On Day 2 in Boston, we decided to take the Salem Ferry to go to Salem for the day. Because the trip takes almost an hour, you have to buy your ticket in advance and also chose your return trip at that time. It did cost us $41 each for the round trip but since we didn't have a car, that was the best way to get there. (We considered the bus, but thought the ferry was the way to go because of the schedule.)
We had to take the Charlestown Ferry first to get to Long Wharf because the Salem Ferry left out of there. The first ferry left Boston at 9:30 AM and we chose to return at 4. We did have the option to change our return trip - if there were seats available - but the next one left Salem at 7 which was mainly for commuters or earlier at 1. I thought we might get through for the 1 o'clock return, but we took so long at House of the Seven Gables that there was no way we could have been back at the dock at 1.
Boston skyline...
One of the three lighthouses we went by on the way over to Salem. Couldn't get good pictures of lighthouses with my phone camera. They always look farther away in the picture than they looked with the naked eye.
The House of the Seven Gables was not too far from where we docked. It was an interesting place to see (even though I don't think either one of us ever read the book - if we did, we were young and didn't remember the story.) Besides the seven gable house, Nathaniel Hawthorne's house has also been moved there on the grounds.
A neat model of the house on display in the attic. The docent took it apart to show the two later additions to the original house. You can probably guess where they were by the slight space at the roof.
The house was getting a new shingled roof. Here are views of the house from different angles...
The Custom House ...
We also went to the Salem Witch Museum and were brought back to 1692 Salem when the Witch trials consumed Salem. The story is told with life-size figures and stage sets in a narrative using actual transcripts from the trials. They did a very good job of telling the story all caused by several bored teenage girls.
We enjoyed lunch at the Village Tavern on Essex Street, eating out on their front patio.
And before we knew it, it was time to head back to the dock so we wouldn't miss catching the ferry. Salem is a pretty town, but I wouldn't want to live there. You might guess that Halloween is a big deal in Salem and so much in the town is promoting witches, etc.
Back in Boston, the third day found us enjoying what had become our normal breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts near out Inn. (I am glad this was nearby since the Constitution Inn didn't serve breakfast. It is conveniently located and is nice and clean and still has the large fitness room and even a pool in the basement that is part of the YMCA that is free to use for the hotel guests. I would stay there again if we went back to Boston, for sure.) Then we were off on the ferry again to Long Wharf to go to Boston Common. (We missed seeing that on our previous trip a few years ago.)
Walking along the Freedom Trail again, we came upon the Granary Burying Ground where a few "famous" people are buried.
Paul Revere...
John Hancock...
Samuel Adams...
A couple of blocks more and we were at the Boston Common where many people were enjoying the park.
Another place we didn't get to on our previous trip was not far at all from the park...Cheers on Beacon Hill
We had a very good lunch there. It was worth the 30 minute wait we had to be seated.
Then down the street on our way back to the ferry, we came by the State House. We have toured a number of state capitols and certainly were not going to miss adding Massachusetts to the list...
This sign was attached to the fence for the State House...
Some pictures inside the building...(our tour guide was fantastic, btw)
Two ceilings...
The state of MA does not have a Governor's Mansion so whenever the governor hosts any gathering, this room is used for the function. When it was initially finished the echo was terrible. They added the flags of every city in MA and voila - no more echo.
The House...(Couldn't go in the Senate as they are currently in the basement while the chamber is being remodeled.)
King's Chapel was beautiful inside. Please go to the link to see pictures inside and read about the (History). The burying grounds are next door also.
All too soon another day was passing quickly and it was time to get back to the ferry to take the short ride over to Charlestown and our Inn. We packed our suitcases and enjoyed leftovers from our Italian meal earlier for dinner that night (thankful for the mini frig in our room). We were also full from our lunch.
