Pre-trip planning: On the recommendation of my godmother, we picked up four Go Boston Cards.  These cards allow you to pay a flat fee that covers dozens of Boston attractions for a set number of days, as well as getting you discounts and free items during the validity dates of the cards.  We opted for three-day cards, and definitely got a lot out of them.  Everything we did from Monday to Wednesday was covered by them, and Sunday's first stop would have been, if we'd elected to start them a day early.  A terrific bargain.

Sunday:  We drove up to Massachusetts, with the kids each keeping a journal of (a) license plates and where they were from; and (b) animals seen along the road and whether they were alive or dead.  We stopped off at Old Sturbridge Village, which is an 18th/19th Century village made up of original buildings from all over New England.  We learned about dyeing wool, tinsmithing, and blacksmithing (Christina worked the bellows for the smith).  We got to fish in a small pond (so much harder without a reel), and experienced a working saw mill.

As we were ready to leave, Austin got to play a short game of 19th century baseball.  It's much different than our baseball.  The bat was a tree branch.  The ball was much softer on the outside, but hard in the middle, so it didn't travel very far.  Any time the bat touches the ball, it's a hit (ie: no fouls).  On a hit, you can run to any of the three bases, but to score, you must run them in order clockwise.  The is no spitting, no swearing and NO LEFTIES.  This all makes for a complicated game for people used to modern baseball, but it looked like great fun.

We hit the road and checked into our hotel in Natick.  One note for you all: if you EVER stay in Natick, DO NOT stay at the Travelodge on Route 9!  We checked out the next day because (a) the only room they would give us was next to the trash dumpster, (b) the room was infested with large black ants, wood lice (pill/potato bugs), mosquitoes, flies and some kind of flying thing I've never seen before, and (c) the whole room was decorated like a baby's nursery (teddy bears on the beds, lampshades, curtains), not at all the standard hotel room we booked over the internet.

Monday:  We drove into Boston, to the Museum of Science.  Before visiting the museum, we went on a Duck Tour of the city.  Duck Tours use WWII amphibious troop transports to show you the sites of the city, and then drive directly into the Charles River.  The drivers all come in character, with costumes and personalities to match.  Our driver was Captain Jet Black, pirate/privateer extraordinaire.  He kept us very entertained as well as informed about the city.  The highlight of the Duck Tour was that Captain Black allowed the kids to helm the boat once we were in the boat basin on the Charles.  They got a real kick out of steering us around the boat basin.

Back on land, we visited the science museum, which was one of the best science museums we've visited.  Lots to see and do.  Lots of working exhibits and interactive activities.  There was a lightning show utilizing the world's largest indoor Van de Graaf generator, which was interesting, though I was expecting more lightning.

After some travelling around the area, we found a room at a Best Western in Framingham.  We went back to the Travelodge to check out.  I told the desk clerk that we were leaving four days early, and that, while I would pay for the night we'd stayed, I would not pay for Monday even though it was now after check-out time.  He agreed, and apologized for the problems.  I did place a complaint with Travelodge's main number, and was assured that the manager of the Natick hotel would be in touch with me in 7 business days.  Today is the twelfth business day since, and I've never heard a word.  The new hotel had a pool, so the kids took a dip before bed.

We celebrated the new lodgings with dinner at the Olive Garden across from our new hotel.

Tuesday:  We went to historic Fenway Park for a tour.  It's a fascinating park, the oldest in the major leagues, with an amazing history, and unique features.  We recommend this tour for any baseball fan.  For the record, the ladies in our home are Yankee fans, the gentlemen are Mets fans.  Christina wore her Yankee hat throughout the trip, and while some Boston fans made mention of it, everyone was very polite to her, and explained over and over that it was a "friendly rivalry".  Our tour guide at Fenway even said that without rivalries, baseball would be a very boring game.

