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margot helene
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| Posted: July 26 2010 at 7:01am | IP Logged
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Hi Ladies,
Our homeschool group (3 families who homeschool together) would like to visit Boston and surrounding areas for an American History (Revolution) field trip. We are thinking of trying to spend the night, maybe two nights. We are wondering if any of you who live in that area know of any place where we might spend the night. We're planning for September, so we could do a campground, but any church basement or other arrangement would be great.
Please PM if you have any ideas . . .
Thanks!
Margot
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cheesehead mom
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| Posted: April 25 2011 at 5:10pm | IP Logged
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I am bumping up this old question as we are planning a trip to Boston for September--"and I've never been to Boston in the fall" Veggie Tales silly song  We have never been to New England and are planning on stopping in New York on the way--Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island then spending a few nights in the Boston area. So any experts out there:
1--Housing--We are not camping this time so what/where would you recommend for accomodations--renting a house (we will probably try and be there 4 nights and there are 7 children 2 adults 14 down to 1), monastery accomodations, hotel?
2--What are must-see destinations: Freedom Trail, Louisa May Alcott house in Concord, Fenwick, Churches/Shrines ..
3--Good tour books and living books to prep kids for the adventure?
Thanks for any help you can give,
Laura in WI
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stefoodie
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| Posted: April 25 2011 at 5:48pm | IP Logged
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argh i have a big file i cannot now find for Boston. went there in '05. i just remember the big tea party ship + old ironsides + paul revere's house + bunker hill. that was enough for 2 really full days for us. we spent some time going around downtown boston (faneuil hall) and just eating yummy clams and other seafood in some restaurant by the sea. also authentic Szechwan food around MIT plus went to MIT museum -- the kids loved that!
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stef
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cheesehead mom
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| Posted: May 18 2011 at 7:57pm | IP Logged
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Thought I would give this one more shot--anyone have any experience vacationing in the Boston area--suggestions for areas to rent home or good hotels for big families (7 kids 2 adults)? Any religious sites to see? Any guidebooks/living books you would recommend. Thanks for any suggestions.
Laura
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Kath
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| Posted: May 18 2011 at 8:43pm | IP Logged
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Laura, we vacationed in the Boston area two years ago and absolutely loved it. We didn't actually stay in Boston--instead, we rented a house in Plymouth, which is about an hour away. We drove into Boston on two separate days and did the Aquarium, Faneuil Hall, etc. The city is such a nice size and extremely walkable, with several great playgrounds and parks for when the littles need some down time. We also toured the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides- it's across the Charles River from Boston) and its museum. But one of the highlights of our trip was visiting Plymouth Plantation, and touring the replica of the Mayflower that is also in Plymouth. Plymouth was a great place to stay--good restaurants, a nice downtown on the waterfront, beaches, and plenty of its own history. Easy access to Boston and to Cape Cod. We found our rental home through the VRBO website (vacation rentals by owner). Oh, and we were there the first week of October and it was just beautiful, if a bit chilly at times.
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Katherine
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guitarnan
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| Posted: May 18 2011 at 10:05pm | IP Logged
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We loved all the places Katherine mentioned (especially USS Constitution - oldest Navy ship in active service! Sailors compete to serve onboard this historic ship.). There is a small but cool museum just across the pier from USS Constitution.) I would add Minute Man National Historical Park (Concord Bridge) and Lexington Green - your littles will enjoy running around on the paths at Concord and the grass at Lexington, while your older children learn about the important events that took place there. (My dd did cartwheels on Lexington Green for what felt like HOURS! Our guide didn't bat an eyelash.)
The Aquarium is an excellent rainy day alternative, as is the Museum of Science (they have many interesting things on display, including a Tesla coil - some exhibits and IMAX are available for an extra fee). We did both (about 1/2 day each) and really enjoyed them.
Be warned that parking in Boston costs a bomb. We drove in and paid to park anyway (we stayed about 45 minutes outside of downtown) because it was quicker than taking the T. For your family, parking would probably be easier as well as less expensive.
