Ho Chi Minh and Malcolm X worked here in their youth. This hotel is also famous for being the birthplace of Boston cream pie. The Omni Parker House puts visitors right where they ought to be - where the action is. Located on the Freedom Trail in Boston's downtown Financial District, this hotel has accommodated comfort-seeking travellers since 1856. The hotel recently underwent a $70 million restoration, but has managed to keep its historic charm. Families will be pleased at the attention paid to making a stay with children a pleasant one. The hotel has a Kids' Program that serves up lots of goodies. Upon arrival little guests receive a bag filled with treats, coloring book and crayons, a slap band, foam boomerang, and a list of places to visit in town. Kids are also greeted with an enticing plate of cookies and milk when they enter their room. Other little person perks include cable television and Nintendo 64 in each room. It may be difficult to convince the kids to leave the hotel! A non-refundable $50 fee is charged for an animal stay. You'll pay less for your children - children under 17 are free. Most Haunted Hotel in New England? The recently refurbished Omni Parker House, apparently the most haunted hotel in New England since opening its doors in October of 1855, has seemed to tiptoe around its supernatural history. However, the marketing crew has recently been pushing its "exclusive haunted travel" package online here. The deep-link section here explores the various sightings of the misty apparition of the hotel's founder, Harvey Parker, who has reportedly been seen roaming the 10th floor annex. While they mention the close encounter of the Parker kind, they do stress that he hasn't been around lately. The last sighting was apparently two decades ago. However, there's a slew of other stories:

• Elevators are always called to the third floor (the floor Charles Dickens occupied) without a button being pushed or a guest waiting for the elevator.

• In a room on the 10th floor, guests have reported the sound of a rocking chair that kept them up all night. There are no rocking chairs in the hotel.

• Bellmen have reported bright “orbs” of light floating down the corridor on the 10th floor then disappearing.

Click here for the Omni Parker House's spirited backstory.

The Frog Pond is a Boston institution. A reflecting pool in the spring and fall of each year, a wading pool for youngsters in the Summer, and a skating rink in the winter. Picturesque, centrally located, with plenty of open space and a nearby playground. A perfect spot for some relaxation and fun with the family. More about the summer water feature: only 6 inches deep; ideal for toddlers seeking relief from the summer heat; a spray head provides a fountain of water that adds fun to the wading experience. In winter: a skating in Downtown Boston! The Frog Pond Skating Rink is open from November to mid-March with at least 100 days of seasonal skating.

Beautifully manicured parks now welcome visitors to the Hub in this visionary urban enclave crafted within Boston's concrete jungle. After the Big Dig project moved once-elevated roadways underground, community and political leaders seized the newfound space and crafted what is called the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. Designers set out to balance natural beauty and landscaped grace with the vitality of functional art. Parks are open 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Highlights include a fountain in the Wharf District Parks near the Aquarium T Station and Milk Street with holes arranged in a series of eccentric circles that spew chlorinated water as well Chinatown Park with a skillfully crafted Zen garden. The Greenway spans from Chinatown Park to Dewey Square Parks to the Wharf District Parks to the North End Parks. Click HERE to take an online tour of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. Why not honor your mother by making her a permanent part of Boston history? Organizers at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Mothers' Walk are offering 6" x 6" pavers as a way to honor your mom. The $500 gift allows you to immortalize your mother's name, an official certificate that cites her as an honoree as well as an invite to the Greenway inaugural event in the fall of 2008. Follow this link to purchase a paver. Follow The Greenway on Facebook.

Cosi's make-your-own sandwiches come in one, two, or three toppings, and although they are delicious, they don't come cheap. Kids will love the bread, which is baked in a wood-burning oven before your eyes. It's almost always warm and delicious. Toppings such as curry chicken, smoked salmon, and caramelized onion are in abundance, but standard fare is available, too. For dessert, try the ultimate "sandwich": marshmellows, Hershey bars, and graham crackers, served with a mini crackling fire and an iron pot for melting .

Cosi's make-your-own sandwiches come in one, two, or three toppings, and although they are delicious, they don't come cheap. Kids will love the bread, which is baked in a wood-burning oven before your eyes. It's almost always warm and delicious. Toppings such as curry chicken, smoked salmon, and caramelized onion are in abundance, but standard fare is available, too. For dessert, try the ultimate "sandwich": marshmellows, Hershey bars, and graham crackers, served with a mini crackling fire and an iron pot for melting .

Your kids will be fascinated with the way they roll out the pizza dough and flip it for everyone to see. The staff there were very friendly and keep making sure all of the patrons are all set. The atmosphere is very warm. The employees treated people like it's their home. Sit at the communal table and and chat. A lot of young single people hang there and it's a great place to sit and read in the afternoon. For all you pizza lovers out there I highly recommend you going to the Upper Crust, you will be addicted. It's a marriage of the perfect amount of cheese, sauce, and toppings on a scrumptious crispy crust.

Cosi's make-your-own sandwiches come in one, two, or three toppings, and although they are delicious, they don't come cheap. Kids will love the bread, which is baked in a wood-burning oven before your eyes. It's almost always warm and delicious. Toppings such as curry chicken, smoked salmon, and caramelized onion are in abundance, but standard fare is available, too. For dessert, try the ultimate "sandwich": marshmellows, Hershey bars, and graham crackers, served with a mini crackling fire and an iron pot for melting.

New England's only AAA 5-diamond hotel, the Four Seasons is nothing short of exquisite. The Four Seasons boasts spacious and beautifully decorated rooms, an indoor health club (complete with pool and massage rooms), free Town Car service (drop-off anywhere within 1 mi. of the hotel), and round-the-clock room service and concierge. The hotel accommodates all demanding guests, with kosher cuisine, kids' programs, and a pet menu. Off-season singles $525-775; doubles $565-815 (depending on the view); suites $1600-3250. Reservations accepted up to 1 year in advance. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Young guests at the Four Seasons are treated to bedtime milk and cookies, video game units, child-sized robes, complimentary cribs, the special kids' room service menu, and no-tear shampoo - all available for the asking. Children under 18 can share their parents' room at no extra charge. Special room rates for the Boston Marathon available through Marathon Tours and Travel.

After spending $5 million to completely renovate its 326 rooms, this Federal Reserve Building-turned-hotel maintains high standards of excellence with 2 elegant restaurants (Cafe Fleuri and the 4-star Julien), a health club, a heated indoor pool, and radios that greet guests with relaxing music as they enter their rooms. Though recently taken over by new management, not much has changed since this regal building was Le Meridien Boston. Regular rates begin at $295 and go up to $450, depending on amenities and the season; suites run $550-2000. Book Commencement at least 6 months in advance. Take advantage of the hotel's VIB Program for Very Important Babies and their families. The program ensures that families have the important necessities upon arrival, from pre-ordered baby food to unlimited Huggies to special soaps and shampoos just for babies to use of a stroller. Older siblings receive cereal boxes that are great for snacking and a book and city guide filled with puzzles, games, and coupons. The package starts at $315 per room, per night, and is valid Fri-Sun (based on availability).