After this, we took the T into downtown Boston, and walked through Boston Common.  We took a ride on the Swan Boats.  Then we took the Beantown Trolley tour of the city.  Jumping off at the Mary Baker Eddy Library stop, we visited the Mapparium.  The Mapparium is a three-story stained glass globe depicting the entire world (at a scale of one inch to 22 statute miles).  Visitors stand on a glass bridge in the center, and are treated to a presentation about how the world has changed since the map was finalized in 1930.  It's amazing to see how many countries have come and gone in the intervening years.  Gives one a whole new perspective on the world.  The acoustics inside the globe are also a lot of fun.  Whisper at the entrance, and you can be heard clear as a bell at the exit.  Speak at the center, and the echoes are thrilling.

After that, we strolled back toward Fenway, grabbing dinner in a little Korean/Japanese buffet place on Massachusetts Avenue, and went back to the hotel for another swim.

Wednesday:  Back in the car, headed for the New England Aquarium.  One thing I haven't mentioned so far is about the driving.  I'm a New Yorker, and can generally navigate anyplace.  However, the New England joke that "ya cain't get thar from here" is absolutely true in the Boston area.  No matter how many detailed directions I received from the Internet, my Dad, the hotels, gas stations, or friends, we got lost every single time we left the hotel.  Signs and lights were never where people said they'd be.  Roads that should have led to particular intersections never did.  Anyway... once we got back on the correct side of Boston Harbor(!), we spent most of Wednesday at the Aquarium.  A great place, and much better than the New York Aquarium.  The kids kept very busy with presentations, exhibits and activities.

Then, we hoped the Beantown Trolley, and went up to see the Old North Church and Paul Revere's house.  I consider myself very lucky that my children love American history as much as I do.  We had a great time visiting these famous places.

As we walked back toward the aquarium (having only now realized just how walkable Boston is), we stopped for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.  The Go Boston Card is supposed to be good for a free souvenir in the Hard Rock gift shop, but the manager said that the standard Go Boston gift (a Hard Rock pin) was out of stock, so he gave us four Hard Rock shotglasses instead.  For years, I've collected shotglasses from the places I've been, but I'd pretty much given it up, as most of my collection is in a box in the basement for lack of a place to display it.  So, I was pretty happy with the gift, even if the kids weren't.  After some sauce spilled on Amy, the manager presented us all with Aspen Hard Rock pins, and an authorization to send him the dry cleaning bill.

Then it was back to the hotel for more swimming.

Thursday:  As we always do on any vacation, we scheduled a "day off" from sightseeing.  We had a nice breakfast at a local place, Bickford's, which I now understand is a chain, but you'd never know it from the decor or service.  We did some shopping in the local mall and outlets.  Then we headed to Brookline for dinner with  mabfanand gnomi.  They had recommended a Kosher Chinese place, which we found after the usual unplanned detours.  We all enjoyed our dinner and the terrific conversation (and yes, mabfan, I do believe it was total coincidence that woman recognized you as a science fiction author.  Really, I do.)  They really are as nice a couple as their LJs would indicate.  I hope we'll get to see them in person again soon.

After dinner, we went back to the hotel for (come on, you all know the words) "more swimming". :)

Friday:  We headed for home, making a second stop at Old Sturbridge Village.  There really is more to do there than can be done in one day.  If you buy an admission, they will give you a voucher for a free return visit within 10 days, so we took advantage of it.  This time, the kids actually tried their hands at tinsmithing (Austin made a candle holder), and candlemaking (Christina made the candles).  This was actually very meaningful to them, as Amy's father had been a candlemaker back in the old country.  Although he died before we were married, the kids felt a real connection to him in these activities.  When we got home, they placed the candles in the candleholder, and put them on the shelf in front of their grandfather's picture.  It was very touching to see them do that on their own.  We also played in another game of 19th Century baseball.  I was the "Behind" (ie: catcher).  It was as much fun as it had seemed watching them play on Sunday.  In fact, Austin has been wanting to play by their rules ever since we came home.  Haven't had the opportunity, but I expect we'll give it a try.