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NEVER go in the winter. ever

A good rule of thumb is to visit between Earth day and election day. The rest of the year is too cold and prone to nasty winter storms that will effectively ruin your trip

what to bring? normal vacation stuff: guide books, clothes, cameras, toiletries, maybe a book or two and an ipod while you wait for stuff, cash and credit cards. even in the summer bring some sweaters and jeans along with more summery clothes like shorts or flip flops, it occasionally gets cool and damp even in the middle of summer

never call it Beantown, ever, just Boston, or the City, sometimes people on the Local news may call it the Hub. Don't call it that either, only newscasters ever use that term

Avoid Dorchester, Roxbury and Matappan, those are rough neighborhoods. Most of the touristy stuff will be in the Downtown area and Back Bay anyway. There are a few things a handful of other neighborhoods as well as some nearby communities (such as Cambridge)

don't rent a car. Don't drive unless absolutely necessary. The traffic in Boston is nightmarish, the drivers are aggressive, the pedestrians are even more aggressive, it is incredibly easy to get lost and once you get to where you are going, you will have to find a place to put the car, which is almost impossible to do without shelling out massive amounts of cash. Take the T (local subway) instead, it will take you just about everywhere you want to go

suggestions of things to do in Boston

Museums, lots of Museums: The MFA (art) Isabella Stuart Gardner (art) ICA (art) The Aquarium, The Science Museum, Harvard and MIT museums, not to mention all the Historical sites; sites along the Freedom Trail, John Adams House

Check listings for concerts, plays and other events

Red Sox Game,or other sports event

Visit the Harbor Islands, Whale watch, Blue Hills State reservation

shopping, lots of shopping in Quincy Market, Newbury Street or Harvard Square in Cambridge, also visit the insanely overpriced Copley Place Mall

Duck tours

Go to the top of the Prudential Tower for a great view

Take a Boston Harbor Cruise. There are all sorts of cruises for different interests

You may also like to take a side trip to Salem, the touristy spots are right off the Commuter rail train station

check out the Peabody Essex Museum, all the witch stuff, the historic site run by the Park Service and lots of shopping and restaurants

Punk Rock told you most of it, but I will add -

Take the long Duck Tour that leaves from the Museum of Science FIRST

They will give you a great overview of the city, so you have an idea of where you are. They are also the only outift that requires their tour guides to actually know anything about Boston.

Avoid Faneuil Marketplace, unless you are doing the Abercrombie & Fitches of the World tour.

You can find all that at any mall.

Bring comfortable shoes, but some decent dinner clothes.

Go to the Omni Parker House for dinner one night - it IS old Boston, and you can have real Parker House rolls, and Boston Cream Pie. It's beautiful, and elegant. Kids should experience a really nice meal like that when they are young, so they know it exists. This isn't just another restaurant- it's an historical place.

Go on the Freedom Trail tour - they will explain the history, rather than your just looking at old stuff.

Go to the Museum of Fine Arts - no really. There are mummies there, and reall paintings you will recognize - and tour guides to show you around. It's wonderful on a rainy day or a very hot day, and there is good food in the cafeteria there.

The Museum of Science is awesome, in a word- no kid ever came out of there bored. Ever.

They also learned a lot when they weren't looking. So will you. And don't miss the gift shop - they have really great stuff like astronaut ice cream.

That oughtta keep you for a month...and there's more still.

too early to visit the Cape Head to Salem particularly, visit each and all of the witch stuff issues to do in Boston Museums, a lot of Museums: The MFA (artwork) Isabella Stuart Gardner (artwork) ICA (artwork) The Aquarium, The technology Museum, Harvard and MIT museums, to not point out each and all of the historic sites; sites alongside the liberty path, John Adams abode verify listings for stay shows, performs and different activities purple Sox interest,or different activities journey visit the Harbor Islands, Whale watch, Blue Hills State reservation procuring, a lot of procuring in Quincy marketplace, Newbury street or Harvard sq. in Cambridge, additionally visit the insanely overpriced Copley place Mall Duck excursions visit the surprising of the Prudential Tower for a great view

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