FrommerMedia LLC - Frommers easyguide to Boston, Cape Cod & the islands

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Freelance writer and editor Marie Morris is the author of this guides Boston coverage. She is based in the North End, where she has lived long enough to pass for a native but not long enough to acquire a Boston accent. She grew up in New York and graduated from Harvard University, where she studied American history. Marie has worked for Newser.com, 02138 magazine, The Boston Herald, Boston magazine, and The New York Times. Shes the author and coauthor of numerous Frommers guides to Boston, including Frommers Boston Day by Day.

Laura Reckford , who covered Cape Cod and the Islands, is the owner of Cape Cod Wave (CapeCodWave.com), an online magazine celebrating the culture and character of Cape Cod. She is also the news director at Cape Cod Broadcasting, which consists of WQRC 99.9, Ocean 104.7 FM, FCC Classical 107.5, Cape Country 104, and CapeCod.com.

ABOUT THE FROMMERS TRAVEL GUIDES

For most of the past 50 years, Frommers has been the leading series of travel guides in Nort h America, accounting for as many as 24 percent of all guidebooks sold. I think I know why.

Although we hope our books are entertaining, we nevertheless deal with travel in a seriou s fashion. Our guidebooks have never looked on such journeys as a mere recreation, but as a far more important human function, a time of learning and introspection, an essential part of a civilized life. We stress the culture, lifestyle, history, and beliefs of the destinations we cover and urge our readers to seek out people and new ideas as the chief rewards of travel.

We have never shied from controversy. We have, from the beginning, encouraged our authors to be intensely judgmental, criticalboth pro and conin their comments, and wholly independent. Our only clients are our readers, and we have triggered the ire of countless prominent sorts, from a tourist newspaper we called practically worthless (it unsuccessfully sued us) to the many rip-offs weve condemned.

And because we believe that travel should be available to everyone regardless of their incomes, we have always been cost-conscious at every level of expenditure. Although we have broadened our recommendations beyond the budget category, we insist that every lodging we include be sensibly priced. We use every form of media to assist our readers and are particularly proud of our feisty daily website, the award-winning Frommers.com.

I have high hopes for the future of Frommers. May these guidebooks, in all the years ahead, continue to reflect the joy of travel and the freedom that travel represents. May they always pursue a cost-conscious path, so that people of all incomes can enjoy the rewards of travel. And may they create, for both the traveler and the persons among whom we travel, a community of friends, where all human beings live in harmony and peace.

Arthur Frommer

Published by

FROMMER MEDIA LLC

Copyright 2015 by Frommer Media LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to support@frommermedia.com.

Frommers is a registered trademark of Arthur Frommer. Frommer Media LLC is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

ISBN 978-1-62887-110-4 (paper), 978-1-62887-111-1 (e-book)

Editorial Director: Pauline Frommer

Editor: John Rambow

Production Editor: Heather Wilcox

Cartographer: Roberta Stockwell

Cover Design: Howard Grossman

For information on our other products or services, see www.frommers.com.

Frommer Media LLC also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic formats.

Manufactured in the United States of America

5 4 3 2 1

AN IMPORTANT NOTE

The world is a dynamic place. Hotels change ownership, restaurants hike their prices, museums alter their opening hours, and buses and trains change their routings. And all this can occur in the several months after our authors have visited, inspected, and written about these hotels, restaurants, museums and transportation services. Though we have made valiant efforts to keep all our information fresh and up-to-date, some few changes can inevitably occur in the periods before a revised edition of this guidebook is published. So please bear with us if a tiny number of the details in this book have changed. Please also note that we have no responsibility or liability for any inaccuracy or errors or omissions, or for inconvenience, loss, damage, or expenses suffered by anyone as a result of assertions in this guide.

THE BEST OF BOSTON, CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

N early 400 years of history, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and a wealth of diversions and attractions combine to make Boston, Cape Cod, and the islands of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket irresistible destinations for travelers from around the world.

One of the oldest American cities, Boston packs a lot into a small footprint, with abundant culture, historic sites, shopping for every budget, terrific dining, lovely scenery, and plenty of sports (both watching and doing). Its a crowded, welcoming destinationeven areas choked with sightseers are in or near residential neighborhoods, and countless locals are former students at the areas many excellent colleges. With so much to offer, Boston is perfect for a quick visit or a longer stay.

Summertime is really what first draws the crowds to Cape Cod and the Islands, but the colorful history, arts, and culture of the region keep them coming back throughout the year. When it comes to this 70-mile-long peninsula, its a matter of choosing which of the 15 towns to use as your base, and then heading out to explore, from the bridges in Bourne to the tip in Provincetown.

Marthas Vineyard, an island thats a 45-minute ferry ride from the Cape, has six towns, all with very distinct personalities, from the slightly honky-tonk Oak Bluffs to the bucolic community of Chilmark to the refined allure of Edgartown.

Nantucket is 30 miles out to sea, and parts of it can seem frozen in the 19th century, its Main Street looking not that different from the version found by Herman Melville when researching Moby-Dick. Still, the elegant shops and restaurants on the island have the qualityand priceof urban centers like New York and Boston.

BOSTONS best AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES

A Walk Around the North End: Bostons Little Italy (but dont call it that!) has an old-world flavor you wont want to miss. Explore the shops on Salem Street, and be sure to stop for coffee and a pastry at a Hanover Street caff. See .

) show you the city from an irresistible angle. The sightseeing ride includes a dip in the Charles Riverfor the duck, not for you.

A Stroll (or Jog) Along the River: The paved path that hugs both shores of the Charles accommodates pedestrians, runners, skaters, and cyclists. The Esplanade (adjacent to the Back Bay) offers both people-watching and gorgeous greenery; the Cambridge side has fabulous views of the Boston skyline.