Attractions

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

While many of us are busy making plans to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families, a great number are also taking pause to remember the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s death which falls on November 22nd. If you are in the Boston area, a visit to his Presidential Library & Museum will go a long way in educating those new to his accomplishments while reminding those already familiar of one President’s role during an impressive part of U.S. history. Read More »

Orchard House - Home of Little Women

How would you like to step inside the setting of your favorite book and walk around in it for a while? See where the characters that you have come to know so well lived and breathed. Or get a look at the view the author had while creating those very same characters that you hold near and dear. If you stop for a visit at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House you can do all of that and more.

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Fall Reflections at Walden Pond

Boston is known for its Revolutionary history. And the town of Concord just a short ride out of the city was host to one the war’s most famous battles. But some revolutionary thinkers took up residence there long after the fight for Independence was won. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Louisa May Alcott were famous authors from Concord. But their friend and neighbor, Henry David Thoreau, gave us books as well as a slice of nature to be preserved for future visitors to experience just because he decided to spend a couple of years living in simplicity on Walden Pond.

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Players on the Cotuit Kettleers watch from the bench

By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog

Did you know you can watch high quality baseball live, for free, every evening during the summer in Massachusetts? All you have to do is go to the Cape and pull up a lawn chair at one of 10 ball fields in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

For 125 years the CCBL has invited the very best college players from around the country to spend their summers on Cape Cod staying with host families and playing baseball each night in front of MLB scouts and thousands of fans. This gives the athletes a taste of what it’s like to play minor league ball if they have what it takes to succeed when matched up against the best of their peers. It also lets them play with wooden bats like the big leaguers do, spreading the sound of the crack of the bat throughout the stands on warm summer nights.

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By Jody (iatraveler) from Have Kid Will Travel

The House of Seven Gables Photo by Have Kid Will Travel

The House of the Seven Gables, made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne, sits in its own historical district overlooking the ocean in Salem, Massachusetts.  The complex includes the famous mansion (which seems small by today’s standards), the Nathaniel Hawthorne house (where the author was born),the counting house (a reproduction captain’s house with interactive experiences), the Museum Store (set in the home of Retire Beckett, master shipbuilder and designer of the first American yacht), historic gardens and seawall.  A small play area sits outside the counting house where kids (and adults) can “captain” a ship.

In the Counting House Photo by Have Kid Will Travel

The history of the House of the Seven Gables is incredible.  It only stands now due to one woman and her vision; Salem philanthropist Caroline Emmerton.  She purchased the building, which, at that time, had only three gables, and hired Joseph Everett Chandler, a preservation architect, to restore it and interpret Hawthorne’s novel inside its rooms.  In fact, the house only had three gables when Nathaniel Hawthorne knew it; the recollection of seven gables he immortalized came from his cousin’s youthful memories.

Captains of the Ship Photo by Have Kid Will Travel

The House of the Seven Gables tour was the highlight of our time in Salem.  The guides are knowledgeable, entertaining, able to answer questions and take you through every nook and cranny in the house- up through a fireplace, out invisible doors and into the attic. The tour was entertaining enough to keep the attention of my daughters, ages 2 and 4.  Unfortunately photos and videos are not allowed within the house.

What you need to know:

The House of the Seven Gables is open year-round, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and the first two weeks of January.

Tours run continuously and take about 45 minutes for the main house and the Hawthorne House.  The remainder of the grounds are self-tour; take as long as you like.

Admission rates:

• Adults $12
• Seniors $11
• AAA  $11
• Children 5-12  $7.25
• Under 5 free

Directions from Boston: Follow US Rt. 1 North or Rt. 95 North to Rt. 128 North. Take exit 25A (Rt. 114 East). Follow Rt. 114 East into Salem. When Rt. 114 turns left onto Norman Street, continue straight ahead onto New Derby Street. New Derby Street becomes Derby Street. The House of the Seven Gables is on the right. Complimentary parking is available during your tour.

The houses are not handicapped accessible and contain steep, narrow stairs.

Patriot Place in Foxboro, MA

By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog

It used to be if you went to Foxboro, Massachusetts you likely were there for a New England Patriots NFL game and then you headed right back to where you came from. But now, Patriot Place – a byproduct of all the Patriots’ Super Bowl winning seasons – has become a destination in and of itself, year-round.

