If you're in the Greater Boston area, forget Cape Cod. It's crowded, expensive, and full of tourists. Hit the North Shore instead, and check out the gorgeous beaches on Cape Ann and the North Shore. Crane Beach in Ipswich is a nature preserve, which means no boardwalk, no cheesy souvenir stands, just a snack bar and miles and miles of beautiful beach. Don't forget to grab lunch at the famous Clam Box!
Beautiful expensive pastries. I've never been for lunch, but I make a special trip for their whoopie pies every time I'm in Boston.
I took my vegetarian cousin out to lunch here. She's used to being limited to two or three items when she goes out to eat, and she was amazed by the huge number of choices being offered. I'm a meat-eater, but I didn't even notice the lack of it, my pineapple curry was so good. The boba tea was lovely as well. We were there at lunch time on a weekday and practically had the place to ourselves. It was clean and bright (not always a guarantee in Chinatown), and I would definitely go back.
It's not a big museum, you can see the whole thing easily in a couple of hours. Definitely on the avant garde side (at least for Boston), you may not like all the exhibits, but you'll certainly remember them. As you're walking around, a staff member may suddenly start expounding on a particular piece, and it's almost always worth stopping to listen. It's not super expensive, but Thursday evenings are free if that's a consideration. There isn't a T stop nearby, so be prepared to either drive or find yourself walking a bit.
A little expensive for what it is (but I say that about any tall building with a view. I wouldn't pay to go to the top of the Empire State Building either.) but the view really is spectacular. I wouldn't spend too much time in the Prudential Center itself, since it's basically just a fancy mall, but the Skywalk is worth doing once. Parking is limited (pretty much everywhere in Boston), I find it easier to take the T.
A unique outdoor museum that showcases a real neighborhood. Most of the historic buildings are still on their original foundations. If you're visiting in December, try to time your visit for the the candlelight stroll on weekend evenings.
If you're in the Greater Boston area, forget Cape Cod. It's crowded, expensive, and full of tourists. Hit the North Shore instead, and check out the gorgeous beaches on Cape Ann and the North Shore. Crane Beach in Ipswich is a nature preserve, which means no boardwalk, no cheesy souvenir stands, just a snack bar and miles and miles of beautiful beach. Don't forget to grab lunch at the famous Clam Box! Or explore one of the five traditional New England lighthouses on Cape Ann for some stunning photo ops. Eat the freshest fish you'll ever taste in Gloucester, a historic fishing town, or scuba dive at Back Beach in Rockport, one of the best scuba diving destinations in the area.
Maine has an enormous coast, and it is really hard to go wrong with any of the beaches. If you can stand temperature, the swimming in Maine is hard to beat. Old Orchard Beach has lots to do for families, like lobster boat tours, an amusement park, and mini-golf.
Beautiful coastline, a clean boardwalk, and a quaint, quirky town add up to a wonderful weekend destination at Rehoboth Beach. The Junction and Breakwater Trail is perfect for biking and walking, and the downtown area always has something going on when you've had enough fun in the sun for the day.
If you're in the Greater Boston area, forget Cape Cod. It's crowded, expensive, and full of tourists. Hit the North Shore instead, and check out the gorgeous beaches on Cape Ann and the North Shore. Crane Beach in Ipswich is a nature preserve, which means no boardwalk, no cheesy souvenir stands, just a snack bar and miles and miles of beautiful beach. Don't forget to grab lunch at the famous Clam Box!