Monday, July 13, 2015

Boston Adventures

Happy Monday! If I was a little MIA on Friday it's because I was on a weekend vacation with my family in.. Boston.  Thanks for all the sweet words about our one year anniversary in our house last Thursday - I will most definitely be sharing a few current photos of the house this week or next so, stay tuned!

Now, on to our getaway! We go on a family vacation at least once a year  and we were originally thinking Arizona for this year but each of us had our own trips planned for the spring - Mom and Steve to Charleston, Davey to Palm Beach and Derek and I to Bermuda so we decided we weren't going to get Arizona in before it got too hot and are saving that for this winter but still wanted to do something to hold us over - enter, Boston - a nice city to tour around with a good temperature in the summer.  We settled on Boston because Mom and Davey had never been, I'd only been for a Red Sox World Series Parade and one night out in college and Steve and Derek had both been - Steve when he was growing up and Derek during our college years.  Three of us had lived in the New England area previously so it seemed like a good fit.


Philadelphia International Airport
Why is this a highlight of our trip you ask? More like a lowlight but Derek and I spent our Thursday evening in our good old airport with a canceled flight - the other three grabbed an afternoon flight and continued on with our evening plans including happy hour at the Landing, exploring the wharf and dinner at legal Seafood.  Long story short, there are flights every hour out to Boston so Derek and I decided to wait on the standby list since we were already at the airport (the flight got cancelled between us leaving to meet there and us both getting there) and on the very top of the list and if that failed we were already on the 6am flight the next day and had a free hotel stay for the night.  We didn't make it on the first one so grabbed drinks at… Legal Seafood! Ha, looks like if we were stuck we'd still get the dinner we had expected - between each flight option we had a 45 minute window so if we didn't get on the next flight we decided the next window would be dinner, the following window nails/express spa and the last we'd wait for before calling it a night would be dessert/drinks.  They got us on the 7:15 flight - separated but we were on the flight and we ended up being delayed twice but made it into Boston by about 9:30, got to the hotel around 10pm and FINALLY ate dinner at 10:30 - we had a table for four people and with two appetizers and two meals completely filled it - our eyes were bigger than our stomachs but we were happy and ready to vaca.


Trolley Tour
We did some sleeping in Friday to catch up on the extended travel night and then we all set out on a trolley tour to see the city and some sights including the USS Constitution, the North End, Back Bay, Cambridge, Antique Row, Boston State House, the Seaport District, Boston Public Garden/Boston Common and more.


Cheers Bar
We did an early lunch at the original Cheers bar - we walked through the actual original restaurant and then ended up eating upstairs in the restaurant that was setup like a mock set.  I never watched the show but everyone else was happy with it, the food was delicious and the drinks were poured well.

 

 Copley Square and Newbury Street Boutiques 
I loved this stop - the square was filled with some cute farmer's markets stands, we got to walk over to the Boston Marathon finish line which was really interesting to see and then strolled through a little of Newbury Street.


I vowed not to shop so we could keep moving but did want to see Newbury Street and walk a strip of it so we picked an area on the way back to the square and it just happened to have Lilly, Kate Spade and a chocolate shop on that block - I guess we picked well.


Prudential Center Sky Walk
Next up was 52 floors up to take in some gorgeous view of the city.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scare at all on the elevator ride up to the top floor.


One of everyone's favorite parts was riding around in the open air trolley and listening to the history as well as facts about the stops - it also helped us to pick out what we wanted to go back and see the next day.  For the last five or so stops we just rode along, listened and watched out the open window - when we got back to the area of the hotel we took some time to enjoy the wharf area and have some cocktails before getting ready for the night.



 North End Dining
We decided on some italian for dinner and checking out the North End which was just a short walk from the hotel - we're all about good food and convenience so it was a no brainer.


We were able to use a pretty back walkway that was right on the water to get to dinner.  On our walk to dinner our southern gal found a little touch of home up in the North.  We had a great time checking out this cute neighborhood.


La Famiglia Girogio
We had the best italian meal for dinner and couldn't complain about a thing.  Open air dining, fabulous drinks, huge portions and delicious food.  We enjoyed sitting down for a dinner together in a city other than ours.


Lulu Sweet Shop
Continuing along on my cupcake tour of America, I saw that Boston had an actual cupcake tour but nobody was going for that so they compromised with picking two bakeries to visit and tonight was Lulu which happened to be right down the street from dinner.  We picked a half a dozen cupcakes (two vanilla, chocolate, cheesecake, cookie dough, peanut butter) to try and share and one of us (Derek) indulged in an ice cream cone for the walk back.


Frost Ice Bar
The three of us "kids" finished out the night at the ice bar across from the hotel and it was such a fun experience to try! I've seen bars like this in some other travels but never actually tried it out and this night seemed like the perfect time.  We just went in for one drink, got our capes and I had to rent uggs and we enjoyed the unique setting.



We fell in love with the nice dry air and amazing breeze - the first two days the weather was definitely cooler than we're used to in July and it was amazing - I was so excited when I needed to wear a sweater one morning.  I'll save the other two days of the trip for tomorrow so check back for the remainder of the trip! 

Linking up with Biana and Meghan today.


37 comments:

  1. That stinks that everything started off with a bit of a bump, but glad that you ended up getting there, and getting your tummies filled! :)
    The rest of the trip looked like a great time with the family--Boston sure is a beautiful city! Whats next on your travel list?

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  2. What a fun weekend minus the cancelled flight! Cancelled flights are the worst. Ive never been to Boston but its on my list of must visit places! All of your pictures are amazing and that weather looks perfect!

