OT: Looking for suggestions for our trip to Boston

Boston is overrated. Go to Newport, RI instead. So much history, beautiful scenery, great food, and the Naval War college and museum....so like real Navy.

(About an hour and 15 minute ride from Boston).

AQPE said:

A visit to Lexington (Green) and Concord (North Bridge), with a walk or bike ride down the Battle Road. They are low-key but thoroughly enjoyable places, and lest we forget (as fans of the Patriots), the sites of (arguably) the first battles in the first ever revolution in the world that established a true democratic republic.

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My late great Mama Cat was raised in Lexington.

Thanks to everyone for all the feedback so far. Keep it coming.

Crazy Patriot Guy said:

Thanks to everyone for all the feedback so far. Keep it coming.

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If you decide to go outside of Boston south to say the Newport area remember you'll be wading through rich snobs and girls named Millicent and Lady (who never ever remove their white gloves) and guys named Charles Gordon Walter Smythe (mummy's family name) Hoshposhington IV (whose parents call Skippy) and Joker.

Or, there's alway the lovely cities by the sea north of Boston like Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME (where you will find some decent local breweries and coffee roasting places with one or two local swipsters - yeah, sweaty hipsters).

If you're into ponds, two of the most famous ones in America are located right here in New England. There is Walden Pond (and Walden Woods project where you won't run into Thoreau but you could run into Don Henley) in Lincoln, MA and just a bit further, On Golden Pond (up in NH - Squam Lake) with lots of loons and also water fowl.

Or you could venture to historical places like Salem, MA where you can see the House of the Seven Gables (Hawthorne, it's also his birthplace), Peabody Essex (best art museum in New England), a fabulous Maritime museum (Salem Maritime National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)) and museums about an actual witch hunt.

Finally, if you do venture to Lexington/Concord there is also Ralph Waldo Emerson's House, Louisa May Alcott's House and and the Concord Museum (basically a museum on transcendentalism and minute men). After you wake from your nap....

Have a great trip!

RI Patriots fan said:

Boston is overrated. Go to Newport, RI instead. So much history, beautiful scenery, great food, and the Naval War college and museum....so like real Navy.

(About an hour and 15 minute ride from Boston).

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RI is definitely underrated. Great beaches and restaurants. But, the idea that Boston is overrated is laughable. It's arguably America's greatest city.

Jackson 2 said:

RI is definitely underrated. Great beaches and restaurants. But, the idea that Boston is overrated is laughable. It's arguably America's greatest city.

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Agreed, Boston is certainly among the nation's greatest cities and arguably it's most walkable.

A few words of caution........Avoid the red line and orange line after 10pmish, perhaps earlier, avoid the common and public garden after dark, don't go near the Fens - ever. Also, if you go to the Common, Public Garden vicinity be prepared for hordes of beggars, panhandlers, and heroin addicts sleeping all over the Common in broad daylight. The heroin addicts and beggars add another dimension to every Freedom Trail tour...

We just took our friends from Georgia on a "tour" of all the sights in Boston last month and they were amazed at how many vagrants were lying around on the Common....

I spent the first two weeks of July in Boston last year. We road the orange line to Roxbury Crossing many times after 10PM but there were 9 of us which included 5 fairily large adult males. We had no problems. We even walked MLK blvd to Washington where the condo was. Yeah Boston Common was full of undesirables but we ignored them and they didn't bother us. We never had any issues walking the Freedom Trail.

Clonamery said:

If you decide to go outside of Boston south to say the Newport area remember you'll be wading through rich snobs and girls named Millicent and Lady (who never ever remove their white gloves) and guys named Charles Gordon Walter Smythe (mummy's family name) Hoshposhington IV (whose parents call Skippy) and Joker.

Or, there's alway the lovely cities by the sea north of Boston like Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME (where you will find some decent local breweries and coffee roasting places with one or two local swipsters - yeah, sweaty hipsters).

If you're into ponds, two of the most famous ones in America are located right here in New England. There is Walden Pond (and Walden Woods project where you won't run into Thoreau but you could run into Don Henley) in Lincoln, MA and just a bit further, On Golden Pond (up in NH - Squam Lake) with lots of loons and also water fowl.

Or you could venture to historical places like Salem, MA where you can see the House of the Seven Gables (Hawthorne, it's also his birthplace), Peabody Essex (best art museum in New England), a fabulous Maritime museum (Salem Maritime National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)) and museums about an actual witch hunt.

