02.com/form/kimptongroup/viewhtml/9z1z650…

is the direct link. Kimpton was founded in 1981, and to celebrate, they are doing $81 rooms for every hotel in the chain. Now I plugged in a few dates and some dates aren%26#39;t valid, but alot are.

You must be a Kimpton InTouch member (which is their rewards program), which you can sign up for on the website free of charge.

Rates are prepaid, non refundable.

Also, any of you locals traveling this summer, they have hotels in:

Alexandria, VA

Arlington, VA

Aspen, CO

Atlanta, GA

Boston, MA

Cambridge, MA

Chicago, IL

Dallas, TX

Denver, CO

Los Angeles, CA

Miami, FL

New York, NY

Portland, OR

Salt Lake City, UT

San Diego, CA

San Francisco, CA

Scottsdale, AZ

Seattle, WA

Silicon Valley, CA

Vancouver, BC

Vero Beach, FL

Washington, DC

Kimpton Hotels Weekend Blowout!!! $81/night thru Sept 6th

Wow, great rates- Thank You!

I am now a new Kimpton InTouch Member.

Kimpton Hotels Weekend Blowout!!! $81/night thru Sept 6th

No problem...

I also forgot to mention that you must book by 12 noon EDT on April 6th and I think you must stay 2 consecutive nights.

DARN IT!!! Here I was dreaming of a taking advantage of this for a romantic one night get-away at the Nine Zero ... and I just realized my kids will NOT be away at camp at the same time.

Stoooopid boy scouts .... they picked a different week than last year, the result is my son leaves on a Sunday and comes home on Saturday and then my daughter leaves the next day (on Sunday) and comes home a week and a half later on Thursday (Girlscout camp isn%26#39;t quite full weeks ....) and then 2 days later (on Saturday) we leave for our standing rental in Truro!

A big thank-you to Pickles the Hotel Wizard for the heads-up. I have tickets for the Sox games Saturday and Sunday nights, May 9-10, and had been thinking of staying over somewhere in town. I pounced on this for a grand total of $182.17 for those two nights. A great deal, indeed.

Thanks for the advise pickles1107! Just booked for next weekend for $81 a night! Did my bit of research and the hotel seems to be centrally located to the things to visit in Boston.

It%26#39;s my first time visiting Boston and was wondering how much daily parking would cost near the Nine Zero? The hotel charges $38 per night.

Thanks!

Glad to hear people are taking advantage of this!

You absolutely CANNOT beat $81/night for the Nine Zero (or Onyx or Hotel Marlowe for that matter). Even the Priceline wins I%26#39;ve seen for NZ have been about $50 more. I%26#39;d venture to say it%26#39;s the cheapest rate ever offered at the Nine Zero in the history of the hotel...

inoman,

As far as parking, I will defer to the locals for advice, but I do know on the weekends you can find cheaper parking. Perhaps the Boston Common garage?

Yes, the Boston Common garage would be a good choice. It%26#39;s close to Nine Zero and rates on the WEEKEND are only something like $11 a day.

thanks Cabinet! The Boston Common Garage is on Charles Street? in between the lagoon and Boston Common parks right? Is it walking distance from the Nine Zero Hotel on Tremont and Franklin streets?

The entrance to the Boston Common Garage is from Charles Street, yes (the garage is actually underneath the Common). I%26#39;m not sure what you mean by ';the lagoon,'; but Charles Street runs between the Common and the Public Garden--which does have a body of water that could be called a lagoon, I guess, but is not so called as far as I know.

parameter order

Train from Massachusetts to NY

We are coming to Boston and Cape Cod in a few weeks. We are hiring a car to go to Cape Cod and then plan to end our trip in New York.

What is the best way to get there - is there somewhere on route we can drop off the rental car and get a train.

Thanks

Train from Massachusetts to NY

My advice is to drop the hire car off in the same city you pick it up in, thus avoiding additional fees for dropping it off in another city. If you pick it up in Boston, then drop it off in Boston. From Boston you can take the Amtrak to New York. There is no train service between Cape Cod and New York, so might as well just take the train from Boston after you drop the car off. You could also drop the car off in Providence and take the train from there, but once again, check into the penalties of dropping the hire car off in a different city.

this works

Boston Public Transportation

I am going to be in Boston this summer for 5 days. I was thinking of purchasing the $15.00 week linkpass. If I understand correctly this pass is good for unlimited travel on Subway, Local Bus, Inner Harbor Ferry, and Commuter Rail Zone 1A. What is the ';Commuter Rail Zone 1A';? I am staying in Cambridge at the Kendall Hotel - would this transit pass be sufficient for travel to and from the hotel to various tourist attractions in Boston? Also - would I be able to use this transit pass when taking the subway to/from the airport? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Boston Public Transportation

Hi,

I can help you out here. First of all, BUY the pass. It is well worth it and will save you lots of money over five days.

