Fall In Boston

The Saturday Early Show is taking a look at events that are taking place in Boston this fall, with help from Nilou Motamed, an associate editor at Travel & Leisure magazine.

Here are a few of the doings in Beantown this season:

The Boston Jacqueline Kennedy Exhibit: "The White House Years" will open September 15, 2001, and close February 28, 2002. It was a two-hour wait during its showing at the Met in New York. The same is expected in Boston as well. Jackie Kennedy continues to be popular as ever. A total of 80 of her most famous outfits starting with her husband's presidential campaign trail to her years in the White House are included at this exhibit. The outfits include her famous red dress she wore during the televised tour of the White House to the beautiful lace dress she wore on the official visit to Paris, and many more. Her letters as well as accessories including her love of hats will also be on display. Visitors to the Boston showing will experience the building. It was designed by the legendary I.M. Pei. The Kennedy Library sits on Boston's waterfront and Mrs.. Kennedy was directly involved in the design and building of following Kennedy's years in the White House. The location of the exhibit obviously gives the exhibit perhaps a more insightful touch since the Kennedy family has been very active with the Library and its collections. The Library will also offer three new exhibits from their permanent collection on Mrs. Kennedy, as well as her life as Jacqueline Bouvier in addition to the "White House Years."

This is a great time to check out the new hotels in Boston as well. Hotel packages are available in conjunction with the special Jackie exhibit.

There are now 29 Boston area hotels that are offering special packages that include tickets to the Jacqueline Kennedy exhibition. These tickets allow hotel guests to visit the exhibition at their leisure without a reservation, and guarantees these visitors admission rather than risking a possible sold-out exhibition day. For more information about hotel packages, visit the Web site of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

37th Head of the Charles Regatta will take place on October 20-21, 2001. This annual fall event really takes over the city. More than 300,000 spectators will view 6,000 participants in 20 rowing events on the three-mile course which begins at the Boston University Boathouse (Memorial Drive, near Hyatt Hotel) and ends at Herter Park (Soldiers Field Road, across from WBZ TV studios). The world's largest two-day rowing event is one of Boston and Cambridge's biggest annual events. Over 6,000 male and female rowers, youth, collegiate, master and veteran age groupings, representing more than 300 clubs, colleges and universities worldwide; entries will come from the USA and 20 countries: UK, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, Ireland, SpainRussia, Peru, Holland, Denmark, Australia, Scotland, Slovenia, Croatia, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Canada.

Family Fun Days at Old Sturbridge Village. October 6-8, 2001. Old Sturbridge Village provides a glimpse into village and farm life of the early 19th century with its collection of more than 40 restored buildings, including churches, school, farmhouse, barn, houses, sawmill, gristmill, banks, stores, town hall, cider mill and printing office. During Family Fun Days families can enjoy entertainment and hands-on activities for all ages: toy hot-air balloon flights, 19th-century games on the Common, music, storytelling, puppets, and other amusements designed especially for families. As always, there are killed crafters giving demonstrations in the shoe, tin, blacksmithing, pottery and cooper shops. Special entertainment is provided daily, including crafts demonstrations, hands-on crafts, old-time games, period music, walks with the Indian Doctress (the female equivalent of a medicine man), stories and visits with what Old Sturbridge calls "the original Village People." There will also be Antique Apple Tasting that weekend (October 6). It costs $7 adults, $5 youths 6-15. Visitors can join apple historian Tom Burford and Village staff to share the unique flavors of heirloom apples at the peak of the New England apple season. The tastings are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended.

2002 Men's Soccer World Cup Qualifying - USA vs. Jamaica at Foxboro Stadium on October 7, 2001. Soccer fever has caught on. The World Cup games are taking place this summer in Japan and South Korea. If you can't travel to Asia here's a great way to see our national team play. This is a great way to spend the day outdoors. Ticket sales for the Sunday, October 7th, United States Men's National Team World Cup Qualifier at Foxboro Stadium have already climbed past the 25,000 mark. The U.S. Men's National Team is currently tied for First Place in the Football Confederation's standings for the World Cup Qualifying.

Walden Pond Family Tours: Another great way to enjoy the scenery of greater Boston. On Saturdays in September, there are nature walks for families at Walden Pond. Families can explore Walden and its surroundings with a park interpreter. Walks are approximately one hour, but children must be accompanied by an adult. And, it's free! Henry David Thoreau lived at Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847. His experience at Walden provided the material for the book "Walden," which is credited with helping to inspire awareness and respect for the natural environment. Because of Thoreau's legacy, Walden Pond has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is considered the birthplace of the conservation movement. Park Interpreters provide tours and ongoing educational programs.

The Reservation encompasses 333 acres surrounding the pond, which is a 103-feet deep glacial kettle hole pond. 2280 acres of mostly undeveloped wood, called "Walden Woods" surrounds the pond. The area is popular for fishing, swimming, and walking. Walden Pond is easily reached by the train between Boston and Fitchburg.

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