    <3, Pamela
    Sequins & Sea Breezes

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  3. Oh I just love Boston, and I'm so glad y'all had a good time even if it took you a while to make it there! There's just something about the city with all of its history, and how beautiful it is. We weren't so "good" about shopping on Newbury when I was there with some girlfriends because one of them actually found her dress at Vera Wang! It definitely made for a memorable trip!

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  4. So happy you were able to see and do so much and so happy you had a great time in Boston!!! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  5. Wow, you got a lot of fun things in on your trip to Boston! I have yet to go but it's on my list!

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  6. What a fun trip! Now I want to visit Boston! I went to an ice bar in Vegas--it was neat but definitely not somewhere you want to spend a lot of time haha

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  7. WOW!!! You guys packed so much in!!! I love strolling down Newbury Street - it's so gorgeous!! I've definitely stopped off at that Kate Spade and Lilly several times too, lol!! I'm going to save your posts for restaurants the next time I go! There's always somewhere to new explore - which is one of the reasons I love Boston!

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  8. Looks like you had a great weekend...so many great pictures!!! Definitely makes me want to go visit Boston!

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  9. Oh my gosh that ice bar looks amazing!!! I've never been to Boston but dying to go. If I can convince my hubs, I am going to get your advice on recommendations ;)

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  10. What a fun trip! You did so much in so little time.That is so impressive. I love Lulu's, they have the best cupcakes. They aren't too far from my office which can be dangerous. Where was that staircase in Boston? I totally need to see, I love staircases like that. It looks just like the one they have at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Ma.

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  11. What a fun weekend trip! Boston is one of my top cities to visit in the near future - I'll have to keep all these places and activities in mind.

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  12. Boston is one of my favorite cities and you're making me want to plan another trip! The photos of you guys in the ice bar gear are just too cute :)

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  13. What a fun trip! Looks like all the fun made up for the travel delays :) How cool that you went to the Cheers bar & an ice bar?! So glad you all had such a good time :)
    Kelsey
    www.thepeacockroost.com

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  14. Your trip looks awesome! I'm glad you finally made it there! That ice bar looks amazing, especially after how hot it was this weekend!

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  15. Fun trip and fun times! I love how you and your mom dress alike {in the first pic}.

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  16. Looks like a fabulous trip, minus the start. Flights can be the worst sometimes right!!!?!?/ Glad you had a great time, the Italian place and cupcakes look delicious!!! I love Boston, it's such a fun city!

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  17. Oh, this looks like so much fun! I love Boston!! And Legal Seafood is one of my favs!

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  18. SO fun! I'm trying to convince my parents that we should do a Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston trip next summer!! We're all huge history buffs (my dad and I both teach history) so I feel like it would be the perfect trip! And now I have some fun places to suggest we try in Boston!!

    Glad y'all had a blast and great weekend! :)

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  19. Oh I love Boston! I have family that lives there and I just LOVE going to visit them. Boston is such a great city!

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  20. Sounds like a fun trip! I've never been to Boston, but it's definitely on my bucket list!

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  21. Oh, that Italian restaurant looks good. I loooove pasta and pizza.
    I have never watched "Cheers", but maybe I should see if the episodes are online somewhere. I liked "Frasier", which is a spin-off of it.

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  22. This looks like so much fun. Those Ice bars are a blast huh?? So cool. I love how you and your mom match in that first pic:)

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  23. I love Boston! I went with my dad in 6th grade and I'm hoping to tag along with my parents this fall. Sorry your flights got delayed - that sounds awful but sounds like y'all made the best of it. Looks like y'all did a ton of stuff! That frost bar is hysterical

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  24. Yay for AZ this winter! My neck of the woods :) But so jealous of your Boston trip! We went last summer and I fell in LOVE with the city! I'm dying to go back after seeing your pictures, we hit up a lot of the same spots! We were so curious about the ice bar but in the end we decided not to go up (and pay the entry fee) since we don't even drink, ha ha!

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  25. I've never been to Boston, but I'd love to go! I had no idea the Boston Marathon finish line was permanently painted like that, so that was cool to learn! I've always wanted to go to an ice bar!

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  26. My favorite part has to be the ice bar!!!!!! I've never been but if I do (and I plan on it someday), then I am going there!
    Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts

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  27. It looks like you guys had a fabulous time! I would've wanted to do the cupcake tours also ;)

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  28. So much fun! You guys did Boston right! I'm excited to be there next week!

    Ice bars are so much fun, except my footsies get soooo cold! :-P

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  29. Wow, it looks like you had an amazing weekend. Stinks about the cancelled flight, but otherwise so much fun. We have a friend who worked at an ice bar. He said it was so much fun.

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  30. Looks like you guys had a great time!!! I love Boston it was a great place to visit
    Chelsea @ thewilliamsjourney1.blogspot.com/

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  31. I have always wanted to visit Boston. I am going to pin this post for when we go!! Looks like you had a great time. I can't wait to hear about the rest of it :)

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  32. This looks like an awesome trip! I've always wanted to visit Boston. I had a friend move there recently so I'm thinking that is a great reason to visit! :)

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  33. What an amazing trip!! I miss Boston so much - isn't it the best city? I've never been to Frost before, but it looks like so much fun!

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  34. Gosh y'all really did do so much! Looks like so much fun! And your family is all gorgeous by the way!

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  35. That ice bar looks like the coolest thing ever!

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  36. How fun! I would love to visit Boston someday.

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