Boston and New England - help please!

[BrightonNim]

Going to Boston & New England in october with our 6 month old, for 2 weeks, any tips/recommendations for flight, places to stay, things to do, stuff to avoid etc? We're flying with Virgin, skycot booked.

I lived there for a while. but pre=kids, so some os what I say might want adjusting for los.

Boston - best to stay in the park area or around Copley Square if you can. ITs a very walkable city, but there is good public transport too. The park is great - Boston Common is always lively on warm days, and there are more formal gardens with swan boats there too.
Go up the big blue tower (John Hancock?) fab views.
We loved Cambridge and esp Harvard square - lots of students and old gimmers playing chess.

October is the best time to see the leaves in Mass. Depending when you are going, you might be a little too late for New Hamps or Vermont which are the best places to see it, but go to VT anyway, as far north as you can. It is STUNNING.

I''l keep thinking and add to this when I can.

Are you doing Cape Cod - nice cycle trails through the sand dunes and nature reserve to deserted beaches, North Conway outlet shopping (we stayed at the Wentworth Resort Hotel in Jackson, but prekids!) , Plymouth - the Mayflower and the Plantation working museum, Quincey Market in Boston which is reminiscent of Covent Garden, eating seafood on the Maine coastline (Mabel's Lobster Claw , Kennebunkport !) and, of course, the foliage, try along the Kancamangus(sp?) highway.

Thanks for advice Sassy and LIZS. Any tips for the time difference?!

Oh we are just back today, had a great time.

If you get a chance hire a car and go up to the White Mountains its about 2 hours away, we stayed in a great resort called the JackOLantern, which had condo type accomodation with wonderful walks nearby and childfriendly pub the Woodstock Inn. You will see the leaves changing en route its very scenic.

We stayed in Boston for a few nights, unfortunately we found accomodation a bit of an issue. If you are ok sharing a hotel room then you are fine, but suites in the centre are very expensive. We rented an appartment through the B&B agency but it wasn't nice and had bare wires hanging from the wall which wasn't good for DS aged 15mths and VERY curious. Do the Boston Ducks tour its lots of fun, Boston Common is great and don't go for food in the Cheers bar, but you will anyway if you are like us. Have a great time, I am so jealous.

Oh and DS adjusted well for the time difference, first two nights unsettled, then fine after that. Don't know what he will be like at this end, was awake for some of the flight home which was fairly grim, but came to my parents so they looked after him whilst we got some shut eye.

I'm not a big fan of Boston - Harvard Yard, Boston Common, Quincy Market are the main attractions, but other than that (to me) it's just a big American city. It's a good idea to avoid driving in Boston.

As others have said, October is prime 'leaf peeping' season. If you have the dosh, a B&B in New Hampshire would be fantastic. If you do any leaf stuff, make sure you book your accommodation ahead of time.

We are heading to New England next week - to Cape Cod to visit family for a few days, and then up to a resort in Vermont. This resort looks absolutely fantastic - Smugglers Notch and I am really looking forward to it.