Don%26#39;t worry about the commuter rail zone 1A. That refers to suburbs of Boston which I doubt you will be visiting. You will be using the subway (and possibly the inner harbor ferry) for your stay. The subway will take you from Kendall Square in Cambridge (red line) into Boston where you can connect to other subway lines depending on what tourist spot you%26#39;ll be visiting. And yes, your pass includes the airport which is also the subway (blue line). So, you%26#39;re all set for your travels around Boston, Cambridge and the airport. Have a good trip.

Boston Public Transportation

The fact that you%26#39;re staying in Kendall, chances are you won%26#39;t even need the commuter rail, unless you%26#39;re planning to go out of the city.

The airport is served by the subway, therefore your pass will be valid for use.

If you really want to know, the commuter rail zone map is here:

www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/…

Parking (again) sorry!!!!

Can anyone suggest any covered or enclosed parking on the T coming from the west. We will be coming in on I-90 and will be staying with our daughter near Fenway (unfortunately the Sox are in town so parking there will not work). We are thinking that may just taking the T would be the best bet but concerned about parking.

Thanks~!!!

Parking (again) sorry!!!!

It%26#39;s not covered, but the logical choice is at the Riverside MBTA station. It%26#39;s just off I-90, and you can catch the trolley directly to Fenway or Kenmore (about a 25-minute ride).

Parking (again) sorry!!!!

If you are staying overnight, you might want to consider one of the commuter lots, like the Alewife station in Cambridge. For a day trip, even with a Red Sox game, you can probably come a little closer in to Boston on the green line, like the Cleveland Circle or Washington Square areas in Brookline.

The Riverside MBTA (last station on the Green Line D) is just off I-90/Rt 128. That would be the most convenient. Plus the Green Line D stops right at Fenway station, so it would make the most sense for you.

The Riverside lot has over 1000 spaces, but it does fill up during the week in the morning, but not an issue if you come on a weekend. Also, it is an open lot, not an enclosed garage.

The parking fee is ~$8/night, plus $6 for the first day. So the first 24 hours is $14, but then $8/24hr thereafter (that%26#39;s approximate rate, but not off by much).

The next stop from Riverside is Woodland Station and it has a garage which is what you are looking for. It is 25cents more expensive than Riverside. While it is smaller in size, I get the impression that it doesn%26#39;t fill up like Riverside does. So if you drive to Riverside and it%26#39;s full, you can always try the Woodland Garage. Again, they allow overnight parking (a tad more expensive than Riverside).

pool tables?

Does anyone know of a place to shoot pool in April in P-town?

pool tables?

I can%26#39;t believe I found this link! Check it out:

billiardsexpert.com/billiardsmassachusetts.h…

Please let me know if you%26#39;ve found it useful.

pool tables?

Actually, that link was of no use at all. I thought originally that one could click on the town name listed for information, but the names don%26#39;t highlight. (Let me know if you had better luck).

If I%26#39;m not mistaken, there are pool tables in the Governor Bradford. There also used to be a couple pool tables at the Crown %26amp; Anchor and at Pied, though I haven%26#39;t been recently.

Governor Bradford does have pool tables, I believe Good Times Pub also has pool tables.

You%26#39;d be right, according to this website:

www.provincetownlive.net/profile/goodtimes

Thanks so much everyone who replied, we are looking forward to a few games!

Days Inn Saugus Logan Airport

G%26#39;day everyone. I will be staying at the Saugus Days Inn while visiting Boston (have no choice, on a tour). Could anyone tell me the best way to reach the city and how long would it take?

Many thanks, Jason.

Days Inn Saugus Logan Airport

Hi, Jason

You%26#39;re pretty limited on your transit options between Saugus and Boston. You really have to rely on the hotels free shuttle service to take you to either the Wonderland subway stop or the airport subway stop.(both quite a ways from your hotel) Both are on the ';blue line'; and will take you right into Boston. It will take you about 1 hours travel time to get into Boston from your hotel. What you really have to be careful of is getting out of Boston back to your hotel. Be sure to check with the hotel to see how late the shuttle runs to pick you up and take you back to the hotel. Taking a taxi between Saugus and Boston will cost you about $50 one way.

Days Inn Saugus Logan Airport

Doesn%26#39;t the tour come w/ transportation? You are basically on a small highway that leads to the city .... I hope their shuttle bus runs frequently.

Oh and by the way, the hotel has recently changed, it%26#39;s now Holiday Inn Express. If you search TA for Days Inn Saugus MA you%26#39;ll see a picture w/ the Holiday Inn Express Logo on the building.

how long should i wait

Lenox or Jurys ?????

Hi everyone,

Just about to book my accomodation for a 4 night stay in Boston in June- First visit. After some very helpful responses from others I have narrowed my decisions/loation to either the Lenox or Jurys. I like the look of the lenoxs better but all the reviews are not great. Im 25 and will be staying with my mum and were just looking for a nice comfortable hotel, the location being the most important aspect.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated

Thanks a million x

Lenox or Jurys ?????

A couple heavyweights going at it here!

