| The flight path into Logan Airport in Boston gives a | | | | to make the easy walk to Long Wharf. The IMAX |
| birds eye view of the Civil War era stone fort and | | | | Theater is another great complex at the same |
| star-shaped prison, Fort Warren on Georges Island | | | | wharf, or pick up the hourly Boston Trolley tour, or |
| (one of the Boston Islands), guarding one of the | | | | walk The Freedom Trail further on to Fanueil Hall |
| most famous harbors in the world - Boston Harbor - | | | | where the patriots voiced treason with a split from |
| once plied by Clipper Ships, frigates, and revolutionary | | | | the Brits. |
| privateers. The oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. | | | | Other packages grant free admission for the family |
| Navy, - the U.S.S. Constitution - sails out to the fort | | | | to the the Children's Museum. All packages allow the |
| once a year - on the 4th of July. | | | | use of the Seaport's Health Club. |
| Boston is really where the patriots fomented their | | | | My favorite Seaport Hotel package is the "Wedding |
| philosophies and oratories to fire up and forge a new | | | | of Jacqueline Beuvier to John F. Kennedy Package" |
| nation on a new continent. But the natives to the | | | | that is presented in conjunction with the John F. |
| region once lived on the Boston Islands long before | | | | Kennedy Library in Boston; 2003 celebrates the 50th |
| battle cries were in the air. | | | | anniversary of their wedding (they were actually |
| I was on my own tea party - at one of Boston's | | | | married only 10 years), so the package probably |
| most prestigious hotels in the newly renovated Old | | | | won't be repeated. You should visit the library |
| Boston Harbor area. The Seaport Hotel is ranked as | | | | museum for the exhibit, where you will see Jackie's |
| one of the best places to stay according to readers | | | | wedding dress, her emerald and diamond |
| who placed it on the Gold List in the 2003 | | | | engagement ring, and color footage of the reception. |
| Condé Naste Traveler Magazine poll. | | | | The Seaport also offers "Weekend Fitness Escapes", |
| The best way to get from Logan Airport to the | | | | "Romance Packages", a "Commuter's Rest Package" |
| Seaport Hotel is by sea - on the city water taxi | | | | and a "Grandparents Getaway Package", but I am |
| ($10), but you have to jump on the Checkerboard | | | | certain the sales staff is creating even other |
| Fleet tender because it is the only one that goes to | | | | packages for your pleasure. |
| the old wharf area. The Checkerboard Fleet has the | | | | I am always interested in anything nautical, so the |
| most Boston Bay stops from the Harborside Hyatt | | | | appeal of the "Spirit of Boston Cruise Package" |
| where you embark, with direct service to the entire | | | | piqued my interest. You dine and dance the night on |
| Boston waterfront: | | | | the luxurious private yacht Spirit of Boston, cruising |
| The Checkerboard Fleet services Anthony's Pier 4, | | | | the inner Boston Harbor. Maybe you will get a chance |
| Fan Pier, U.S. Courthouse, Barking Crab Restaurant, | | | | to toss tea overboard. Then you stay overnight at |
| Museum Wharf/Congress Street, Long Wharf at | | | | the Seaport Hotel with full buffet breakfast in the |
| Christopher Columbus Park (the main wharf for | | | | morning. |
| downtown Boston), Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, Louis | | | | I was checking my email in the "off the lobby" kiosk's |
| Wharf, Burroughs Wharf, North Station/Fleet Center, | | | | solo computer when I learned of the Seaport Hotel's |
| Constitution Marina and the U.S.S. Constitution | | | | separate 24-hour business center with high speed |
| (berthed in Charlestown), Shipyard Quarters Marina, | | | | internet access. Then I found out each room is |
| and the Boston Boat Yard and Marina. Call the fleet | | | | complete with a dataport, and the hotel has gone |
| at 617/422-0392 or catch the Harborside Hyatt | | | | wireless. |
| airport ground shuttle to the docks, ring the big brass | | | | Well, hi WiFi. No need for the 24-hour Concierge, |
| bell, and the taxi pulls up right to the watery curb. | | | | except I still like the personal touch when arranging |
| The boats even service the FleetBoston Pavilion | | | | sailing trips because the concierge knows the |
| steps from the Seaport Hotel where I caught the | | | | skippers personally. |
| performance of Jack Johnson the first night I was in | | | | The Seaport offers a few transportation options for |
| town. Conventioneers attending conferences at the | | | | guests interested in visiting other areas of Boston. |
| World Trade Center across the street from the | | | | The South Station shuttle, which runs Monday - |
| Seaport Hotel are offered easy access to a superb | | | | Friday, providing convenient access to the MBTA's |
| hotel setting. For return visits to the airport, the | | | | red line subway and from there, they can connect to |
