Massachusetts / New England
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kelleigh1 · 06-15-2009, 12:24 PM

I have a friend coming to visit next month and I'm trying to come up with some ideas on what to do, where to go, what to see. I've lived here for 39 years, but like most of us, we don't really vacation in our own backyard, so I'm sure there is a lot I've never seen or done myself.

She'll be here for 5 days, but we do have tickets to Fenway one day. And I work in Boston, so I'm really not all that excited about coming into the city - and she has been to Boston before.

She'll be here the last week of July, which is peak tourist season on the Cape, so I'm thinking that may not be the best idea - even though I'd love to take her over to the Islands.

I'm looking for inexpensive (or even free) ideas of things we can do during the day. I am thinking of possibly taking a drive up to Maine one day too.

Does any have any other ideas? Any places that you like to take your out of town visitors? And for those from out of town, what are the things you really want to see or do when you come to New England?

Any off the beaten path ideas? Any hidden gems?

Thanks!!

ilovejack72 · 06-15-2009, 03:33 PM

how about the new stadium outdoor shopping area we only live a couple of towns over and we love to go there and they have great resturants too might be good for a night out. or how about Mystic Ct thats a great place or how about going to Newport for the day theres tons to do there. and maybe if the like the ocean you could take them to Horseneck beach in Westport Mass that why you dont have to go to the Cape. hope the ideas help I know its hard when people come in the summer they want to go to the places that are really packed good luck

kelleigh1 · 06-15-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejack72

how about the new stadium outdoor shopping area we only live a couple of towns over and we love to go there and they have great resturants too might be good for a night out. or how about Mystic Ct thats a great place or how about going to Newport for the day theres tons to do there. and maybe if the like the ocean you could take them to Horseneck beach in Westport Mass that why you dont have to go to the Cape. hope the ideas help I know its hard when people come in the summer they want to go to the places that are really packed good luck

Patriot Place - I actually work there part-time and live right around the corner, so we'll definitely be spending some time there anyway - especially because she wants to catch some of Patriots training camp.

Thanks for the other ideas. I'll add them to the list of possibilities. I'm gathering a bunch of info now and sending her links every couple of days so she gets some input. We are planning on heading up to the Gloucester area for a Hammond Castle visit.

Skatetigger · 06-15-2009, 04:13 PM

The White Moutains up in NH are great during the summer, lots of neat places to go if you don't mind hiking. Lost River, the Flume are a couple neat places.

Oh there's a Stonebrook Farms tour that you could take in Litchfield NH. I have heard it is good, haven't gotten a chance to see it yet though.

My husband took me to some of the revloutionary war grounds in Concord too, but I am forgetting the name.

Oh yeah and Hammond Castle up in Ipswich, great garden areas. Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, NH (fun walking city as well), neat shops and great food.

Then there's also Salem, MA (witch museum, House of 7 Gables, great little funky shopping and of course good food.)

Hope that helps

Belle* · 06-15-2009, 05:21 PM

What about driving west and checking out Northampton, Deerfield (Yankee Candle Company headquarters!

), etc. That's a beautiful drive!

HollyH · 06-16-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belle*

What about driving west and checking out Northampton, Deerfield (Yankee Candle Company headquarters!

), etc. That's a beautiful drive!

OOoooooo.....I love Yankee Candle!! I would avoid the Cape, but what about some RI beaches? You said she's been to Boston before, but what has she seen/done? The Boston Science Museum is one of our favorite day trips. Roger Williams Zoo in Providence is fun.

Carousel96 · 06-17-2009, 12:15 AM

We lived near Mystic CT for several years and always took our visitors to Newport RI to see the "cottages"

Kaileemb · 06-17-2009, 12:58 AM

hmm yes I agree living on the cape it does get busy! However It's not that bad if you come during the week. It stinks getting over the bridges but once your over its not that bad. If you do come to the cape a drive along 6A would be nice and you could stop at any of the little shops along the way. Maybe a whale watch? I agree that foxboro, yankee candle, boston(museums) are all great ideas. What about Newport, RI that is really nice too. Ok I am rambling now, I'll keep trying to think and post more later

HollyH · 06-17-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaileemb

hmm yes I agree living on the cape it does get busy! However It's not that bad if you come during the week. It stinks getting over the bridges but once your over its not that bad. If you do come to the cape a drive along 6A would be nice and you could stop at any of the little shops along the way. Maybe a whale watch? I agree that foxboro, yankee candle, boston(museums) are all great ideas. What about Newport, RI that is really nice too. Ok I am rambling now, I'll keep trying to think and post more later

Really good point about the Cape....especially if you are talking about just a day trip. We went on a great whale watch out of Provincetown,the Dolphin Fleet, just a few weeks ago. It was just right as far as time was concerned (3-4 hours total). We saw 14 humpback whales, mother and baby pairs. They came right up to the boat, even swam under the boat. They were close enough that we were able to smell "whale breath" !!!!! (Note: the captain kept emphasizing that this was not your typical trip....they guarantee you'll see whales, but that close was a bit unusual apparently). I don't know that I would make a day trip to the Cape in high season just to go to the beach, however.

HollyH · 06-17-2009, 07:25 AM

Don't know the ages of your visitors or where they are from, but Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA is a unique "New England" experience.

kelleigh1 · 06-17-2009, 04:17 PM

Some info/updates:
It's just one visiter. She's 37. No kids. Just me and her. Hubby will be working (and school) most of the week, so he won't be joining us.

I am leaning toward a Cape visit. I really want to take her over to the Vineyard and I'm thinking if we leave early enough on a weekday, it may not be so bad. And I know she'd love it. (Throw some Vineyard ideas at me, or other suggestions if you have them. Would Nantucket be better?)

I work in Boston fulltime and have to do that with the inlaws in August, so I'm really not jumping at spending a day in Boston in July too. She doesn't care. And since we're going to Fenway one day, she'll get to see more of Boston then. Last time she was in Boston, we were in the downtown/waterfront area. I think we really just walked around, hit Faneuil Hall and that area.

Someone at work mentioned Hammond Castle and the Cape Ann area. I sent her the link to Hammond Castle and she seems interested in that. So I was thinking we drive up in the morning, visit the Castle, then head to Woodman's in Essex for some lunch, then maybe a quick drive north through Portsmouth and into southern Maine. Dinner at the Maine Diner (or someplace else we find along the way) before heading home.

Pamela2768 · 06-17-2009, 05:27 PM

How about walking on the Jetty(spelling) on the Plymouth waterfront, looking at the Plymouth Rock, and having Dinner @ the Labster Hut. You could do that some evening during the week. Plimouth Plantation might be fun too.
There may even be a local fair going on near you.

Kaileemb · 06-17-2009, 05:34 PM

Plimouth Plantation is another great idea!! As far as either the Vineyard or Nantucket I would lean more towards the Vineyard...I think theres more to do there and more to enjoy.

lukeandbrookesmom · 06-17-2009, 08:47 PM

I would take her to the Vineyard for sure! I would also suggest the Freedom Trail (I think this is a wonderful snapshot of Boston's history!) and Plimouth Plantation. Sturbridge Village is fun, as is Yankee Candle like Sara suggested. You could tour the mansions in Newport, RI, go to the outlets in Freeport, ME, Mystic, CT as someone else posted and Lake Winnipesaukee in NH is also beautiful in the summer.