Greer's OC

Travel

BOSTON FREEDOM TRAIL GETAWAYS

05.01.11

By Victor Jacobs and Sheryll Alexander

Think Boston for the history lesson of a lifetime when you walk the city’s famous Freedom Trail during a romantic getaway, family vacation, foodie escape or add-on business trip adventure.

Yes, you’ll be traveling back in time with a stay at one of the participating Freedom Trail hotels (with affordable, luxe and cool historic tour packages!) below.

Remember, in Boston, you can enjoy a car-less vacation in a hip metropolitan city that’s also steeped in history and features world-class cuisine, luxury accommodations, incomparable culture, nearby pro sports venues and unparalleled by-the-waterfront scenery.

Plus, all of these packages feature a 90-minute guided walking tour of Boston’s famed Freedom Trail. The “trail” is a 2.5-mile path that leads to16 of the country’s most significant landmarks and is run by a non-profit foundation to preserve it.

Tours of The Freedom Trail give you many ways to enjoy Boston’s priceless sites. For example, you can pick from a Pirates & Patriots Tour (featuring dramatic and daring do-good stories of the legal and illegal ship owners who plied the waters off Boston Harbor or you can opt for Boston’s pub crawl (where you stumble upon the secret meetings of the American Revolution).

All of the Freedom Trail hotel packages below include at least one of these 90-minute guided tours and some of the packages also feature complimentary breakfast, parking, welcome gifts and even a Freedom Trail suite. All of the participating hotels are located on or a short walk from the Freedom Trail. Rates start at $162 per night and are available through December 31, 2011.

Freedom Trail Hotel Packages

The Ritz-Carlton Boston
Located in the heart of downtown, The Ritz-Carlton Boston’s Freedom Trail Package includes an overnight stay in deluxe accommodations, breakfast, parking and the self-guided Hear History: Audio Guide Tour of the Freedom Trail. Starts at $431.

The Ritz-Carlton Bostin, Boston Common 10 Avery Street, Boston, 617-574-7100.

Boston Marriott Long Wharf
Sitting right on Boston’s scenic waterfront and just one block from Faneuil Hall, Boston Marriott Long Wharf’s hotel package includes overnight accommodations, breakfast and tour for two adults and two children. Starts at: $229-$449. Res. Code: EW5.

Boston Marriott Long Wharf, 296 State St., Boston, 617-227-0800.

Boston Omni Parker House Hotel
Experience the historic charm of America’s oldest continuously-operating hotel with an overnight stay including deluxe accommodations and breakfast. Starts at: Varies Reservation code: FREEWD.

Boston Omni Parker House Hotel, 60 School St., Boston, 617-227-8600.

Boston Park Plaza Hotel
Overnight stay includes two adult tickets to the Walk Into History tour. Starts at: 169.

Boston Park Plaza Hotel, 50 Park Plaza at Arlington St., Boston, 617-426-2000/ 800-225-2008.

Colonnade Hotel
Freedom Trail package includes overnight stay in luxe accommodations (children stay free), Parisian breakfast for two in Brasserie Jo and parking. Starts at $225 Reservation code: Freedom.

Colonnade Hotel, 120 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-800-962-3030.

Fairmont Copley Plaza
Freedom Trail Discovery package includes one-night stay in an elegant guest room, two Walk Into History tour passes and two tickets to three Freedom Trail historic museums (Old South Meeting House, Old State House and Paul Revere House). The Fairmont Copley Plaza also offers guests the experience of a Freedom Trail Suite. Developed by historians and archivists, this suite is a mini-museum that celebrates Boston's colonial heritage. Guests may upgrade to the Freedom Trail Suite for an additional charge of $400 per night. Starts at: $289.

Fairmont Copley Plaza, 138 St. James Ave., Boston, 617-267-5300.

Fairmont Battery Wharf
Enjoy this Freedom Trail package from the only boutique hotel located on Boston Harbor and just steps away from Boston’s Italian North End and the Freedom Trail, including an overnight stay in deluxe accommodations and two tickets to the North End and Waterfront tour. Starts at: $249

Fairmont Battery Wharf, 3 Battery Wharf, Boston, 800-441-1414.

Millennium Bostonian Hotel
The newly-renovated Millennium Bostonian is just steps from Faneuil Hall and other famous Boston attractions. This package includes superior room overlooking Faneuil Hall Marketplace and two breakfast vouchers. Starts at: $199.

Millennium Bostonian Hotel, 26 North Street, Boston, 617-557-3606.

Irvine-based Victor Jacobs is a journalism intern. Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California.

FOOD, WINE & ADVENTURE IN VENTURA

04.27.11

Review By Sheryll Alexander

For those seeking really cool and affordable spring or summer adventures in Southern California, think Ventura, Ventura Wine Trail and Channel Islands National Park.

Located a short 30-minute drive from Malibu via super scenic Highway 101, Ventura is a rarified California seaside village. Still somewhat “undiscovered,” Ventura has a bustling and beautiful boat harbor, voyages to nearby and totally wild Channel Islands, a laid-back surfer and artist vibe and a vibrant farm, wine and dining culture.

