Boston and New York

We enjoyed the Old Trolley tour around Boston - you can get on and off whenever you want, so we got to see loads of the city.

I enjoyed going to Cheers Bar for food (wasted on my OH who had never seen the show though!)

We also had a lovely meal in China Town in Boston too. Also went to the top of an Observation building thing (sorry can't remember the name) - you can just pay and go up, or eat in the restaurant and go up for free. We did the eating bit - nice food too and the views were amazing.

You'll have a great time. My h and I have done Boston and NYC in the same holiday.

There's a NYC top tips document on the Wiki site. And I'm pretty sure someone has one for Boston as people ask about it quite often. Mrs Magic's name is ringing a bell, but I could have just made that up. I'm sure someone will be more help than I've just attempted to be ?

? Well remembered Janna!

This is what is on the Wiki:

Boston Recommendations

I visited Boston in February 2006 so quite a few tourist attractions were still closed for the winter, I can only tell you what I managed to do but there are so many more things available in the spring/summer/autumn


Food and Drink

Fajitas and ‘Ritas – West Street (Downtown Crossing)
http://www.fajitasandritas.com/
Really cheap, quite basic but lovely! Ideal for lunch.

Last Hurrah Bar, Omni Parker House – 60 School Street (Downtown Crossing)
http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/BostonParkerHouse/Dining.aspx
Traditional and stylish bar, good cocktails and ideal place for some Boston Cream Pie. This was the bar in our hotel but used by mostly non guests.

The Ivy – Temple Place (Downtown Crossing)
http://boston.menupages.com/restaurantDetails.asp?areaId=10&restaurantId=19775
Italian restaurant with ‘tapas style’ food. It was one of the best places we ate at while we were in Boston and well worth a visit. It had only been open two weeks when we were there so I think it has probably got even better since.

Sluggers Dugout - Faneuil Hall Marketplace (Quincy Market)
http://www.sluggersdugout.com/
They say they have the best ice cream in Boston and they are right. Fab sweet shop too!

Cheers Bar - Faneuil Hall Marketplace (Quincy Market)
http://www.cheersboston.com/fh_gen_info.htm
It’s a replica Cheers bar but it’s good fun with decent diner style food. You can buy souvenirs in the shop next door too.

Cottonwood Café – Arlington Street (Back Bay)
http://www.cottonwoodboston.com/home.php
Relaxed atmosphere and lovely quesadillas!

Parkers Restaurant. Omni Parker House – 60 School Street (Downtown Crossing)
http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/BostonParkerHouse/Dining.aspx
We only had breakfast here but it’s well worth a visit, they serve until around 10am and are really lovely. For $15 you can have all you can eat, and there is plenty of choice! They have set breakfasts too. (The obviously have lunch and dinner too!)

The Bristol Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel - Boylston Street (by Boston Common)
http://www.fourseasons.com/boston/dining/the_bristol_lounge.html
http://www.fourseasons.com/boston/menu_1813.html
The best afternoon tea I have ever had! The views onto the Common are lovely and it’s great place to get a bit dressed up.

Limoncello – North Street (North End)
http://boston.citysearch.com/profile/11352325/boston_ma/limoncello.html
This restaurant feels like it is run by The Sopranos but it’s an excellent place. Celebrity spotting is apparently possible but not the night we were there. Really good place for a special meal.



Things to do

Make sure you go to the Tourist Information Centre on Boston Common, you can find out about everything there and can also book trips and tours. They couldn’t have been more helpful to us.

Discover Boston Trolley Tour
http://www.discoverbostontours.com/trolleytours.htm
I’d recommend this on your first day, it’s takes you all around the city and also lets you hop on and off. It takes 90 minutes if you stay onboard for the full trail.

The Freedom Trail
http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/
You can either leave from the Tourist Information Centre with an eccentric guide or can do it yourself by following the red line through the city.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace
http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/
Great place to spend a few hours with lots of nice little shops, food and plenty of history.

Duck Tour
http://www.bostonducktours.com/
This was one of the things that we really wanted to do but couldn't as doesn’t start until April. It's meant to be really good.

Harvard
http://www.harvard.edu/community/visitors.html
This can easily be visited from Boston, it's only a short journey on the T and is meant to be well worth a visit. You can wander round the campus and college buildings.

Prudential Tower Skywalk
http://www.prudentialcenter.com/play/skywalk.html
A great way to see the city, it’s meant to be quite a sight in the evening.


Shopping

Wrentham Village Shopping Outlet
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/travel_tourism.asp?id=10
35 minutes outside Boston and definitely worth a visit if shopping is your thing! You can be picked up from your hotel, just ask you concierge.

Downtown Crossing
http://www.downtowncrossing.org/shop/
We were here nearly every day as our hotel was in the area. This is where you will find Macys and the best bargain shops such as TJ Maxx, Marshalls and H&M.

Prudential Centre
http://www.prudentialcenter.com/
A really lovely shopping centre. The Cheesecake Factory can be found here!

Copley Place Centre
http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=784
This is where you will find Jimmy Choo, Tiffany, Barneys and other top names. It’s just across the road from the Prudential Centre.


Newbury Street
http://www.newbury-st.com/


Transport

http://www.mbta.com/
Boston is relatively small city so most things are within walking distance but if you want to take public transport, the T (underground) is very good with stations all over the place. You can get a travel pass so you can hop and off. It’s also really easy to get a cab from the roadside, we found them quite reasonably priced as long as you don’t get stuck in a traffic jam!


Have fun!

I won't try to offer NYC recs as there a quite a few people who have been far more than me or live there!

Thanks ever so much Mrs Magic ?

Some NYC ideas with a 7 year old:

The Natural History Museum is amazing

MOMA is another relatively child friendly museum

Walk along brooklyn bridge and have brunch at bubby's in Dumbo

Chelsea Piers is great for sporty activities. There's a pool w/terrace and ice-rink.

In August I'd try and find an outdoor pool. I know Gansevoort hotel and Soho House have rooftop pools but don't know how you'd get access without actually staying there! Some public pools are OK. I've been to the recreation centre on carmine st. and it's very basic but clean.

Central Park for a picnic, carousel, zoo

Toys R Us in Times Square (don't hang around once you get out?)

Mary Poppins Broadway show (can't wait until my son is old enough to come with me)

Lombardi's for pizza

Cupcakes at Magnolia (i wouldn't bother with this, though. not since the tourist buses started stopping)

Jacques Torres chocolate factory

Yankees or NY Knicks game

Thanks Betty and everyone else.

I was thinking of taking Phoebe to "Shrek The Musical", I have a feeling she wouldn't be keen on Mary Poppins I can't even get her to watch it at home ?.

Matthew Lanter & Monica Lanter Marry me Monica's wedding planner Magazine Subcribes Of the daily

I think it is not very safe to travel somewhere now. I think that because of this situation in the world me and my husband will simply stay at home and play at mr bet com hahah/ The best honeymoon?

We also postponed our vacation to new york this month because of the pandemic, which is really disappointing.