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American Airlines Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Boston (BOS)
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on American Airlines, which operates a daily non-stop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Boston (BOS) regularly scheduled to depart at 11:25pm and arrive at 7:50am, and one additional non-stop flight regularly scheduled to depart at 2:25pm and arrive at 10:50pm, everyday except Saturday. Usually a Boeing 757 is flown for this route, with in-seat power sources available. Generally, a movie is offered on this route, as well as audio programming. The average travel time from San Francisco, CA to Boston, MA is 5 hours and 25 minutes.
During your Boston vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
USS Constitution
"Old Ironsides," one of the U.S. Navy's six original frigates, never lost a battle. The ship was constructed in the North End from 1794 to 1797 at a cost of $302,718, using bolts, spikes, and other fittings from Paul Revere's foundry. Constitution played a key role as the new nation built its naval and military reputation, battling French privateers and Barbary pirates, repelling the British fleet during the War of 1812, participating in 40 engagements, and capturing 20 vessels. The frigate earned its nickname during an engagement on August 19, 1812, when shots from HMS Guerriere bounced off its thick oak hull as if it were iron. Today, the active-duty sailors who lead tours wear 1812 dress uniforms.Retired from combat in 1815, Constitution was rescued from destruction when Oliver Wendell Holmes's poem Old Ironsides launched a preservation movement in 1830. The frigate was completely overhauled for its bicentennial in 1997, when it sailed under its own power for the first time since 1881, drawing international attention. Tugs tow Constitution into the harbor every Fourth of July for its celebratory "turnaround cruise" (the vessel must be turned regularly to ensure that it weathers evenly).To continue on the Freedom Trail: Walk straight ahead to the museum entrance.Security On "Old Ironsides"--The Charlestown Navy Yard, home to USS Constitution and the Constitution Museum, is an active military base. Expect to have your bags searched at the gate or at the access point for "Old Ironsides," where you'll probably have to pass through a metal detector. And call ahead if the national terror alert is high; the navy yard closes to civilians at the first sign of a serious threat.
Old North Church
Officially named Christ Church, this is the oldest church building in Boston (1723). The building is in the style of Sir Christopher Wren. In the original steeple, sexton Robert Newman hung two lanterns on the night of April 18, 1775, to signal Paul Revere that British troops were setting out for Lexington and Concord in boats across the Charles River, not on foot ("One if by land, and two if by sea"). The steeple fell in hurricanes in 1804 and 1954; the current version is an exact copy of the original. The 190-foot spire, long a reference point for sailors, appears on navigational charts to this day. And how's this for a coincidence: Newman was a great-grandson of George Burroughs, one of the victims of the Salem witch trials of 1692.Members of the Revere family attended this church (a plaque is on pew 54); famous visitors have included Presidents James Monroe, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Gerald R. Ford, and Queen Elizabeth II. There are markers and plaques throughout; note the bust of George Washington, reputedly the first memorial to the first president. The gardens on the north side of the church (dotted with more plaques) are open to the public. On the south side of the church, volunteers maintain an 18th-century garden. Proceeds from the quirky gift shop and museum go to support the church.Free tours of the church begin every 15 minutes. The 50-minute behind-the-scenes tour ($8 adults, $5 children under 17) includes visits to the steeple and the crypt. Tours are available on weekdays and on weekend afternoons from June to mid-August, and the rest of the year by appointment. Reservations are recommended.To continue on the Freedom Trail: Cross Salem Street onto Hull Street, and walk uphill toward Copp's Hill Burying Ground. On the left you'll pass 44 Hull St., a private residence that's the narrowest (10 ft. wide) house in Boston.
Children's Museum
As you approach the Children's Museum, don't be surprised to see adults suddenly being dragged by the hand when their young companions realize how close they are and start running. You know that the museum is near when you see the 40-foot-high red-and-white milk bottle out front. It makes both children and adults look small in comparison -- which is probably part of the point. No matter how old, everyone behaves like a little kid at this delightful museum.Children under 11 are the museum's target audience. They can stick with their adults or wander on their own, learning, doing, and role-playing. A two-story-high maze, the New Balance Climb & Construction Zone, calls on motor skills and problem-solving abilities. Other favorite hands-on exhibits include Grandparents' Attic, a souped-up version of playing dress-up at Grandma's; physical experiments (such as creating giant soap bubbles) in Science Playground; and Boats Afloat, which has an 800-gallon play tank and a replica of the bridge of a working boat. You can explore Supermercado, a marketplace that introduces Hispanic culture; Boston Black, a new exhibit that celebrates Boston's black history and culture; and a Japanese house from Kyoto (Boston's sister city). Children under 4 and their caregivers have a special room, Playspace, that's packed with toys and activities.Call or surf ahead for information about traveling exhibitions and special programs. And be sure to check out the excellent gift shop (as if you have a choice).
Make your reservations for discount hotel rooms in the
Boston area, including:
Howard Johnson Inn
This motel is as close to Fenway Park as you can get without buying a ticket. The outdoor pool makes it particularly attractive to vacationing families. The rooms are of a decent size, and some have microwaves and refrigerators (convenient if you plan to eat some meals in). The location, a busy street in a commercial-residential neighborhood, is convenient to the Back Bay, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, but not all that close to public transit -- a consideration when you're hauling kids through the summer heat. During baseball season, guests contend with crowded sidewalks and the raucous Red Sox fans who flood the area.
Boston Park Plaza Hotel
A Boston mainstay -- it was built as the Statler Hilton in 1927 -- the Park Plaza Hotel does a hopping convention and function business. It's the antithesis of generic, with an old-fashioned atmosphere and a cavernous, ornate lobby, yet it offers modern comforts. A $60 million renovation completed in 2001 updated the hotel throughout, and new furniture, accessories, carpets, and bathtubs now grace the guest rooms. The least expensive units are quite small; if you're not a crash-and-dash traveler, the extra space might be worth the extra money. Don't expect personalized service in a hotel this large -- the typical guest is busy with convention activities or meetings. The lobby of the 15-story building is a little commercial hub, with a travel agency, pharmacy, currency exchange, and Amtrak and airline ticket offices.
Charlesmark Hotel
In an excellent location overlooking the Boston Marathon finish line, the Charlesmark has a boutique feel and great prices. It's both luxurious and -- literally, not figuratively -- no frills. The sleek, contemporary design evokes a yacht, using custom furnishings to pack plenty of comfort into the compact spaces of the 1886 building. While the rooms are small, they have enough space to hold a comfortable chair. Plus, beds have pillow-top mattresses. The amenities don't challenge the perks of the large hotels in this neighborhood, but they're more than sufficient for most business or leisure travelers. The second-floor lobby holds a computer and printer for guests' use. Breakfast is included in the rates, and light refreshments such as bottled water and fruit are always available at no charge, part of management's policy not to pile a lot of incidentals onto your bill (the same rationale applies to the free local phone calls). The only real drawback is that the building has just one elevator -- and if that's your biggest problem, you're doing pretty well.
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