Alright...my daughter's Girl Scout Troop wants to go to Boston this summer for three days two nights. We'd like to do this on the cheap if possible...but they've already said they want to sleep over at the Aquarium (which they can't do because it's currently closed for sleepovers). Since we can't do that they are thinking of spending the night at the zoo instead. However, both are very expensive.
Does anyone know of a way we can bring up to 19 Girl Scouts from second grade through 8th grade (plus four adults) to Boston cheaply?
And things to do too?
Last year we went to Bar Harbor Maine and that cost us just $300 for the 3-day 2-night stay. This Boston trip will be much more expensive...but it's what they want to do.
Get a Boston CityPass for each. They'll run about $22 with coupon code "FSAV7" but you'll be able cover the Aquarium, Museum of Science, Skywalk Observatory and Museum of Natural History in three days.
Bunker Hill Monument and Museum. The monument is free to go up (donations are accepted) with great views of the city. 300 steps though so go when they have energy. Great place to get some pivotal history lessons.
The Custom House tower. At 2pm every day (except during inclement weather) you can go up to the 26th floor observation deck for a $3 donation, and you can go to the 25 floor to see the workings of the clock and the back of one of the faces.
USS Constitution and Cassin Young. The oldest commissioned warship in the Navy and a WWII ship. You can go on both.
If you think that they can handle it, the Freedom Trail goes through much of historic Boston, but it's a full day excursion. About 3 miles total, starts at the old Tea Party ship location and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument.
The Boston Common and Public Garden are good areas to picnic in and relax, and the Swan Boats are a nice ride, plus there is a set of statues that commemorates the story "Make Way For Ducklings".
If you want to cool down, there is a set of fountains right next to the Aquarium that kids can run through for some entertainment. Bring towels and there isn't anywhere nearby to change.
In South Boston, there is the Children's Museum. Easily accessible from downtown by foot.
Depending on your dates, the Museum of Science overnight is tough to beat. the location is pretty great, and the next day you could take them up Beacon Hill, through Louisberg square to the State House, then over into the North End, Paul Revere's house and the Old North church, cross the bridge to the Charlestown Navy Yard to visit the USS Constitution. Thats about a 45 min. walk spread over the day.
If the swan boats are going in the garden when you go, it might be worth the half hour detour.
The Christian Science Monitor building has a really cool stained glass globe that is so big you walk into it. You enter below the equator and walk across a bridge. The countries are all different color stained glass. The political divisions are those that were in place between the 2 world wars.
Looking at the earth from the inside out is pretty cool, but the coolest part is the acoustics inside the globe. You can hear someone speaking on the opposite side better than someone standing right next to you.
There are displays of Pulitzer Prize winning photographs in the lobby.
