My husband and I have were in Boston for 4 nights and 3 days last weekend visiting friends and family and had a wonderful time. I can now understand why everyone enjoys visiting. The city is warm (people and temperature which was 90 +) and very welcoming. We walked the Freedom Trail and had lunch at Quincy Market - truly a place to people watch - we ate outdoors at the Salty Dog and Harvey said they have the best oysters. We climbed the Bunker Hill monument (all 296 steps) - worth the view. Unfortunately we did not get to see the SS Constitution as it was closed and it had started to rain at that point. We took a ferry boat from the pier at the Constitution museum to the Aquarium across the Bay - a short ride and it is part of the T system. We walked along the esplanade next to the Charles river, walked thru Beacon Hill - beautiful houses but lots of hills. Visited Harvard University and walked the grounds. We ate at Figs 4 one of Todd English's restaurants - the food was excellent and reasonably priced - Figs 4 is in Newton which is where we were visiting friends. Had brunch on the Sunday at Johnnie O in Newton Square - they do not sit you until you party has arrived (we were meeting cousins who were a little late) but the turnover is quite fast - the food was good and the portions very generous. We also ate at Legal Seafood which is a chain in Boston. It started as a fish market way back. The food was very good. The last nite there we took the Duck Tour. This is a tour on an amphibious vehicle (used in World War II to transport soldiers from the boats to land). It was alot of fun - truly touristy but worth it. The tour guides are well versed in Boston History and trivia and we learned a lot and as well we saw Boston from land and from the Charles River - we did the tour at 6 so it was a tad cooler and when on the river, there was a delightful breeze. You have to reserve in advance as they are very booked. I do not know the price as our friends treated. Booking can be done on line - they do not take phone reservations. There is a website but I do not have it. We would highly recommend this, even our friends who live there and had never done it truly enjoyed themselves.

The trip from Toronto by car is about 9 hours via Buffalo and Interstate 90 - a toll road but worth it as it is a direct route - we did not have to change highways, there were service stations for fuel for the car and for us and the traffic was not too bad.

We will definite visit again and maybe have time to organize a GTG.

Carol Toronto