Advice on Boston - or elsewhere pls

[Petra X]

I want to go to the Boston book fair at the beginning of August. I don't know anything about the place. What my son and I like is shopping (we usually go to Miami for the big malls), Japanese buffet restaurants, botanic gardens (well I like them more than my son), theatres and more shopping. We like walking. What we don't like are beaches and resorts (we have those at home), expensive taxi rides or car hires as neither of us has any sense of direction (but I will drive if I have to). Can anyone tell me if Boston has all this, names, places etc. I'm also not crazy about the heat but I guess everywhere is aircon now.

Otherwise, where should we go? New York I like but I only ever stay in Manhattan, I don't know where to go for a big mall. My son likes San Diego, but that's a bit of a long haul for a week. I've also been to Houston, but nowhere else in the US (unless you count Puerto Rico). Suggestions of where to go for a week would be great. We have loads of airmiles!

[Bloomin’Chick (Jo) aka The Eclectic Spoonie]

I've driven through Boston and you'll find A Lot there to occupy your time & then some!

Here's the Summer Guide: http://www.cityofboston.gov/Images_Do...

Visitors guide: http://www.cityofboston.gov/visitors/

And here's the google images link to photos of Boston MA https://www.google.com/search?q=bosto...

Sorry I can't provide specifics on where to go/what to do but this should give you a great start!

[Cheryl S.]

Spent 5 days in Boston with 4 friends a few years ago. We didn't rent a car and used a taxi once to go to Little Italy to eat at an open air Italian restaurant which was great fun. There are also Italian bakeries in that area that have to be seen to be believed. We spent a very hot day in the harbor area where there is also a huge aquarium and some great restaurants. Finuiel (sp?) Hall is a large restored building from colonial times filled with shops and that building is surrounded by a huge, modern mall for shopping and walking. There is live free entertainment in the walking mall and places to sit and relax. There are trolley and bus tours everywhere. We didn't use them as we preferred to explore on our own. There is also a marked walking trail for the more famous historical sites such as the Old North Church and the cemetary where Benjamen Franklin and other notable historical figures are buried. We did a lot of shopping, walking and eating. We stayed in the downtown area which gives you easy access to everything. We also took a harbor tour on a hot day which was a great way to cool off. The traffic is awful and I know I would not want to drive in the downtown area. All in all it was a very fun vacation and I finally got to shop in a Filene's Basement!