Other than being stuck in an elevator and being sick ever since I came back, Boston was a great trip. Not only did we get to spend time with the kids, but we got to be tourists. And Boston is a great place to visit — especially during an unseasonably warm October.
We made the trip about two years ago, the same time of year, and it snowed! But this time, it was in the 60’s. Great tourism weather. And we —
* Went “leaf peeping” — the local term for driving north to see the fall foliage.
* Took a DUKW (pronounced “duck”) tour — which is a ride around town and the Charles River in a World War II amphibious assault vehicle called a DUKW. The guides adopt whimsical names and are very entertaining. Ours claimed to be the blues singer “Dirty Waters” — and the tour began and ended with the song played on YouTube. (The Charles River has been cleaned up since the song was written.)
* Ate at the North End — famous location of countless excellent Italian restaurants.
* Ate clam chowder and crab cakes at Legal Sea Foods. Mmmm …
* Ate at Pizza Regina’s — world’ finest pizza.
* Visited the Science Museum, which is truly excellent. I wish we’d spent more time there. This place is not dumbed down for the children. It’s some seriously good stuff.
* Toured the Freedom Trail, led by a very capable and entertaining guide. (Did you know that Longfellow’s “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” got nearly all the facts wrong?)
* Really wanted to see the Red Sox, but due to a cataclysmic late-season collapse, they weren’t playing.