My husband has a 4 day weekend over President’s Day and we’ve decided that, weather permitting, we are going to take a road trip from NYC to Portland, ME with a stop in the Boston/Worcester area along the way. We have a couple of small things already on our agenda but we’ve never been to either city and we’d love to get some recommendations for things to do, places to eat, etc.
We don’t want to do anything that is too expensive and we’d like to keep things indoor if at all possible since it is still winter. We also have a 15 month old that will be traveling with us so things need to be at least vaguely baby friendly (so art museums and such would be fine, paintball not so much) and if you know of anything that babies would absolutely love that would be great.
15 month-old? That’s a tough age for sightseeing. They don’t know enough to appreciate that they’re looking at something cool/unusual, but they’re old enough that they don’t want to just sit.
There’s an OK Children’s museum in Boston, and the Museum of Science is good (with neat views of the Charles). A 15-month old is below the target audience in both places, but there’s enough to amuse them for a little while (MoS has a toddler play area) and you can get something fun from the toy shop which is probably all they want at this point anyway. I’m not sure any art museum in Boston is very 15-month old friendly; I think the toddler wouldn’t appreciate much (even stuff like mummies and swords that a 7 year old might like), but wouldn’t want to just sit in a stroller while you stared at art either.
Walking around the North End in Boston for a bit might be fun; the kid can see new kinds of buildings and you can see some history and get some cannoli. Or possibly the aquarium in downtown Boston; you get to look over the harbor a bit, too. Again, the kid might not appreciate yet how cool it is to see penguins, but they might have fun.
I liked the cannoli at Mike’s, but I’m sure there are other good places as well in the North End. We liked the U.S.S. Constitution tour. When I go back, I’m going to hit the MFA Boston, as well as the tours at Harpoon and Samuel Adams.
I don’t know if they’ll let you bring in a toddler, but we really like the tour and tasting at Allagash, just outside of Portland. Geary’s is right down the street from them. The Cheese Iron in Scarborough (a suburb to the south of Portland) was great too.
Higgins Armory is indeed a great museum and is what I was going to recommend. There’s also the Ecotarium (I hate that name, it used to be the Worcester Science Museum). They have indoor and outdoor displays, and a planetarium.
If the weather is nice that weekend, I heartily recommend you stop in Sturbridge Village. It’s just off of 84 and the Pike so no matter which way you come from NY, you’ll be driving right past it. If you have any interest in how people lived around the 1830’s, you should visit.
Also in Sturbridge, if you or your husband has any love for smoked meat or heavenly mac and cheese, you definitely need to have lunch at BT’s Smokehouse. They just this week won 3rd place in both People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice at Worcester’s Best Chef. Brian is an amazing cook and his food is heavenly.
Well…? I’m not doubting you, but I’d love to know where. I might have to be back in Boston in a few months, and I’d be delighted if I could find tastier pastry.
I do know the feeling about what tourists like vs what the people like who actually live there. Loving (and jotting down) the recommendations in the thread.
Try Modern Pastry, or Maria’s. Both, IMO are better than Mike’s. My personal favorite for a late night stop is Caffe Vitoria, because I just love the atmosphere there.
I’ll second the suggestion of the Armor museum in Worcester, and in Boston, I’ll recommend the USS Constitution. The associated museum is good for a toddler.
Okay, after checking out their websites I think we will definitely be stopping at the Higgins Armor Museum in Worcester and the Children’s Museum in Portland.
Pah, Mikes. Don’t be a (clueless) tourist. Go to Maria’s for cannoli, or Modern for a larger selection. Or Caffe Vittoria for espresso and pastry. Yeah, what the other guy said.
On the other hand, while Faneiul Hall/Quincy Market is indeed overrun with tourists, it’s not the worst place for lunch, if you’re already at the aquarium or something, and don’t want to spend the time/$ for North End or Oyster House fare. My advice is the Thai or Indian joints.