10 Reasons to Attend the Travel & Adventure Show in Boston

Boston Travel & Adventure Show

One of the questions I constantly get asked is, “Where do you think I should go next?”  It’s the question that avid travelers are constantly thinking…I actually think it while I’m on a beach chair sipping a cocktail on my current vacation!  If you are wondering where to have your next adventure…look no further…you’ll find your answer at the Boston Travel and Adventure Show.  Located in the Hynes Convention Center on Boylston Street, the second year of this show here in Boston, this show did not disappoint.

 Here are 10 reasons to attend the Boston Travel & Adventure Show

EXPLORE OVER 200 DESTINATIONS

There are so many different places to travel, it’s sometimes hard to narrow down your choices.  Here you can discover lots of new places that you never would have thought of. I was very intrigued by Alaska, Antigua, Azores, Miami, Africa, and Montreal. It was also nice to discover local stuff to do.  I can’t wait to take the Taste of Boston food tour, take a cooking class at the Essex, and explore more of Freeport, Maine.  I also was excited to find new places to visit while in Florida.

TALK TO TRAVEL EXPERTS

This is the perfect opportunity to talk to people who are knowledgeable on the location.  Ask them questions about resorts, transportation, and what to do in the area.  We are heading to Jamaica this spring and the Jamaica tourism board gave me great ideas of things to do while there.  After I told him the ages of my girls, he was able to tell me which attractions I should skip and which I should definitely do.  He even told me about cute beach bars they would love.

WORKSHOPS

Whether you are a traveler, blogger, or travel writer, there are sessions for everyone.  This year they had some exciting ones, such as:

99 Ways to Cut Your Travel Costs – Without Skimping (Russell Hannon)

The Best Travel & Packing Tips for the Ultimate Vacation (Angel Castellanos)

Travel Safe, Travel Smart, and Travel Well (Lindsay Henderson)

Heritage Travel: Walking in Your Ancestors’ Footsteps (Mickela Mallozzi)

TRAVEL CELEBRITIES

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Liberty Hotel, Boston…Don’t Bail Me Out

Photo credit: Liberty Hotel

Who would have guessed that prison could be so romantic?  The Liberty Hotel is housed in the exact building of the Charles Street Jail, a national historic landmark. Completed in 1851, this jail once house some of Boston’s most historic inmates, and now you can call it home for the night. It has a nice blend of  high-style luxury and hometown warmth. Trust me…you won’t be asking anyone to bail you out!

Read all about our stay!

Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum: Stepping Back in Time in Boston

For my birthday this year, my girls and I decided to head to Boston to check some things off our list that we’ve wanted to do.  Since we were already planning to do the Old Town Trolley Hop-On Hop-Off bus, (don’t forget to read all about our ride!) we decided to get off at one of their last stops… the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Also, since it’s summer vacation, it’s nice that they got to learn about an important time in American history (Just don’t tell them it was educational…sssshhh).  I really had no clue what to expect, since I’m not too thrilled about doing tours through museums.  I was pleasantly surprised that the tour is actually a fully immersive tour.  The characters were so authentic, we felt like we had stepped back in time.  Here’s a peek at our experience:

Our first stop was to go to the meeting house to meet us with some of the local townspeople on this historic night in 1773 Boston. 

Since it is a dangerous time, we were given a feather to represent a disguise, as well as cards that told us all about the character we were. 

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Residence Inn Tudor Wharf

Photo credit: Residence Inn Boston Harbor

My girls have a new obsession…Dear Evan Hanson…so we were thrilled when it came to Boston. As I started looking for a hotel, I knew I wanted to use my Marriott points and the Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf stood out because it is an all-suite hotel. The 167 suite hotel is located right on the St. Charles River and has stunning views of the Boston Harbor.   

Read all about our fun stay...

