Need something to do on Saturday, MA.RI.CT.NH

In My Humble Opinion
1

My sister and her boyfriend and their kids are coming to visit us this weekend. They’ll only be here Friday night, Saturday, and half the day Sunday.

My sister’s boyfriend wants to see ships (big ships, not boats he can see on Lake Champlain any day he says).
We were going to go to Battleship Cove but we just found out that the USS Massachusetts is closed. We know there are other things to see there but the battleship is the big deal.
We know other options are Mystic Seaport and the Charleston Navy Yard.

Are there any other places within 2 hours of Worcester that we can visit? We have considered just going to Hampton Beach for the day but it’s supposed to be in the 70’s and wet - not really beach weather.

2

You’ve mentioned the big ones. You can go to Portsmouth, N.H. I don’t know if they have anything at the Navy Yard, but you can at least see the Albacore

Or you can go to Plymouth and see the Mayflower II

http://www.plimoth.org/features/mayflower-2/
Or come up ro Salem, MA and see the Friendship:

http://www.friendshipofsalem.org/
While you’re in Salem, there’s plenty more to see, including the Pirate Museum.

http://www.piratemuseum.com/

Or you could go to the Boston Museum of Science and ride the Ducks.

Or visit the Hart School of Naval Architecture at MIT. Lotsa ship models. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has ship models, too.

3

Thanks Cal. I forgot to mention that we will definitely consider things not involving ships.

We really want to do the Mystic Seaport/Mystic Aquarium but the tickets are really expensive.
By the way, Southbridge Fest is this Saturday.

4

The Submarine Force Museum in Groton, CT isn’t all that far, if you’re serious about ships of some kind. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is a good visit, too. There’s also the cruiser USS Salem in Qunicy, MA

Nothing to see at Portsmouth Navy Yard, though.

5

Within 2 hours of Worcester and not ship-related:

Sturbridge Village, of course

The Worcester Ecotarium

Fruitlands

The historical sites at Lexington, Concord, and Salem

Mount Monadnock
Southwick Zoo (and the nearby Mendon Drive-In)

There’s a lot more, but I have no idea what your interests might be.

6

We ended up deciding on the Mystic Aquarium. Initially my sister said we’d do the seaport because the guys (her boyfriend and their 2 sons) would probably like it more than sea life. She was wrong. They’re all really excited to see the beluga whales.
My boyfriend was going to take me to Sturbridge Village on Monday but we decided to see his boss in the hospital instead. Then he was gonna take me this weekend but my sister decided to visit. I’m going to get there sometime this summer. It’s only 5 miles from my house! I’ve been there in the last 5 years. He hasn’t been there in about 25 years.

I love the Ecotarium and I actually suggested that to my sister but she said if we were going to do something educational, marine life would probably be better.

I suggested Southwick but my sister said she took my nephew there right before they left the state and she wanted something he hadn’t done before. We did consider Roger Williams too.

Thanks for the suggestions guys! We have our destination for tomorrow but I’m sure the boyfriend and I will be looking for other stuff to do this summer besides just working around the house and playing WoW.

7

Born and raised in Mystic, when you get off Exit 90, go into the Mystic Village, it’s on your left behind the Steak Loft, there is a Tourist Info Center in there what has discount tickets [coupons] for the Seaport and Aquarium. Also, if you head out on RT.1 [scenic route 1A] go to the Cove Fish Market, it’s probably the best place in town for a Clam Fritter, Lobster, Chowder, or Fish n’Chips.

I worked at the Aquarium for years when I was a kid, the Belugas are great…if you want an up close look, blow a raspberry on the glass and they will come right up to you :wink:

Also, Elvis’ Idea of hitting the Nautilus Memorial\sub museum is really great, it’s only 15 minutes south on 95. You could also hit the Ships in Newport, RI if you want, thats about an hour north.

8

Thanks for the tips! Personally, I hate fish but my boyfriend loves chowder and my sister is mad about lobster. We were going to back sandwiches but I’m sure everyone else would love to go to the place you mentioned.
My boyfriend doesn’t seem to believe that I would blow a raspberry on the glass. Apparently he doesn’t know me as well as he thinks. :smiley:

9

HAHA! It’s pretty cool when you do it, it’s amazing because they immediately hear it and immediately track the noise to you…then everyone around thinks you are the Whale Whisperer or something! I had my nephew do it last year and it was the highlight of his trip.

Also, do pack a lunch and head to the Cove [barely, 5 minutes from the seaport] because it’s on the water and those who want a lobster can have it and everyone else can eat what they want on the water. You can also eat at the Seaport right on the water or under a tall ship. they have a restaurant but you can also bring your lunches in…I highly recommend either option. It;'s going to be beautiful this weekend, enjoy!

10

If you’re in Worcester anyway, the Higgins Armory Museum would be a treat for the kiddies, or even any grownups with a soft spot for suits of armor and medieval weaponry of all kinds.

11

Sturbridge Village is always sort of fun on the 4th of July. As the centerpiece, they do a big parade in the early afternoon, then read the Declaration of Independence on the common, then fire off a salute. There’s also a ton of other events going on throughout the day.

Hope you guys enjoy Mystic this weekend. I haven’t been there in 10 years but I always remember enjoying it as a kid. It compares pretty favorably to all of the other big aquariums that I’ve been to.

(Southwick’s Zoo, on the other hand, is a bit more underwhelming IMO. I’d do Roger Williams first.)

12

That does sound like fun. I’ve never been; may have to head down there myself this weekend.

13

If you take pictures, can you post some online? I haven’t been to the Mystic Aquarium since the late 90s, and I kind of miss it - let me know if the dolphin statue is still out front! The Boston Aquarium is just a lot easier to get to now that I live in NH :frowning:

14

I grew up near Mystic Seaport and it is a wonderful place to take kids. As an adult I enjoy it! Also visiting the creamery for an ice cream cone afterwards.