Spending a weekend in Boston is like walking into a history book on the 17th and 18th century with all the modern conveniences and pleasures we come to expect in a 21st century American city. With a park system linking one after another along the “Emerald Necklace,” Boston is the perfect combination between site seeing and relaxing.
Friday
5pm | Welcome to Beantown.
Catch a cab from the airport and zip right into the center of town. Stay at one of the many hotels around Copley Plaza for easy access to the best of Boston.
6pm | Your Move Chief
After checking in, put on your walking shoes for a warm evening stroll through the Boston Public Garden, America’s first Botanical Garden. The kids will enjoy a ride on the lagoon in a Swan Boat. These boats are a unique bicycle driven way to unwind in the beautiful garden. Fourth generation Paget family has operated the Swan Boats since 1877. As you make your way through the picturesque garden paths and bridge, stop to take a photo with the famous duck family from childhood favorite storybook, Make Way for the Ducklings and visit the unofficial memorial of Robin Williams at the bench from 1997 Academy Award Winner, Good Will Hunting.
7pm | European Flair in New England
Grab a sidewalk table at Bistro du Midi (272 Boylston St. 617.426.7878) for dinner with a view of the Public Garden. Start with a crisp rosé and shirley temple’s for the kids. When in New England, eat as much seafood as you can, no exception to this rule here with a raw bar as good as theirs. While Bistro du Midi does not have a printed kids menu, the staff is willing to accommodate most any request. Pasta-loving kids will be just as happy as their parents at this special spot.
Saturday
8 am | Beacon Hill’s Best
Start your day in Beacon Hill. A short walk from Copley Plaza, Beacon Hill’s first home was built in 1625. Walk up Charles Street to Tatte Bakery (70 Charles Street 617.723.5555). Try the Avocado Tartine and finish with any one of the mouthwatering tarts or pastries. You may never want to leave this spot. Vintage tables, stools and hutches surrounding by white subway tiles and industrial chic lighting make a seat at Tatte one of the hottest in Boston. Good thing they have 5 locations, you’ll never be far from one.
10 am | Picturesque Browsing
Charles street shopping is rivaled only by one’s constant desire to take photos of every charming corner with cobbled stone streets, freshly planted window boxes, and filter light from the tree lined streets. Charles street is an Instagrammers dream. Don’t miss a pop into the Sloane Merrill Gallery (75 Charles Street, 617.227.1775). Minimalists will love the carefully curated selection at Good (133 Charles Street, 617.722.9200) with goods from small American makers, many from New England. It will be difficult to resist the vermont potter, Farmhouse Potter but better judgement suggests not to add these to your luggage for the trip home.
12pm | Did You Say, “Cafeteria?”
The Paramount. A Beacon Hill institution is a cafeteria style restaurant serving breakfast and lunch all day long. Perfect for families with picky kids. The Paramount has been serving the Beacon Hill neighborhood since 1937. Don’t miss their omelets, burgers, or french toast. Just keep the kids outside while one parent goes in to stand in line and order. Seats are first come first served and you are not permitted to take one until you order. Trust their system.
2 pm | Quack!
The Duck Tours of Boston are a fun way for families to get an overview of the historical sites around Boston and the Charles River. Entertaining and informative, these tours are in open-air amphibious vehicles with boisterous fact-filled guides. You can pick one up at three locations around town, The Prudential Center, The New England Aquarium or The Museum of Science. Book ahead to be sure you get your preferred time as they do sell out during the peak summer season.
4pm | Caffeinate and The Comm
Re-energize with an afternoon cappuccino and croissant at The Thinking Cup located near the Prudential Center on Newbury Street, Boston’s upscale shopping neighborhood. The take a leisurely stroll one block north, down the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, a green parkway divider that is dotted with benches, statues and memorials. Baseball fans can take Comm Ave, as referred to by the locals, west to take in a BoSox game at Fenway Park, the oldest stadium in the MLB.
7pm | North End Nightlife
Hail a cab to the North End, Boston’s oldest residential neighborhood dating back to the 1600‘s. The North End is know for its Italian-America population and its many Italian restaurants. Kids love the pasta, meatballs, fresh bread and melon with proscuitto at Bricco (241 Hanover Street, 617.248.6800) Bricco is Boston’s modern take on Italian dining. It’s warm and welcoming and set amongst North End’s lively nightlife scene. Don’t forget to order a Chianti for the adults to unwind after following kids around a city all day. Cheers to you! After dinner walk up Hanover to either Modern Pastry (257 Hanover Street) or Mike’s Pastry (300 Hanover Street) for Boston’s best cannoli. Depending on who you ask, you’ll hear one of these as definitively the best cannoli in Boston. Better yet, pick one up at both and taste test for yourself. Your kids won’t be disappointed with double dessert.
Sunday
9 am | Brunch on Boylston
Splurge on Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons Boston (200 Boylston Street, 617.338.4400) where they do families right. Don’t miss their eggs benedict or french toast and service that can’t be beat. Before leaving the hotel, check to see if they are offering one of their cookie classes. A fun activity for even the youngest bakers, where kids get dressed up like a chef and make cookies in the pastry kitchen of the hotel. Best part, they bring home cookies for the whole family.
11 am | Time Travel
Don your feathered caps and make your way to the Boston Tea Party Museum (306 Congress Street) for a reenactment of the night that set the revolutionary war in motion. Engaging for kids and adults with live reenactments, holographic displays and film telling the story of that infamous night. Your family will walk away with a greater appreciation for American history and the patriots that fought for America’s independence. A history book that comes to life for all.
1pm | Summertime Staple
You can’t leave Boston without having a lobster roll. It’s a summertime staple in New England from New York to Nova Scotia. In Boston, all lobster roll roads lead to Neptune Oyster (63 Salem Street, 617.742.3474) for the best lobster roll in Boston.
3 pm | Frogs on the Common
Tire the kids out before your return home with some fun at the Frog Pond and Tadpole Playground in the Boston Common, the oldest city park in the United States, dating back to 1634. While the Boston Common is National Historic Landmark and known for being the burial site of many important figures from the American Revolutionary war and the site from which the troops left for the Battles of Lexington and Concord, today, it is a favorite city park for softball games, picnics and children’s favorite, The Frog Pond. By summer it’s a spray pool and winter an ice skating rink. There are always fun activities and events happening. Kids will love climbing the Tadpole Playground structure and meeting all the bronze frogs.
Where to Stay – for best access to the center of Boston stay near Copley Plaza or the Public Garden. We have enjoyed several stays at the Four Seasons Boston.
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