Totally OT -- Compiler seeking Boston vacation info

Howdy folks. It seems HW posters have expertise/experience in all things, so why not ask here. At least I'll get good feedback.

As many of you know, I retired from teaching, with great reluctance. I've loved my job and figured that I would keep working, as long as I woke up looking forward to doing so and as long as I was capable of doing so. But, I never factored in life circumstances. My daughter is getting married in 3 weeks, in Toppsfield, just North of Boston. If I kept working, it would mean flying down there, having a whirlwind few days, and flying back. However, my wife and I celebrated our second anniversary with a trip out East. We LOVED it and always wanted to go back. Well, we just celebrated our 40th anniversary. Hmmmm...daughter getting married in Boston? As a mathematician, I am good at putting 2 and 2 together. It's time to re-do that trip! Also, the Michigan Winters have been unusually harsh and for once we would like to go somewhere warm for part of the Winter. That will be an OT post for late October! (WE are thinking of maybe the Ft. Myers area in Florida). So, anyway, as I said, a confluence of happenings spurred me to retire.



Now, we get to my question, and I suspect there will be more.

We would like to do some things in Boston, but would prefer not to get bogged down driving in that City.

So, is there a nice hotel just North of Boston, kind of on the outskirts, that may offer transportation (a Van) into Boston, thereby allowing us to do things (tours, etc.)?

We are thinking of spending one (or two) nights in that place and then on to Cape Cod. After that, back North to NH and Maine and then head home to Michigan. I'll probably be asking for suggestions on Cape Cod, Maine, and NH soon. But, for now, any ideas about Boston?

Mel -- I can taste the lobster now!

Fairwind et al:

We booked Rockport for 2 nights after the wedding. We plan to visit some small towns nearby and then take the train into Boston the second day. We will find things to do. I understand the train stop is right in the heart of the historic district.

We then will head to Cape Cod. We may stay in Sandwich the first night and head into Cape Cod the next day.

Fairwind, if you are around maybe we can do lunch!

Mel

I'm a Boston native a "Townie" from Charlestown, though these days I live about 40 miles to the west. Unfortunately being a native I have no experience of north of Boston hotels because I never need to stay in them. But I do suggest that if you have only a day or two in Boston, you should sign up for one of the trolly bus tours. They will take you to most of the noteworthy historical and local attractions around the downtown and waterfront area. And you can get on and off the buses all day. This saves you a lot of walking and looking for things.

This is what we usually do when we have out of town visitors who haven't seen Boston before. You may want to skip the U.S.S. Constitution, because it is in drydock for the next couple of years, though I think the top deck is still open for tours. There are so many new restaurants -- especially around the newly developed Atlantic Ave., seaport area, I no longer know what to recommend. However the Union Oyster House is still standing, as it has been for nearly two hundred years, and it has always been one of my favorites -- especially the booths on the second floor. It's near the Faneuil hall Marketplace. Given my choice I'd go to Union Oyster House or Durgan Park (also by Faneuil Hall Market) rather than one of the many newer restaurants in the market. Durgan Park is another Boston institution, though the main dining area is "family style" so if you're not in the mood to share a table and pass the potato bowl with strangers you might want somewhere else.

As for the Cape, this is the perfect time of year. My wife and I are heading down in two weeks for our annual fall trip. We always take our travel trailer and camp in Nickerson State park, so once again, I can't recommend any particular hotel. But I highly recommend "lower Cape" which in local lingo means the part furthest out from Orleans up to Provincetown. The Cape Cod National Seashore has beaches all along this stretch. And they are absolutely at their best in early fall. It is after tourist season and the beaches are largely empty other then people like me and my wife taking our dog for miles-long walks. I suggest especially you take a trip to Chatham if it fits your plans -- this is the southern tip of the Cape's "elbow." There has been a huge resurgence in the gray seal population in recent years and you will almost certainly see them along this stretch, some in the water fishing, and probably others across the channel up on the beach on Monomoy Island. I was taking pictures of a large group of seals feeding near the Chatham Beach a couple of years ago and suddenly realized some of the seals (including both some males and females) had stopped feeding and taking up a position in the water about 100 feet off-shore and were watching me -- and presumably protecting the other seals from me. So I had to move along because I didn't want to annoy them.

Thanks to all the seals we now also have a growing seasonal white shark population, though I've never seen one.

I hope this helps.

Jim

Jim:

Thanks -- I've added that to my notes.

Mel, looking forward to some yummy lobstas!

Thanks folks. I think we are set. We plan to spend 2 nights in Rockport. We will visit some nearby towns and then take the rail into Boston. I think we will do the on/off tour.

Then it's on to Cape Cod. After that, it's on to NH and Me.

Mel

pro:

We will be driving. I'll have my car. But I see no need to drive in Boston
Mel

Chris:

It's free to walk around, right?

Mel

Wilderness:
I sent you an email

Mel

Thanks for the suggestions/info

Thanks. We have booked the Eagle House Hotel in Rockport for a couple of nights. We will take the train into Boston (North Station) and spend a day.

We have also booked the on/off trolley for that day and we will be dining at a nice restaurant (anniversary gift from our daughter).

After Boston, we will go to Cape Cod,

After that, NH and Maine.

(Wilderness -- we will be in touch once we solidify plans for that part of our trip)

Mel