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Advise On Where to visit in the Boston area  

post #1 of 14
8/29/08 at 4:47pm
Thread Starter 
I have Never been to the east coast at all. My best friend, who I have not seen in 8 years (she lives in AZ, me in OR) and I are going to take a vaction, just the two of us to the Boston area. We are staing in the cape cod area, and I am so excited.

This will be the last weel of October and was wondering if anyone who actually lives there, would have idea of the best use of our time! Any input is greatly appreciated! This is no kids, no men, just us. We will be there about 5 days, not counting travel time.

Thanks!
post #2 of 14
8/29/08 at 4:52pm
:

looking for ideas as I will be visiting Boston in a few weeks myself.
post #3 of 14
9/2/08 at 9:16am
I was going to reply to this a few days ago, but FYT was closed!

Since it's just going to be adults and you're going at the end of October, even though it's quite a distance from the cape I would recommend Salem. Around Halloween they go all out. It gets very crowded, which is why I wouldn't recommend taking the kids (hard to keep track of them).

Nearer to the cape is Plymouth (where I live), and there you've got the Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II. The Plymouth Rock is under construction at the moment, not sure when that will be completed. By the end of October a lot of stuff is closed down, since tourist season has ended, so you won't find a ton of shops on the waterfront open. But there are beaches for walking if you like that sort of thing.

I don't really know what to do on the cape, I avoid it at all costs (I don't like large crowds), but I'm sure someone else will chime in.

Boston itself is a fairly nice walking city, Newbury Street is neat, and there's lots of historic stuff up there.
post #4 of 14
9/2/08 at 10:15am
Well, where exactly are you staying on the Cape? Cape Cod isn't exactly "the boston area" -- it's where people who live in the Boston area vacation in the summer. There are plenty of things to do on the cape itself. Of course, if by "cape cod area" you mean quincy or something, my answer will change.
post #5 of 14
9/2/08 at 12:46pm
I would second the pp, except I live in Salem and like to go to Plymouth. Salem can be fun in October, and it is PACKED. My dh and I go to Plymouth every year the weekend before Thanksgiving, and plenty of things are still open. I would really recommend the Plimouth Plantation. I'm not sure where you will be on Cape, so I'll let someone else make those suggestions.

In Boston, I would suggest the USS Consitution and Museum (free) and walking the Freedom Trail (2.5 miles of historical monuments).

It all really depends on where you are going to be staying.
post #6 of 14
9/2/08 at 2:23pm
It amuses me how many people say the Boston area when they are nowhere near Boston. I know it's the biggest city and all, but it's actually quite far from a lot of stuff. It's like when I tell people I live in Plymouth, and they say, "Oh, I've been to the cape!" It's like, great, but Plymouth isn't the cape!
post #7 of 14
9/2/08 at 2:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by boobyfeeder View Post
It amuses me how many people say the Boston area when they are nowhere near Boston. I know it's the biggest city and all, but it's actually quite far from a lot of stuff. It's like when I tell people I live in Plymouth, and they say, "Oh, I've been to the cape!" It's like, great, but Plymouth isn't the cape!
In all fairness though, DH and I actually bought a house in Ayer after living in Boston and Cambridge two years--because we kind of assumed the entire state of massachusetts was an extension of Boston, never mind Ayer's well west of 495 and a good 90 minute commuter rail ride away. We didn't last out there long.
post #8 of 14
9/2/08 at 2:45pm
Anything you want to do on the Cape in October you would be wise to check their hours. If they're not closed then off season hours are probably in affect (closed Monday, Tues-Thurs 12-2, etc). You will find things more relaxed on the Cape in October since most of the tourists have gone home.
There are many museums to see, neat places to shop. I'd spend a day in P-town but that's me. If we could afford to move I'd move there lol.
As for Boston, there's the Aquarium, the museums, North End, etc. Again I'd live in the North End if I had to live in the city. Waking up to the smell of baking bread every morning mmmmm. I'd be huge lol but my nose would be thrilled.
Boston is an excellent walking city. There are wonderful beaches and bike trails on the Cape.
I haven't been to Salem in years but it's a blast in October.
I have to agree - "Boston area" is very different from Cape area and north shore area. lol
post #9 of 14
9/2/08 at 2:59pm
I agree with rhiasmum. DH went to Mass Maritime (a college on the cape) and once the summer is over the cape is dead. I also kind of hated going there in the fall and winter - the wind is horrible and its pretty cold.
post #10 of 14
9/2/08 at 4:49pm
Oh Erin I love this time of year! lol I break out the Uggs, sweatshirts and yoga pants. A slight breeze is ok but anything more can be killer I agree. The cold, eh I'm used to it. Must be my old ago roflmao.
post #11 of 14
9/2/08 at 7:21pm
Maybe it was just on buzzards bay - i remember getting all dressed up and doing my hair when i went to visit DH. I would literally step out of the car and my hair would be in my face and my skirt over my head! lol. I'm totally a New England girl and love the snow and skiing - but MMA was always cold and windy and i hated it!

