Boston 2018 -

We traveled to Boston on a Monday morning. I called ahead of time to check into our hotel a bit early but was given no such guarantee. So we instead took a joy ride into downtown Boston to show the kids my early college stomping grounds.

: The Boston temple, which was announced while I was at BU, but not completed until the year 2000, after I’d left.

: My old dorm on campus – it used to be the Wellness House – now it’s called the Earth house. Or something like that. There were solar panels in front of the vestibule.

: While the rest of the crew parked across the street from my former dorm, Eve and I took a stroll to Fenway park. Because, why not?

Driving downtown was a beast (by that point, it was rush hour). I knew Boston as a pedestrian and had trouble navigating it in a car. Everything came up SO quickly! I’d point out one landmark to my kids just as I’d realize we’d missed our turn and had to backtrack. But the whole outing was kind a spur-of-the-moment idea since we couldn’t check into our hotel so we went with it. We drove by Mike’s Pastry and waved because there was no parking. Luckily Grandma and Grandpa found parking and snagged us a couple of treats to enjoy later that night. Our driving tour of Boston was a great little teaser and validated my decision to use public transportation the remainder of our time there.

After checking into our hotel, we researched a reasonably-priced Indian restaurant a few minutes away in Lexington. Much to our delight, it turned out to be right on the Battle Green – where the Revolutionary War began. To top it off, there were kids playing drums and fifes in true colonial style right on the Green. Such a step back in time and a splendid welcome to Massachusetts, in my opinion. The food was pretty awesome, too.

: Lexington Battle Green at dusk.

: Cannoli heaven.

Day two we woke up early to grab some T passes and park at the end of the line to take the subway into the city. It took FOREVER, but it gave us the flexibility of getting around wherever we wanted whenever we wanted. And since our afternoon ended in a torrential downpour, that was a blessing, to say the least.

: Our maiden voyage on the Green Line.

: Kicking off the duck tour after a visit to the Museum of Science.

: 90 degrees. Insane humidity. Toddler on the lap. Heaven.

: Eve got to drive the boat on the Charles River.

: Jack was our trusty for a few seconds, too.

: Finding refuge under an awning on our way to the Paul Revere House in a torrential downpour.

Day three took us to the Public Garden for a ride on the swan boat. Because you can’t go to Boston with kids and not relive a Make Way for Ducklings moment. Then on to a Boston Harbor Cruise to the U.S.S. Constitution. Old Ironsides was a hit with the littles. Lots of places to hide from the parents. We made it back in time to hit up the New England Aquarium for an hour before heading back to the hotel for a swim and visit with cousins.

: George Washington in the Public Garden

: All my ducks in a row.

: Swan boat action.

: Old Ironsides.

: Boston Skyline from the cruise.

: Old Ironsides again.

: Downstairs inside the hull.

: New England Aquarium.

: Checking out Myrtle the Turtle at the Aquarium.

: Evening swim.

: Cousin shenanigans.

Day four we stayed out of the city and ventured instead to Salem. Our first stop was the House of Seven Gables – the basis of a Nathaniel Hawthorne book. The kids declared it “the coolest house we toured on our trip” – which is saying A LOT, because we toured a ton of houses. Pretty sure it was the secret passageway that sealed the deal. We hopped over to the Salem Witch Museum – which was weird and we’ll leave it at that.

: Every single Egbert cousin in one photo – no small feat.

: House of Seven Gables.

: Eve was IN LOVE with her Boston cousins. At first sight.

: More adoration/torture of Boston cousins.

Our final day in Boston took us back downtown to tackle the Freedom Trail. We fit it all in in less than 2 1/2 hours, including a stop at Walgreens for cold medicine and a Dunkin Donuts run. Because who can survive a day in Boston without at least one trip to Dunkin Donuts? Not us, apparently. Then we met up for lunch in Harvard Square with my dear roommate from BU. She was brave enough to join us on a tour of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s house near Harvard. It is significant for a number of reasons, the least of which that it was directly across the street from the chapel where I attended church during my tenure in Boston. It also was the headquarters for George Washington as he commandeered the war in Boston. The kids were reasonably well-behaved and then I sent them all back to the hotel so Allison and I could spend a bit of time catching up over ice cream.

We ate dinner at Tim’s brother’s house and then went out for more ice cream at Kimball Farm. Three treats in one day is totally legit on vacation. Just so you know.