Jurys reviews are both awesome and amazingly consistent. The Lenox reviews are mostly very good, but it does have some so so reviews thrown in. You%26#39;d have to look long and hard to find a bad review of Jurys. For Back Bay shopping, the slight edge goes to the Lenox for it%26#39;s location. The Lenox to me is the more attractive hotel of the two, but Jurys is no slouch at all. Cuff%26#39;s Pub in Jurys is much louder and younger than the Lenox crowd, so my edge goes to the Lenox there. I just can%26#39;t help but see all the glowing reviews of Jurys, both comfort and service wise. The Irish love Jurys, but maybe that%26#39;s because it%26#39;s owned by an Irish management group, Doyle%26#39;s?. Very doubtful. This one%26#39;s too close to call, but since Jurys rooms are slightly larger and the travelers have rated it ahead of the Lenox, I%26#39;m going to have to vote for the Lenjurys. Seriously, I%26#39;ll vote for Jurys.

Lenox or Jurys ?????

We where also first time visitors to boston and we choose The Lenox, glad we did room was spacious ask for 606 if possible convient for its location, shopping , sightseeing , food.

When i get another chance to visit i will definately stay at this hotel.

Jury%26#39;s is much newer and has a great bar/restaurant. The Lenox is right on Boylston Street in the heart of back Bay. They are both in excellent locations and can pretty much walk to anything from them.

HI, which one did you end up going to? I am having the same dilemma. Thanks.

Hi there, we went for Jurys and it was fab. The loaction is excellent, close to all the shops etc.. Really nice restaurant also around the corner - cant remember the name:(. The staff were really friendly. Couldnt fault the place or Boston - we had a great time - our only issue was that we should have stayed for longer:)

That is such great news. The husband and I booked Jury%26#39;s for our 1st ever trip to Boston! Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself.

Thanks so much. We are going in a few weeks and I will be staying there then. I have only heard good things! Thanks again!

We would love to hear back from all of you about your adventures in Boston! Have a wonderful visit.

If you go Jurys, there is a special on travelzoo.com but it says you must book by April 6th. See if this is still valid. Here is the direct link:

www.doylecollection.com/default.aspx?page=893

We%26#39;re staying at the Jurys right now for a week and we LOVE IT! The beds are seriously comfortable and the hotel is in a great location! Its close to Newbury street. Copley Place and Prudential Centre is only 10minute walk away. There are great restaurants around.

The hotel service is also great! We are extremely happy with the Jurys.

The Lenox is also in a great location, we walked past it.

Hope you have fun in Boston! We%26#39;re having a blast!

We chose Jury's

We chose Jury%26#39;s for our upcoming trip to Boston in June. Is there alot of nightlife around that area? We are not huge partiers that like to dance into the night, but would like some cool pubs or bars to hang out in after dinner.

We chose Jury's

Jury%26#39;s is in a great location for bars and restaurants. The South End and Copley Square are a quick walk from Jury%26#39;s and both areas are loaded with bars and restaurants, some of the best in the city.

We chose Jury's

When I have been to Davios, I have noticed a place across the street. It seems to not even open until 10:00 p.m. Not sure of the name and I believe the sign is very small.

I notice the age is 25-35 and the people seem very hip.

Maybe one of the posters knows the name, I am sure the hotel will.

You are short walk from The Alley on Boylston Street that has a number of dancing/drink options. Copley Square and Park Square have a few choices as does Newbury Street - Dillon%26#39;s (Boylston Street), Rattlesnake Bar (Boylston Street), Vox Populi (Boylston Street), Flash%26#39;s (Columbus Ave), Sonsie (Newbury Street), Solas (Boylston St at The Lenox Hotel), Whiskey Park in the Park Plaza, to name a few.

The South End has some dinner/bar options - The Butcher Shop (wine bar on Tremont Street), The Beehive (live jazz on Tremont Street), Sibling Rivalry (Tremont), Masa (Washington St), Pho Republique (Washington Street), Clery%26#39;s (Dartmouth Street), Coda (Columbus Ave), etc.

The club referenced in the earlier response is Rise (an after hours club - no liquor - that trends very young).

Thanks!

I dont think we will be making it to rise.....not our thing.

What kind of bars do you like?

Were not too picky....I just dont think that Rise would be our thing since the poster said it has no licker and tends to be in for the younger crowd.

We probably wont be going dancing either. I was just curious as to the area around the hotel we chose and if the neighborhood had many restaraunts and bars with in walking distance.

Yes, tons.

Eileen, you were probably looking at Whiskey Park.

Travelzoo has a discount for the Jurys. Check it out . I think it%26#39;s 159 for weekends per night. I think the promo code is TZOO.

Thanks!

We already booked but I will tell my husband and see if we can cancel that reservation and make that cheaper one.

I appreciate it.

this works

Family hotel options

We are going to Boston for 4 days in June. There are 4 of us, including an 8 year old and a 13 year old. We wanted to go to the Duck tour, the Aquuarium, and the waterfront. Can any one suggest a convient location? We have looked at the Hyatt and the Omni. Not sure if downtown id best or not. Any ideas are appreciated!!

