Greg and others, you are all experiencing now what we've already come to know since our first trip in 2013, and it's been confirmed and solidly engrained with each subsequent stay. As I previously hinted at on TUG (and perhaps privately to many), Custom House is without a doubt my favorite Marriott property (we've visited most of them). It's so unique. The location is perfect, within several blocks of THE places everyone wants to be. So close to the famous North End restaurants to which we walk every evening for dinner, and across the street from the T (the user-friendly Boston subway system). We use the T a good bit when headed, say, to Harvard Yard and the cafes around that area, or to browse around the shops and cafes along the cobbled streets of Beacon Hill, not to mention gawking at the gorgeous brownstones there, some of which are occupied no doubt by a few famous dignitaries and icons in American life.
So my confession may blow out of the water the perspective I seem to have created on TUG for the past 20 years, because I have been known mostly for my adoration of of Grande Ocean at Hilton Head. We still spend a lot of time there because of our 6 ownership weeks, but it's not our only destination by any means.
I must say that we have fallen head over heels in love with Boston, and Custom House in particular. The architecture is uniquely amazing, the feel of the property is special like nothing else, it's such a luxurious and comfortable place, and the list of great things to do in the immediate area are simply too numerous to list. We adore "walking the city", dining in any of the dozens of known fantastic favorite restaurants (and trying new ones), exploring and re-exploring the historical sites of the area, shopping on Newbury and Boylston Streets (and others), visiting the smaller and/or historic towns outside Boston on day or half-day trips (Concord, Lexington, Newport, and up the Maine coast), and in general basking in Boston's world-class cultural aspects which are offered in abundance.
For instance, we love the museums and we love the symphony (will be attending the Holiday Pops in 2 months). We're also prime suckers for the touristy sites along the Freedom Trail, and we never tire of seeing those. And, we simply love the people. So we will be going back this Fall for the 4th time in the last 5 years, and we are as giddy as school children in anticipation of that upcoming trip. Dinner reservations have already been secured, and I dare say that we've already loosely planned the activities for each day. Each year we plan a different type itinerary while mixing in a few old favorites. For the second straight year we're meeting up with another TUG couple whom we've grown to love for our final 2 days at Custom House, and can't wait to see them.
We even have a special friend (it would demean him now to call him our "driver" because he's become much more than that) who picks us up from the airport when we fly in, and he takes us back when we leave. He will also take us anyplace we happen to be going when we have the need---like to the Pops. We text-message each other throughout the year just for fun, and he sends special regards on random occasions like my wife's birthday or on holidays (and any other day for no good reason). Knowing him is priceless, and a big part of the reason we regard Boston as so special. It's become funny now when we're there because he seems to spot us walking along any random street during the course of his duties while carrying other clients, so he honks his horn and we immediately know it's him!
Talk about special! Last year he called me from his cell phone unannounced and in a loud Boston brogue he shouts,
"Hey Marty (he says Moddy), what's in the bag?"
WHAT??? How did he know that???
We had been shopping and from his car he saw the big bag I was carrying. I never saw him. How cool is that? That wasn't the only time we ran across each other while out and about. AND, he delivered a big box of chocolates to Custom House for my wife TWICE during our stay. AND, he dropped by a favorite Italian restaurant of ours in North End (he knows the owner) and got us a fantastic table with "the best" waiter on staff for our upcoming dinner, and he arranged for our receiving a free dessert. Absolutely priceless. So he makes us feel pretty special.
We know several of the front desk staff members at Custom House now, to some degree, and I'll just say "more nice things happen" during the course of our stay. They are wonderful. So we are counting the days until we're back again. We actually have another favorite Fall trip prior to that, about which we're also thrilled, but we are more and more looking past it to our adopted "favorite big city" of Boston. The other place is much loved too, as I've mentioned here before----a non-timeshare----the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, which we visit at least once every year in the Fall or early December (holiday magic!!!). Needless to say, we are the proverbial "Fall people", and we live for this time of year.
Grande Ocean/ Hilton Head is awesome in late Spring/early Summer (we stay at least 4 weeks every June and our kids grew up there), and now even a couple of extra bonus weeks in off-season Jan & Feb, and it's what we call "our home away from home", but it's "Boston soon" that we're truly drooling over again. (Some have "Boston Strong" T-shirts, but I made one that says "Boston Soon".)
I keep saying "we won't do Boston again for a while" each year, but something comes over me later and we book it again and again. What can I say? All of New England is beautiful, and worthy of frequent visits, but Boston has certainly become a heck of a lot of fun. For example our first order of business (and now a tradition) when we land is to walk over from Custom House to James Hook & Co on the harbor waterfront for the best clam chowder and lobster roll anywhere. It's a hole-in-the-wall trailer with a few tables inside and picnic tables outside, but Wow, we know we've arrived!!! And my wife would leave me if I tried to alter that tradition. (Thank you, "jont", for the recommendation of that little gem.)
As time moves on we'll increase our stays at the various Pulse locations (and similar new places like the boutique brand hotels) because of our experiences in Boston. But I suspect that Boston's Pulse is the best so far. It's a new and different type of vacation since we've become empty nesters, and it couldn't be better. A few people know me for my list of restaurants at Hilton Head, but I also have a list for Boston, tried and true. And in addition, Boston is so much fun that I also put together a "to do" list. (OK, London also.) So much to see, and so much to do.......enough that we'll be quite busy for a while, and then we'll just repeat.
