The years are going by so quickly. My daughter is 16 and my son is 15. We are now looking at colleges for her, and he is settling into high school. I know my time with them is ticking away, and I listen when people tell me to count my remaining summer vacations with them as kids.
But I also actually count on all the other trips throughout the year. I know that there won't be as many together in the upcoming years. These trips with them are important to me because they encourage my kids' interest to explore the world, while also strengthening our family bond.
So I jumped at the chance to visit Boston and stay at the Royal Sonesta Boston.
Part of the reason we wanted to visit was to check out the city as a potential destination for my daughter's college years, but we didn't plan any college visits while here. Instead, this would be a family trip at its best — full of exploring and eating. After all, we're a city-loving family, and Boston has so much going on for families, from learning about history to exploring culture and food.
Royal Sonesta Boston
The Royal Sonesta Boston is located in the heart of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood and right on the Charles River. It is an easy walk from the center of town and all its historic attractions and museums, as well as Kendall Square — a new district for us to explore. The hotel, which underwent a recent renovation, was also incredibly affordable (make sure to check out the specials at the bottom of this story!) and very modern. It has a unique dedication to visual arts with its hallways doubling as art galleries and featuring original artwork from many vital and respected local contemporary artists. I kind of love a hotel that incorporates art into a stay.
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After piling into our room, the first thing we noticed was our extraordinary view of the city's skyline. That view will turn any Boston novice into a fan of the town within seconds. We all chose our beds — kids on one side, adults on the other. Our room was extremely spacious and we had all the amenities we love including WiFi access, a nice-sized TV to watch movies, and a bottle of wine (for us parents). The hotel also has a wine hour in the lobby in the afternoons. (I find that important to mention for the parents reading this article!)
The hotel's onsite restaurant, ArtBar, proved worthy of a meal or two as well: It offered plenty of healthy options and a delicious breakfast. We enjoyed blueberry ricotta pancakes and avocado toast. The kids were also happy to see a Starbucks-style cafe near the entrance, which we frequented often. We are big coffee drinkers, and our kids love their iced tea.
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Exploring town
From the hotel, we walked to the Freedom Trail, took a ride on the Swan Boats at the Boston Common, had lunch at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, took a walk around Newbury Street, and had dinner in Chinatown and gelato in the North End. Boston is so easy to get around, but it was nice having a hotel so central and convenient.
Hotel specials for families
This hotel welcomes families, which shows in the deals it offers. The Little Scientists Package, for instance, is available year-round and includes overnight accommodations for four, four tickets to Boston's Museum of Science (located just 0.3 miles from the hotel), and complimentary milk and cookies. Rates start at $229 a night.
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Planning a trip this winter? The Royal Sonesta has Christmas activities, including breakfast with Santa, with special room rates starting at $99 when booking with promo code SANTAWKD. Click here to book.
Disclosure: The author's stay and meals at the Royal Sonesta Boston were complimentary, but all opinions are her own.