Old Town Trolley: Hop-On Hop-Off your Way Through Boston

You know how I feel about driving in Boston… I’m such a chicken!  There are times I want to do different things around the city but I can only drive to the aquarium and the science museum (lol)! I then end up taking cabs so I don’t get to stop as much as I want.  Well I’ve found the perfect solution! For my birthday, the girls and I spent a perfect day in Boston on the Old Town Trolley Tour.  This hop-on hop-off bus allows you to get off at a stop when something strikes you or stay on the bus and continue hearing more historic commentary. It’s an amazing way to see Boston!

Here are some fun things you can do on this 15-stop tour:

STOP 1: We started our tour in front of the New England Aquarium (which is great since I can actually drive here and park…lol).  It’s a beautiful place to see the waterfront!

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Boston Museum of Fine Art: Mummies, Monet, and More

When you think of a fine arts museum you may imagine boring halls filled with old portraits, security shushing people, and bored children trailing behind their parents.  This is not the case at the Boston Fine Arts Museum. Not only do they have hundreds of famous paintings, they also have mummies, statues, jewelry, and weapons that will capture anyone’s attention.  The Boston Museum of Fine Art, with more than 450,000 works of art, is difficult to see in one day, but with a little planning, you can see it all.  The museum is separated into different wings such as Art of Ancient World, Art of Asia, Oceania and Africa, And Contemporary Art. Let me take you around to see our favorite areas of the museum:

Your experience of the MFA begins before you even walk inside.  The museum has some really unique pieces of art right outside.  These doll heads are my daughters’ favorites! 

I personally love Indian Hunter (Paul Manship, 2002) as the hunter and Pronghorn Antelope (and Paul Manship, 2002) as his prey.

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Boston Museum of Science: A Top Pick for Family Activities in Boston

If you’re looking for something the whole family can do while you’re in Boston, look no further than the Museum of Science.  Like many big museums, it’s always best to plan your day out before going, so don’t miss anything.  There are so many fun things to do there that I suggest you check out the website and, as a family, decide what you want to do together.  While my girls were at camp, I got to go alone and I had just as much fun as I do when they come with me, so it is also a great activity when you’re traveling to Boston solo.

Here are 10 things my family likes to do when visiting the Boston Museum of Science:

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Studio Allston, Boston

With so many hotels to choose from in Boston, it’s often hard to decide where to stay. The other night we had the pleasure of staying at Studio Allston and it was the most colorful hotel we’ve ever stayed at.  The artistic vibe is played out throughout the hotel and your eyes are drawn from one spot to the next.  It was the perfect location to escape the noise of the city, is only 15 minutes from downtown Boston, and is a short walk to Harvard.  It was so easy to drive here…and that’s coming from someone who usually would rather have a root canal than drive in a city!

Click HERE to read all about our stay!

The Illusionists

The Illusionists

Live from Broadway

If this amazing show hits your area, I would highly recommend going to see it!  Not only is it hysterical, but you will have your mind blown at all the tricks they perform.  It will have you at the edge of your seat and the entire family will love it! We just caught the show while it was in Boston last weekend and we had a blast!

The illusionists include:

Colin Cloud (The Deductionist)

Raymond Crowe (The Unusualist)

Paul Dabeck (The Trickster)

Jonathan Goodwin (The Daredevil)

An Ha Lim (The Manipulator)

Sabine Van Diemen (The Sorceress)

Click here to see if the show is coming to a theater near you!

We saw it at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. It was a beautiful theater!

Tips on the show:

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The Eliot Hotel

History, architecture, fine dining, and culture makes Boston the perfect destination for families.  If you are looking for elegant New England charm in your accommodations, then The Eliot Hotel is for you.  The Eliot Hotel is a historic boutique hotel set in a gorgeous Neo-Georgian corner building in the charming section of Boston’s back bay neighborhood.  Read all about our amazing stay at this fabulous hotel as well as our dinner at Uni, the #1 Restaurant in Boston, according to Boston Magazine!

Click here to read on…