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Boston with 14 year old boy

Boston with 14 year old boy

Old Mar 17, 2012, 2:08 pm
  #1  
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Boston with 14 year old boy

Hi.

We are from the UK and going to Boston in April with our 14 year old son. Been lots of times before but usually for new year and with our 17 year old as well. 1st holiday with just 1 child. We are spending 2 blocks each of 3 nights with a trip to Maine in-between.

So what should we do? And where should we eat? Typicalish 14 year old- not sporty but into ict, gaming, science etc. Foodwise- burger but burger with a difference would be good. He also likes italian and Chinese. We are staying at Ritz Carlton if that helps. We usually go to back bay hotel with the children but we went to rc in december without children and really liked it.

So far I havebprovisionally planned but not booked

Duck tours- been 8 years since we last did this as it is usually closed when we come.
Ghost tour - not done before looks a bit corny but I don't mind that
Whale watching- again done a few times but not from boston
Science museum
Cinema

What else?

Thanks for your help. He 1st went to Boston when 6 weeks old and has been about 10 times but always in midwinter really. Mind you the worst snow we ever had was in late march one year.
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Old Mar 17, 2012, 6:05 pm
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I hope this mild winter weather lasts through April for you! This link http://www.boston-discovery-guide.co...#axzz1pQCn2akv has a selection of events of for April. Our school break is the week of 18 April and that is the same day as the Boston Marathon. If you haven't been, it might be fun to go to the finish line, which is only a couple of subway stops away from your hotel. Marathon Day is also Patriot's Day, which is when Paul Revere warned the surrounding towns that the British were coming (no hard feelings). They do a lot of re-enactments and you might find that of interest. Part of the re-enactment takes place in the North End of Boston (the Italian section) at the Old North Church. That is also a great walk and there are loads of Italian restaurants, bakeries and Regina Pizzeria, which your son will probably love. The Museum of Fine Arts might be free this day and is accessible by subway. Your hotel is close to Chinatown, so if he likes Chinese, you just need to walk up a couple of blocks. Other options for a 14 year old is the standby Cheesecake Factory at the Prudential Mall, Yankee Lobster on Northern Avenue. Depending on the weather you might also consider a harbor tour or boat to one of the Harbor Islands. The islands have lots of history & folklore and your son might like that. For sports there should be Bruins (up to 7 April), Celtics and Red Sox (beginning 13 April). Have fun!
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Old Mar 17, 2012, 6:17 pm
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Thanks. We are there from the 6th-9th and then 11th-14th- so we fly home on the Saturday before the marathon. It is almost double the price to stay for the second time which I assumed was because it was the marathon and the red sox.
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Old Mar 18, 2012, 8:01 am
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Marathon would make it expensive, Red Sox wouldn't.

If he's really into science, the MIT Museum might be a good stop. Our Museum of Science is good, but not great. I was last there about a year ago, most of the exhibits hadn't changed in over a decade. It's got some great stuff, but it's quite uneven, IMO.

Duck tours are fun, but if he's in to history, the regular Hop On Hop Off buses will actually teach you stuff.

Tons of burger places around. Just drove past this last night, which is very well located (just off of Newbury Street in Back Bay), and offers a very tasty burger with tons of options, but I'm sure there are a dozen other options or more. Check here, if you really want advice on food in Boston.

Ask at your hotel (or on that board I just linked to) for recommendations in Chinatown (very close to your hotel) or the North End for best Italian, and how best to get there (subway, cab, etc). There are dozens of good Italian places to eat . . . and a handful that aren't so good.

Whale watching will be very chilly in April, but you are likely to get some good sightings. Not sure what you meant by "itc".

There's a big movie theater in the building the RC is attached to, that will be showing pretty much every wide release open at that time.
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Old Mar 18, 2012, 1:17 pm
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Ict - it and computers.

Thanks for all your suggestions. He is just about on board with coming on holiday with just his parents. I think it is quite hard when one grows up and you are left with just one.

He has been to the science museum but not for about 4 years. We have never been to MIT museum. We will take up your suggestion-thanks

We are planning on going to the cinema on the 2 night (we arrive at 6pm) to keep us awake and try to stave off jet lag. We have been before and it is massive compared to the. 1920s one in our town.

As we are usually there on new years eve we have gone a lot of the historic sites and the library tour and some museums and of course new years eve at the aquarium.

Not been on the hop on hop off but we could certainly try it. However in Singapore both teenagers fell asleep but it was very hot.

Last time we did duck tours there was a storm out on the river. It was last of the day and the driver had let the children drive until the rain started. Then a passenger had a panic attack at the lightening and started screaming! I don't think this time will live up to that.

Anything else that we could do in April that we won't have been able to do in December ?
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Old Mar 18, 2012, 7:26 pm
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I take all of my relatives who visit on the Duck Tour. It's boring to me, but they always love it, and I think it's better than the hop-on hop-off bus that someone recommended. I'd also do the Freedom Trail, and whale watching, perhaps the aquarium or science museum as well.
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Old Mar 19, 2012, 8:51 am
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For burgers, this list is good to start:
http://www.boston.com/ae/restaurants...readerburgers/

Have you ever seen Blue Man Group ? It started in Boston...

Other suggestions:
http://boston.skyzonesports.com/home.aspx - blow of some energy
http://www.waterworksmuseum.org/ - is he into stuff like this ?
http://www.wheelockfamilytheatre.org/ - not sure the april show will be something he wants to see, but an option

Take the Blue Line to Revere and walk along the boardwalk/beach. Go to Kellys for lunch (http://www.kellysroastbeef.com)

The Hard Rock Boston recently moved to Fanuiel Hall into a new space. Does he like music history ?

I would also recommend this website: http://www.bostoncentral.com/

Thanks.
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Old Apr 3, 2012, 6:32 am
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Big Apple Circus is on City Hall Plaza during April.
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Old Apr 4, 2012, 9:10 am
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You said he's into gaming? Do check out PAX East, happening the weekend of April 6-8:

http://east.paxsite.com/
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Old Apr 4, 2012, 1:25 pm
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Originally Posted by LoganFlyer
You said he's into gaming? Do check out PAX East, happening the weekend of April 6-8:

http://east.paxsite.com/


FantAstic. We hAve booked

Thanks to everyone for hour suggestions. We fly out on Friday
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Old Apr 4, 2012, 1:26 pm
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Originally Posted by LoganFlyer
You said he's into gaming? Do check out PAX East, happening the weekend of April 6-8:

http://east.paxsite.com/


FantAstic. We hAve booked

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. We fly out on Friday
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Old Aug 30, 2016, 6:43 am
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Maybe Codzilla? http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/codzilla/
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Old Aug 30, 2016, 12:30 pm
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Moderator note

This thread was opened over four years ago to aid the OP in planning a trip to the Boston area with a 14-year-old son. Given the limited nature of the thread and its age, and that some of the information will therefore be unreliable today, I'll close the thread now.

Any members planning Boston or New England area trips can at any time seek the Community's help by joining a current, existing thread; or by starting a new one if no apt, reasonably current one is shown. Ocn Vw 1K, Senior Moderator
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