Thanks

Family hotel options

I%26#39;m assuming that you mean the Hyatt Downtown Crossing. If so, both locations are an easy walk to the Harbor Area where the Aquarium is located. For the Duck Tour, you could walk to Prudential Center or take the T. Both are near the Freedom Trail, which connects many of the city%26#39;s historic sites, Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market.

Hotel stay before ferry to Nantucket

We are traveling to Nantucket this summer on a Saturday morning ferry. We are planning to stay overnight at a Hyannis hotel Friday evening. We do not need anything fancy, just clean and convenient to the ferry. Is the Comfort Inn a good choice?

Hotel stay before ferry to Nantucket

I%26#39;ve never stayed there, but here on Trip Advisor it seems to get pretty decent (if not glowing) reviews -- should be fine for your purposes, i.e. just one night pre-ferry rather than a week-long vacation. It is right on the main road, about a 10-minute drive from the ferry docks.

trying to remember the name of restaurant!

A number of years ago, I remember going to a lovely steakhouse in Boston. Cant remember the name, but remember it was across the road from a shopping centre, and remember that the centre had a Lord and Taylor shop in it.

Any chance anyone recognises it from my wonderful description above?

Thanks,

trying to remember the name of restaurant!

The only steakhouse that I know of in that area is Abe and Louie%26#39;s. It%26#39;s been in that location for at least the last 7 years or so. It%26#39;s on Boylston St., across from the Prudential Center (where Lord and Taylor is).

http://www.abeandlouies.com/

Hope that helps :)

trying to remember the name of restaurant!

Thats it, thanks for that!!

face twitching

3 night minimum

Anyone know of any guest houses in Ptown that have only a 3-night minimum on summer weekends? All the places I%26#39;ve found so far have 4 night minimums, but we can only stay 3 nights. Thanks for any advice on this!

3 night minimum

You%26#39;ll usually find that hotel and motels have more lenient minimum policies.

3 night minimum

Outer Reach Resort, a motel with unbelievable views, has a 2 night minimum this season:

http://www.outerreachresort.com/rates.html

They%26#39;re dog friendly and there%26#39;s a restaurant attached. I haven%26#39;t read the reviews here (you should though). Not a guest house.

You also might check Provincetown Chamber of Commerce%26#39;s list of lodging choices:

www.ptownchamber.com/accommodations/#motels

I%26#39;m surprised at 4 night minimum, myself. I%26#39;ve seen plenty of 3 night minimums, though I didn%26#39;t get to P-Town at all last summer.

I%26#39;d suggest you speak with managers in person rather than simply look at what policies might be listed on websites. If you do get them to make an exception (and if you like the place), be sure to return and to send your friends. After awhile, you%26#39;ll find that most of these places bend the rules for their regulars, even in the busiest of times.

If your three night stay includes Friday %26amp; Saturday nights it%26#39;s quite a bit tougher. But, if you aren%26#39;t looking for weekend nights guest houses have quite a bit more flexibility.

check out the John Randall House @ www.johnrandallhouse.com

thanks to everyone for their help! through a lot of emailing, i was able to find a 3-night ';exception'; room between 2 longer stays at Admiral%26#39;s Landing.

Film shoot for ';The Company Men';

Has anyone heard anything about this movie filming in Boston sometime soon? I read on a message board that it%26#39;s supposed to begin shooting April 13, but I don%26#39;t know how reliable that is. It stars Ben Afflect, Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones. We will be visiting with my son who is interested in becoming a film major and I would love to find out where they would be filming so we could try to see something going on. We will be in Boston April 13 %26amp; 14. If anyone has any info or knows where I could find out, please let me know.

Film shoot for ';The Company Men';

Here%26#39;s some links of interest: loadedgunboston.com/2009/04/afflecks-company鈥?/a>

http://www.bostonmovietours.net/

http://www.mafilm.org/

Film shoot for ';The Company Men';

Thanks for the links. It gave me the name of a church in Roxbury where they will be filming. I realize they will probably have a huge area around there blocked off, but if anyone has been at a location where they were filming, is it possible to see anything? Do you think it%26#39;s worth going to the area? I was wondering if we brought binoculars if we might be able to see some of it. It sounds exciting to me, since we never have the chance to view anything like this at home.

They%26#39;ve filmed several movies right near my office here in downtown Boston. If you%26#39;re willing to wait - sometimes for hours - you can usually see something. We saw Matthew McConaghey filming ';Ghost of Girlfriends Past'; last spring, we saw a lot of the filming of ';The Departed'; a few years ago and most recently we saw Bruce Willis filming at the deli behind my building a few weeks ago.

There is a lot of standing around doing nothing while they reset the cameras and effects and whatnot, but odds are you%26#39;ll see a celeb or 2 if you%26#39;re willing to wait around.

best lot to park in for Aer Lingus

Hello,

We are driving from New York for a flight out of Boston to Ireland next week. Can someone please advise on the best airport parking lot for us to park the car for the week for a flight out of Terminal E?