I'm a big fan of house/cottage rentals because we can cook our own breakfasts and dinners and buy and store picnic food.
If you have engineering or architecture buffs in your group, consider booking a MIT campus tour. Many of the buildings on campus were designed by famous architects. It's fun to hear about all the student pranks, too. (Disclaimer: My dad went to MIT. I've done the tour twice!)
Literary buffs in your family might be interested in Louisa May Alcott's home or Nathaniel Hawthorne's home in Concord. I forced my parents to take me to the Alcott home when we visited Boston (I was 13). It was one of the highlights of the trip for me...I was in Jo's house!
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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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cheesehead mom
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Thank you ladies for sharing your suggestions. I am checking out vrbo.com and hoping we can snag a nice place for a good price. My touring list is getting long so your suggestions will help us widdle it down.
Laura
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guitarnan
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Don't forget to check for garages/lots that can accommodate larger vehicles in downtown Boston. The last time I went to Baltimore with friends who have a 12-passenger van, they had a hard time parking. Worth checking ahead...
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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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cheesehead mom
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Nancy--Oh great tip. I am still getting used to driving our 'Prison Transport Van' (dubbed by me as I think that is what it looks like  as we pushed our suburban to the max with an additional back seat. SO I tend to forget about the parking issue. Maybe we will look into the Harbor Ferry--kids are free under a certain age.
Laura
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mamaslearning
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Bunker Hill monument is a tough climb to the top. I was young and in shape and my thighs burned from the amount of stairs (plus I had to rest half-way up).
We also enjoyed a trip to Gloucester, MA not far from Boston. It was beautiful in the Fall.
We stayed with a friend in Salem and enjoyed the House of Seven Gables as well.
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Maggie
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My dh and I went to Boston University for undergrad...that was about 8 years ago...and then we lived there for a year after.
As for religious sites:
Go to St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine (near downtown). GORGEOUS church and very faithful order (Oblates of the Virgin Mary).
They also have a chapel in the Prudential Center called St. Francis chapel with several daily Mass times and daily Confession. One of their charisms is Confession--so hit that up, if you can. They have a great book shop there as well. Small--but many gems.
The Cathedral is a MUST SEE. You absolutely need to go and see it!! Do not leave Boston without seeing the Cathedral. It is hard to get to by T, but if you all can walk pretty well, try to get there by T because parking is terrible in Boston--but doable if you pray a lot and can parallel park really well.
Fenway--of course--is awesome! The tour is really fascinating, I think...and not too pricey.
The Children's Museum downtown is fantastic for littles!
USS Constitution is wonderful!
Aquarium is pretty good, but very pricey. Atlanta Aquarium is the best, though. I would skip this if time and money are considerations.
Go on a whale watch!! These leave from Boston Harbor, right near the aquarium.
Freedom Trail is very neat--but more for the older crowd. It makes for a very looooong day.
The North End is an absolute must for food.
Go to Galleria Umberto to get traditional Sicilian pizza. Prices are great here. Skip Mike's Pastry (all the tourists go there) and head to Modern Pastry, just down the block. Get torrone and canolis!
I believe there is a restaurant still in the North End that is owned by a family who sends their kids to Steubenville. I think it is Famiglia Giorgio. It is not in the heart of the North End--kind of on the outskirts--but pretty affordable as well, considering how pricey some of those restaurants are.
The great thing about the North End is that they still have their "shopping" divided up into separate stores: the barber, the fruit market, the butcher, the baker, etc...my dh and I used to go shopping down here because everything was authentic and fresh!
Harvard Commons are kind of neat to see--but Harvard Sq and Central Sq are UBER-LIBERAL...(caution: do not go here at night with children in tow). And I am so not a Harvard person...better schools across the Charles. 
Boston University has some fantastic original documents of Martin Luther King,Jr...who also attended BU. These are in the library for public viewing. Call ahead to make sure these are there.
