Detroit Mom’s Travel Series: Boston

Regular date nights don’t happen as much anymore for my husband and I. Between work, three kids, and busy schedules, time for just us doesn’t get prioritized like it used to. In lieu of weekly dates, we take a few 24-hour trips a year and call those our “date nights.” My husband recently had to travel to Boston for work and neither of us had been there before, so we decided to go a few days early and have our date. Some of our requirements for these quick trips are short flight times and good weather–so Boston in June was a perfect choice.

Other than my husband already needing to go to Boston for work, Fenway Park was one of two stadiums he had left to visit before he can say he’s been to every MLB stadium in the country. While I am not the baseball enthusiast my husband is, I still had a great time exploring Boston and Fenway Park. Our unique hotel was a stones throw away from Fenway. We walked some historical sites and ate some truly amazing food.

Other than the game, we tried not to make too many plans ahead of time, and it worked out perfectly. We took a 7:00 a.m. flight out of Detroit, landed around 9:00 a.m., dropped off our bags, and began our date!

Sample Itinerary for Boston

10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Savr | 150 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA | 617-553-7287
I would go back for the seared pork belly and the cinnamon vanilla french toast alone. Combine the incredible food with the seaport waterfront view and you’ve got yourself the perfect brunch spot!

12:10-12:30 p.m. | Tatte Bakery & Cafe | 200 Pier 4 Blvd, Boston, MA | 617-765-7600
Tatte, like latte! There are several gorgeous locations. This one was walking distance from where we had brunch so it made for a great place to grab a coffee and wait for our ride share. The house latte is made is honey-halva and cardamom and I’m still dreaming about it. 

1:00-4:30 p.m. | Fenway Park | 4 Jersey St, Boston, MA | 617-226-6000
Fenway Park in comparison to Comerica Park is much smaller, so it felt less over overwhelming and like you were closer to the field. Before walking into the actual stadium, the road alongside it is closed off and filled with food vendors, souvenirs, and street performers, making it a fun spot to hang out before going inside.

Another thing I noticed was a family restroom and a mother’s room, such nice features if you’re traveling with little ones! We sat in the Dell Technologies Club–the price tag was higher but our seats were fantastic. It had a beautiful restaurant and lounge to sit down in if you wanted a break from the heat and there was never a line for the bathroom. The food and drinks we ordered from our seats were delivered to us pretty quickly! 

5:30-6:30 p.m. | Quincy Market | 4 S Market St, Boston, MA | 617-523-1300
Historical, tons of shopping, street performers, and a variety of food. What more could you want? We were on a mission for one souvenir but you could easily spend hours here. 

7:00-8:30 p.m. | Hojoko | 1271 Boylston St, Boston, MA | 617-670-0507
Don’t judge a book by its cover. This place isn’t much to look at, but the food is fantastic. I highly recommend the kimchi fried rice and the spicy tuna roll!

The Hotel You’ll Love

The Verb Hotel | 1271 Boylston St, Boston, MA | 617-566-4500
This was the PERFECT hotel for our stay. It was unlike any hotel we’ve every stayed in, which made it feel even more special for our “date.” The entire hotel is deeply themed with all things rock and roll and it backs right up to Fenway Park. The walk from our room to the game was roughly three minutes.

There are traditional rooms and then what they refer to as “backstage trailers”–that’s where we stayed. We were told that staying in our own trailer was the ultimate backstage VIP experience so we went for it. Each one is uniquely themed and there was a record player and hundreds of records to choose from, sparkling and still water, beer, snacks, and a Nespresso machine.

Another bonus that we loved was that the amazing restaurant we had dinner at was at the hotel. Breakfast isn’t anything to write home about and if you’re in the pool, you’ll have an audience as the windows of the restaurant look out to it. Other than that, it was an absolute blast to stay at.

Why You Need to Plan a 24-Hour Date

I know what you’re thinking . . . traveling to have a date night seems excessive and expensive. Hear me out. Before kids, my husband and I went out to dinner twice a week or more. Plus movie nights, concerts, weekend brunch, etc., and while each one wasn’t a high-priced item, when you tally a month’s worth, it adds up. So rather than stress out about trying to make time for a date night each week, we’ve come to terms with what this season of life looks like for us and instead focus on planning a few overnight dates a year.

Yes, we still go to dinner once in a while–but these are the dates we REALLY look forward to. The ones that feel intentional and restorative to our relationship. A full day without household responsibilities or anyone interrupting us every two minutes to look at a squirrel.

Choosing your 24-Hour Date Location

Boston made sense for us because my husband already had to go for work, so we just left a day early for our date and then I came home by myself to limit childcare needs. Last summer we went to Clearwater Beach, we’ve gone to Greektown twice, and we’ve also spent a night in both Chicago and Orlando.

One requirement we have is if we fly, we stay in the city that the airport is in. When you’re only gone for a day, you want to make the most of your time. We also try to keep the weather in mind and check for events we’d want to take part in. For instance, our Chicago trip was planned around a Broadway show I wanted to see, and Orlando was planned around a food and wine festival.

Whatever you choose, keep it fun and simple. No huge suitcases to pack or tons of plans to make. Just time away to reset, recharge, and remember why you fell in love in the first place.

What’s your favorite vacation spot? Check out our previous travel series location: Alpena!