Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)A travel book cannot be all things to all people. This book tries, within the parameters set by the authors, to try to find places unique to New England, that are fun for parents and kids. In this, they do succeed.
But because they cover *all* the New England states, each section is necessarily full of capsule information, and no useful maps. (the state map of MA, for example, doesn't even show some of the towns mentioned in the text, or show where sites are located in relation to each other) It's basically a useful list with phone numbers, addresses and hours. The authors assume that the reader will have maps available, since written directions are nonexistent. So, I'm not sure if this a travel guide for native New Englanders, or visitors. Either way, it's damned inconvenient.
It did surprise me with some of the selections - like Harvard's Museum of Culture and Natural History and Myopia Polo; but coming from Boston myself, I noticed there wasn't a heck of a lot "new" in the MA section. In all fairness, it's hard to come up with new kid friendly sites in Boston. Most guidebooks cover that territory exhaustively. Restaurants are featured in each section (excellent idea) but no listing tells you how near the eateries are located to sites. Do you need to make special trips to eat out?
Another quibble I've got is that many of the sites chosen assume that readers are families with older children. However, it is angled for families going on weekends or vacations together, so I can't complain too much about the limited number of listings for those with toddlers in tow.
I sound pretty negative. I bought this book expecting to find lots more listings relevant to my needs (at this time), and am only partially satisfied. However, the authors have done their homework. You can tell that they visited the sites they mention, and that's no small thing. What they do say about the places they visited has a ring of authenticity, and I feel I can trust their word. It's hard work researching (esp with children in tow)...now if only they could fix up the flaws.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Fun Places to Go with Children in New England: 4th Edition, Over 500 Listings, Completely Revised & Updated
With its rich history and gorgeous landscapes, New England is an ideal place for family adventure and recreation. For this fully revised and updated fourth edition, authors Diane Bair and Pamela Wright suggest more than 350 terrific destinations to entertain children as well as adults. From trapping lobsters in Maine to tracking dinosaur footprints in Connecticut to dining in kid-tested restaurants in New York, Fun Places to Go with Children in New England has something for everyone. Listings are divided by region to make it easy to find whats nearby, and each entry features a brief description with all the pertinent details, including web addresses. A calendar of annual events and an index by age group make it a cinch to navigate both the book and beautiful New England.
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