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Kelly
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| Posted: July 11 2005 at 6:34pm | IP Logged
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OK, our planned American Revolution trip thru Kentucky, Washinton D.C. area and the Carolinas has transmogrified into a week in Boston. We have our tickets and our hotel, but are looking for activities. The problem with Boston is that there are SO MANY great activities, so I'm writing to see what things are on yall's Top Ten list for Boston.
Also, with the Salem Witch Trials in mind, has Salem gotten wierd, or is it still historically "worthy" (or was it EVER historically worthy?  )
Kelly in FL
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guitarnan
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| Posted: July 11 2005 at 11:00pm | IP Logged
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Kelly,
You just knew I would answer, didn't you?
We are doing your trip! (I hope...it's with my parents and my mom is still ill...) We're going in the fall. For my kids, here's my plan. Lexington. Concord Bridge. Faneuil Hall. Freedom Trail. Tour of Paul Revere's house. Some old graveyards (Dad loves them). MIT (My dad went there; you could do Harvard instead). Sailing on the river (see MIT note...). Boston Common (read The Trumpet of the Swan before you go!). Our Rain Plan includes a couple of museums. Our Sore Feet Plan includes the Duck Tour (amphib vehicle)...kids should like this!
When I went to Boston years ago, I also visited Louisa May Alcott's home in Concord (Get this...no one else would go and they sat in the car...I went alone!). This was very important to me. (I was 13.) We basically did all the above items on that trip, and I remember them all vividly. Maybe it was Dad's stories! ("Here's where I fell off the bike and broke my arm.")
For classic Boston fare, try Durgin-Park (my dad used to eat there when he was at MIT!) and the Union Oyster House (also old). I hope to hit some Italian places when we go...but eating in Boston isn't cheap.
Hope this helps. If you're going after we go (God willing), I'll collect detailed info for you. We've already postponed this trip once, but I'm hopeful we'll be able to do it this time.
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Kelly
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| Posted: July 12 2005 at 3:04pm | IP Logged
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Nancy, you are too funny. We operate on the same wavelenght!
Your comments cemented in my mind many of the things I had already pondered, with the exception of the Louisa May So-you-are-the-little-woman-who-started-this-great-war-Alcot t house. The only problem is we do not have a car, so we'll probably have to confine ourseleves mostly to easily accessible sites-tho I might splurge and line up something for our own Lexington/Concord campaign. I like your "Sore Feet Options". I've seen those Duck tours in the Keys a million times, and in Washington, but never done one---I suspect they'd be a blast. Hey, another thought: isn't House of the Seven Gables somewhere close by, too??? I went to school in MA, but didn't really availed myself much of all Boston has to offer (silly girl). I haven't been back since I graduated, either, so I'm sure MUCH is different (gay marriages, anyone???). Still, I'm really looking forward to the American Revolution Saturation that is available in Bean Town and Beyond.
I HOPE you get to go, too. Fall is the time to go. The leaves are breathtaking that time of year and there's great weather (tho this little Southern Gal almost froze her little hiney off in the Massachusetts Winters!!!). We are going in August because of a family wedding in Exeter, NH---for which we DO have a car, but I would prefer not to drive in Boston. As for Harvard and MIT: both on the list. We'll probably do a college tour of both for ds. I'll take notes for sure and we can compare information afterwards. Thanks for all the suggestions!
Kelly in FL
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Kelly
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| Posted: July 12 2005 at 3:05pm | IP Logged
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Oops, that's "wavelengTH"!
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Kelly
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| Posted: July 12 2005 at 3:06pm | IP Logged
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Double oops: "wave length"
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Mary K
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| Posted: July 12 2005 at 5:16pm | IP Logged
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I went to Boston years ago as a teen. I remember going aboard the USS Constitution. Dad is ex-Navy, so we went to many ships!!
We also went to Salem, I don't know what it's like now. I'd recommend doing an internet search and that might help.
You definetly don't want to go there near the end of October!!
Mary-NY
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guitarnan
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| Posted: July 12 2005 at 9:11pm | IP Logged
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Mary...and Kelly...
Sorry! I forgot the USS Constitution!!!! Do tour this ship if you get the chance. I have done it so many times (Mary can relate) that I forgot to mention it. Also, you should know that duty onboard the Constitution is highly sought after. Only the very best sailors get to serve on this historic ship.
If you like ships, take a drive to the USS Massachusetts (battleship!); I guess it's about an hour away from Boston. My kids LOVED it. Nowadays you can even sleep onboard. My husband served on the USS Wisconsin (battleship, more modern), so we tour battleships whenever we can.
I have no idea what Salem is like. My kids would be totally freaked out, especially my Halloween-hating son. I must admit, it's not a part of US history that is easy to explain to kids.
I'm pretty sure Hawthorne's house is in Concord, too, but I really disliked most of his books...Alcott won. I LOVED seeing her home.
Well, Mom is not optimistic about getting healthy for our trip, but I hope things change in spite of her worries. Meanwhile, this is a great thread to keep me interested in plans for the trip!
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Kelly
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| Posted: July 12 2005 at 11:12pm | IP Logged
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I know what you mean about Salem. It's a chapter in history that I'm uneasy with, I don't like the witch thing. On the other hand, with all the vilification that the Spanish Inquisition gets (despite the fact that they followed very precise legal protocols, and allowed many outs to avoid hysterical condemnations by people), I reflected if perhaps it would be good to point out to the children that other religious groups had their own "inquisitions"---even here in our own country---that were much more hysterical and virtually directed thru "mob-rule". But truly, I vaccilate. It's an ugly chapter in history...and even uglier, what it's become in our rather pagan society. I can just imagine the possibilities and I'm willing to bet there are plenty of crystal shops there  . Hence the investigative travel research. PS I wouldn't DREAM of going near that place in October  Yuck.
On a more positive note, YES the USS Constitution is one of the definites on the list. When I was a kid I remember touring it, too, and it made an enormous impression. My brother is a Navy officer, and would flog me with the cat o'nine tails if we didn't pay homage to the USS Constitution! As for the USS Massachusetts (isn't that "Mamie"?), the only problem is the car thing, yet again. I'll have to check the map, tho. Maybe we go in that direction on our way to the wedding festivities. We've visited the USS Alabama in Mobile many times, and it is a crowd pleaser! My ds's boy scout troop spent the night on it, and it was a huge highlight.
Keep those ideas coming. Even when I know about a touristic site, it's great getting affirmation that they are "must-sees".
Kelly in FL
PPS Regarding Hawthorne, we can always point out that his daughter converted, became a nun and started an order!!!
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Mary K
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| Posted: July 13 2005 at 7:30am | IP Logged
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My daughter, Elizabeth (15) plans to read The Scarlet Letter after her best friend recommended it. She says she hated for it to end, she found the story very interesting.
Both girls are homeschooled and no reports or tests are being connected with this book--that's probably why they are both interested in it.
A search into the witch trials can be interesting. there was a fungus on the grain used for the bread that caused hallucinations. I saw a tv or video program about it. maybe pbs.
mary-ny
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: Boston
