It might be a bad idea to solicit suggestions on this blog for a few reasons. But on the possibility that someone might really help, I’m going to give it a shot.
I’ve never been to New England. Nor has Kelli. We guess that we ‘re probably never going to get any closer than we are when living in Texas. So if we spend 7 days or so there this summer with the kids, what should we see? I’m so ignorant that I found it quite helpful when someone told me that we should go to Concord and Bunker Hill. (Of course, I recognize those names, but I wouldn’t necessarily have pulled it out of my head as places that exist today that are worth visiting.) I’d like to see Boston, maybe drive by Harvard, but I don’t know if I should go see Jonathan Edwards ‘ church, or who knows what else.
Comments and and personal emails are welcome, as long as you ‘re not offended if we do not follow all of your suggestions. I feel a bit like the guy who writes me and says, “I’ve never been to Israel, but I just bought a plane ticket and don’t know where to go…”
My sister lives in Boston and I went to visit her there last year. There is a walking tour through the city–it may be too long for the kids, but it has the major sights of the city along that route. You could always look at what’s included and decide to do part of the walk or even just stop at some of those key sights.
Spend the day at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. It has plenty for both kids and adults alike. For more wilderness experience, go to Lake Placid, New York for the Adirondack mountain area. Also, go to Acadia National Park in Maine, again for more nature.
Plimouth Plantation is great!
http://www.plimoth.org/plan/index.php
Yes, Concord and Bunker Hill (or Breed Hill where the battle was actually fought)
Boston has a nice walk called the Freedom trail and you can usually tour Old Ironside. The Duck tours in Boston are great too!!
http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/index.htm
Western Massachusetts also has DL Moody’s grave/birthplace in Northfield
Old Sturbridge Village In MA is nice, but a little pricey
http://www.osv.org/
NH has a nice Shaker Village in Canterbury
http://shakers.org/
Maine has beautiful coastline and a nice clambake place called Foster’s in York.
http://www.fostersclambake.com/
Also in NH is Odiorne Point and the Science center
http://www.nhstateparks.com/odiorne.html
And of course I am in NH! :) I’d love you see Kelli and the family again! Let me know if you can make it to NE this summer!!
I could probably help you find some inexpensive lodging too!! :)
There are also lots of hiking opportunities (for free). If kids are less into long, strenuous hikes, there are plenty that are more like pretty walks in the woods.
I recommend Lake Winnipesaukee too :-)
We were there a few years ago and went to Plimoth Plantation. Took the walking tour in downtown Boston and went to Cape Cod and drove around. I would definitely recommend all three.
Thank you all for these great suggestions! Anyone else who cares to add (or echo) is surely welcome.
Ok, maybe this is just me, but there is no way I could set foot in New England without going to Fenway Park.
But if you all hate baseball, that might be so enjoyable…
Meant “might NOT be so enjoyable…”
Old North Church would be on top of my list. Second place would be the nearest seafood restaurant!
I echo Ben- Fenway would be first on my list- though I’ve been to Boston, and didn’t go there at all- even though we walked within 4 blocks of it. Sadly, we didn’t take a tour- but that could have been because it was February and the temperature hovered around 29 degrees all day, everyday! The Freedom Walking Tour was fun, but only if you have a good guide book- we weren’t willing to pay the steep price, so we just enjoyed getting warm my walking, and seeing the architecture- and counting the Dunkin’ Doughnuts- which outnumbered the Starbucks by at least 4 to 1!
But, I must say that the place I enjoyed the most was the Children’s Science Museum- can’t remember the exact name now…it was 6 years ago. I would go back there in a heart beat! So very interesting and exciting! Nothing like hands-on-learning! We, unfortunately went really close to closing time and therefore could only rush around like crazy people, trying to rapidly absorb as much as we could- hmmm, I seem to remember doing that in the British Museum, and the NY Met.- a bad habit I must break!
I also loved eating at Au Bon Pan- which is nothing special if you have them around, but we don’t, which is probably why we went so often- and the fact that I’m addicted to bread and baked goods, and soup…and sandwiches.
Legal Seafood is where I ate the best coconut shrimp I’ve every eaten; as well as the best clam chowdah! ;)
The Old North Church is simply lovely to take pictures in- which I found out, as I was leaving, is illegal- or at least they don’t like it. Ooops! :)
The listening tour at the top of the Hancock Tower (or is it the Prudential Building?) called the Skywalk Observatory Tour was very enjoyable & a great way to learn some history and see a great view.
The last place I’d suggest is the Boston Public Library. But not just the kid’s section, nor the public bathrooms (which are the worst I’ve ever visited in the world! Fair warning), but the rare books and the Personal Library of President John Adam. Very cool! They were having a free lecture on this collection, but we weren’t able to make it- sad!
If you’re going, and you want to see and do the more popular tourist things, I’d suggest buying a City Pass for Boston- it was well worth it- 6 yrs. ago- prices might have increased since then.
When are you planning on going? I hope it’s not in July! That’s when I’m (potentially) coming to Arlington, TX for a conference and want to come say hello! :(
Oh, yes, and the USS Constitution was neat, too!
Sorry, I didn’t realize that was such a gigantically long comment! :(
P.S. I know this city isn’t technically part of NE, but it is my all time favorite city…in the US: Washington D.C. stop there on the way, if you can! :)
Hey Todd,
Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth. I actually went to the East Coast in the Fall of 2009, and I absolutely loved it. If you have time and want my detailed thoughts, you can read my 3 posts here: http://hannahjohnson.wordpress.com/2009/10/. If you want the brief version, here it is …
BOSTON … do not skip it. I loved this city! We took one of the Trolley tours – good way to get around the city. A must is Little Italy and Mike’s Pastry Shop! The kids will be in pastry heaven, I’m sure. :)
Mystic, CT – I saw someone mentioned that – we went there too. I think I remember a fun ice cream shop.
NYC – I wasn’t there long but I will pass on the one recommendation given to me before I went – go to the Empire State Building at night. Beautiful! We took my grandma to have tea at The Plaza, which was a fun experience (not the best tea I’ve had, but fun). I really enjoyed Central Park.
And I’m not gonna lie, Israel has actually forever ruined me of really appreciating American history, artifacts, and “old” buildings … there’s nothing old here! :) And finally I leave you with the best travel advice I’ve ever received … “Get lost.” Thanks for that advice 5 years ago … I try to follow it wherever I travel. :)
I think all of you would enjoy the Semitic Museum at Harvard. I had a post or two about it a few years ago. Not convenient to check it now. I am in Tel Aviv airport waiting for the flight home.
I enjoyed Bar Harbour in Maine.
I’m pretty sure Jonathan Edward’s church is long gone. Southern NH does have it’s advantages (proximity to Boston, homes of Rachel Wing and Tim Costine & former stomping grounds of Amy Gilmore). We do have one of the few intact, unchanged churches from the time of Jonathan Edwards in Sandown, NH. And in nearby Newburyport, MA is the church where George Whitefield is buried in a crypt under the pulpit. [In addition to the Harvard Semitic Museum, there are great antiquities at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.]