Boston and then where?

My husband and I are taking advantage of a great airfare we grabbed to Boston (from California) and are taking a 5 night trip beginning Dec. 5. We will spend the first two nights in Boston. Any suggestions of what city or area to head to next? I%26#39;ve always wanted to see Martha vineyard area but I%26#39;m wondering if everything is closed this time of year. What about Salem? Would like to take advantage of scenic beauty and love historical sites. Prefer B %26amp; Bs to hotels.

Boston and then where?

Salem is a great idea, it will be much less crowded than in October, and nicely decorated for the holiday season. There are plenty of indoor activities to stay warm, as it%26#39;s already quite cold now (expecting snow today). If you are planning to stay in the New England area for your week, you could take some day trips such as Providence, RI and Newport, RI, or even drive part-way along the Cape. Sturbridge Village is another historical site in Massachusetts in the central part of the state. Boston and Cambridge could easily take 3 or 4 days with museums, shopping, theater, etc. Have a wonderful trip!

Boston and then where?

I have tentatively booked the John Jeffries house. Sounds like it%26#39;s in Beacon hill. We won%26#39;t have a car. Does this sound like a good plan? I hope the place is ok.

The John Jefferies House is very good and has received very good reviews on this site. Other B%26amp;Bs on this site that have received consistently excellent ratings are the Clarendon Street Inn and Encore Bed and Breakfast. Refer to the reviews on this site under ';Overview'; and then in the center of the page ';View ALl Boston B%26amp;Bs';.

You do not require a car in Boston. Walk, use public transportation or the subway (the ';T';).

Correction: ';Walk, use public transportation,(the ';T';), or taxis.

The John Jeffries is a great spot! You%26#39;ll love being near the shops and restaurants of Charles Street. This the main shopping street for Beacon Hill - there are great shops and small cafes, perfect for browsing.

Salem is a great town to visit - now that the crazy Halloween wackiness is over you can see the city for what it is. Do visit the Peabody Essex Museum while you%26#39;re there.

If you decide to go north, Bennington, VT is a nice spot. New England charm and an interesting artsy community.

In Salem, lodge at the Best Western Harborfront Hotel (new) or the Hawthorne Inn.

Coming from Los Angeles, keep in mind that now it is and when you arrive here it will be late Autumn with nightime temperatures in the twenties and daytime temperatures in the thities and occasionally in the forties with some wind. Assemble your attire to accommodate the climate.

Marthas Vineyard is sort of slow this time of year and probably not worth the time and expense to travel there and return this time of year. You must take a ferry from Cape Cod. It really requires at least two full days from Boston and for the return trip including spending time on the island. A trip to the Cape and / or the Islands is better suited to the summertime or early Autumn.

If you plan travel to Vermont and New Hampshire, be prepared for even colder weather and occasional snow.

Thanks for all the replies. I was thinking about going down to Newport RI to see the mansions maybe. If we head up towards the Salem area, what else besides Salem is there to see? Any suggestions of where to stay? We wouldn%26#39;t necessarily have to stay in Salem since we%26#39;ll have a car at that point. Any other towns in that region we shouldn%26#39;t miss. You all are right about weather shock, Thanksgiving day we walked down to the park, sun shining, about 76 degrees! I bought a down coat for the trip.

Yes, it is still a good time to visit the Newport Mansions in Newport, RI. Check out their Website at http://www.newportmansions.org

They are now in the Christmas season and the Yuletide decorations are magnificent.

This time of year it is cold but an auto tour of the North Shore is still attractive. There are many restaurants, antique shops, many other types of shops and ocean vistas from Salem through Beverly to Manchester-by-the Sea to Magnolia and Gloucester on Route 127 and to Rockport and Ipswich via Route 133 and other routes. You can also travel to Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Route 1 or 1A or I-95 or even travel to Kittery, Maine for the outlet stores. As another poster mentioned, the Peabody - Essex Museum in Salem is not to be missed. www.pem.org

When traveling through Magnolia, MA, be sure to stop at the Hammond Castle and Museum.

http://www.hammondcastle.org

For lodging, you may want to consider Wentworth By The Sea Resort and Spa in New Castle Island, NH. It a resored, old and historic New England grand resort hotel on the ocean now managed by Marriott. It is located off of Route 1A North proceeding toward Portsmouth on the ocean route North of Seabrook, Hampton Beach, and Rye, NH

http://www.wentworth.com