Most hotels are located in or around either Ventura Harbor or along San Buenaventura State Beach. Staying in a harbor hotel makes sense for those who are focusing on boating, kayaking and Channel Island activities. Only a few upscale hotels are located right on Ventura’s main beach (San Buenaventura) so availability can be harder to get at peak season times.

The Four Points Sheraton

We chose the 175-room Four Points Sheraton in Ventura Harbor as a good base camp for our family’s very first trip to The Channel Islands. Situated within easy access of the highway and Ventura’s main drag, The Four Points Sheraton has a casual feel and is sophisticated enough for those seeking a comfortable vacation.

We recommend the hotel’s four family-friendly “hospitality” suites, which are outfitted with living room, dining room and bathroom as well as an ensuite bedroom and master bathroom. Both suites also feature large patios with excellent harbor views.

From the lobby of The Four Points, guests can rent bikes, surreys and kid carriers for tours of adjacent Ventura Harbor and its restaurants, shopping and a small beach with adjacent park for older kids.

Why Visit The Channel Islands?

Why on Earth would you want to spend the day on a virtually deserted island as part of your Ventura getaway? The Channel Islands have been called the “North American Galapagos” and we learned on our adventure to Santa Cruz Island that this statement is very true.

The Channel Islands are a wonderland of diversity. Some plants and animals are indigenous to its own island – let alone to the group of islands. And taking a day tour of the island lets you literally touch and feel these natural wonders. On our trip, we were just a few feet from bawling sea lions and timid island foxes. We hiked up cliffs, swam in the surf and marveled at the remoteness of it all. Plus, it seemed our guide was always at the ready for answers to safety tips, history, geology, botany and zoological questions.

But remember, a day trip to The Channel Islands is a real adventure. We were a bit unprepared for the almost two-hour boat trip (with the most excellent Island Packers crew), which was cold and rather bumpy. We were also not prepared for the blazing hot sun when we arrived nor for the lack of facilities. Still, we had everything we needed, really, and it was fun with the kids to “rough” it if only for a few relaxing hours.

We also met some rather rowdy, but totally cool campers sitting on the only picnic table overlooking the island’s small harbor and beach. They had brought tents, snorkeling gear and loads of food and beer. If you can handle the not-quite-civilized conditions here for overnight camping, then the Channel Islands can be a serene sanctuary for those who love to really get away from it all.

If you don’t feel like taking an all-day adventure to The Channel Islands, Island Packers is also available for whale watching and fishing experiences.

Downtown Ventura & Nearby Attractions

While the Channel Islands keeps Ventura on the rugged side, there’s also a hip side to Ventura. This has always been an agricultural region, so locals are used to farm fresh ingredients as well as wines and artisan products from nearby Ventura and Santa Barbara and even California’s Central Coast.

For a taste of the entire region, we recommend a visit to Downtown Ventura’s Side Car Restaurant. Just a 10-minute drive from Ventura Harbor and Four Points Sheraton, The Side Car, as locals call it, is a Ventura institution for fine seasonal food, convivial service and live music on weekends.

Start with the locals in the bar and order up a classic cocktail along with a rib-sticking comfort food appetizer such as grilled cheese bites, crab cakes or perhaps a refreshing shrimp cocktail?

Don’t worry. Chef Tim Kilcoyne uses only in-season ingredients from local farms and he’s serious about being a locavore. The season’s best fruits and vegetables as well as local family purveyors show up on the menu itself.

For his early fall menu, for example, we ate a flat iron steak from Watkins Cattle Ranch with roasted beats, summer beans and seared greens from Underwood Family Farms. And with citrus growers in nearby Heritage Valley, we were loving our salad’s Meyer lemon vinaigrette and our cheesecake dessert’s navel orange marmalade.

Other Cool Things to Do in Ventura

Need some other reasons to visit Ventura? Here’s just a short list of cool things to see, do and eat in one of California’s best cities.

Arroyo Verde Parkis a 132-acree preserve with grassy areas and rugged land for picnics, barbecues, hikes and a visit to the nature center.

Art is big in Ventura, so don’t miss Ventura’s public murals, galleries, artist’s studios and the Museum of Ventura County.

Ventura allows dogs on many of its beaches and has two roam-free dog parks: Camino Real Park and Arroyo Verde Park.

Check out the Ventura Visitors Center for a Vintage Ventura brochure in which you can find lists of more than 30 retailers who sell vintage products. For those into retro music, don’t miss the historic Majestic Ventura Theatre for live music acts.

Ventura has three by-the-sea golf courses: Buenaventura Golf Course, Olivas Links and Saticoy Golf Course.

The best view of the Channel Islands is from a helicopter, so book a tour on Channel Islands Aviation or Channel Islands Helicopters.

Watch the action at Surfer’s Point for both surfing and kiteboarding.

Honor the native Chumash people with a visit to their village of Shisholop, which is located inside Promenade Park where the beach here is outfitted for families with lots of restrooms, showers and picnic table.

Don’t miss visiting Ventura's very own wineries and tasting rooms.by checking out Ventura Wine Trail.

Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California.

‹ First < 60 61 62 63 64 > Last ›

More Travel

Follow Greer on Pinterest

Advertise Here