Boston

[Antwan]

Going to Boston next month...any suggestions?

[ChaunceyGardiner]

Going to Boston next month...any suggestions?

 

I just spent a few days in Boston earlier this month. What kinds of things are you interested in seeing or doing? Are you there on business and trying to squeeze in some sightseeing around your workday or are you strictly there on vacation?

[Antwan]

Going to Boston next month...any suggestions?

 

I just spent a few days in Boston earlier this month. What kinds of things are you interested in seeing or doing? Are you there on business and trying to squeeze in some sightseeing around your workday or are you strictly there on vacation?

 

Vacation...and any suggestions on what to see.

[ChaunceyGardiner]

Here are some places you might want to visit or tours you might want to take while in Boston, in no particular order.

 

1. Tours are available daily by trolley or by World War II style amphibious landing vehicle (the Duck). If you are interested in seeing lots of sites (none of them in-depth) in a short amount of time, an Old Town Trolley Tour or a Duck Tour might be a good bet. I have done neither but was kind of intrigued by the Duck Tours because part of the tour is by land and part by sea, all without leaving the landing vehicle. Both tour companies have Web Sites that give more details – http://www.trolleytours.com/boston .

 

2. Instead of taking a guided tour, you may want to go out on your own using a map or guidebook and the MBTA Subway System. I have been to Boston several times during my adult life and have become pretty familiar with the subway system. I have found it safe and less smelly than the New York City subway system.

 

The system consists of five lines: Blue, Green, Orange, Red, and Silver.If this is the way you plan to navigate the city, it will be a good idea to print a copy of the subway map and study the stops - http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/ .

 

The most economical way to ride the subway is to buy a day or week LinkPass, which gives you unlimited rides for 1 or 7 days. I got a 7 day pass even through I was there only 3 days, but the pass more than paid for itself. Passes are available in vending machines that can be found in most of the subway stations.

 

Day/Week LinkPass $9.00 for 1 day

$15.00 for 7 days

Unlimited travel on Subway, Local Bus, Commuter Rail Zone 1A, and Inner-Harbor Ferry

 

 

3. Fenway Park – if you are a baseball fan, Fenway Park is a place to visit either to see a game or for a tour. It is either the oldest or second oldest park currently in use in the Major Leagues (Wrigley Field is of the same vintage). I have seen a couple of games there over the years, and because fans are so close to the field, it is a great place to watch a game.

 

The September home schedule is:

 

Baltimore – Sept 8-9

Tampa Bay – Sept 11-13

L.A. Angels – Sept 15-17

Toronto – Sept 28-30

 

4. Freedom Trail – you can actually take a walking tour of many of the Boston Historical Sites on the Freedom Trail. The Trail starts in the Boston Common, and you just follow the red brick trail or painted line on the sidewalks past many of Boston’s most important historical sites. See http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/ for a description of the 16 historical sites you can see.

 

5. Harvard University - the Harvard stop on the Red Line takes you to the entrance of Harvard Yard (in Cambridge). I have walked the campus both during break and when classes are in session. Also, MIT is nearby, if you find it more interesting.

 

6. Boston Museum of Science – I spent over half a day at the Museum of Science and probably could have stayed the whole day if I hadn’t wanted to make a couple of other stops that day. They have an excellent exhibit on the history of computing technology, a couple of excellent IMAX theater shows, and many other interesting exhibits. Plus, I believe that one of the Duck Tours loads passengers outside the museum. Its Web site is http://www.mos.org/ .

 

7. The North End – I am partial to the North End because of its many Italian restaurants, delis, and bakeries. The North End is Boston’s ethnic Italian neighborhood, and you hear quite a bit of Italian spoken on the street. At least during the summer, there is a street festival on Hanover Street on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. I don’t know if the festivals continue in September. The bakeries I particularly enjoyed were Bova’s on Salem Street and Modern Pastry on Hanover Street. The Green and Orange lines go to the North End.

 

8. The Boston Common and Boston Public Gardens are two parks separated by one street. If children are coming with you, they would enjoy taking a ride on one of the Swan Boats in the Public Gardens. Also, the Bull and Finch bar that was used for exterior scenes of the “Cheers” TV series is across the street from the north end of the Public Gardens on Beacon Street.

 

9. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum – I did not visit the Library on this trip to Boston but have been there previously and highly recommend it. The museum is south of the city but is a stop on the Red Line. This week, Senator Ted Kennedy’s body lay in state at the Library - http://www.jfklibrary.org/ .

 

10. USS Constitution Museum and Visitor Center - http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/ in Charlestown, just across the Inner Harbor. The USS Constitution “Old Ironsides” is on display there.

 

11. Boston Children’s Museum – again, if children are on the trip, this would be an excellent place to visit. I went there as a child when visiting an aunt who lived in Boston, and I really enjoyed it - http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/ .

 

12. Theaters - I believe the Boston run of Jersey Boys continues through most of September. I saw the play in New York earlier this month, and it is excellent. However, you may want to take my review with a grain of salt because I have been a big fan of the Four Seasons since the 1960's.

