Our family went to Boston for ten days in August of 2010. We got to experience culture, history, the beach and all the fun of a big city.
The duck tour was a fabulous tour. We saw Boston from a tall, land and water vehicle made for the military in World War 2. The conductors are hilarious, they all have a casted personality and a complete knowledge of Boston. They provide interesting and historical facts as they drive you through the city. They also take you in the Boston Harbor. Children are given the opportunity to "drive" the boat. http://www.bostonducktours.com/ourducks_main.html
The Freedom Trail was full of beautiful old buildings, and exhibits that make American history come alive. We chose to buy a tour book and guide ourselves. Our favorite stops on the tour were Boston Common, Paul Revere's house, and Old North Church. I feel truly connected with American history after seeing many of the places where it happened. Along the way we stopped at Giovanni's, a wonderful Italian restaurant. The pasta carbonara is to die for. For more information: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/visitor/visitor.html
We went to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts because it had a free night while we were there. This ended up being my favorite thing that we did. They have excellent exhibits; some of the finest and most famous art in the world. I was in awe of all the excellent art. In Oklahoma our famous pieces are few and far between. They had five Van Gogh painting and six Monet's in the same room! My father has been to Egypt and he said they had a better collection of Egyptian artifacts than many of the museums in Egypt. It was beautiful and enriching. I wish we would've spent a whole day there. http://www.mfa.org/visit
We met a friend in Cambridge, Mass who showed us around. We saw Harvard University's campus. The campus was attractive and it was so interesting to see the real thing after all the movies and hearing about its reputation. We also took a walk around the Charles River, which is gorgeous at sunset. I would have liked to have spent more time in Cambridge during business hours because the shops there looked unique and fun.
For two days we went to Salem, Mass and Singing Beach. Salem was a disappointment. It was a Halloween town. Many of the shops and museums were cheesy. However the coastline there was exquisite. We hiked a tiny bit in this area and fully enjoyed it. We ate at the Coven artisanal market, cafe, and desert bar. The food was delicious and very unique. The restaurant had a fun atmosphere. Singing Beach is outside Salem, in Manchester by the Sea. This beach was magnificent, the sand was so soft compared to the rocky Quincy beach. They had amazing shells, I took a whole bag of them home with me.
We went on a sunset cruise of the Boston Harbor which was beautiful to look see. It was fun to see the the USS Constitution shoot off its cannon. However the speaker system was broken and many passengers were drinking heavily. I'm not sure the cruise was worth it. For full cruise information: http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/?gclid=CJ_e-IXkpqoCFdBrKgodjhZoWA
You must eat at Mike's Pastry, they have the best canoli ever! Be prepared to wait in line for an hour or so but it so worth it. http://www.mikespastry.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=644958&Screen=SFNT
I learned about American History, got to see some of the best artwork, saw some of the most gorgeous scenery and had a wonderful time experiencing all that the Boston area has to offer.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.