I Heart BOSTON!

Devin and I were so lucky to be able to go on a vacation together this last week... and we were even more lucky that we chose Boston! I fell in love with this city almost the moment we got there (the airport was a little maddening). Boston is A-Mazing! It's as deep in it's history as it is diverse in culture. We found the best of everything in Boston...Ocean, Big city, Small Town, some of the Oldest Buildings surrounded by new buildings, Trees everywhere, and the best food you can imagine. Seriously... Boston has it all! Devin found a company that does temporary rentals of their apartments, and I am so glad that he did. We basically lived like Bostonians and in the oldest neighborhood in the U.S.(literally). Our apartment was unbelievably small, however it was located in the North End which made it absolutely perfect!

Here is a taste of how small the apartment was. This was our bathroom...

But this is the North End Neighborhood that it was in... can you see why I think it's perfect? (Look below the Skyscrapers... see those really old brown stone buildings? That's it.)

This was our street... enough room for 1 car to fit through.(We were so glad that we didn't rent a car!)

This is more of the neighborhood and is known as Lil Italy. There were countless Italian restaurants and people yelling in Italian. We ate some of the best Italian food here. It was awesome!

Now, from this point on I am going to do a play by play for our own records so If you want to stop here we will understand! This is seriously the longest post ever!

We got in on Sunday afternoon and Devin's wonderful brother and sister-in-law drove up from Connecticut with their 3 kids to pick us up. Thanks again Ryan and Sara... you guys are awesome and we loved seeing you all! We walked around Boston, found a park for the kiddos, and ate pizza. It was a great start to the week.

On Monday we took a trolley around the city and stopped for a tour of Fenway Park. Fenway is the oldest ballpark in America. Next year marks their 100th year!

Devin looking out at the Green Monster from the Press Box...

View of the ballpark from the Green Monster...

After the tour at Fenway we walked through Cambridge to the Harvard Campus. It was beautiful! Then we came back to Boston and took our first Harbor Cruise...

On Tuesday we started off the day by going Whale Watching. We saw about 10 whales. The video below is of a Mama Whale and her baby...

Afterwards we ate lunch at Cheers...

Then we walked around Boston Commons (which happens to be the oldest park in the U.S.)...

Statue of George Washington...

From there, we took a tour of the Freedom Trail...

Massachusetts State House...

Cemetery where John Hancock, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and countless others are buried...

Old State House. This is where they read the Declaration of Independence for the first time...

Us with our cute tour guide in front of Samuel Adams statue and Faneuil Hall...

On Wednesday we took a bus tour up the coastline to Maine. Absolutely gorgeous!

The first stop was Hampton Beach, New Hampshire...

Our second stop was York, Maine...

Our final stop was Kennebunkport, Maine...

It was here that we experienced the BEST lobster ever! Take a look at this guy...

Then we ended the night with a movie at the Aquarium's IMAX theater...

On Thursday we started of the day by touring the Old North Church (where the lanterns were hung for Paul Revere)...

As well as Paul Revere's House...

Then we went through the New England Aquarium...

For lunch we decided to take a Luncheon Cruise of the Harbor...

Then we walked over to Charlestown to tour the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides)...

And the USS Cassin Young (WWII Destroyer)...

Then to the Bunker Hill Monument which is actually on Breed's Hill...

On Friday we took a ferry over to Salem where we went to the Salem Witch Museum...

Rode around on EZ Pedaler Bikes...

And toured the House of the Seven Gables...

Most of our evenings were spent down at Quincy Market...

Or on Long Wharf...

This was honestly the perfect trip. If our hearts weren't already in Utah with our two girls, we would have left them in Boston! We are already planning our next trip out there! We can't thank our parents enough for watching our girls so that we could take this trip! We appreciate you more than we can say! (Now I just have to re-train my girls on the meaning of "No!") We are so grateful to have parents who are such amazing Grandparents! We love you!