It must be nice for the people who actually live on the cape once all the tourists leave though!!
post #12 of 14
9/3/08 at 10:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mamato3cherubs View Post
I have Never been to the east coast at all. My best friend, who I have not seen in 8 years (she lives in AZ, me in OR) and I are going to take a vaction, just the two of us to the Boston area. We are staing in the cape cod area, and I am so excited.

This will be the last weel of October and was wondering if anyone who actually lives there, would have idea of the best use of our time! Any input is greatly appreciated! This is no kids, no men, just us. We will be there about 5 days, not counting travel time.

Thanks!
Hi mamato3cherubs,

Sounds like a fun adventure! I'm doing the opposite at the end of this month - taking a west coast vaca with my best friend without the kiddos I can't wait!!

Without knowing anything about your budget or the kinds of things you like to do, here are some of the other things I love to do in the area & would take out-of-town visitors to do.

The Cape can be beautiful the last week of October & you might even catch the trail end of the foliage season (the Mass Tourism site says in that area it is Oct. 17-24). The Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich (the beginning of the Cape) are open until Oct. 31. It will also be the tail end of cranberry season I believe, so you could take a cranberry bog tour if that's your thing!

If you want to devote a day to it, you could take a day trip to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard (ferry's leave from Hyannis on the Cape).

Once you leave the Cape, I think it's worth a detour to the south to Rhode Island to visit some of the Newport Mansions and do the Cliff Walk with the ocean on one side & mansions on the other, especially if you're having nice weather.

In Boston, the Duck Tours can be a fun way to get an overview of the city.

There are of course SO many things to do in Boston, it's hard to narrow it down. Here's an article that has a few good ideas: "25 things to do in Boston for under $25" (my favorite is a visit to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - definitely worth doing).

There are also SO many wonderful restaurants, but I recently had an excellent dinner at Aquitaine, though don't judge it by it's website, they clearly need a new web designer! It's in the South End, which is a great area of the city for dining & shopping. I also love Tangerino (Moroccan) in Charlestown, Upstairs on the Square in Cambridge and have been wanting to try the restaurants at the Liberty Hotel (a former jailhouse). The North End (mostly Italian) is also a yummy area to dine.

Hope that helps some. If you give us more of idea of your interests and budget, that might help generate more suggestions!

Have fun!

=================
Mama to DS 5/03 & DD 2/06 :
: ICAN “You never know when you're making a memory.” ~ Rickie Lee Jones
post #13 of 14
9/4/08 at 1:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by boobyfeeder View Post
It amuses me how many people say the Boston area when they are nowhere near Boston. I know it's the biggest city and all, but it's actually quite far from a lot of stuff. It's like when I tell people I live in Plymouth, and they say, "Oh, I've been to the cape!" It's like, great, but Plymouth isn't the cape!
Well, it's all relative I suppose. I'm from Texas originally and to me the Cape is the Boston area, even though I know *technically* it's not.
post #14 of 14
9/4/08 at 3:54pm
I you're on the Cape, plan on plenty of time for beach walking. Almost all of the tourists are gone and the town only beaches are open to everyone. There's a good chance on being able to walk for an hour along the ocean and not see anyone.

What about a day trip to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard?
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