Boston places to stay? Please help

[alien_host]

You could try the Seaport Hotel. They have a special w/ children's museum tix.

http://www.seaportboston.com/Promoti...romotions.aspx

I would skip American Girl, there is too much else to do IMO.

Oh Nevermind, I see now that you booked your hotel.

[newnana]

Thanks Mariza! I was a little concerned about getting around, but the trolley might be the way to go. When I looked at the T/bus routes, most of those were taking over 100 minutes to get places like the children's museum that by google are only 1.9 miles away. For that I might get the inflatable bubblebum booster to take a cab since DD is old/big enough:
http://www.amazon.com/BubbleBum-Infl.../dp/B004YCVW8E


Here's what I figure, let me know if I'm way off (many thanks to those in this thread that have given me this info) most of this is repeats of what you all said below but I'm just confirming. Thanks for bearing with me:
-ferry to aquarium
- hop on hop off tour sites of freedom trail 1 day- pick up at uss constitution
- DH will take at least 1/2 a day at the uss constitution. DD and I may or may not swim at the hotel for 1/2 of that then trolley to the swan boats/frog pond and back
- cab to the science museum Is that a whole day or half day event?
-trolley to children's museum? not sure on this one.
- try desperately to get red sox tickets in the meantime for a game there. great transportation options?

Anything else a must see? Thanks guys! I couldn't be more excited!

[FTMLuc]

I did not see it recommended yet, Boston Tea party is a really fun thing to do as well. Few years back, kids got to throw bundles of tea overboard as part of the museum tour. I have never tried the Silver trolley, but the Old Town trolley (hop on/hop off also) stops there.

[mariza]

I did not see it recommended yet, Boston Tea party is a really fun thing to do as well. Few years back, kids got to throw bundles of tea overboard as part of the museum tour. I have never tried the Silver trolley, but the Old Town trolley (hop on/hop off also) stops there.

The Tea Party ship burned down, there are plans to rebuild, but there is a lot of controversy around it. http://bostonherald.com/news/regiona...icleid=1331527

I used to be tourguide for the Old Town Trolley too. Same basic tour, but a huge national company. The Silver Trolley is owned/operated by a local Boston family who actually started the Old Town Trolley and sold it to Historic Tours of America then reopened a new company. Lots of politics in between. Either way, both tours will be good but I like to recommend the local family business guy

[alien_host]

Has anyone mentioned the Boston Duck Tours? They are fun, you don't hop on off but it's a fun way to see the city.

http://www.bostonducktours.com/

[Mom Magic]

The Boston Globe (our big daily newspaper) has a great resource on the travel section of their website, Boston.com, filled with all kinds of Boston visitor's guides, suggestions for all kinds of self-guided tours (kid-focused, sports-themed, history, literary, etc), guides to the different neighborhoods, restaurant listings, etc.

http://www.boston.com/travel/boston/

There is a ton of info there that might be helpful. Also, I think you asked about the science museum and how much time to allow. I was there recently with kids aged 8, 11, 16 and 19. A few hours was all we needed to see most of the exhibits. The planetarium shows (extra admission required) are about 45 mins and the IMAX shows (also extra admission required) are about an hour, so if you do either of those you can allow more time.

Andie

[FTMLuc]

The Tea Party ship burned down, there are plans to rebuild, but there is a lot of controversy around it. http://bostonherald.com/news/regiona...icleid=1331527

I used to be tourguide for the Old Town Trolley too. Same basic tour, but a huge national company. The Silver Trolley is owned/operated by a local Boston family who actually started the Old Town Trolley and sold it to Historic Tours of America then reopened a new company. Lots of politics in between. Either way, both tours will be good but I like to recommend the local family business guy

Oh boy, have I been living under a rock!!! : Thanks for the update! I miss working in the city, I used to be on top of such things.

I did not know about the Silver Trolley ownership. dH and I prefer to give our business to small local companies as well, we'll try them out next time.