Boston and Newburyport

Boston

My cousin invited us to her October wedding in Newburyport, Massachusetts and we couldn’t wait to see her and explore the quaint coastal town. Knowing that we were flying into Boston, we couldn’t resist the chance to revisit the area for a few hours before it was time to settle in our condo in Newburyport.

Boston was gray with a slight drizzle, due to a departing Nor’easter, but we didn’t let it dampen our spirits. We were sticking to our plans to hit all of our old stomping grounds from a previous visit in 2009.

North End

In November of 2009, we rented an apartment through Airbnb located in the heart of the North End for five days. The North End is Boston’s Little Italy and Italian fare is our absolute favorite. Excited to begin our eating journey, Pauli’s was up first for a delicious breakfast sandwich and a warm friendly welcoming.

A Cappuccino and conversation at Caffe Paradiso was one that we anticipated the most. The barista had told us back in 2009 when we frequented the place for a few days in a row, that he never forgets a face so we put him to the test. Guess what? He didn’t remember us. Oh well! It was still nice to stop in and see the place after ten years and enjoy a coffee at the bar. A croissant with apricot jam filling caught our eye on the menu, but unfortunately it didn’t compare to the homemade ones that we had each morning at La Planca in Giudecca, Italy.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

No Boston trip is complete without checking out Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall for some shopping and dining. You should definitely check out The Leather Shop in Faneuil Hall for high end leather products at affordable prices. I bought a leather tote with my initials and the shop had it ready for pick-up when we returned to Boston for our flight home.

After a little retail therapy it was time for a bowl of delicious clam chowder with a side of cornbread at Union Oyster House which was perfect for a windy, rainy day.

After our morning fun we became tired of pushing our carry-on luggage in the blustery wind and rain. It was time to get out of the weather and travel to our Airbnb in Newburyport! Comparing the subway, Uber and Lyft we found Lyft was the cheapest and most comfortable transportation option.

Newburyport

The Lyft dropped us off at our Airbnb in this cute coastal town. Airbnb’s are normally cheaper and have more character than a hotel…remember, living like a local feels more like home.

The trees had started to turn colors and despite the rain, we couldn’t wait to explore this beautiful new territory. This was the destination of the wedding that was scheduled for Saturday and our condo was within walking distance of the reception site.

The town is so adorable and the buildings and brick streets are extremely well maintained. We stopped in a few gift shops as we made our way to the harbor.

Gray skies, wind, and choppy water greeted us at the harbor.

After exploring the local scene, the Port Tavern was a no-brainer with it’s warm and friendly atmosphere.

Wedding day

Without a doubt the morning started with coffee and breakfast. This really good coffee shop made espresso drinks right near our condo called The Coffee Factory. Score!

More walking, shopping and sight-seeing was on the agenda before we had to get ready for the reception. Take a look at this group of people practicing the Wim Hof method. It would definitely get your blood pumping in the morning! It’s great to get outdoors and change up your workout routine. Although we weren’t this adventurous we did take advantage of beach yoga and stand up paddle boarding in Grand Cayman.

The Tannery Marketplace has so many cool shops with unique gifts for everyone. After shopping in so many cute women’s stores in Newburyport, Chris was happy to find A Little Bit of Naples which is an upscale resale shop for men (and reminded us of our Italy trip 🙂 ). The Marketplace is especially nice to visit on a misty Saturday morning.

The reception took place at The Grog. This a 3-story local pub with fireplaces and a cozy setting with a great selection of IPA’s. The weather cooperated so my cousin could get married outside in a park and everyone could enjoy a dry walk to meet up for dinner and celebration.

Our Final Day

Naturally, as luck would have it, the sun was shining brightly on our last day. It was perfect for one more walk around the historic downtown and waterfront.

There were many people out early to enjoy the Sunday morning sunshine. The difference in the water color from our first day to our last was remarkable.

Final Thoughts

I am sure that October is normally a beautiful time to visit Boston and Newburyport. However, as our trip shows, always check the forecast before you go so you can pack accordingly. Chris and I travel all year to a lot of Eastern U.S. cities/towns, like NYC. Ideal weather conditions are not our first concern in deciding where to go. Plan to roll with the punches and don’t let the drizzle ruin your stay.

Have you visited either or both of these places? Let us know if there is anything else to see and do in this area. Where do you go for your favorite bowl of chowder?

What is your favorite weekend getaway?

Let us know in the comments below!