The Kraft family, who own the Patriots, are forward thinking innovators and found a way to turn their football stadium grounds into a constant source of revenue. Surrounding the stadium itself they have created a shopping center, fine dining, hotel, office space, museum, movie theater and concert venue which make this concept the first of it’s kind and thus far, a huge success.

You can find something at Patriot Place for every taste, need and price range. Looking for a fun family afternoon? In the warm weather months you can bring your kids down to run around in The Plaza while free live music is performed on an outdoor stage. Then you can head on in to The Hall football museum and let them try on a Superbowl ring or pretend to kick game winning field goals in the snow. And when they get hungry you can head over to Red Robin for some burgers.

The Plaza & The Hall - Site for Free Music Concerts & Football Museum

Looking for a night out with friends? Gather at Bar Louie’s for drinks on the roof deck with lots of music and dancing over martinis or microbrews on tap. Or watch the big game at the CBS Scene on the mammoth Jumbotron TV outside while catching some rays on the deck overlooking The Plaza, or tune in to your favorite CBS classic TV shows on the personal TV’s at your table inside.

Bar Louie

CBS Scene with Outdoor TV

Date night is easily accommodated from drinks at Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro to dinner at Davio’s fine Italian dining without the hassle of traffic into their downtown Boston location or the expensive parking rates.

Davio's

A full day of shopping needs are covered with everything from standard anchor stores like Old Navy to smaller boutique styled stores to the Bass Outdoor Store which is an experience in and of itself.

And don’t forget to catch a movie in style in the Lux Level section of the Showcase Cinema De Lux theater to watch favorite new releases. And there is always live music in an intimate setting with fantastic sound at the Showcase Live performance theater.

Showcase Live Music & Movie Theaters

Patriot Place is a destination worth visiting when you are looking for something fun to do without having to travel into Boston to find it. And during football season, there’s always a warm place to meet before or after the game. It’s almost as big a hit as the Patriots.

Boston, Massachusetts

By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog

If you only have a day to see Boston, or would like to spend one day just getting an overview of your surroundings, here are three good options to help you accomplish your goal.

#1 – Walk the Freedom Trail.  Boston is a great walking city and this option lets you stroll through the city at your own pace, for free, following your map and the red painted line on the sidewalk (not quite the yellow brick road I know) and visit all of the historic sites the city is known for.  But it also pulls you through thriving sections of the city that are attractions on their own in the present.  So you can live in the past by learning all about the American Revolution and then take a few steps off the trail into the present to visit the shops, street performers and tasty food found at Quincy Market.  And that is as good a place as any to take a break, call it a day, or use as your starting point.  The Freedom Trail can be followed in any order and even done in partial segments.  It is there as a resource of history for you to use as you wish, given the time you have.

#2 – Take the Old Town Trolley.  Maybe you didn’t pack your sneakers or it’s too hot to walk all over creation.  Or maybe you want to pick and choose a sampling of the stops along the trail in a short period of time.  Then you can buy a pass for the Olde Town Trolley and hop on and off wherever you want.  In addition to having the luxury of skipping certain sites and spending more time at others, the Trolley will get you between them more quickly than walking and has drivers who give you a tour along the way.  The Trolley also can take you into Harvard Square in Cambridge across the Charles River.

#3 – Ride the Duck Boats. If you have kids then you probably don’t want to drag them around the city looking at old graveyards and people in period costumes all day. Or maybe your own attention span isn’t that long either. Then what you really need is a good quick overview with a special vantage point and drivers who are all about entertainment. The Duck Boats (which are WW2 Amphibious Vehicles) drive around the city to all the same spots along the trail, and a few more, but they don’t stop.  It is a ride-along tour covered in about an hour and a half that includes a splashdown into the Charles River for views of the Back Bay.  The time in the river is a little slow, but the driver lets a few lucky souls drive the boat and unless you want to go walk across all the bridges to Cambridge, the view is unique.

All methods are well advertised and accessible from various hotels throughout the city.  But whichever mode you choose, don’t forget to save some time for a tour of Fenway Park or a Red Sox game.  It’s the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball and has lots of history all it’s own.

QUICK HITS:

-(#1) Free for self-guided, maps can be printed online, or just follow the red line on street.  Guided tours are $12 online.
-(#2) 1 Day Pass = $36, kids 3-12 $13, discounts for Seniors, Military & if purchased online, other options available.
-(#3) $30 Adults, kids 3-12 $20, under 3 $6, discounts for Seniors, Military & Students, extra cost to buy online.

