Massachusetts in April
Flights out from London Heathrow with Delta Airlines were very comfortable, showing a wide range of TV shows, films and music to keep us (but mainly our young children) entertained. Exceptionally friendly and helpful cabin crew made what could have been a very long haul much more enjoyable.
On arrival into Boston airport we were efficiently directed through security. There were no problems collecting our bags and we were presented with information on where to go to sort out the hire car that we had already booked with Alamo. Once arriving at the desk, we were greeted with a very friendly face – just what you need after a long flight. The lady talked us through our hire arrangements and it became clear that as there was six of us (all with large bags) we may not have hired a big enough car. However, this was not a problem and an alternative car was arranged immediately. Whilst my husband, Ben, was arranging this I noticed some activity at the other end of the airport so strolled up to see what all the fuss was about. I can’t tell you how excited and amazed I was to see two of my favourite actors, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg stood just a few feet away. They were there filming scenes for their upcoming film Daddy’s Home 2. I watched intently for a while until my husband called asking where I’d got to - oops! We were taken to our new car for the week - it was massive and perfect for use on our forthcoming excursions.
The main aim for our trip to the States was to visit friends who we’d not seen for a long time. It was only a relatively short trip but as well as catching up on old times, we were also keen to see as much of the surrounding area as possible. Our friends’ beautiful home in the gorgeous town of Newburyport (around 45 minutes north of Boston) was the base for the duration of our trip. This coastal town offers an array of shops, bars and restaurants and there’s a lovely welcoming feel to the place. As you drive around, you get to see some stunning, old, traditional wooden built houses - all very unique.
The weather can be hit and miss in Boston - they certainly do experience all four seasons with extremely cold winters and hot summers. We were very fortunate that the weather was very pleasant during our stay, allowing us to see this gorgeous town in its best light.
Following a couple of days of relaxation, we left our friends at home and went to visit another coastal town called Plymouth, south of Boston. Our reason for visiting was that our two travel companions love witnessing living-history, specifically from the 17th Century. Plymouth is the site of the first pilgrim settlement bank. Our friends had heard of a place called the Plymouth Plantation and were keen to go and see what it had to offer. This living history museum exhibits an original pilgrim settlement. As we were also travelling with our two young children we decided not to go along with them but had full reports back and were reliably informed that it was a fascinating place and well worth the trip for anyone with any interest in American history.
It was another glorious day - the sun was out, and refreshing breeze drifted off of the sea. We decided to park the car and explore what Plymouth had to offer. Again, the first thing we noticed was how beautifully picturesque the town was. The gorgeous traditional houses line every road, each one with its own individual style and finish. We really felt that we were walking around the set of a classic American film. The town itself is not big but littered with small boutique shops and lovely bars and restaurants. We decided to eat at a place overlooking the stunning coastline where we had some of the tastiest seafood ever eaten. We had a thoroughly enjoyable day and were very happy to have made the trip.
On the Saturday before ‘Patriots Day’ day we explored Boston. Patriots Day takes place on the third Monday of April, and is the equivalent to our bank holiday, everyone has a day off school and work to remember the battles that took place near Boston. It’s also the day when the Boston marathon is held. The city was buzzing, not only with runners and spectators waiting for the upcoming marathon in a couple of days, but with a very large security presence (to be expected after the tragedy of the 2013 marathon where terrorists set off two bombs). Roads were cordoned off or closed which unfortunately made exploring more difficult. Everyone was pulling together to arrange this great event and tourists and locals alike were all having a good time.
There is a huge park in the centre of Boston and as it was, once again, a lovely sunny day we spent a lot of time there enjoying the views, eating ice creams and taking the kids on the boating lake. Of course, no visit to Boston would be complete without going for a drink in the ‘Cheers’ Bar (the setting of the famous 80’s TV show of the same name). Just be careful - there's more than one!
As mentioned previously I have a bit of a soft spot for Mark Wahlberg who just happens to come from Boston. I had seen a TV show called Wahlburgers which follows his family as they open their own chain of burger restaurants and I just had to go and try it out (obviously with the hope that he’d be there too). Sadly, he wasn’t but the food was delicious with a wide range of burgers and sides being offered. It was my 30th birthday I treated myself to one of their desserts called the Fluffanutta, which combined some of my personal faves (Marshmallow Fluff, banana and Nutella) – it was absolutely no good for my waistline but incredibly delicious.
One final activity which my husband could not leave Boston without completing was to catch a game of Baseball at the iconic Fenway Park. He’s a huge lover of American sports and so, wearing newly purchased Red Sox T-shirt, off he went to the game with our friends. The atmosphere was electric, beers flowing (although at $10 each not that many) and Neil Diamond’s classic song, ‘Sweet Caroline’, passionately sung by most of the fans. The Boston Red Sox ended up winning the game which meant most people left with smiles on their faces.
All in all, we had a fantastic time in the state of Massachusetts and will definitely return again.