|
In June of 2018, we took a trip out to Boston. Steffanie and I had both been there a couple of times, but never together.
So we packed up the trusty Outlander and headed out East. On this trip, we took our time and only did a couple of things
each day. We stayed in Danvers, MA, just outside of Salem. Regardless of proximity and time of day, traffic always won. So
you had to plan on adding at least an hour of traffic to wherever you were going.
|
|
Boston, MA |
 |
|
The nice thing about Boston was that since we (me and Steffanie) had been there more than once, we had seen the touristy
stuff already. So we just picked out a couple of things to take the boys to each day. The picture above was taken
moments before I was suckered out of $20 from a Buddhist Monk imposter. He first tried handing a card to Steffanie and she declined.
Then he took me by surprise. I took the card and then he immediately slid a bracelet on my wrist while I was reading it. He
handed me a small booklet to write my name and donation amount in. He then handed Steffanie a bracelet so I gave him $20.
Steffanie looked this technique up online and it's an apparent and rampant problem in Toronto and Seattle also.
|
 |
A picture with my bracelet buddy. I keep the card at work which reads
, "Work Smoothly, Lifetime Peace." I think it really means that you are gullible and will give anyone money. |
|
One new thing I did on this trip was finally visit the USS Constitution. Last time I was there, it was in the yards getting
an overhaul. So the boys and I asked permission to come aboard. It's amazing that this ship is still in service!
|
 |
 |
|
Since the only notable things on the far end of the Freedom Trail are the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill, we decided
to just drive to those and do the rest of the trail on another day.
|
 |
|
We walked the Freedom Trail starting in Faneuil Hall Marketplace and ended at the Old North Church. Along the path we
saw Paul Revere's House and stopped for cannolis at Mike's Pastry.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Hingham, MA |
|
And no New Kids on the Block fan can come to the Boston area without making a trip down to Hingham to visit the original
Wahlburgers and Alma Nove.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Salem, MA |
|
One of the first places we visited while in Salem was Proctor's Ledge, the spot of the Witch Trial Hangings.
|
 |
|
Here we are at a statue of Roger Conant, the first settler of Salem. This is right next to the Witch Museum, which has
an interesting show about the history of the witch trials.
|
 |
 |
|
The Burying Point cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Salem. There is a Witch Trials memorial here .
|
 |
|
Winter Island Park |
|
Steffanie and I took a little trip to Winter Island Park one day while the boys rested at the hotel. I wanted to see a
lighthouse and visit the shoreline so we ended up here. It was such a nice and quiet place that we brought the boys
back on another day, before we left the area. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Fall River, MA |
|
One thing on Steffanie's bucket list was to visit the Lizzie Borden house. It was about 50 miles from Boston, so a good
day trip if you count traffic. Colin was burned out on car time so stayed behind while the rest of us took the trip south
to Fall River. A beautiful day for driving.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Legal Seafood |
|
And of course you have to visit Legal Seafood if you're in the area. We knew this was going to be the most expensive stop
on the trip, but the food is always worth it.
|
 |
 |
|
Niagara Falls |
|
Now the boys can say they've been to both sides of Niagara Falls. We visited the Canadian side while visiting Toronto back in
2014. This was an unplanned stop while on the way back home. We were so close to the falls from our hotel stop in Erie, PA, that we
couldn't pass up the opportunity.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|