Finally, if you do venture to Lexington/Concord there is also Ralph Waldo Emerson's House, Louisa May Alcott's House and and the Concord Museum (basically a museum on transcendentalism and minute men). After you wake from your nap....

Have a great trip!

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If anyone heads up to Portland ME, I highly recommend stopping at the Great Lost Bear on Forest ave. It's a unique Tavern that has approximately 100 microbrews on tap and if you do go I would also highly recommend their buffalo chicken sandwich.

The Great Lost Bear

Tony2046 said:

If anyone heads up to Portland ME, I highly recommend stopping at the Great Lost Bear on Forest ave. It's a unique Tavern that has approximately 100 microbrews on tap and if you do go I would also highly recommend their buffalo chicken sandwich.

The Great Lost Bear

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Tried it last year the night before a half marathon (didn't eat). Very pleasing place.

Jackson 2 said:

RI is definitely underrated. Great beaches and restaurants. But, the idea that Boston is overrated is laughable. It's arguably America's greatest city.

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LMAO.....you need to travel way more than you do. There is no way that Boston is America's greatest city. I've traveled all over the USA for work and I can think of 3 cities off the top of my head that are better than Boston....NYC (sorry, it isn't close), DC, and Chicago. Only people from Massachusetts think Boston is America's greatest city. Ask people outside of Mass, and they might not even mention Boston in their top 10. Heck, if they live outside this country, they might not even know that Boston exists. But I guarantee you that they know about NYC.

There is a WaterFire Event in Providence on the 8th ... that is a great time.
2018 WaterFire Event Schedule | WaterFire Providence

If you're staying in Boston you may want to take the commuter rail to Providence to avoid traffic/parking.
Providence/Stoughton Line | Commuter Rail | MBTA

Many fine restaurants in downtown Providence and on Federal Hill/Atwells Avenue.

Clonamery said:

If you decide to go outside of Boston south to say the Newport area remember you'll be wading through rich snobs and girls named Millicent and Lady (who never ever remove their white gloves) and guys named Charles Gordon Walter Smythe (mummy's family name) Hoshposhington IV (whose parents call Skippy) and Joker.

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Well, sure.....if he goes back in time to 1903.

Clonamery said:

If you decide to go outside of Boston south to say the Newport area remember you'll be wading through rich snobs and girls named Millicent and Lady (who never ever remove their white gloves) and guys named Charles Gordon Walter Smythe (mummy's family name) Hoshposhington IV (whose parents call Skippy) and Joker.

Or, there's alway the lovely cities by the sea north of Boston like Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME (where you will find some decent local breweries and coffee roasting places with one or two local swipsters - yeah, sweaty hipsters).

If you're into ponds, two of the most famous ones in America are located right here in New England. There is Walden Pond (and Walden Woods project where you won't run into Thoreau but you could run into Don Henley) in Lincoln, MA and just a bit further, On Golden Pond (up in NH - Squam Lake) with lots of loons and also water fowl.

Or you could venture to historical places like Salem, MA where you can see the House of the Seven Gables (Hawthorne, it's also his birthplace), Peabody Essex (best art museum in New England), a fabulous Maritime museum (Salem Maritime National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)) and museums about an actual witch hunt.

Finally, if you do venture to Lexington/Concord there is also Ralph Waldo Emerson's House, Louisa May Alcott's House and and the Concord Museum (basically a museum on transcendentalism and minute men). After you wake from your nap....

Have a great trip!

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RI Patriots fan said:

LMAO.....you need to travel way more than you do. There is no way that Boston is America's greatest city. I've traveled all over the USA for work and I can think of 3 cities off the top of my head that are better than Boston....NYC (sorry, it isn't close), DC, and Chicago. Only people from Massachusetts think Boston is America's greatest city. Ask people outside of Mass, and they might not even mention Boston in their top 10. Heck, if they live outside this country, they might not even know that Boston exists. But I guarantee you that they know about NYC.

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LOL, I've been to 45 of the 50 states, and every continent except Asia and Antarctica. Try another strategy.

Jackson 2 said:

LOL, I've been to 45 of the 50 states, and every continent except Asia and Antarctica. Try another strategy.

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Then next time you travel you might try opening your eyes or taking off your Bahhston rose colored glasses because there is no way that Boston can even remotely rival NYC. NYC is a true world class city. Boston is a quaint town compared to NYC.

Thinking back on where I took my kids the first time I brought them to Boston (I live in NYC now but spent 20 years in the Hub).

