If the weather's good, allow me to suggest walking at least a portion of the Freedom Trail: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/ They also have a great aquarium in Boston, right on the harbor I think. http://www.neaq.org/index.flash4.html It's been about 8 years since I was there, but I remember being very impressed by the aquarium, as was my mom and kid.

the museum of science is fun. so is the children's museum. walking around cambridge and harvard is also fun as is going to the boston common and boston garden. enjoy. am jealous.

Any breakfast/brunch place recommendations? We are centered in the Cambridge area.

the paramount. on the other side of the river though, beacon hill. outstanding breakfast. big city experience.

you want killer stuff for the kids, go to the acquarium and the imax (next door). skip the science museum on a weekend - crowded. so is the acquarium but it has more punch than the science museum. worth the crowds. museum of fine arts is great. lots of running, big rooms, dead mummys. skip the isabella stewart with kids. it's great on your own but with kids its like taking them to grannie's house to check out the hummels (sp?). or just stay in cambridge - wander, go to the bookstore, the crate and barrel, look at the old houses and kooky teenagers, go see the glass flowers at the fogg museum (a must), have ice cream.

Agree re the Freedom Trail. Depending on your interests, you might want to end up at the end of it and go on the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides") and go through the naval museum (lots about the Barbary War, 1798-1800, and the War of 1812). The last time I was in Boston, I did the full Freedom Trail, went up the Bunker Hill monument, did the naval museum, but was too late to board the ship itself. Next time, I will.

Brunch -- not too sure. There's a Tibetan place that had a really nice lunch buffet just a subway stop away (Central Square area), but if you're up for a solid breakfast, I'm not too much help there. :-)

And, of course, walking around Harvard Yard is a nice morning thing, too.

I agree with Linda and portland : Boston's Aquarium is great. Everybody loves that one. I would also recommend the Freedom Trail, except it's hard to do in one morning, especially with children and older people. It,s better to take your time to enjoy that one.

And my absolute favourite restaurant in Boston: Suishaya, in Chinatown (corner of Tyler and Beach). Awesome, droolworthy Korean cuisine. I still have to find a half-decent Korean restaurant in my area... If you've never had Koreak, go for Ok-dol-bi-bim-bap: it's rice served in a sizzling pot, topped with meat and veggies and a raw egg. You mix it all, and in cooks in your pot. Gosh, I miss that... *sigh*

If you're looking for a quicker meal (but almost as good), I recommend The Wraps (or is it The Wrap? Anyhoo...), on Massachusetts Avenue, across from the Hynes Convention Center T Station. Personal recommendation: Peking duck or paella wraps. Yum yum!

I miss Boston... :0(

Lucky you! Because if you are in Cambridge, adjacent to Harvard Yard are the Harvard art museums. And guess what--FREE on Saturday mornings. How can you beat that? The tour can also last as long or short as you like and they are rarely crowded. As for breakfast or lunch, follow your nose, because there are thousands of good restaurants around Boston. But one block from Harvard Yard is John Harvard's Brew House which brews its own and is totally yummy beer and food.

Hmmm...and me thinks I know someone who like brewpubs! Any hints of a good beer store in the district?

http://www.johnharvards.com

Good lord, OF COURSE! Its a university. (as the old southern expression goes 'you can't swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting one'). Look at link above if interested in trying. However, as a further suggestion, try Harpoon. Harpoon is even BETTER and they have a pub in Boston, and the stuff is bottled and sold throughout New England. Please check back sometime with your opinons of either or both if you visit them....

I have tried this Harpoon recently, Gary and have had the ESB and IPA when visiting the east coast over the last few years. You have read the beer blog, haven't you?

I will now. Just wandered in today from some other link. Harpoon bought the new but closed factory in Vermont that Catamount built a few years ago which had bankrupted them. You'll enjoy Boston of course, but try to avoid driving.....