DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Vacationing in New England.... what to do?

Ok... some of you may remember my post earlier about where to go...

My girlfriend wants to go to New England and I think I am cool with it. We found a place for $95 a night in Salem (10 minutes from Boston)

We are not sure what to do though the whole time we are there....

Boston Red Sox game Friday against Orioles is a given.

I am into blues music or any type of music other than country (any good bars or music spots?)

She is into just breath-taking sight seeing and fishing and lighthouses...

I am also an aspiring Social Studies teacher (if only I had a teaching job---just graduated) so the whole history aspect sounds quite intriguing.

what else is there to do though?

How long will you be there? Sounds like you can fill several days with the things you've already mentioned.

Eat Maine lobster and get some chowda',.....

Battle of Lexington Battlefield,...??,...Boston Tea Party site ??

Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard,....

ESPN Headquarters,..the Loudon NASCAR Track ??

Never been there myself (except on a military funeral in New Hampshire) for a vacation, so these are all just off the top of my head.

July 22-July 27

We were looking to save as much on the hotel as possible. So we were thinking of checking out July 26 and finding a camp site and pitching the tent... spend some time with nature. But where lol?

Lots of ideas on this website:
http://www.cityofboston.gov/visitors/thingstodo.asp

Also check out trip advisor. Those two websites should help out a lot since you can pretty much pick whatever your interests are.

I've always wanted to do the Maine coat. Heard it's great, with some amazing places to eat & drink.

I've had friends go Whale Watching, not sure if this the the right time of the year or not.

another good idea if its the right time

I dunno how muhc time you have, but I remember seeing the beautiful mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont when I was a kid.

Take a drive for a short day trip down to Mystic, Connecticut. Beautiful, albeit quaint, little town, GREAT seafood and you can visit the actual Amistad.

Take a guided bus tour of the Freedom trail in Boston...you hit all the sites.

Eat at the Union Oyster House...the oldest restaurant in the country...insist on eating at the oyster bar rather than table service upstairs.
http://www.unionoysterhouse.com/

Take the ferry out to Nantucket for all the whaling history....it is a great day.

In Salem..the house of seven gables tour is interesting.

Get up early one morning and drive up to Maine...maybe a hour or so

In Wiscassett, you will find heaven on earth here...
http://mazirian.blogspot.com/2008/08/restaurant-review-reds-eats.html

You haven't been to New England unless you eat there....really...it is just a little stand with some picnic tables...the 50 people in line will tell you the rest of the story

Have fun

Don't go on the Lake Chappaquiddick tour. I heard the guy at the wheel is a bad driver.

You will love Boston,,, there is an Italian Section there,, can't remember what they call it, Northend maybe, but it's amazing.. Great food and lots to see.

There is a little town north of boston on the water. It's called Newburyport. It's what everyone in the country probably thinks if as a quaint New Englind Fishing Village. It's just filled with neat little shops that any woman would love.

For either lunch or dinner, go cross the bridge to Salsbury (sp) Right at the end of the bridge is a fabulous resturant called Stripers. (pronounced like a Racing stripe on a car, get your mind out of the gutter LOL)

Best and freshest seafood I ever tasted.. Get the whole lobsters... you will not be sorry...

If you like old furniture, get to some place called Sturbridge Village. I haven't been but I've read up on it a little and it sounds like fun. THey talk about it a lot on This Old House and the New Yankee Workshop. Two shows I watch and both originate from Boston.

The Campus of Harvard located in the town of Cambridge, isn't to be missed.. that place will blow you away. That's if you like old and stately architecture that is. All those ivy covered buildings are pretty amazing.

MIT isn't bad either for that matter...

Enjoy your trip....

Thanks everyone for the great ideas...

If I go to Nantucket... what are the best sites to hit up while there. I will not be staying there because I do not have the coin to do so.

anybody have some experience with Rockport or Plymouth?

Where is a good place to go to spend some time on the coast of MA?

Yes, I ;m familiar with Rockport and Plymouth. My wife is from the Boston area. Plymouth has the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock, It also has Plymouth Plantation amust see if you are interested in history. There is also a restruant just north of Plymouth rock. Not the fancy one but the one where you order at the counter and pick up your food on down the line. The shrimp is right off the boat.

Rockport is an old fishing town. It has a lot of old homes with beautiful rock walls around them. It has a long street along the water front with shops for the ladies. I hung with the wife and sister in law for awhile but ended up talking to a guy that raked seaweed for a living. He said he ships it all over the country. Seems like a cool job except he smelled worse than GM after bingeing on sour krute.

Check out Province Town, L.L. Bean outlet and store in Freeport Maine , Fanuil Hall,John Hancock building has an electric map and you can see just where old Boston and new Boston differ. For instance where the Boston tea party took place is now several blocks inland due to fill. Check out the new Football stadium. I know you said you were going to a Sox game but tickets are almost impossible to come by. Pats are the same way.

Oh yeah, Check out Glouster. Very good sea food and plenty of fisherman bars. Its where the fishing boat in "Perfect Storm " was homeported. Nautical antique shops.

Lots more to see in New England. My wife said to stay out of Vermont they are all inbread up there. Our neighbor ( from Vermont ) says the same thing about Massachusetts.

I just spend three days in Concord NH. I went through the the state house. Beauuuutiful. I went on a self guided tour. The lady told me to take a look a the Governour pic on the wall because I might run into him and I did.

Saw the Gov office, conference room and where you have to register to run for President in the MH primary. . I was amazed that there were only about 3 people touring while I was there.

Click For Huge Pic of inside NH State House

Neat...... Thanks for sharing that.