Boston/ Cape Cod in a week?

[Whoamireally]

DH and I have been granted a child free week next July to celebrate our wedding anniversary and are thinking of going to Boston and Cape Cod.

We do just have a week though so it's going to be a tough job fitting it all in - and were wondering if anyone could recommend romantic-y places to stay in the Cape Cod area and any must sees/ dos both Boston and Cape Cod?

Cape Cod - whale watching from Province town is unbelievable (there are other places to do it form but they take much longer to get out to the feeding grounds so waste time) anywhere along the upper cape on the national seashore towards p-town is fantastic.

Boston you have all the historic stuff (which is very interesting if you like that sort of thing) plus the markets.

Boston is a fabulous city - and also a small city so you could just spend a couple of days there and the rest in Cape Cod. It's probably about a 2 - 2.5 hours drive from Boston to Provincetown.

In Boston, touristy things you can do: walk through the public gardens or do the Freedom Trail (history) and head to Beacon Hill too. If you have never done one before then a DUCK tour is fun and a good way to see the city for a bit of fun!
I loved nosing round Quincy Market and Fanuiel Hall - but also head over to the Italian section and get Cannoli from Mike's on Hanover Street. Lobster is good to eat - Legal Sea Foods down by the Aquarium is a touristy place - the bib is useful! Shopping is good - especially at Downtown Crossing.

Cambridge is a lovely place too - very easy to get to on the T or just walk across the bridge. Wander around Harvard, lots of book shops, my favourite cafe is right on the main Square - maybe called after some type of vegetable?

Oh and if you time it right, there might be an outdoor concert at the museum - lots of different types of music but lovely to sit out in the middle of the museum with your picnic (think sushi takeout!!!)

There are sure to be lots of good hotels right in the middle of the city - driving in the city takes a bit of getting used to but the T (underground system) is easy - but I can't suggest any as I taught in Sherborne so just caught the train back to the suburbs!

Hope you have a lovely time... getting jealous just thinking about it but waiting til DCs are a bit older before we take them over and not much chance of getting child free holidays!

Oooh wow thanks for the tips - v excited! Have been reading about bike tours of Boston - is the Duck Tour the same? And is it true that you can't get any alcohol in Cape Cod!!!!

Any more advice/ suggestions? Partic from Cape Cod perspective?

Thinking of getting the catamaran up to Salem from Boston one day - is it worth the trip?

Who on earth told you there is no alcohol on Cape Cod? Very very not true.

One the mainland just before you cross into Cape Cod is Plymouth MA - lovely little town with plenty to do.

That sounds nice MmeBlueberry - expecting we'll maybe have 3 days in Cape Cod which I don't think will be long enough so would prefer to stay somewhere like that where there is plenty to do and we don't have to spend too long in the car!!

Dadinsteadofmum I think they actually said Martha's Vineyard TBH which I thought was a bit strange as why would it be called a Vineyard if there's no wine?

Oh, I am going to both places and NY in July this year. So will pinch some ideas from her if ok?

We are going to NY for 4 nights, Cape Cod for a week and Boston for 3 nights. But we will also have 8y DD with us plus PILs.

We have hotels to book for the two cities and have booked a house near Mashpee in Cape Cod.

I did post a thread on MN about Cape Cod ideas a while back - had some suggestions and ideas on there that you may find useful too.

Very glad to hear confirmaton that alcohol is available - my heat dropped somewhat when I read that post on here initially!!!

Mashpee is a very central area, although it is a drive to most attractions. We have stayed in the Falmouth area (west) several times and have gone to Mashpee Commons for interesting shopping and eating.

Mashpee has an children's museum which is great for rainy days. It's the kind of place where you can pass a couple of hours.

You are halfway between Hyannisport and Falmouth, and the same distance from the northern coast (and the whalewatching tours).

If you venture to the west, the Oceonagraphic Institute at Woods Hole is a must. Nearby is a super-safe beach (ie shallow way out to sea) at Old Silver in West Falmouth.

MmeTrueBlueberry - thank you I know nothing of the area at all, but the hosue we are staying in does look lovely and overlooks the lake there, although we can't go in the water IIRR due to mercury levels or something.

We are going back to Falmouth on Cape Cod for our 6th successive year in 3 weeks!
It's a beautiful area of teh Cape and only about 90 minutes from Boston. Whoamireally - I would stick to teh upper - mid cape if you are just going for a couple of days. Easier to get to and places like Sandwich and Falmouth are beautiful.
Hulababy - I thorougly recommend the kids oceanquest discovery cruises out of Woods Hole - we've done it twice now and both my kids love it (ages 8 and 7). Also whalewatching from Barnstable harbour. And take the pasanger ferry from Falmouth to Marthas Vineyard for a day trip - and then take the bus from Oaks Bluff to Edgartown. (most of Marthas Vineyard is dry - only Oaks Bluff and Edgartown serve alcohol!)
For Boston hotels - we stayed at teh Marriott on teh harbour last year but v. expensive and not really worth it. Better was the Radisson near Boston Common.

Re Salem - we went there years ago but don't know if I'd bother again. In Boston, I do recommend a harbour boat tour and also taking teh public ferry from the aquarium to Charlestown Naval Yard. THe ferry is cheap and the museum at teh Naval Yard is free and very good.
The Duck Tour is an amphibious vehicle taht tours teh city and splashes into the river. It sets off from teh SCience Center (very good) which is at Cambridge - take the Subway (the "T") to get there - although Boston is so small you can also walk. It's a good tour.

Thanks for the tips haggis - so there was some truth in the no booze rumour! If you're going back for the 6th time it must be really lovely. Duck tour sounds great!

Hulababy look forward to hearing how you find your 'first time' - will you report back?

Going back to Haggis, we were wondering about Martha's Vineyard to stay there but if we are short of time a day trip is a fab idea.