The next morning (after breakfast at Dunkin' Donut) we checked out of our room, called for a water taxi to take us (nearby) to our cruise ship Veendam to start the next part of our trip. With our luggage it was a little farther than I would have liked to get their from where the water taxi dropped us off. The short 10 minute walk took a little bit longer than that but it didn't take us long at all to go thru the process to get aboard.
First stop - Bar Harbor, Maine
Missed the previous post on the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill? Check here.
We had to take the Charlestown Ferry first to get to Long Wharf because the Salem Ferry left out of there. The first ferry left Boston at 9:30 AM and we chose to return at 4. We did have the option to change our return trip - if there were seats available - but the next one left Salem at 7 which was mainly for commuters or earlier at 1. I thought we might get through for the 1 o'clock return, but we took so long at House of the Seven Gables that there was no way we could have been back at the dock at 1.
Boston skyline...
One of the three lighthouses we went by on the way over to Salem. Couldn't get good pictures of lighthouses with my phone camera. They always look farther away in the picture than they looked with the naked eye.
The House of the Seven Gables was not too far from where we docked. It was an interesting place to see (even though I don't think either one of us ever read the book - if we did, we were young and didn't remember the story.) Besides the seven gable house, Nathaniel Hawthorne's house has also been moved there on the grounds.
A neat model of the house on display in the attic. The docent took it apart to show the two later additions to the original house. You can probably guess where they were by the slight space at the roof.
The house was getting a new shingled roof. Here are views of the house from different angles...
The Custom House ...
We also went to the Salem Witch Museum and were brought back to 1692 Salem when the Witch trials consumed Salem. The story is told with life-size figures and stage sets in a narrative using actual transcripts from the trials. They did a very good job of telling the story all caused by several bored teenage girls.
And before we knew it, it was time to head back to the dock so we wouldn't miss catching the ferry. Salem is a pretty town, but I wouldn't want to live there. You might guess that Halloween is a big deal in Salem and so much in the town is promoting witches, etc.
Back in Boston, the third day found us enjoying what had become our normal breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts near out Inn. (I am glad this was nearby since the Constitution Inn didn't serve breakfast. It is conveniently located and is nice and clean and still has the large fitness room and even a pool in the basement that is part of the YMCA that is free to use for the hotel guests. I would stay there again if we went back to Boston, for sure.) Then we were off on the ferry again to Long Wharf to go to Boston Common. (We missed seeing that on our previous trip a few years ago.)
Walking along the Freedom Trail again, we came upon the Granary Burying Ground where a few "famous" people are buried.
Paul Revere...
John Hancock...
Samuel Adams...
Another place we didn't get to on our previous trip was not far at all from the park...Cheers on Beacon Hill
We had a very good lunch there. It was worth the 30 minute wait we had to be seated.
Then down the street on our way back to the ferry, we came by the State House. We have toured a number of state capitols and certainly were not going to miss adding Massachusetts to the list...
This sign was attached to the fence for the State House...
Some pictures inside the building...(our tour guide was fantastic, btw)
Two ceilings...
The state of MA does not have a Governor's Mansion so whenever the governor hosts any gathering, this room is used for the function. When it was initially finished the echo was terrible. They added the flags of every city in MA and voila - no more echo.
The House...(Couldn't go in the Senate as they are currently in the basement while the chamber is being remodeled.)
All too soon another day was passing quickly and it was time to get back to the ferry to take the short ride over to Charlestown and our Inn. We packed our suitcases and enjoyed leftovers from our Italian meal earlier for dinner that night (thankful for the mini frig in our room). We were also full from our lunch.
The next morning (after breakfast at Dunkin' Donut) we checked out of our room, called for a water taxi to take us (nearby) to our cruise ship Veendam to start the next part of our trip. With our luggage it was a little farther than I would have liked to get their from where the water taxi dropped us off. The short 10 minute walk took a little bit longer than that but it didn't take us long at all to go thru the process to get aboard.
First stop - Bar Harbor, Maine
Missed the previous post on the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill? Check here.
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