- Welcome Message and select excerpts of our first year blog
- Our New Blog
- Contact us
- Travel Advice
- Guidelines for travel agents
- Flying-all you need to know before you book your next plane ticket>
- Cruising-planning the perfect cruise>
- Car Travel
- Traveling by bus...in style
- Hotels-Creating the ideal autistic friendly hotel room>
- Packing -101>
- Ask away -Autistic Globetrotting Free advice service>
- Tid bits-travel advice from our readers in 100 words or less
- Autistic Travels' Golden Rules
- Guidelines for travel agents
- Autisticals-a personal view of autistic travel
- US 10 best in
- The 10 best of Boston
- The best 10 of Hilton Head,South Carolina
- The 10 best of New York
- The 10 best of Alaska
- The 10 best of Texas-San Antonio and Galveston
- The 10 best of Santa Fe and the surroundings
- The 10 best of Arizone-Grand Canyon
- The 10 best of Colonial Williamsburg,Jamestown and surroundinds
- The 10 best of Washington D.C.
- The 10 best of Las Vegas
- The 10 best of Boston
- International 10 best
- Mini autisticals- the darnest travel stories you'll hear
- The Sleeps-our biased and un biased hotel reviews
- The Eats-Tasty challenges from around the globe
- The Shops-what you can buy next
- Collector's Corner-How did these travel trinkets become a collection
- Recommended products
- Giveaways
- Monthly news roundup
- Interviews
- Q&A with Jackie Longino founder of Aspietravel
- Q&A with Tal managing director of ALUTEVA-autistic hotel in Israel
- Eva Bronstein-Greenwald-special needs travel agent and founder of We Belong
- Q&A with Trip it's
- Q&A with David Intercontinental Tel Aviv
- Keri Bowers- film producer of 'Normal people scare me'
- Jamie Grover-Autism on the seas
- Peter Shears
- Clive-guide dog extraordinaire
- John Brown of 'Devyn and Dad' -an inspirational adventure across the United States
- Rose Niehaus Olsen Morris inventor of the safety sleeper bed
- Annette White,counselor for Camp Autism
- Colin Brennan-Canada's new singing sensation
- Dennis Debbaudt-autism safety expert
- Gisela Sedlmayer- author of 'Talon'
- Q&A with Jackie Longino founder of Aspietravel
- Inspirational travel stories by our guest writers
- Danette Schott's-Revisiting family vacations
- Brian R. King-Meltdown at the airport
- Joy's visit to the Aquarium
- Denise Klipsic-An incredible encounter with Princess Tiana
- Tanya Savko- Hope on a river
- Tiffany Robison-Great Wolf Lodge
- Fiona Westner Ramsay -Making-room-for-autism-in-your-canoe
- Laura Shumacher-Traveling with autism: a true story
- Phyllis Fanzo Lombardi-s -Vacation Time with Joey
- Kristina Chew-18 Miles On the Bikes At the Beach
- Jeff Katz-Chicago
- Margaret Ann Franklin's visit to the Great Northern Carousel in Helena Montana
- Claire Sarcone-Chessington the aspie way
- Elaine Hall-Tips for summer vacation
- Steve LHeureux -Autism "Outings" need to be planned and appropriate
- Kelly Green-The Gardens of Gilroy
- Wolfie Blue-Tips I learnt by traveling with my family
- Gluten free Disney cruise experience
- Danette Schott's-Revisiting family vacations
- North,Central and South America-pictures,videos and AG's tips
- Arizona,The Grand Canyon
- Alaska Cruise-USA and Canada
- Florida,Orlando-Universal Studios-looking for Harry Potter
- Florida,Orlando-Macy's mini parade in Universal Studios
- Florida-Everglades Park ,Miami,Key West
- Hawaii's big island with a glimpse of Pearl Harbor
- Louisiana,New Orleans-French Quarter,Christmas Parade,Nanchez Steamboat
- Louisiana,New Orleans-in the footsteps of Katrina,Garden district
- Massachussetts-Boston ,New England Coastal towns of NH and Maine
- New York-NYC
- New Mexico-Santa Fe and Bandoliers National Park
- Pennsylvania-Philadelphia
- Texas-San Antonio and Galveston
- Canada-Niagara Falls,Montreal,Quebec,Toronto
- Caribbean-Bahamas- the Atlantis resort
