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How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?

Glenview, Illinois
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How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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Hi!

I've seen this question posted but not for families. My apologies if I missed it.

We're going to drive from NY and stop in Plymouth so we'll arrive in Boston in the evening and drop off the rental car. We can either have two full days (flying out the evening of the second) or three full days (flying out the evening of the third).

Ideas for must see places to visit?

Thanks!

Boston, MA
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for Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Martha's Vineyard
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1. Re: How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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In no particular order:

A tour of Fenway Park and/or Red Sox game

The Freedom Trail

The Museum of Science

The Mapparium

A visit to the Boston Harbor Islands

Pasta & Cannolis in the North End

A Duck Tour

there's more, but this should get you started! Have fun!

MA
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for New England
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2. Re: How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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I would go with 3 days. Freedom Trail plus harbor cruise plus dinner and dessert in the North End, day 1. Duck tour plus Museum of Science, day 2. Fenway park tour plus anything else you'd like to do before you fly out, day 3.

Boston
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for Boston
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3. Re: How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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I think you need to add in Harvard Square and Harvard Yard. Are you planning on doing a guided Freedom Trail Tour or are you thinking you'll try and do it yourself?

Boston...
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4. Re: How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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You also might want to consider taking a whale watch.

North Shore, MA
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for Salem
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5. Re: How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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When you do the Freedom Trail, be sure to include the Charlestown section. I think your sons will especially enjoy visiting the USS Constitution (note: it is closed on Mondays). You can take a ferry from the wharf near the New England Aquarium to the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Other visitors have mentioned the Behind-the-Scenes tour at the Old North Church, which goes up to the bell chamber and down to the crypt. Although I've been to the church many times, I have yet to do this tour so I can't recommend it based on personal experience, but I'll bet your boys would like it.

Wroclaw, Poland
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6. Re: How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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Museum of Science is always a good trip for kids and even teenagers:) Duck Tours and the New England Aquarium are also a great time. I would stay the three days considering that there is enough to keep everyone busy!

Edited: 9 years ago
Birmingham, Alabama
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7. Re: How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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My guess is the things they will like best on the Freedom Trail are: Old Ironsides, climbing the Bunker Hill Monument, Old Granary Buying Ground (Paul Revere, John Hancock, Ben Franklin's parents, Massacre victims, James Otis (look him up).

What about Fort Warren on George's Island - a harbor cruise and explore the fort where the VP of the Confederacy was held toward the end of the Civil War when he was captured on a mission to England.

Maybe a trip to Boston Light would be interesting for them?

If you go to the Mapparium, someone needs to be familiar with 1930's geography so you understand how the map has changed.

Boston...
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8. Re: How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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All of the above suggestions are good. If you are looking for something different at night, the Blue Man Group is a fun take-in.

Glenview, Illinois
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54 posts
73 reviews
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9. Re: How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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Alamm, I haven't had a chance to research this yet. What do you recommend for the freedom trail?

Thanks!

Edited: 9 years ago
Boston...
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4,951 posts
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10. Re: How many days for trip with two boys (ages 10 and 12)?
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I have boys 10 and 12.

Their favorite activity on the Freedom Trail is climbing the Bunker Hill Monument, touring the USS Constitution and USS Constitution Museum.

They also enjoy the New England Aquarium, visiting George's Island, walking around Rose Kennedy Greenway. On Thursday evenings the ICA is free, we do a quick walk thru (sometimes the exhibits are more adult theme) but the harbor view from the ICA is worth the free visit! We continue walking the Boston Harbor Walk towards the North End via Fan Pier.

They also enjoy the Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden. I think your kids would enjoy a Boston Duck Tour, too.

We are Science Museum members, if you are members of your local museums, you can get reciprocal free visits to The Museum of Science. We are still members of the Children's Museum, too. There are still exhibits at our Children's Museum to entertain my kids at the Boston Children's Museum even though they are getting older. It might be worth a visit on Friday night after 5 PM for their $1 admission night.

We also enjoy going to Red Sox games.

I took my 12 year to Chicago in April and we LOVED your city! We attended Wrigely Field's 100th Anniversary game and got to experience being a Cubs fan for a day! (Cubs with a strong lead, two outs, Cubs needed one last strike to win the game in the 9th inning.....yet, they lost the game! )

BTW - in Plymouth, my kids really enjoyed their Lantern Ghost Tour. They enjoyed the Harvard Square Ghost Walking tour, too, in Cambridge. I know they have ghost tours in Boston, too, but we have not participated in those tours.

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