 

 

If you are interested in sampling the nightlife, I can give you are couple of links. I’m not too much of an expert. http://www.bostonareanightlife.com/ are a couple.

 

Hopefully, this will be enough to get you started.

[Antwan]

Here are some places you might want to visit or tours you might want to take while in Boston, in no particular order.

 

1. Tours are available daily by trolley or by World War II style amphibious landing vehicle (the Duck). If you are interested in seeing lots of sites (none of them in-depth) in a short amount of time, an Old Town Trolley Tour or a Duck Tour might be a good bet. I have done neither but was kind of intrigued by the Duck Tours because part of the tour is by land and part by sea, all without leaving the landing vehicle. Both tour companies have Web Sites that give more details – http://www.trolleytours.com/boston .

 

2. Instead of taking a guided tour, you may want to go out on your own using a map or guidebook and the MBTA Subway System. I have been to Boston several times during my adult life and have become pretty familiar with the subway system. I have found it safe and less smelly than the New York City subway system.

 

The system consists of five lines: Blue, Green, Orange, Red, and Silver.If this is the way you plan to navigate the city, it will be a good idea to print a copy of the subway map and study the stops - http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/ .

 

The most economical way to ride the subway is to buy a day or week LinkPass, which gives you unlimited rides for 1 or 7 days. I got a 7 day pass even through I was there only 3 days, but the pass more than paid for itself. Passes are available in vending machines that can be found in most of the subway stations.

 

Day/Week LinkPass $9.00 for 1 day

$15.00 for 7 days

Unlimited travel on Subway, Local Bus, Commuter Rail Zone 1A, and Inner-Harbor Ferry

 

 

3. Fenway Park – if you are a baseball fan, Fenway Park is a place to visit either to see a game or for a tour. It is either the oldest or second oldest park currently in use in the Major Leagues (Wrigley Field is of the same vintage). I have seen a couple of games there over the years, and because fans are so close to the field, it is a great place to watch a game.

 

The September home schedule is:

 

Baltimore – Sept 8-9

Tampa Bay – Sept 11-13

L.A. Angels – Sept 15-17

Toronto – Sept 28-30

 

4. Freedom Trail – you can actually take a walking tour of many of the Boston Historical Sites on the Freedom Trail. The Trail starts in the Boston Common, and you just follow the red brick trail or painted line on the sidewalks past many of Boston’s most important historical sites. See http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/ for a description of the 16 historical sites you can see.

 

5. Harvard University - the Harvard stop on the Red Line takes you to the entrance of Harvard Yard (in Cambridge). I have walked the campus both during break and when classes are in session. Also, MIT is nearby, if you find it more interesting.

 

6. Boston Museum of Science – I spent over half a day at the Museum of Science and probably could have stayed the whole day if I hadn’t wanted to make a couple of other stops that day. They have an excellent exhibit on the history of computing technology, a couple of excellent IMAX theater shows, and many other interesting exhibits. Plus, I believe that one of the Duck Tours loads passengers outside the museum. Its Web site is http://www.mos.org/ .

 

7. The North End – I am partial to the North End because of its many Italian restaurants, delis, and bakeries. The North End is Boston’s ethnic Italian neighborhood, and you hear quite a bit of Italian spoken on the street. At least during the summer, there is a street festival on Hanover Street on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. I don’t know if the festivals continue in September. The bakeries I particularly enjoyed were Bova’s on Salem Street and Modern Pastry on Hanover Street. The Green and Orange lines go to the North End.

 

8. The Boston Common and Boston Public Gardens are two parks separated by one street. If children are coming with you, they would enjoy taking a ride on one of the Swan Boats in the Public Gardens. Also, the Bull and Finch bar that was used for exterior scenes of the “Cheers” TV series is across the street from the north end of the Public Gardens on Beacon Street.

 

9. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum – I did not visit the Library on this trip to Boston but have been there previously and highly recommend it. The museum is south of the city but is a stop on the Red Line. This week, Senator Ted Kennedy’s body lay in state at the Library - http://www.jfklibrary.org/ .

 

10. USS Constitution Museum and Visitor Center - http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/ in Charlestown, just across the Inner Harbor. The USS Constitution “Old Ironsides” is on display there.

 

11. Boston Children’s Museum – again, if children are on the trip, this would be an excellent place to visit. I went there as a child when visiting an aunt who lived in Boston, and I really enjoyed it - http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/ .

 

12. Theaters - I believe the Boston run of Jersey Boys continues through most of September. I saw the play in New York earlier this month, and it is excellent. However, you may want to take my review with a grain of salt because I have been a big fan of the Four Seasons since the 1960's.

 

 

If you are interested in sampling the nightlife, I can give you are couple of links. I’m not too much of an expert. http://www.bostonareanightlife.com/ are a couple.

 

Hopefully, this will be enough to get you started.

 

Thanks...great info...just what I was looking for.

[ChaunceyGardiner]

Have you made your trip to Boston yet? If so, how did it go?

[Antwan]

Have you made your trip to Boston yet? If so, how did it go?

 

Yes...it was great.

 

We did just about everything except the duck tour. Your info was helpful...thanks again.