The Many Things To Do In Boston

My hubby and I had the chance to meet some of our friends in Boston for a weekend getaway. It was so amazingly awesome.

The first day, we went to Salem and visited the Salem Witch Museum, The House of the Seven Gables (site of Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel), and America's Oldest Candy Company (started in 1806 with a barrel of sugar).

In the afternoon, we drove to Cape Cod to find lighthouses.  I think I love lighthouses.  Seriously.  I skipped up to the first one with a song in my heart.  It was so fun.  And super cold.  Good thing I packed my down coat, thermals and wool socks.  Brrr.  Nothing like 28* on the beach!

 

The next day we headed into Boston to take in the many and assorted sites, including the Super Duck Tours where we drove right into the harbor and enjoyed the view of the city from the water, including Old Ironsides (USS Constitution), the worlds' oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat and in use today.  And secretly I've always wanted to drive in a car/boat.  So that was amazing pretty much.

We also walked most of The Freedom Trail seeing many historical things like the North Church where Paul Revere saw the lanterns for his famous midnight ride, the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill, The Granary and many others.

The walk down Beacon Hill was very nice.  I loved all of the different doors.  So colorful and interesting.  And we ran into Cheers!

We just happened to be in Boston during St. Patrick's Day and decided to hit the St. Patrick's Day parade while in town.  It was an experience to say the least.  I caught some beads mid-air, a marshmallow from the "Ghostbusters", a couple of Army wrist bands and some candy.  I was pretty proud of myself.

We ate some amazing food during our stay, including clam chowder and fried oysters at Atlantic Fish Co, delicious brick oven pizza at Regina Pizzeria (all four pizzas we ordered were outstanding), delectable pastries including fruit tarts, lobster tails,cannoli and more at Bova's Bakery (seriously, we went back the next day for some cherry cannoli that were superb), and a Reuben on St. Patrick's day at the airport in Chicago. :)

Lexington and Concord were beautiful.  I so wished it was green whilst we were visiting...but I shall go back during another season and view its splendor.  We saw many Revolutionary War sites, including the site where Paul Revere was captured and many homes of the time.  I loved seeing the old stone walls lining the street and the buildings with so much history and character.  We drove by Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House and I almost jumped out the window.  So cool!  We stopped and looked around quick and snapped some photos.

(Captain William Smith's House...brother of Abigail Adams.  Built 1692)

(Old Manse.  Built in 1770.  Both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne, lived and wrote here)

I took quite a few photos out of the window because it was so bitterly cold.  Goodness.  This desert gal forgot how to even understand cold like that.  It was sorta fun to wear boots and scarves and gloves for a bit though. :)

(Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House)

Before catching our flight home, we were able to visit Harvard, the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Square which has the World's Only Curious George Store...which of course we had to go to because we are huge George fans. Seriously at one point Q was talking in monkey and we had to take a break from watching Curious George episodes.  We got Q a mug at the store and sent the two little boys Curious George postcards.

And for our very last New England meal, we stopped at a food truck for clam chowder and a fried oyster po' boy (fried oysters on a baguette served with remoulade).  It was mighty tasty and warmed our frozen fingers. Plus the ladies in the truck were so friendly and said nice things about us...which is always a bonus.  

Sigh.  I don't even think we scratched the surface.  We will have to go back for sure.

And a big thank you to our good friends who drove us around and braved the traffic!