一月中要去東岸的Rhode Island, 參加我公公結第三次婚的喜宴 (對, 你沒看錯, 是第三次), 每次去東岸都是去拜訪馬克家人 (像是Family Reunion, 他母親六十大壽, 他爸結婚等等), 所以我對東岸的印象僅止於他父母和親友的 "家", 因此我是能不回去就不回去, 每次他的父母抱怨我們都不回去探望, 我就說: 我也不記得馬克上次回台灣探望我家人是何時的事, 我們東岸還算去的勤了. 通常他們就會閉嘴. 何況東岸的冬天不就是積雪冷的要死, 怕冷的我,想到出門就懶, 結果整天關在不同親友的家從事社交談話, 也實在太累了, 因為我不會裝, 也不想裝, 聽著他們言不及意的話題就倒胃口.

唉呀, 這篇不是要來抱怨的啦, 是想把我最近查有關東岸波士頓(Boston), 新港(Newport), 羅德島(Rhode Island)這幾區的旅遊資料貼上來分享的啦. 如果各位知道冬天的這幾區有什麼好玩和好吃的, 也別忘留言告訴我喔!

另外, 我也順便對租車(Rental Car)公司的費率做個比較. 以Hertz這
家公司為例, 你可知道, 直接在他們公司網上租車, 要比透過其他公司訂他們家的車要貴的多! 我是National Association of
Realtors (NAR)的會員, 也是Costco, AAA的會員, 我以相同的租車日期, 取還車地點下去估價, 以同一款車(Ford
Focus)來說, 最便宜的是NAR, 其次是Costco (二者只差二塊), 再其次Orbitz (只比上述二者貴六到八塊), 再來是AAA, 最貴的就是Hertz! 下次當你需要租車或是訂機票時, 別忘了看看你皮夾內的會員卡, 也許可以幫你省下更多的錢!

Top 10 Must-See Sights in Boston

1. The Freedom Trail
A walk along the two-and-a-half-mile Freedom Trail is one of the best ways to get acquainted with Boston and to efficiently visit the city’s bounty of historic landmarks. If you’re in a hurry and in pretty good shape, you can cover the length of the trail in as little as an hour, but that won’t really allow you the time to stop and visit any of the sites along the way. Your best bet is to allow three hours or more to walk the trail at a leisurely pace and see all of its Revolutionary landmarks.

2. Boston Public Garden
Boston Public Garden, located along Charles Street adjacent to Boston Common, is the nation’s oldest botanical garden. The famous Swan Boats have returned to Boston Public Garden each spring since they were first invented in 1877 by Robert Paget. The business, which operates from mid-April through mid-September, is still operated by descendants of the boats’ inventor. When winter arrives, the pond is open to ice skaters.

3. Quincy Market
Most people know it as Quincy Market, although its official name is the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Whatever you call it, this indoor-outdoor market is a great place for both shopping and dining.

4. Fenway Park
On a sunshine-filled summer afternoon, there is perhaps no better place to be in all of New England than Fenway Park, historic home of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox. Baseball fans have been energized and agonized by the exploits of some of baseball’s greatest players at Fenway since 1912. If you can’t score tickets to a Red Sox game, look into behind the scenes tours of Fenway Park.

5. Museum of Science
Boston’s museums are as good as any you’ll find in the world, and the most visited one is the Museum of Science at Science Park. It has more than 400 interactive exhibits including my favorite–the Virtual Fish Tank, an IMAX theater and a planetarium. Take the kids!

6. Cheers Boston (formerly the Bull & Finch Pub)
Famous as the inspiration for the television show Cheers, the former Bull & Finch Pub, now officially known as Cheers Boston, is located in Boston’s Beacon Hill District. It’s definitely a tourist trap with souvenirs galore for sale and overpriced pub food, but it’s still one of those places that fans of the show make a beeline for when they’re in Boston.

7. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The MFA is New England’s largest art museum. It is known for its collection of works by Claude Monet–the largest assemblage of paintings by the French Impressionist outside of France. It is also home to spectacular changing exhibitions that never fail to attract attention.

8. Filene’s Basement
If you’re a bargain shopper, there’s still nothing quite like the thrill of taking the escalator down into the belly of the original Filene’s Basement, where the deals may be hit or miss, but the crowds are always a sure thing. Founded in 1908 by Edward A. Filene, the basement concept was an innovative way to sell off excess goods from the family’s department store upstairs. Note: Filene’s Basement will close its flagship Boston store from fall 2007 through early 2009 while the Downtown Crossing Building undergoes extensive renovations.

9. New England Aquarium
Want to see sea lions smile and penguins play? Head to the New England Aquarium, one of Boston’s perpetually popular family attractions. Once inside, you’ll find yourself immersed in a watery world, where you can wave your flippers at cavorting sea lions and press your nose right up against the glass of the poisonous fish tank–if you dare!

10. Sam Adams Brewery
These days, Samuel Adams is known as much for being a brewer as a Patriot. Tour the Sam Adams Brewery in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston for a glimpse at the microbrewery’s beer-making process and a sample of the finished product. The brewery is also home to the Boston Beer Museum.

Top 7 Most Unique Tours of Boston

1. Boston Duck Tours
What’s a Duck Tour? Good question! You’ll tour Boston’s roads and waters in a "duck," a World War II-era amphibious vehicle. Your tour guide will probably tell a few jokes that will quack you up, too.

2. Boston North End Market Tours
Michele Topor leads Boston visitors on culinary adventures in the city’s Italian North End. If you consider yourself a foodie, don’t leave Boston without booking a spot on this gourmet stroll and behind-the-scenes tour of the North End’s markets and eateries.

3. New England Ghost Tours
The Boston Spirits Walking Tour offered by New England Ghost Tours is an opportunity to see the city at night and to delve into its dark and mysterious crevasses. If you like tales of ghosts and want to visit cemeteries and learn who haunts Boston, this is the tour for you.

4. Talking Street Cell Phone Tour of Boston
Aerosmith lead singer and Massachusetts native Steven Tyler is at your call to show you around town. At your cell phone call, that is. The Talking Street cell phone tour of Boston costs just $5.95 (not including your cell phone air time) and features the voice of one of the city’s best-known rockers.

5. Boston PhotoWalks
Don’t just see Boston. Capture incredible images of your visit to the city’s historic landmarks by participating in a PhotoWalks tour. You’ll learn creative ways to use your camera and visit some of the city’s most photogenic spots.

6. Boston Private Tours
Boston Private Tours is a small tour outfit that will pick you up at your hotel and provide you with a customized city tour tailored to your interests. If you want to see Boston in your own time and on your own terms, this may be the option for you.

7. Boston Movie Tours
Follow in the footsteps of actors and actresses on a guided walking tour of Boston’s "Movie Mile," or board the "Theater-on-Wheels" for a 2-1/2-hour tour of Boston movie and television filming locations. Hundreds of TV shows and films have been shot or set in Boston, and you’ll visit locations connected with The Departed, Good Will Hunting, Mystic River, Ally McBeal and more.

Other useful links:

New England Vacations Guide
Boston USA
Panorama  The Official guide to Boston
Bean Town Trolley 
Old Town Trolley
CityView Trolley 

24 Tours in Rhode Island
Newport Travel Guide
Go Newport 
Newport Mansions   
Rhode Island Monthly