Boston/Cape Cod Vacation

[crystal1588]

Need some suggestions...

DH and I are planning a vacation to Boston/Cape Cod in September/October. The little research that I've done, it seems that low season starts in October, but if we went in the 1st week of October, would it be cold?

We're planning on staying in Boston for 3 nights and then renting a car (?? best way) and driving to Cape Cod. We're not sure exactly where we want to stay..

We're hoping that I will be around 4/5 months pregnant, so we don't want to make it too high stress..

Any advice on hotels in both boston and cape cod, things to do etc?

[cael]

Sadly though I'm a native of MA, I live on the north shore & can't really give any recommendations about the Cape because I never spent much time there! but - I'd say check out Provincetown, it may be a little chilly in October, and if you want some REAL fun, come to Salem in October! I love the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge right across the river from Boston, but it's not very convenient to anything. If you want a hotel in the city, try the Sheraton Boston, which is nice and pretty close to things. There are some good hotels around the Common I think too but I'm not familiar with any of them... are you into museums? Check out the Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, or the Harvard museum of natural history - all awesome. Faneuil Hall is a good place to eat (and there is some shopping), and if you like shopping & have money to spend, Newbury street is the place to go. I'll probably think of more stuff later!

[cael]

Oh a cool dining experience is Top of the Hub (http://www.topofthehub.net/index.html) - it's a restaurant on the top of the Prudential center. Pricey but I've heard good things! (have yet to go there myself)

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

We spent a week in Rockport, MA in October 2002 and just loved it ... but be sure and go before Columbus Day! The scenery was just gorgeous, and we stayed at a great Bed n' Breakfast (Tuck Inn). A lot of the movie "The Proposal" was filmed around there ... great art galleries, sea coast, antiquing, etc. It's not far from Gloucester, either ... and the fall colors were out of this world.

[bobbysgirl]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Beacon Hill. It is within walking distance of Cheers, shopping, the open market (beautiful), the capitol building (gold dome),and the central park (I can't remember the name) Also The Freedom Walking tour begins just outside the door. The Charles River is highlighted out the window. Beacon Hill is for walking. Lots of good eats near the hotel as well. We went there every year for 10 years to see everything we wanted to. It's cool there in the fall so you may want to remember a sweater or 2. I have not been to the Cape, but have been to every NE state. NH is beautiful. And Maine. The ocean can strike you dumb. I couldn't even talk when I saw the Maine shoreline. It's rather powerful. Nothing like the ocean in the southern states.

[chiver78]

chef, you're near Orleans? cool. I spent a lot of time down there as a kid, skating at the rink in town. we used to stay at a hotel that was right on route 6, can't remember the name but it had a kickass game room downstairs from the pool.

crystal, in Boston the Park Plaza is pretty central and close to the T (subway) and a bunch of bus lines. there are a lot of hotels in that area, but I've only stayed here. I'll echo the Salem recommendation, but if you want to stay in town, you can do the Freedom Trail historical walk, check out Faneuil Hall, the USS Constitution, all sorts of stuff.

if you head down to the Cape, I've stayed in Orleans and Wareham(technically off-Cape). October is still nice around here, but the nights do get cold. there's going to be more to do in the Falmouth and Sandwich areas as the low season settles in, as those are where there's more year-round people.

[cael]

Molly, I Rockport! And Gloucester too! Special places

[Regis]

We almost always go to Chatham and P-town on the Cape. You probably wouldn't want to stay where we stay...at my in-laws in Brewster.

[crystal1588]

Thanks for all the advice!!
DH is really into history, so we're definitely wanting to stay somewhere close to the Freedom Trail.
As far as Cape Cod, we're hoping to be someone semi centrally located so we can do some day trips to some of the little towns.

I'm fine with cooler weather, we live in WI, so we're used to it!

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

If he is into history, definitely take a ride out to the Lexington/Concord area. It is ~20 minutes from downtown (up route 2). You can walk around the Lexington green (First shots of the revolution!) and the town itself has a lot of cute stores and restaraunts. Once you hit that, keep driving towards Concord and walk the Paul Revere trail (I think it is on Rte 2A.. just follow the signs towards Hanscom AFB because the AFB is right next to the trail). You can park and walk it for free and they have all kinds of historical landmarks along the way. After that, drive to Concord and see the North bridge. On the way back stop in Bedford for ice cream at bedford Farms (If it is still open). They have awesome ice cream... it is huge though!

[Jake 48]

I know it may seem silly, but you have to get mom and dads picture with the ducklings. You will more than likely read the book "Make Way for Ducklings" to the kid(s) and the picture will be priceless. they are in the Boston Public Garden