We are flying Aer Lingus and from what I see, we will both depart and arrive from that terminal (unlike a trip a few years ago on USAirways that left from one terminal and returned to another ... now that is another story!!)

Thank you!

best lot to park in for Aer Lingus

The cheapest would be the economy lot. The bus will get you to the terminal pretty quickly.

Next week will be busy and Massport could be using the overflow lots. If this is the case, one of the overflow lots is in front of terminal E.

The overflow lots require you to pay up front. They will ask you how many days you will be travelling.

best lot to park in for Aer Lingus

www.massport.com

This will give you more info.

You might consider leaving the car at home and taking the train. Get off at South Station (end of the line) and take the Silver Line bus. Depending how long you%26#39;ll be gone, it may be cheaper than parking.

http://www.amtrak.com

The closest lot to terminal E (international terminal) is the Terminal E outdoor lot lot where parking is 24 dollars a day.

www.massport.com/logan/parki_terme.html

The economy lots (outdoors w/ a shuttle bus to the termilas) are $18 dollars a day, but you basically get the 7th day free. both 6 and 7 days is $108.

www.massport.com/logan/parki_ecolt.html

There%26#39;s also other lots near the airport:

pre-flight lists same places as the economy lot, but you can print a 25% off coupon from their site.

http://www.preflightparking.com/BOS.aspx

Park Shuttle and Fly: http://www.parkshuttlefly.com/rates.html

$18 a day or $99 a week but there%26#39;s also a coupon on their site, so I%26#39;m not sure what you%26#39;d end up paying there.

Thrifty car rental also offers parking ... http://www.parkingatlogan.com/Default.aspx

SO ... are you sorry you asked?

I%26#39;ve taken the Logan Express ';C%26amp;J'; bus whenever I go in to the airport. You can park there for FREE up to 28 days. It%26#39;s SO convenient %26amp; really so much easier in the long run. Here%26#39;s info on that one, even though it%26#39;s up in Newburyport, MA. it%26#39;s just so you can see what they offer:

www.ridecj.com

Where you%26#39;re driving up from New York you could pick up a ';Logan Express';, which is right in Braintree right outside of Boston on the south shore %26amp; get it on the way back @ Logan after your trip, they%26#39;ll take you right to the parking lot. Parking will be about $11 a day at this particular lot. Here%26#39;s info on it, hey, save your $$ for the pubs %26amp; sightseeing in Ireland, you%26#39;re going to have such a GREAT time over there, may be I can go in your luggage!

www.massport.com/logan/getti_logan_brain.html

The lot directly in front of Terminal E is a short term parking lot. The first 24 hours will cost you $48.00 dollars...each day after that will be $24.00.

There are signs that will say..short term.

The overflow lot is closer to the gas station.

There will be signs as you enter the airport if the overflow lots are being used. If this is the case, you want to use this one. The other overflow lot is over by the Hyatt and will take 15-20 minutes to get back to Terminal E.

Again....first shoot for the econmy lot.

Eileen, I always thought that the Terminal E lot was short term, ... but according the the massport website it%26#39;s ';affordable daily and hourly rates'; and the rates that went into affect less than a month ago are: 7- 24 hours is $24, 1 day plus an additional 6-24 hours is $48 (so that%26#39;s still $24 a day) and that each additional day is $24. And a partial day (0-6 hours) adds only $12.

Maybe Massport has too much competition on lower-cost parking so they are trying to encourage customers to go for the convenience factor (at a fee, of course). Don%26#39;t know ... just a guess on my part.

Hi Forgot:

My eyes could be going but I checked the link you posted, it says $48.00 for the first 24 hours.

The lot right in front of the terminal has always beed a money grabbing place to park.

Ok..my eyes are going. I see where it says 1 day and 6-24 hours will be $48.00. Sorry.

this works

medford area hotel question?

we are driving up from Maryland and have a car. Considering how expensive parking is in Boston, we found the Hyatt Place in Medford with a rate of 127 pre paid and free parking. We figured we would drive to Station Landing at the Wellington Orange line and park there each morning we go into Boston. Is this a good plan? Is the area in Medford safe? In addition, we are going to head to Gloucester to whale watch, is this a good location to catch the highway to Gloucester?

medford area hotel question?

Hi,

It%26#39;s perfectly safe. It%26#39;s your basic average urban suburb of Boston. The T parking lots tend to fill up early in the morning though. If you get to Wellington after about 9:00 am, you might possibly have trouble finding a place to park. I don%26#39;t think that station is as tight, parking-wise, as some of the stations along the Red or Green Lines, though.

You can buy a short term pass (1,3,or 7 days) from the ticket machines at Wellington Station. It would save you some money if you are going to be using the T every day.

As for heading to Gloucester, it%26#39;s not a bad location. You can just hop on I-93 near the hotel, head north to I-95, and then branch off of that on to Route 128 North to Gloucester. It%26#39;s pretty straightforward. You should plan at least an hour for that drive, though.

medford area hotel question?