Definitely walk the Freedom Trail. You really don't need a guide as long as you have a map or app. Good exercise and you can go where and as far as you want...ends at Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution.

The Old Granary Burying Ground, my favorite, is towards the beginning of the Trail and rewards a good half hour of wandering its centuries-old pathways. John Hancock, Paul Revere and Sam Adams are its most well-known "residents," but history is everywhere. When I worked in an office in Faneuil Hall Marketplace, I would occasionally walk in on my way home to the Back Bay when the cemetery was virtually deserted and just let the place wash over me.

And, BTW, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is about half way along the Trail and has plenty of places for lunch. If you want to get into "Full Tourist Mode," go to the Union Oyster House for lunch and see if you can get seated near The Kennedy Booth. Hey...I'm proud that I still get into places like that. Order a dozen oysters and pretend you're Daniel Webster.

Otherwise, just pick and choose your history. It will be all around you. If you have a good bit of time, the Kennedy Library and Museum is worth it, but out of the way...long story there...

With a little less time, you can hop on the Red Line to Cambridge and take a walk around Hahvahd Yahd and the Square. If you're staying in Boston, you can walk back along Mass Ave and go through "the other school" in Cambridge as well. A bit of a hike, but the best way to get to know any city is to walk it, IMHO.

My kids loved the Tea Party boat and museum because they got to throw stuff in the water, but it's a little too "staged" for me...

Dinner? Depends on your budget, so I won't make any suggestions. Can't go wrong with seafood, but some great steak houses as well.

Have a great time in the greatest city in America! I miss it just writing about it!!!

Clonamery said:

If you decide to go outside of Boston south to say the Newport area remember you'll be wading through rich snobs and girls named Millicent and Lady (who never ever remove their white gloves) and guys named Charles Gordon Walter Smythe (mummy's family name) Hoshposhington IV (whose parents call Skippy) and Joker.

Or, there's alway the lovely cities by the sea north of Boston like Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME (where you will find some decent local breweries and coffee roasting places with one or two local swipsters - yeah, sweaty hipsters).

If you're into ponds, two of the most famous ones in America are located right here in New England. There is Walden Pond (and Walden Woods project where you won't run into Thoreau but you could run into Don Henley) in Lincoln, MA and just a bit further, On Golden Pond (up in NH - Squam Lake) with lots of loons and also water fowl.

Or you could venture to historical places like Salem, MA where you can see the House of the Seven Gables (Hawthorne, it's also his birthplace), Peabody Essex (best art museum in New England), a fabulous Maritime museum (Salem Maritime National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)) and museums about an actual witch hunt.

Finally, if you do venture to Lexington/Concord there is also Ralph Waldo Emerson's House, Louisa May Alcott's House and and the Concord Museum (basically a museum on transcendentalism and minute men). After you wake from your nap....

Have a great trip!

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Walden Pond is a great idea! Lexington/Concord...fer sure.

RI Patriots fan said:

LMAO.....you need to travel way more than you do. There is no way that Boston is America's greatest city. I've traveled all over the USA for work and I can think of 3 cities off the top of my head that are better than Boston....NYC (sorry, it isn't close), DC, and Chicago. Only people from Massachusetts think Boston is America's greatest city. Ask people outside of Mass, and they might not even mention Boston in their top 10. Heck, if they live outside this country, they might not even know that Boston exists. But I guarantee you that they know about NYC.

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Really, really disagree.

A city is great for many reasons, not the least of which is how it is internalized by individuals.

I've lived in both NYC and DC (and have traveled to 40 of our 50 states and, um, 40 countries around the world...that too).

New York is, indeed, the Capital of the Universe, but, once you get to know it, one really doesn't count here unless one has at least an eight figure net worth...or, as a friend of mine put it recently, it helps "if you're a nine figure guy." But, it has a lot going for it (that whole "Capital of the Universe" thing, for example) and, indeed, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere...

DC is a swamp with a multi-billion dollar influence peddling and lobbying enterprise built over its muck. I've lived there, worked there and taught there. I enjoy visiting, but never want to actually live there again.

I've never lived in Chicago, but have been there more times than I can count. It's a great town.

But, for history and quality of life, as well as economic, cultural and educational opportunity, Boston is, for me, the greatest city in America.

Now, I'm not saying you or anyone have to agree with me about Boston, but please don't disparage the views of those of us who might feel that way.

And, BTW, part of the appeal of Boston is that it is not on the lists of a lot of people. Shhh.