-(#1) Your call if self-guided, anywhere from an hour to a full day.  Guided tours last 1.5 hours.
-(#2) Your call but pass covers Full Day.
-(#3) 1.5 hours.

-(#1) http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/
-(#2) http://www.trolleytours.com/boston/
-(#3) http://www.bostonducktours.com/

-Boston Common (Nation’s oldest public park makes way for ducklings)
-State House (Bulfinch design, Revere dome, Boston politics on Beacon Hill)
-Park Street Church (Protests & reform at Brimstone Corner)
-Granary Burying Ground (Resting place for American Revolutionaries)
-King’s Chapel & Burying Ground (Church built for the King’s Men still in operation though the king is not)
-Boston Latin School w/Ben Franklin Statue (Nation’s first public school & most famous dropout)
-Old Corner Book Store (Home to publishers of the classics)
-Old South Meeting House (Boston Tea Party starts here)
-Old State House (British rule falls to a declaration)
-Boston Massacre Site (Crispus Attucks)
-Fanueil Hall (No taxation without representation)
-Paul Revere House (The British are coming, the British are coming)
-Old North Church (One if by land, two if by sea)
-Copp’s Hill Burying Ground (Respecting the everyman with a great view)
-USS Constitution & Museum (Old Ironsides)
-Bunker Hill Monument (Don’t fire ’til you see the whites of their eyes)

From Guest Blogger: Nancy Soloman of Ciao Bambino. Nancy is an avid traveler and writer for Ciao Bambino.  She lives outside Boston and has four children 9, 8, 5 and 1 with whom she enjoys sharing the world. Here is her take on great family things to do in Boston.

photo credit to NEAQ.org

New England Aquarium:  Although some may say that the aquarium is a tad dated, this still remains one of our favorite attractions in Boston for three reasons: it’s a quick stop, the kids love it, and it’s an easy launching point for either Faneuil Hall or the North End.

The centerpiece of the aquarium is the 200,000-gallon glass tank filled with sharks, turtles, fish and eels.  The giant glass windows at each level allow the kids to put their faces within inches of the sea animals- feeling shockingly close!  Additionally, the three variations of penguins are fun to watch as they zip in and out of the water.  If you’re pressed for time, enjoy the seals outside and skip the seal show.  In the summer months, there is a shark and ray petting tank that offers the kids a hands on experience.  Check their website for both daily activities and iMax show times- the shows give tired feet some time to re-coupe.

faneuilhallmarketplace.com

For us, as parents, it’s the area surrounding the aquarium that’s the big draw. Truthfully, I go to the aquarium as an excuse to eat in the North End or stroll through Faneuil Hall.  Across from the aquarium, on the new Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, “Rings” pop-up fountain is a great place to cool off on a hot day.  Faneuil Hall is an easy spot to grab lunch and enjoy entertainers.  Think upscale, delicious food court and terrific if your kids need space to walk around while you’re eating.  If you’re up for a real Yankee experience you can try Durgin Park Restaurant where you get New England food, shared tables and brash waitresses. Best of all, you are within walking distance to the North End (don’t miss this ethnic Italian neighborhood.  Regina’s Pizza, Monica’s Restaurant and Mike’s Pastry shop are some of the best).

Family-Friendly Boston

Kid photo courtesy of Nancy Soloman

After my post last week with my favorite pumpkin patches in the Bay Area, I got to thinking about what the best of the best are in the rest of the United States. With the help of my friends and family, I have put together a list of the best pumpkin patches across the U.S. In no particular order, I present you my selections:

Brush Creek Farms in Dayton, Tennessee
Smolak Farms in North Andover, Massachusetts
Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch in Hampshire, Illinois
Anderson Farms in Erie, Colorado
Craven Farm in Snohomish, Washington
Burt’s Farm in Dawsonville, Georgia
Treworgy Orchards in Levant, Maine
Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch in Middleton, Maryland
Plumper Pumpkins in Portland, Oregon
Lombardi Ranch in Saugus, California–It suffered some loss through the fire last year, but is back this year with fun things for families to do.

I focused on finding pumpkin patches that offer a whole day of entertainment; hay rides, corn mazes, picnic areas, petting zoos, pumpkin contests, everything. And, mind you, these are totally subjective and not everyone’s idea of pumpkin patches, so I would love to hear about your favorites!

Do you have a hidden gem in your area? How about a place you would drive 60 minutes to see? Or something that your kids ask to visit year after year? Share your best, we would love to know!

Photos courtesy of Kitchen Gadget Girl.