It sounds like a decent plan to me. Medford is safe, and you%26#39;ll be right next to I-93 to get to Gloucester.

I don%26#39;t know whether parking at that T station becomes tricky with regard to commuter crowds filling the lot. The hotel might possibly have a shuttle to there and/or to the West Medford commuter rail station, but I didn%26#39;t see any word about such a service in a quick glance at the Web site.

Have fun.

Station Landing at Wellington might fill up but there is PLENTY of reasonably-priced parking at the Wellington T station. Drive past station landing, turn right onto Rte 16, and just after passing Kelly%26#39;s Roast Beef you%26#39;ll be able to turn right, into the Wellington T station where you%26#39;ll find the drop off area and lots a couple of open lots. If you were going to leave your car for DAYS, I%26#39;d say station landing is the most desirable spot, but since that is not your situation the outdoor lots are fine and depending on where you park (how early you get there) the walk to the actual trains could be shorter (but outdoors) than from the Station Landing garage.

The trip to Gloucester is reasonable ... 93N to 95/ 128N it%26#39;s not the MOST direct, but it%26#39;s all highway.

thank you so much for your input. Your opinions have confirmed that we have made a good choice for our needs. thank you again.

I think the Hyatt in Medford has shuttles to both Wellington and Davis Square, but driving and parking at Wellington will give you more flexibility. Don%26#39;t try to drive and park at Davis though, there is no parking.

Bus from Logan to Cape Cod

Okay, I *know* that there is a bus that does this - heck I%26#39;ve taken it (but many years ago).

However, I checked Peter Pan Bus and Grayhound and both sites tell me that they don%26#39;t do that schedule (I tried both Logan and Boston South Station going to Hyannis). The Plymouth and Brockton site won%26#39;t even open for me.

What am I missing here??

Feel free to tell me I am idiot - I know this shouldn%26#39;t be so difficult.

Bus from Logan to Cape Cod

Here is the url for Plymouth %26amp; Brockton Busses:

http://www.p-b.com/

Bus from Logan to Cape Cod

Thanks.

It is the same url I was using before, but now it is working. And, even better, I can find the route I need!!

client side script

Day Trip From Boston Trip Report

Hello Salem! Last year my husband and I enjoyed an awesome day in Salem. We traveled via ferry from Boston (where we were staying.) Since it%26#39;s trip planning time, I thought I%26#39;d share my trip report from last summer%26#39;s June visit. Maybe someone will find it helpful or interesting even if it%26#39;s a year late!

FYI The ferry from Boston to Salem cost $22.00 roundtrip each and it was a 45 minute ride.

Riding the ferry to Salem was in itself an adventure. I took a ton of pictures of all kinds of things. Planes coming in for a landing @ Logan seemed to literally be dropping into the ocean. There was an island with cannons on it that my husband was sorry we couldn’t explore further. Somewhere along the way I had learned that lobster fisherman mark their traps with bobbing buoys. We saw many of those along the way as well as a lobster boat bringing in its catch; all very fascinating. The Mr. loves the water. He reminded me of a dog riding in his master’s car with his head flung out the window catching the breeze. He never sat down the whole time we were riding the ferry. His favorite place was to be perched at the front of the boat in the little nitch like Leonardo DeCaprio and Kate Winslet did on the movie The Titanic. I’m not that adventuresome. I thought I was being a good sport to sit on the bench and watch him! As we got closer to Salem the scenery changed. I loved all the houses along the shoreline and I took tons of pictures thinking each house was more interesting or more beautiful or in a more picturesque spot then the last. At any rate we finally arrived in Salem and were thrilled that a couple of trolleys had arrived to pick us up.

We had already decided since the last ferry to Boston left at six we were going to have to rely on a trolley to take us to the points of interest we were interested in seeing.

Our old “friends” from City View also had a trolley in Salem. They offered a heck of a deal; $5.00 a person and we happily boarded their trolley. I’m not sure what their competitor charged but they were also available for pickup. Unfortunately,

