Looks like we are headed to the Northeast mid-March. I am looking for recommendations for:

-Dining in Boston/Cambridge area...good food but not too pricey
-Dining/lodging in Vermont (any area but specifically Burlington, Montpelier, and the St. Johnsbury area)
-Dining/hotels/what-to-do in Montreal

Does it snow in that part of the country in mid-March? (Forgive me...I am Texan)

no nyc??

You can't go soul searching and milk cows and taste maple syrup in NYC... And it was $202 roundtrip to Boston And NYC is not a place for children...besides, I don't want to have to take your 5 dollah from you (sucky sucky)

It can snow that time period, but in any case it will be cold. You didn't say, but implied that you will have children with you. How old? I was going to recommend Auberge du Vieux-Port in Montreal, but that is more for the romantic, not with kids. Small botique hotel that we stay in when we go to Montreal in the Old Port section. When we traveled with the kid, we stayed at the Sheraton Four Points (during the Jazz Festival) which is downtown near UQAM and easy access to everywhere on the metro.

The child is 5 but she is well-behaved in bed and breakfasts as well as stunned.

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And NYC is not a place for children.

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Say what??? You're crazy. That is simply one of the wackiest things that I have ever read on this board. Sorry for the thread drift, as this is about Boston, etc.

everything she stated in that reply was crazy. maybe i'd have to throw in an extra $5, but i can think of a few ways to taste maple syrup here...

if you are into mussels and Belgian beer in particular, I can rec you a great place in Montreal

If you fancy Greek or Portugese food which won't break your vallet - I have few rec's for Montreal as well.

Montreal is a great place for ethnic food, reminds me a "mini-New York".

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When I go to NYC...I want to do places like Babbo, One if By Land Two if by Sea, Tao...cigar lounges, Broadway shows...stuff that small children can't sit through.

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I take my daughter to Babbo every year right after Thanksgiving. We have done so since she was 5. It is her absolute favorite restaurant.

And if kids can't sit through The Lion King; Beauty and the Beast; Tarzan; The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, (or any of the family-oriented Radio City Shows for that matter); a trip to the Statue of Liberty; Ellis Island; a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park; a show at the Hayden Planiterium; a trip to the top of the Empire State Building; or a few hours at FAO Schwartz, then the kids don't deserve to travel.

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BTW, why do they call Vermont "New England?" It is a completely separate state...

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Please tell me that you are kidding. Seriously.

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Does it snow in that part of the country in mid-March?

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March, while not the coldest winter month, is statistically the wettest. At least in New England. So if that moisture is combined with a cold front, you can get lots and lots of snow. You have a far greater chance of a blizzard in March than you do in January or February. Thick, heavy snow that can be a mess. But if the moisture is coupled with moderate temperatures, you simply have a one inch rain storm. In Montreal, the odds of having moderate temperatures in March are slim. But Montreal is drier, so the chances of snow diminish.

BAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAA

There are plenty of places in NYS to taste maple syrup as we are the 4th largest producer of maple syrup in the world with 1,500 producers with an output of 250,000 gallons.
http://www.mapleweekend.com/maple_sunday_news.html


Everyone forgets that NY is a huge state with vast agricultural holdings. #2 in apples etc.. not quite Texas sized but not all concrete either.,

Boston high end Hotel:
XV Beacon
The Jury's

Montreal:
Hyatt Regency
W

Burlington:
There is a Sheraton or you can stay downtown at what I think is a Hyatt?

It will probably be cold in Boston in March, but you should take you daughter to the Commons to see the "Make Way for Ducklings" statutes, be sure to ride the MTA (it is definitely different than most subways) go to some of the fine museaums, etc.

In Montreal, especially with a child, I'd recommend eating in the Old Port section. We loved it and my son (who was young at the time, about 8) loved pretending he was in Paris. Several places we ate that we enjoyed were:

Restaurant Du Vieux Port, seafood, steaks, pasta, etc., good wine list, good service, not so fancy that a child would be unwelcome. Try to get a table with a view of the street. The last time I ate there they had a jazz trio playing during dinner.

Modavie Resto-Bar has a nice view of the street. We had a very nice lunch there, the service was good, and the food tasty. Runs to sandwiches, grilled food, and pastas at lunch. Didn't have dinner there and I understand the menu has been expanded. A good place to go for a not so fancy meal yet still get very good food. Good soup too.

Chez Queux. It has been several years but what a wonderful wine list!! We were there in October so we were able to just walk in and get table for two at 8:00pm on a Sunday evening, I would think that March would be the same. Great meal and the deserts are everything you could wish for in a great French restaurant. The service was discrete, efficient, and very friendly. The owner checked to see that we were enjoying the meal and the wine steward was very helpful without being pretentious. We had a very romantic, wonderful dinner.

Much as I hate to say it, I have never found a Chinese restaurant in Montreal that I would recommend which is unfortunate since I love Chinese food and find Chinese restaurants the best place to take a small child.

You want Chinese, go to Vancouver.

-Al