Frugal Family: School Vacation Ideas that even "most" teenagers will enjoy - Boston Area

p.s. Working this week, but here's some ideas from past experience (skip those that cost $$$):

• Museum Passes: Call your local library and see if they have any last minute cancellations or no shows for the museum passes.  Many museums cater to the school vacation week with special children's and teenager programs

• Might be less expensive to purchase a family membership to area museums that you'll be visiting more than once over the course of a year

• Take Public Transportation in to the city (see details below on a day that even "most" teenagers will enjoy)*

• Walk the Freedom Trail - Freedom Trail* - don't forget a stop in to the Green Dragon so the kid's can split a plate of French fries (yes, SuperMom-in-training's kids eat French fries) and you and your adult travel companion can order a pint of Guinness and maybe even catch a bit of a Sox's game. 

• Take a walk or bike ride around the Charles River bike path - Charles River Pike Path
• Discounted admissions to area museums (take a look at the fine print - most offer a free night or nominal fee, including): Children's Museum - Target $1 Friday Nights Sponsored by are offered every Friday from 5–9pm - Friday nights in the middle of the summer...they have air conditioning. 
• If there's a little more in the budget and you can share a ride to Gloucester: Hammond Castle - (only open for school vacation week on Friday, Saturday and Sunday)

*The following itinerary for a day in Boston (in various forms over the years) has been tested with toddlers in strollers, older/younger cousins, 16 year-old boys, 14 year-old girls, two nine-year old boys, and another adult to keep me company.

Public Transportation (http://www.mbta.com/)

-Take public transportation....it gets everyone in the mood for "people watching."

- Since Boston is a great walking city get ready to hit the streets and wear down your shoes. No parking as close to the mall as possible here. Make certain everyone dresses appropriately as the weather can be a bit unpredictable and change throughout the day. Also, don't encourage the children to walk around the fountain ledges. Several years ago one of our children fell in to the Copley Square Fountain (true story and not the cleanest water in the world) and our party of 15 had to wait while I found a discount clothing store to buy dry clothes. Remember the main rule when traveling with small children, pre- teens, teenagers, adults and seniors: what goes wrong is what we will remember most fondly. 

Newbury Comics

-Start at the corner of Newbury and Massachusetts Ave. and head down Newbury Street...you will be walking against the traffic. (That means the cars will be moving toward you as you walk down the one way street). Check out The Original “Newbury Comics” at 332 Newbury Street on the right. What teenager or adult doesn't enjoy the political satire and practical jokes? Caveat: keep a keen eye on the two nine year olds as you may want to steer them away from certain items. I don't try and create a mystique around "adult flavored jokes" but I also don't want a friend's son saying, "Mom, you should have seen the store Mrs. SuperMom-in-training took us to. We saw a T-shirt that said….”

Sonsie Bistro

-Glance across the street at all the beautiful people at Sonsie enjoying the outside café and wish you had not invited the neighbor's kids. Maybe next time you and your friend can enjoy lunch and an afternoon cocktail. (Or, the kids can get lost for a few hours.)

Prudential Center Mall and Skywalk

-Continue down Newbury Street...cross over at Fairfield to Boylston Street and head in to the Prudential Center Mall. 

-Visit the Skywalk Observatory on top of the Prudential Center (The Pru – http://www.prudentialcenter.com/ ) You may need to ask for assistance as to where the entrance to the elevators are is as it's not easy to find. Check out the 360 degree view of the city from 60 stories up. This isn't cheap!  The view is spectacular and the model depicting Boston prior to the massive Back Bay landfill provides an interesting perspective on the City. It's too bad you have all these kids with you. The Top of the Hub restaurant/lounge on the 52nd floor offers not only the fantastic view but terrific service, great drinks, and amazing appetizers. Yes, the Martini is $13 but you are paying for the view.  I've been known to skip the observatory and figure we can split a few appetizers and drink water and it will cost the same as 4 teenagers, 2 adults and one child to visit the Observatory.

-Check out the Apple Store on Boylston Street. Free if you don't buy anything.

Boston Public Library

-Continue down Boylston Street and head in to the main entrance of the Boston Public Library that faces Copley Square. Free. If your teenager starts to roll her eyes, tell her the reading room is where JFK studied.   It’s the first free municipal library in the United States (http://www.bpl.org/). So, don’t miss the famous reading room, The Sargent Gallery or The Abbey Room on the 3rd floor.

Bostik Kiosk

- Directly across the street is the Bostik Kiosk that sells discounted tickets for shows that evening. We've ended up going directly to the playhouse to purchase tickets for an evening show of Blue Man Group, there are plenty of last minute tickets for sale at a great price.

Public Garden

-Continue down Boylston Street and you will arrive at the corner of Arlington and Boylston Streets.  Enjoy the Spring flowers and look for the Make Way for Ducklings bronze sculptures.  (Hint: they're by the Charles Street entrance.)  Let me know if your teenagers would let you take a picture.

Boston Common

-Continue through the Boston Common (site of public hangings until 1817) and continue up the hill toward the State House walking parallel to Beacon Street.  (These are the types of factoids that keep the teenagers interested.)

- You can pick up the Freedom Trail in front of the State house and follow it to Faneuil Hall. This is about a 15 minute walk. Just make sure you ask someone if you are heading in the right direction. The Freedom Trail is a walking tour past historic sites and buildings. Follow the brick or red line markings on the sidewalk.

Green Dragon (side alley near Faneuil Hall)

-Although Faneuil Hall is interesting and the market has a great food court it would not be a day out in Boston without stopping for a pint at the Green Dragon (11 Marshall Street, Boston). Even our daughter’s teacher pointed out after her 5th grade field trip that she wanted to know why the class was walking the freedom trail but not stopping in the Green Dragon. “It’s my mom’s favorite place and she lets us order French Fries and a soda.” (As you know, a true treat at our house since I call it "candy in a can.")

-If it’s a Saturday afternoon than the Hay Market should be in full force and that's always a fun experience… fish heads and rotting fruit. The market closes up by mid afternoon but there are usually remnants lying around. Pass through the market on your way to the North End.

North End and Pizzeria Regina

-By now everyone should be fairly hungry from working up an appetite from walking. The North End is still home to some great Italian dining but with kids in tow, I suggest Pizzeria Regina at 11 1/2 Thacher Street (617) 227-0765. You may have to wait in line for a few minutes but hopefully the experience will be well worth it. Remember the old timers order their pies well done! Maybe the waitress will even give the kids a few coins for the juke box.

-On your way back to the train…if you’re not broke yet, stop and let the kid’s order a Gelatto while you and your friend sip a martini or espresso with Sambucca. You both deserve it!

Tomorrow…maybe a trip over The Charles River to Cambridge.