we simply did not have enough time in Salem to fully explore all the interesting possibilities. The trolley only looped every hour. That meant you had an hour in each location, which is probably enough time to see the attraction if you rushed, but the timing had to be perfect. For that reason if you are planning a trip to Salem I suggest you either depart Boston on the 9:00 ferry or you plan to spend a night in Salem. Anyway, back to the trolley ride. It was very relaxed. The two drivers we had were funny and informative. Our first stop was Pickering Wharf. We were starving and chose an earlier pick of mine for lunch, Victoria’s Station. We both started with a cup of clam chowder (very good chowder) and for an entrée I had Cajun seasoned salmon served in a casserole dish. It was okay, but in all fairness it probably doesn’t get higher marks from me because I totally misunderstood what I was ordering. I thought I was getting some kind of Cajun seasoned salmon casserole! The Mr. got lobster puffs. The meal was served with some very good bread and butter. After dinner I wanted to do the Ranger tour of The Friendship and Custom House, but because the last tour had just started and the trolley was coming and time was running short I had to settle for just reading the information kiosk. From there we rode the trolley to The House of Seven Gables. Well, I majored in English in college and love to read so this was a “must do” for me. The House of Seven Gables in set in a very picturesque spot over looking the water. It has beautiful gardens and a great gift shop that we enjoyed (I say we, I’m not sure the Mr. got as much out of this tour as I did. Poor guy only had a vague recollection of who Nathaniel Hawthorne was!) I bought the cutest t-shirt for myself that said “Salem Teaching Fine Witches Since 1692”. I hope neither my principal nor my student’s parents take offense when I wear it on causal Fridays! :D Anyway, I thought the tour was fascinating. The tour guide did a great job relaying the story of the builder of the house; Captain Turner, his travels, the rise and fall of the fortunes of the Turner family and the history of how it became known to Nathaniel Hawthorne and thus the setting for The House of Seven Gables. After the tour I took a very rushed look at the house Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in. There were all kinds of interesting things to read about his childhood and adulthood, but I had to basically skim it quickly because the hour was running out and the trolley was coming. From there we decided to just ride the loop so we could see Salem. Sadly I wasn’t able to get off at Witch House where the Salem Witch trials took place. I understand that this would have been a combination education on the witch hysteria as well as period architecture. Pooh! We departed at the Salem Visitor’s Center. I failed to mention after we boarded the trolley at the ferry landing we were briefly taken to the visitor’s center where we were able to confer with Park Rangers, pick up literature, and use the nice restroom facilities. After we left on the trolley from that stop we were treated to a scrumptious cookie provided by the owner of the Rose Medallion. Bless her. She actually boarded the trolley and allowed every rider to have their pick from her big cookie tray. She had offered a 10% discount to all trolley riders and neither one of us had been able to get that chocolate mint cookie off our minds. We purchased lemonade from a cart and I headed to The Rose Medallion to buy some of those cookies. Alas, she only had seven left so I purchased every one of them. While I was gone the Mr. purchased a big hot dog from a vendor near the bench I left him on.

Lucky for him he saved me a bite or two! We had about an hour prior to the trolley’s departure for the ferry landing. We decided to use the hour in the Peabody Essex’s Museum. Tickets were $15.00 each and I could tell the ticket lady felt bad because the museum was closing in about 45 minutes. We assured her it was okay. Initially, we decided not to spend the extra $8.00 to view the Yin Yu Tang House, but once I saw the outside of it, I knew I had to see it. We scurried back to the ticket counter and purchased the right to go inside and then waited impatiently for the guy to let us in. It’s an audio tour and is self paced. Wow! It was certainly worth the effort and extra money it took to get in. The audio tour explained all the important aspects of the house (just fascinating) as well as some Chinese history that related to the workings of the house and the comings and goings of its occupants. After exiting the Yin Yu Tang House tour we did a quick run through of the ivory and silver exhibit and then had to give up the opportunity to see anything else because of the closing of the PEM. We waited the arrival of the trolley to take us back to the ferry landing on the outside of the visitor’s center and enjoyed the antics of a squirrel. He was a cute little guy and kept more than the Mr. and I entertained. The whole group gave an audible gasp when the squirrel dashed into the street in front of an oncoming car and then in unison we all sighed with relief when he made it safely across. The trolley arrived and we headed back to the ferry. The return to Boston was definitely on the cool so I sat inside and even the Mr. joined me after just a few minutes in “his nitch”. He claimed it was solely to keep me company, but I think he was cold too! LOL!

Day Trip From Boston Trip Report

Hey Texas Teacher. Thanks for the very thorough trip report. I just wanted to warn people that if you sit outside on the Salem Ferry the wind is strong enough to blow the contacts lens right out of your eyes. That thing really honks when it clears the harbors and gets out to sea. So wear a hood and keep your kids in hand. Enjoy!

Rio Restaurant

I posted a detailed review tonight but it was not on the site yet, please let me know whenit%26#39;ll be posted as I thought it would post immediately after I joined as a member.

Rio Restaurant

The reviews take a good 24 hours to 2 days to post, so check in a day or two. I%26#39;ve submitted quite a few of them and that%26#39;s what happens. You%26#39;ll get an email that it posted.

I just submitted another one a couple of weeks ago about the hotel I stayed at in Alexandria, VA, but lo and behold I got it back because they wanted me to do it over and stick to the subject matter more, I was trailing off all about the restaurants and all their neat shops too much! I%26#39;m a yacker I can%26#39;t help it! Well, forget about it, now I forgot the little details on it all and it%26#39;s too late!

So it%26#39;s kind of a good idea to try to do them right away, AND take it from this experience I just had recently? Write them up ';short and sweet!';

Rio Restaurant

I%26#39;ve always wanted to go to Rio- would you recommend it or Tango?

