After spending a week with friends in a
beautiful home on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire
(more on that later)…
my husband and I drove just north of Boston
to the coastal town of Rockport, Massachusetts.
Lots of quaint shops and restaurants…
touristy, but I had never been there and loved it.
Then, on the advice from Steve of “Urban Cottage” here,
we went to Essex and visited some of his favorite antique shops.
Also recommended by Steve, was Woodman’s
for lobster and fried clams.
We thought the line was long when we got there…
but as we approached the front and looked back
…it was over a block long!
It was Father’s Day and obviously a local institution.
My husband loved it (thanks, Steve).
After lunch, we headed into Boston and checked into our hotel,
The Taj Boston.
Classic comfort and
it was nice to have a view of the park.
We walked around the neighborhood and saw this pretty building…
Interestingly, a Restoration Hardware store is housed in the
former Museum of Natural History.
They sell fresh and natural flowers…
mixed side by side, so it was difficult to the
real from the artificial
(great idea to expand your fresh floral arrangements).
The interiors are spectacular.
Framing anything “en masse”,
such as these music pages, is dramatic.
I liked seeing the view of the old church
through the large windows.
Fun idea to frame botanicals between glass so that the wall color shows through as a mat.
And framing old album covers would be great in
a teen’s room or Man Cave.
In the basement, there are childrens’ and babies’ furnishings.
Cool map wallpaper with an African theme and
charming French furniture in rose and taupe for a girl’s room.
That night, we had a delicious dinner with my niece at
It was moving to hear her account of the
Boston Marathon Tragedy as a local resident.
She was proud of the citizens of Boston
with their tenacity and positive attitude.
The next day, we had a gorgeous walk through the gardens of the Boston Commons.
I admired the color schemes of the townhouses
overlooking the park.
Notice the black mullions, red brick
and the tidy landscaping.
We have such a tiny front “yard” in Newport Beach…
this is inspiring me to make the most of it.
More dark mullions…I like the look.
Two beautiful days in the Boston area!
Now, back to the west coast.
Thanks for visiting.
Both of your trips looked like a lot of fun! I've never been north of NY on the east coast, but some day I'd love to visit some beach towns and check out all the cute little stores and antique shops.
I'm with you on the dark mullions, by the way. I had mine manufactured in cranberry to go with my Craftsman home's color scheme when we built, but black has always been a favorite.
I'm glad you loved my hometown! The building that now houses RH used to house Louis (a nice men's store, though I think they carried women's stuff too) and before that, it was Bonwit Teller. That was where all the fancy ladies shopped when I was a little girl. And I think there also was a Ralph Lauren store in that building after Louis closed? Anyway, I have fond memories of being in there as a child. It is a beautiful building.
I love Boston…have not been there in years. Such a perfect time to go also!
This is where I live! I'm so glad you visited & that you had some oysters too! Isnt the Restoration Hardware just wild? It used to be an even better store called Louis Boston and there was a chic little restaurant there too – they've since moved to the waterfront. Love seeing your photos!
I went to Boston many, many years ago and don't remember much other than I have never been so cold in my whole life! (including Alaska!) Your pictures have me thinking that it deserves a second chance! x Sharon
I am so glad you had a wonderful time here (and good weather!!) You packed a lot in in two days!
I love Boston and the surrounding area…we used to travel there twice a year. Now we haven't been in ages. Steve was right about the lobster roll place!! Thanks for letting us tag along…would love to go this fall!!
It looks like you had a wonderful time in beautiful Boston! So many places to explore…you'd need months to see them all! I was there a couple of years ago and remember some of those amazing town homes and thinking I'd love to live in one!
Glad you're back and thanks for sharing your trip with us!
Oh Mary Ann, I wish I had known! THE only place to go for lobster is in Rockport, The Lobster Pool!!! You can sit at a picnic table, or bring your own chairs,bring your own wine, order a lobster, and watch the sun set. I've done posts about it, and we're going back there in July. A family favorite, for sure! My sister lives up there and it is just a beautiful part of the country!!
