Boston Travel Advice...
 

I'm going to spend about 10 days on a touring/driving trip with the family starting Aug 21. We will leave Toronto and go to the USA via Niagara Falls.

So far my itinerary is fairly vague and I would LOVE any suggestions or feedback.

Destinations that we want to hit are: Boston, Washington DC (My kids loved Team America, the cartoon, and want to see the White House)

Is there a good route? Should I hit Boston first, then swing down to DC? Or the other way around? I'm worried that it might be too hot that far south.

- are there any good family hotels in those places, and what exactly is a good location in Boston to hunkerdown and base a family sightseeing trip from?

(my standard is the wonderful Holiday Inn Express in Saint John New Brunswick, which was modern, downtown, cheap and had a great pool and free breakfast and parking - so far even the so-called quality chains such as the Delta can't match this place)

- Does the Smithsonian provide family packages? is there anything that the young crowd would enjoy there?

- any experience from TFPers with respect to taking electronics across the border? do I have to register lap tops, MP3 players etc? Is it a good idea to leave burned DVDs behind?

Boston is probably good for a day or two worth of sight seeing - the freedom trail - which is about 3 mile easy walk (wear real shoes, no heels or flip flops for the ladies) - will take you to all the historic things that need to be seen.. then go for lunch at fanueil hall and pop by quicny market. Head over to fenway if you are a baseball fan...

To end the day, go to the public garden for the swan boats... kind of a neat little tourist attraction.

You're best bet is probably to stay outside of boston and just tae the train in - -parking and drivingin the city can be a real bitch if you aren't used to it.
Then head over to see the swans

there's also a few museums within boston that are ok depending on what youre interests are...

DC weather can be unpredictable.. it can be hot up until november -- or it can be cool in september..

depending on how many are in your party - you also might consider the train from boston to washington - i think it's less than 8 hours -b ut it's a pretty ride - lots of water in connecticut... and in maryland.

Thanks Maleficent, we've changed out plans. Due to the youth of our children, we thought that Washington DC would be a better destination.... so off we go tomorrow morning:

once we hit Buffalo, we will take the 219 south as far as we can, in order to avoid the huge westward swing through Pittsburgh. This should (in theory) save some time and kilometres

washington dc is a great city - the comfortable shoes definitely applies there - walking is the way to go..

have a fantastic time...

if the air space museum is on your itinerary.. it's a huge museum that is tough to do in a day... but definitely worth seeing for the kitty hawk alone... :D

I'd love to go to D.C. Just thinking about all the museum makes my head spin. Have fun!

Just try not to burn the White House again...

haha, we'll make sure that this particular Canadian sortie doesn't besmirch the fine walls of the White House...

The prime reason for the trip is to hit that air and space museum!!! And the best part is, it's all free! (All of the Smithsonian is...)

I'll try to get some pics posted after the trip. Thanks all... (off to find United Statian money)