BBQ and Italian Restaurants-Kid Friendly

I will be in Boston newt week with my 9 year-old daughter, who is a little fussy with food. We are staying at the Marriott Long Wharf with no car, but will be traveling around the city (including MIT Museum and Harvard Square). I am looking for a BBQ place that will serve chicken, corn of the cob, corn bread, etc. I am also looking for an Italian restuarant (North End?) where she can get the basics (chicken parm, spaghetti), but I can get something a little more upscale (seafood oriented). But not Bertuccis (which we eat here at home).

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

BBQ and Italian Restaurants-Kid Friendly

We don%26#39;t have a lot of BBQ places Downtown, but you can get whatever you want in Quincy Market. Sounds like that would be the perfect solution for you and your fussy little one. In terms of Italian places, most all of them will have chicken parm and some seafood dishes. One of the board%26#39;s favorites is LaSumma. Some of the Irish pubs in the Fanueil Hall area will have things kids like and seafood dishes as well.

BBQ and Italian Restaurants-Kid Friendly

Boston is not know for their BBQ, the only place I can think of is RedBones in Davis Square in Somerville. Red-Line subway to Davis Square T stop. To get to the Red-Line from your hotel, I would recommend just walking to South Station and getting the T from there. If it rains then take the Blue-Line at your hotel to Government Center then transfer to the Green-Line get off at Park Station and change to the Red-Line.

You might be interested in Legal Seafood right at Long Wharf where your daughter can order kids ravioli and you can order seafood. You might also be interested in Daily Catch for more of an Italian seafood and you daughter can order a side of pasta. Another option for your picky 9 year old is to go to Quincy Market.

Most restaurants will accommodate your daughter, so try to go to a place that you both would enjoy.

You could go to Redbones on the day you were at Harvard Square, just one T stop away. All the other decent barbeque joints (they do exist in the Boston area) are not so easy to get to without a car.

I apologize for my typo,

Boston is not known for their BBQ........

If you%26#39;re in Cambridge and open to taking a cab or walking a bit you could get both seafood and BBQ at East Coast Grill on Cambridge Street in East Cambridge (you can walk from the Central Square red line stop or up Cambridge Street from the Lechmere green line but both are a bit of a haul):

tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60890-d32鈥?/a>

For old-school Italian-American fare I was going to recommend La Groceria, also in Cambridge, but it looks like they%26#39;ve closed down... Perhaps someone else can suggest a place.

In Harvard Square, there%26#39;s always Mr. Bartley%26#39;s Burger Cottage --- I%26#39;m 99.9% sure they sell chicken tenders

RamblinDan has it right. Redbones%26#39; quality has seriously gone downhill of late. East Coast Grill, on the other hand, is excellent. Very, very casual, with great food, a good atmosphere and good service. It is a tiny place and can be cramped, but you%26#39;ll have a great meal.

Another option might be the Summer Shack on Dalton St. in the Back Bay. They are primarily a casual seafood place. They do not have barbecued chicken, but do have fried chicken (which I heard is pretty good) and corn on the cob as well as hot dogs. You would take the Green Line (any car except an E Line Heath St. car) to the Hynes Convention Center stop. It%26#39;s a short walk from there across the street from the Sheraton entrance. Or you can take any Green Line car and get off at Copley. It would be a bit more of a walk, but not a bad one.

I don%26#39;t think the barbeque meats at Redbones are that great, but I think they still do a good job with the rest of the menu, and it%26#39;s definitely kid-friendly and easy to get to by T (two stops from Harvard Square). But yeah, Boston isn%26#39;t exactly a hotbed of great bbq/Southern food.

Summer Shack isn%26#39;t my favorite place in the world, but it sounds like what you might be looking for as well. There%26#39;s another one in Cambridge, next to the Alewife T stop.

For the North End, I%26#39;d suggest La Galleria 33, L%26#39;Osteria and Antico Forno.

Redbones is good bbq and you can get there easily on the T. My favorite BBQ place is a small place in West Newton, ';blue ribbon BBQ';. Consistently wins ';Best of Boston'; in Boston Magazine... http://www.blueribbonbbq.com/ I%26#39;ve only been to this location, but understand there is one in Arlington on Mass Ave. that is probably T accessible. Check mbta.com. You can plug in an address there and it will tell you what forms of transport to take there between bus or train. The vibe is awesome, the decor is really kitchy-cool, and the pulled pork is unbeatable (w/ all the trimmings). You can get a few authentic Southern sides or even a green salad. They have different varities of bbq from sweet to sour that are homemade. It%26#39;s very family friendly as it has counter seating and no bar like Red Bones. The atmosphere is really fun. They play old blues music and have big ole vats of old fashioned ice tea and lemonade (my husband and I usually mix them 1/2 %26amp; 1/2). You can get to West Newton on the 505 Bus which leaves from Downtown - Federal Street. It%26#39;s only about a 15 minute ride. It%26#39;s a commuter bus so I%26#39;m not sure about traveling there on a weekend. There%26#39;s not much to West Newton, but it is a cute little part of the city with a few eateries and an independant theatre. The only other bbq that comes to mind is Firefly%26#39;s in the %26#39;burbs. Blue Ribbon handily beats Red Bones and Firefly%26#39;s. Well worth the short trip!