BOSTON: Family favourite

Jul 22 2008 by Dawn Collinson

Sailboats in Charles River Basin, Boston _320

Franklin Park Zoo, the Children’s Museum, the breathtaking 50-floor high Skywalk Observatory and Museum of Science also ticked all the right boxes, and he loved going below deck for a free tour of the USS Constitution.

We even found time to call in to one of Boston’s best known and most lavish hotels, the Fairmont Copley Plaza, to see their famous resident - Catie, the black Labrador, who greets and even goes for walks with guests!

There, as everywhere in Boston, we were given a warm, unpretentious reception.

Even in the restaurants, late into the evening, children are made to feel welcome and most offer a specially designed menu. Those that don’t are more than happy to oblige with reduced size and price portions.

On our last night, have been spoiled for choice on Newbury, we finally agreed to venture beyond. And there’s absolutely nowhere better than The Union Oyster House. This isn’t just a seafood lovers heaven, it can also proudly claim to be the oldest restaurant in the US and a designated National Historic Landmark.

This restaurant, above anything else, epitomised for us what Boston is all about. It’s full of history (JFK and Jackie had their own favourite booth), incredibly friendly, relaxed and the food is outstanding.

Boston really loves tourists and – with or without children – it’s impossible not to love it right back.

* Dawn Collinson and family flew to Logan International Airport with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow (www.virgin-atlantic.com).

They stayed at the Hyatt Regency Boston, One Avenue de Lafayette, Boston (www.regencyboston.hyatt.com).

For information about Boston, including money-saving passes and offers for tourists, see the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau website (www.bostonusa.com) or email enquiries to visitus@BostonUSA.com

* YOU can travel to New England, Boston and Cape Cod for seven nights from £999 in September and October. The price includes return flights from Manchester via London; three nights hotel accommodation in Marlborough, Massachusetts and three nights accommodation in Hyannis, Cape Cod. For further details and brochure contact our Travel Service 0151 227 5987.