Your shopping adventures are my absolute fave! I gotta get outa here and get my shop on somewhere great too! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Such a gorgeous city and I like the quaint little shops and restaurants. I've never been sadly, however it's on my bucket list:) thanks for sharing your photos!
xxleslie
Mary Ann, I wish I had known you were in the neighborhood! Glad you had a nice trip. Boston is beautiful, isn't it?
Susan
http://simplymodernhome.com/
Looks like a wonderful trip…have a great time..
What a fun tour! I have never been to Boston so I love seeing your take on the places similar to where I would want to go. Love your pictures and those planters outside the brownstone! wow. Have a lovely weekend.
xo Nancy
Sat. I'm posting a quickie on my Rowan beads- I love them!
Love Boston. When my son was in college there..I looked for any excuse to get up there. If he had a cold I was volunteering to go "take care of him". You can imagine the eye rolling that accompanied my request to visit:) Beautiful city, so much to do…and looks like you captured the best!
Looks like a wonderful trip, Mary Ann! Would love to visit Boston soon!
I have been wanting to take a Boston trip the last two summers but has not happened. Thanks for the tour, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Lovely! We are headed to Boston this summer hopefully to catch a Red Socks game! Looks like a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing!
What a fun viist. We love Boston and were just at the Taj a few weekends ago for my sons graduation. Boston is such a fun city.
You covered a lot of territory during your trip- almost felt like I was there! I love all the beautiful architecture!
Mimi@A House Romance
I love Boston, and so need a trip back…great museums and walking trails. What an amazing RH…love the picture galleries!!
Boston is a very nice city. I was there when I was a teenager and told my parents that I wanted to live there one day. I remember my dad saying that I'd better earn a lot of money because it's very expensive. Thanks for the tour. Can't wait to see pics from NH. When I was a teenager, we vacationed at Little Squam Lake which is right near Lake Winnipesaukee. Beautiful part of the country!
Claudia
Hi Mary Ann,
Haven't been to Boston since 1985, funny I remember the drivers there being horrible! We went to Rockport as well… What a gorgeous R.H. store. Thanks for sharing all the beautiful photos. Love the one of the Boston Commons!
Linda in S.D.
So fun traveling along with you! Great images!!
Kathysue
Such beautiful pictures! That RH store is awesome. They really know how to showcase their stuff.
What a beautiful trip. I love Boston. You did a lot in two days.
Looks like a nice place to see beautiful things and eat great food. It's appropiate that RH is housed in a former museum since the stores are now more like museums than stores…at least the one here in LA is. You really feel like you are in a museum of pretty, ancient things. Can't help but think that most everything in RH is so trendy and overpriced that that will soon be over….but that's another topic.
Boston is so pretty….so much to see there. Looks like a great couple of days 🙂
Yeah, Rockport. It's got some pretty coastal scenery but the shops are kind of a missed opportunity. Perhaps it's what the general tourist population wants. It is getting a little better though. I'm glad you were able to make it to Essex and Woodman's. This are is all very charming New England.
Also glad you made it to RH. I would have mentioned it if I knew you were staying in Boston. Despite what you think about their furniture, it's worth a visit just to see the incredible space.
I hope you had a nice time in my neck of the woods!
Yes, the space that Restoration Hardware is in looks amazing! I don't care for their product line in general (I miss the old look), but I'd love to tour that building they're housed in.
I have always loved the "humaness" of this city.
Sounds like you had a fabulous time and looks like you had gorgeous weather! Love going back East…
Thanks you for sharing these gorgeous images. I LOVE RH stores, and this one is fabulous!!
Such a nice hotel you visited, and would have loved to shop in the antique stores.
Teresa
xoxo
Thanks Mary Ann, I've always wanted to visit Boston and your photos gave me a beautiful slice of the area. I'm so glad you had such a lovely trip.
Leslie aka gwen moss
Ohhhh, I'm so jealous. Thanks for the beautiful tour of Boston. Everything looks so fresh and lush. Love the window boxes11! Great pictures.