If you go, you can stop by the Newman House...Sr. Olga Yaqob is the Campus Minister in transition (don't worry--she is a completely devout nun dressed in full habit). You may run into some of the brothers from the Brotherhood of Hope as well--they will all give you good tips and welcome you with open arms! They may give the kids some good advice on picking colleges in the future, too. :) Tell them Maggie and Sean sent you. :)
Ask a BU student to point you in the direction of Ankara. It is a turkish ice cream store in Kenmore Square (outside of Fenway-ish), that has awesome flavors. My dad still talks about Ankara--was his favorite place to go when he visited me.
Museum of Science is FANTASTIC!
If you can catch a Pops Concert or Symphony at Symphony Hall, that is really special, too.
The Boston Museum (spacing on the name)--is wonderful as well.
Take a walk in the Public Gardens...and ride a swan boat. You will also see the bronze statue of all the ducklings from the book "Make Way for Ducklings" in the park--these are very popular with littles.
China Town is great, if you are up for adventure. DO NOT GO HERE AT NIGHT. BUT...if you can go during the day, around 11am-1pm, hit Dim Sum at "The China Pearl" restaurant. This is an incredible experience. If you are not asian, you will be one of the few in the restaurant who are not, which my dh and I always thought was a good sign that the food was authentic. :) The waiters speak little to no English but are very kind. The roll around carts, and you kind of point at what you want to try...which is really fun! It is pretty inexpensive, too...and is just a super great cultural experience.
The State House is beautiful, too...
Trolley Tours are fun...duck tours are fun, too...though pricey.
I highly recomend trying to priceline if you decide to do a hotel.
You can also look for B&Bs.
I know there is a hostel near St. Clement's Eucharistic Shrine--but then again, it depends on how adventurous you are...
You could contact Sr. Olga or the Brotherhood of Hope at BU and ask if they know of a church where you could spend the night, if you are really interested in that.
I simply love Boston and miss it so much!!
PM if you have specific questions. I can bounce things by dh, too...
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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KC in TX
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Maggie wrote:
My dh and I went to Boston University for undergrad...that was about 8 years ago...and then we lived there for a year after.
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Hey! So, did I. And my husband.
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KC,
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jawgee
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KC in TX wrote:
Maggie wrote:
My dh and I went to Boston University for undergrad...that was about 8 years ago...and then we lived there for a year after.
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Hey! So, did I. And my husband. |
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My DH did a Masters Certificate in Computer Programming at BU back in 2000-2001. I guess we're old.
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KT75
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| Posted: May 23 2011 at 7:32pm | IP Logged
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The National Shrine of Divine Mercy is in Stockbridge, MA about an hour outside of Boston.
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Maggie
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KT75 wrote:
| The National Shrine of Divine Mercy is in Stockbridge, MA about an hour outside of Boston. |
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Yes...I would definitely stop here, too!! Our dear friend Father Michael Gaitley is the head of the Association of Marian Helpers and would be great to snag if you could get a chance to meet him! He wrote the book Consoling the Heart of Jesus.
Their chapel is GORGEOUS and so are the grounds. They have a lovely little shrine/chapel for miscarried/still-born babies...and beautiful statues, grottos, etc.
HOWEVER--it is a good 2.5-3 hours outside of Boston, just to clarify...but definitely worth the trip if you are heading home that way...
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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Maggie
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| Posted: May 23 2011 at 9:03pm | IP Logged
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jawgee wrote:
KC in TX wrote:
Maggie wrote:
My dh and I went to Boston University for undergrad...that was about 8 years ago...and then we lived there for a year after.
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Hey! So, did I. And my husband. |
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My DH did a Masters Certificate in Computer Programming at BU back in 2000-2001. I guess we're old. |
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My dh graduated from UNI in '02, and I graduated from CAS in '03. We're not that old...yet...
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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cheesehead mom
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Thanks so much for all the help ladies!
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Boston area