- Caribbean-Castaway Cay-Disney's bahamian paradise
- Caribbean-Roatan,Honduras>
- Caribbean-Grand Caymans-Hell,Turtles,Wild Hens and Stingrays>
- Mexico-Cabo San Lucas(Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Puerta Vallarta (Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Acapulco and Manzanillo
- Mexico-Mazatlan(Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Playa del Carmen's Xcaret eco park>
- Mexico-Tulum and XelHa Eco Park
- Yucatan,Mexico- Chichen Itza,Cozumel's Paradise Beach
- Arizona,The Grand Canyon
- Europe,Asia,Australia and New Zealand,Cruise ships-pictures,videos and AG's tips
- Australia-Sydney and Melbourne
- Austria-Salzburg
- Belgium-Antwerp ,Brussels
- Canary Islands-Lazarote
- Croatia-the walled town of Dubrovnik
- Denmark-Copenhagen
- France-Normandy's D day beaches>
- France- Cannes,Nice,Eze
- France-Paris
- Finland,Helsinki
- Germany-Munich,Dachau
- Germany-Romantic Road
- Ireland-Dublin
- Ireland -Cork,Blarney,Kinsale>
- N. Ireland-Belfast>
- N. Ireland's Giant Causeway
- N.Ireland-Carrick -a -Rede-rope bridge>
- Italy-Venice,Pompeii,Rome
- Italy-Florence,Messina and Taoramina
- Israel-Jerusalem>
- Israel-Masada and the Dead Sea>
- Israel-Tel Aviv>
- Morocco-Casablanca
- New Zealand-Rotarua
- New Zealand-Fjord Park,Dunedin,Christchurch
- New Zealand - Auckland and sheep farm
- The Netherlands-Amsterdam,Delft,The Hague,Rotterdam,Madurodam
- Sweden-Stockholm and the Archipelago
- Russia-St Petersburg's Palaces
- Scotland-Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh
- Scotland-Edinburgh>
- Scotland-Inverness>
- Scotland-Loch Lommond,Luss,Sottish sheep show>
- Spain-Barcelona
- Spain-Cadiz and Seville
- Spain-The Alhambra Palace,view of Malaga
- Tasmania-Hobart
- UK-Liverpool and the Beatles>
- UK-London>
- UK-Stonehenge,Bath,Warwick Castle,Stratford on Avon,Oxford
- UK-Guernsey>
- Carnival -Legend
- Aboard the Carnival Legend
- Carnival -Ecstasy
- Carnival- Fascination
- Carnival Spirit
- Celebrity-Century
- Crown Princess>
- Sapphire Princess
- Royal Caribbean-Brilliance of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean-Mariner of the Seas (parades)
- Royal Caribbean- Mariner of the Seas
- Australia-Sydney and Melbourne
- Monthly guest's -Travel videos and pictures
- Web sites and blogs we follow
- Face Book discussions
- Guest Book
Ten best of Boston,Mass.
tags-Boston,autism,travel
1.Take the water shuttle in lieu of a harbor cruise
http://www.mbta.com/
The most economical way to see Boston is to take the MBTA harbor ferry from the Aquarium -Long Wharf to the Charlestown Navy Yard and back. The Ferry runs every 15 minutes , and gives you a great view of the city. For many travelers unaccustomed to water travel,as well as those autistic globetrotters that love repetitive activity,it can provide a real adventure.
2.Teach your kids how to read the subway map
http://www.urbanrail.net/am/bost/boston.htm
The Red and Green lines are most useful for seeing the sights,while the Blue and Silver are useful for getting to and from the airport.Boston boasts the first active subway in the States -the Tremont Street subway that started operating last century .For the autisticglobetrotters this is a great opportunity to practice reading maps and coordinate multiple means of transportation such as buses,ferries and subways to get to the required destination.
3.Walk the U.S freedom trail and relive history by following the red bricks /painted line
http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/tickets/tours.html
Check out the NPS free tour!
Many autisticglobetrotters will enjoy seeing the historical places up close and personal instead of merely reading about the Revolution in school books.An added bonus can be enjoyed on selected dates when volunteers dressed up as historical characters .
