All parents know it can be very difficult to find time alone with a spouse. With three kids and a full calendar, my husband and I are lucky to get an hour together after the kids are in bed and before we crash ourselves.
My husband had a big milestone birthday this year, and I was determined to create a getaway experience for the two of us that would feel like a real escape — even though we did not have the time or budget to travel far. With that in mind, I planned a Boston staycation for the two of us. And it was an amazing weekend! Not only did it feel like a true escape — and even a little indulgent — it was not nearly as tough on the wallet as I imagined.
We stayed at the Courtyard Boston Downtown, which is on Tremont Street in the theater district — and it was perfect for us. It was totally accessible to everything — a short walk to Boston Common, a few blocks to the train (Green Line, Orange Line, and Red Line), close to all the theaters. This hotel is in the heart of Boston. There is nothing that will make you feel more removed from suburban mom life than waking up to a view of the Pru. (Yes! We had a beautiful Boston view from our hotel room.)
This hotel was clean and quiet, which was perfect for catching up on some desperately needed sleep. The breakfast buffet was great, and the staff was so kind. They knew we were celebrating a big birthday and placed some champagne and strawberries in our room the first night. And one of the best parts about this hotel was the price — it was one of the least expensive options we found in the city! We had considered staying outside of Boston because costs seemed so high, but this hotel is truly a hidden gem for the price!
Courtyard Boston Downtown also has an amazing history, which you can read about throughout the hotel. You know the lion that roars at the beginning of every MGM movie? He was brought to this hotel in 1932 when the fifth floor was used as a recording studio. The intention was to broadcast the lion’s roar, but the lion got loose and ran all around, finally being trapped in a closet!
The top floor of the hotel was once a historic Boston nightclub called The Bradford Roof. There were also some JFK moments there, including a historic meeting and several speaking events.
Our Boston staycation weekend consisted of plenty of quiet downtime at the hotel, but we also got out and about. Besides some great drinks and dinners, we went to a comedy show at the Wang Theatre at the Boch Center the first night (directly across the street from our hotel) and a Bruins game at TD Garden the second.
Our days consisted of a morning at the Museum of Fine Arts (get a library pass for a big discount), Newbury Street window shopping, walking around the Boston Public Library (a beautiful historic building that is free to tour), a Trinity Church tour, and The Prudential Center. We got ourselves a day pass for the MBTA so we could easily and affordably get around, but we did a lot of walking too.
We both came home feeling rested and revived. Even though we were in Boston and not far from home, simply being in such a different environment — where we could have some peace and quiet but could also walk around the city — truly felt like we were in another world. A Boston staycation can take some planning and coordination, but it was so worth it. For us, the trip was overdue, and I am so glad we made the effort.