| doorman, concierge, or hotel front desk can order a | | | | the green and orange lines. Additionally, the Seaport |
| a tender to pick you uo. | | | | Hotel operates a shuttle on Saturdays going to South |
| Beantown native and taxi driver (sailor?), Bill, pointed | | | | Station and Faneuil Hall. The Concierge can make |
| out the Seaport Hotel from the water's edge. The | | | | arrangements for other private ground |
| Boston Harbor and wharf area has been undergoing a | | | | transportation, including service by BostonCoach. The |
| tremendous refit, renovation, and refurbishing, and | | | | water shuttle, operated in partnership with the |
| although the Seaport Hotel is quite new (opened May | | | | MBTA, leaves from the World Trade Center and |
| 1, 1998), the Federalist Revival architectural style | | | | stops at the U.S. Courthouse (providing access to the |
| makes the 17-story tower a seamless blend with the | | | | Children's Museum and Tea Party Ship), and Lovejoy |
| older warehouse brickwork. I enjoy places that do | | | | Wharf (access to the North End and other historical |
| not become garish from their surroundings, and it is | | | | monuments). |
| evident that much thought went into the hotel's | | | | I felt it was time to check out the old historic |
| planning. | | | | waterfront that has seen centuries of use. Everyone |
| I reasoned that the Seaport Hotel's proximity to the | | | | at the hotel is knowledgeable of their neighborhood. |
| World Trade Center across the street was why it | | | | The bellman directed me to the East Wharf area to |
| has been bestowed all those "best of" award, | | | | find out his favorite local "No Name Restaurant". |
| including: "The Pinnacle Award" from Successful | | | | After a dark walk down a cobblestoned quay |
| Meetings Magazine; "The Inner Circle Award" from | | | | stretching the length of long rows of brick |
| Associations Meetings Magazine; "The Excellence of | | | | warehouses, I found the second story fishery |
| the East Award" from Meetings East Magazine; "The | | | | packed with locals crowding in before the |
| Planner's Choice Award; and "The Gold Key Award" | | | | FleetBoston arena concert beating in the nightscape |
| from Meetings and Conventions Magazine. | | | | background. I found a stool quickly at the bar and |
| The World Trade Center juts over the water | | | | ordered the famous clam chowder from "Pop" who |
| offering 250,000 feet of exhibition space, with the | | | | has been serving drinks here since the revolt. |
| 425-guest room Seaport Hotel offering an additional | | | | After the FleetBoston concert I relaxed in the |
| 17,000 total square feet of convention space and a | | | | Seaport's lobby lounge bar near the 4-Diamond, |
| luxurious 8,200 square foot ballroom. You can even | | | | 110-seat, non-smoking, Aura Restaurant. The Aura is |
| register at the hotel at the World Trade Center. How | | | | a signature cuisine winner in Boston, allowing kids |
| is that for convenient? The hotel offers expert | | | | under 12 free dining with adults with the "Vacation By |
| meeting planning staff with ResourcePlus services. | | | | The Sea Package". |
| The hotel is also close to Boston's financial district | | | | Aura Executive Chef John Merrill grew up on Long |
| (guests receive complimentary shuttle service), | | | | Island, New York, and has been a fish cutter since his |
| Most of these awards were granted for the | | | | teens. After degrees at the Culinary Institute of |
| Seaport's high level of service, quality of food and | | | | America in Hartford, Connecticut, he served as |
| beverage, flexible function space, and good value on | | | | Rounds Cook, Sous Chef and Banquet Chef for |
| room rates. But I found that the hotel is also a great | | | | many prestigious resorts on the East Coast, including |
| family destination getaway. | | | | the Reach Resort in Key West, Florida, and the |
| Upon check in the front desk issues kids swim | | | | Boston Harbor Hotel, where he was the Garde |
| goggles, a sea themed gift, and Ben and Jerry's Phish | | | | Manage Chef. Since the Seaport's 1998 opening Chef |
| Food ice cream - delivered to your room, with the | | | | Merrill has been creating many award winning culinary |
| "Vacation By The Sea Package". The kids will love | | | | presentations with elegant dining overlooking the |
| the pool in the Health Center - it has piped in | | | | harbor lights. |
| underwater music! | | | | He selects specialty New England farmers and |
| The hotel has developed various vacation packages, | | | | purveyors for fresh homegrown ingredients that are |
| including a late June to after Labor Day "Vacation By | | | | blended splendidly into wonderful textures and |
| The Sea" offer that comes with a four pack of | | | | flavors. You may have caught him on "Ready, Set, |
| tickets to the New England Aquarium, with | | | | Cook" on the Food Network, or at the Boston Wine |
| complimentary water taxi for those that don't want | | | | Expo, which the Seaport Hotel sponsors. |