Start with Paul Revere's home built around 1680, that qualifies as one of oldest building in downtown Boston.The building served as afamily home to Boston's pre-revolution silversmith who became famous for his "midnight ride" to Lexington, Massachusetts informing Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming to arrest them.
http://www.paulreverehouse.org/
Continue to the Old North Church famous for the evening of April 18, 1775, when the church sexton, Robert Newman, climbed the steeple and held high two lanterns as a signal ,after being informed by Paul Revere that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord by sea and not by land. www.oldnorth.com/
Next visit the Old South Meeting House best known as the site where the Boston Tea Party began in the winter of 1773.Envision Samuel Adams announcing, "This meeting can do nothing more to save the country!" and the loads of protestors dumping three shiploads of tea into Boston Harbor. Contact them about their yearly revolution re-enactments.
http://www.oldsouthmeetinghouse.org/
Culminate the historical adventure at the King's Chapel ,and Granary burying grounds.The grounds as the name suggests were used for grain storage but later became a cemetry for many famous clergymen and politicians like Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine.An interesting fact about the granary is the fact that although over 5000 people are actually buried there , there are less than 2000 headstones since many families used one familial headstone due to high funeral costs.
4.Relax in the Commons and make room for ducklings
http://www.betterworldbooks.com/make-way-for-ducklings-id-0670451495.asp
The Boston Commons is the oldest park in the country, 50 acres in size,that has been used in the past for many purposes including cattle grazing,public hangings and speeches but now serves as a recreational heaven.This is one of these multi sensorial places that autisticglobetrotters can enjoy and create memories in .
Check out Nancy Schon's statues depicting Mother Duck and her brood of ducklings traveling to their new home on a lagoon island in Boston's Public Garden and read or even purchase the actual book by Robert McCloskey,as a great souevenir of Beantown.
5. Ride the Swan
http://www.swanboats.com/
Originally introduced by Robert Paget as a foot-propelled catamaran in the shape of a swan inspired by the opera Lohengrin, in which , a knight of the Holy Grail crosses a river in a boat drawn by a swan to defend the innocence of his heroine, Princess Elsa. Initially, the fleet was comprised of single-seaters that could carry eight visitors,the present boats are replicas of the originals, but have five or six benches, carrying up to 20 passengers.
6.Have a beer or a burger where everyone knows your name
http://www.cheersboston.com/
The actual bar that inspired the famous TV show-formerly known as Bull and Finch Pub,is located on Beacon Hill across from the Swan boats and the public garden.A second location in Faneuil Hall opened in 2001and has a replica of the TV show bar interior.Cheers (the show)ran for 11 seasons and has fans worldwide.For the autisticglobetrotters that enjoy TV trivia or huge burgers-the NORM- ,that's the perfect place to eat ,look around and buy souvenirs!
7. Have Pizza at Regina's
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill
11 1/2 Thacher St, Boston, MA 02113-1539
(617) 227-0765 |
www.reginapizzeria.com/
The evening we visited the line was around the block long,and locals assured us it was a slow night.Apparently even law enforcement officers and first responders frequent the place and don't hesitate to park haphazardly on the street to get their caveated slice.The servers and cooks were so nice and took the kids for a 'behind the scenes' view without even being asked too!
8 .Chocolate canolis at Modern Bakery "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.", Peter Clemenz says to Rocco, in the Godfather movie ,after killing Paulie in the car.
257 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113-2322
617 523 3783
Mentioned on many travel sites,including Tripadvisor,this place too has the line from hell to walk through until you get inside.Once inside you are rushed to make a quick decision and order whatever delicacies you fancy,an experience that newcomers might find daunting.Your Aaah moment comes when you get your order though,since this bakery makes the most incredible chocolate and ricotta filled cannolis you can possibly imagine.My kids were very disappointed to find out that they couldn't find their equivalents on our Mediterranean cruise to Italy.Apparently it's an Italian-American improvement.
For the recipe
http://blisstree.com/eat/photo-friday-chocolate-cannolis/?utm_source=blisstree&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=b5hubs_migration
9.Catch a free Pops concert -
http://www.bso.org/
Best known for its July 4th extravaganzas ,the BPO was founded in 1885 as a summer alternative of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It specializes in performing popular and light classical music. in casual settings at Symphony Hall, and outdoors at the Hatch Shell and achieved world fame under Arthur Fiedler,its long time director with many recordings and extensive touring. My autisticglobetrotter enjoyed the concert so much,he forgot to complain about sitting on grass and being surrounded by bugs!
10. Gaze at the skyline or catch a sunset
You cannot leave Boston without taking a step back and enjoying the skyline.Consider staying in a hotel on the water like the Hyatt http://www.harborside.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/ or the Marriott
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/boslw-boston-marriott-long-wharf/
We stayed at the Hyatt that have wonderful grounds ,including a paved veranda that overlooks the harbor,where the kids loved running around.On late afternoons and early evenings ,pull up a chair and just watch the beautiful sunsets!