we are planning to be near faneuil hall (at the millenium or nearby) over shabbat in december. we will be two families with kids--one shabbat-observing, the other not. any ideas for shabbat-friendly kid-appropriate activities? places that sell advnaced tickets and are walking distance? thanks!!

The New England Aquarium (www.neaq.org) is at the top of the list: indoors (important in December), has an IMAX theater, great for kids, advance tickets available, and about a 5-minute walk from your hotel.

If the weather is nice and you've got the right clothing to be outdoors, the Freedom Trail (http://www.nanosft.com/freedom/index.shtml) passes through the Faneuil Hall area and is chock-full of important historical sites. No charge for walking the Freedom Trail, though some individual sites might have an entrance fee (probably not available in advance) to get inside.

thanks, wideman, sounds great!

I think there is a historic shul near the MGH which is a couple miles away
if you will need one in the area, but we've only driven by it so I don't know
its exact denomination or anything. If you are interested in the eruv
boundaries, the Greater Boston eruv has some info at:
www.bostoneruv.org

Also maybe check out Milk Street Cafe for a meal or two; they have
good stuff there and two locations (milk and meat). But, they do close
early every day.

Depending on the weather, it can be a really nice or really cold place
to walk around. :) Good luck!

--LG

p.s. the synagogue I was thinking of is:
www.bostonsynagogue.org
which has a nice webpage and apparently periodically has shabbat
dinners and such.

--LG