baysidegirl

Hi all,

I am visiting Boston May 3rd to May 8th with a group. We will be doing the freedon trail, a cruise on the harbour, Museum of fine arts, Harvard square, day trip to Rhode Island, Back Bay district, Kennedy library, Red Sox game and the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum.

I am arriving a day earlier than the group and would like some suggestions on what I should do. Any suggestions as to other 'must dos' for me?

Thanks.

tovarich

Take the Old town Trolley.You can get on and off all day and the drivers are perfecr guides.Paul

tchoiniere

Do you already have tickets for the Red Sox?

aliska

If you want to get away from Boston for a day, I strongly suggest a visit to Salem and the Peabody-Essex musuem. We really enjoyed ourselves there and downtown Salem is compact enough to walk around.

yk

You have quite a hectic schedule. Not sure what your interests are, but you could walk around in the Fort Point District and visit the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art), then walk along the Rose Kennedy Greenway north towards North End, and wander around IN North End.

I looked at May Calendar - if you're arriving a day early, that means you're here on May 2nd, which is a Monday. Check to see if ICA or PEM in Salem are open on Mondays. If museums are closed, your best bet is really just to wander around the city if the weather is nice.

dfrostnh

Michelle Topor's culinary tours of Boston's North End are wonderful. You'll get food samples and a great history tour. I've also been on the one for China Town but believe it's only available one or two days a week.

Vttraveler

Another interesting area to explore in Boston is Beacon Hill.

Other possible places to visit would be the Longfellow house in Cambridge if it is open then (website now says sometime in the spring), Adams National Historic site in Quincy (reachable by public transit).

bachslunch

Depending on interests, there's always the Christian Science Mapparium, Trinity Church, Boston Public Library (murals and such), Museum of Science, or the Aquarium.

And the suggestions to consider a day trip are spot on, as there are many good ones (Salem, Concord, Lexington, Plymouth, Gloucester, Rockport, etc.).

Definitely heed yk's advice to check on opening days and hours first, as several attractions are closed Mondays.

tomfuller

I really enjoyed the Museum of Science http://www.mos.org/
How often can you see 2 fifteen foot Van de Graff generators made by Mr. Van de Graff himself. They use 1 to shoot lightning to a cage that the announcer is standing in.

baysidegirl

Thank you everyone for your replies. Yes our schedule is quite hectic so I am thinking of staying in Boston for the day. Hopefully the weather will be good and I can walk around Beacon Hill and North end and take in a couple of other sights.

Yes tchoiniere we have the tix for the Red Sox game booked.

Vttraveler

The Black Heritage trail might be of interest if you are exploring Beacon Hill. There are ranger-led walking tours or you can take a self-guided tour
http://www.nps.gov/boaf/planyourvisit/things2do.htm

You could also tour the state house.

This web site has a self-guided tour of the Beacon Hill neighborhood
http://www.beaconhillonline.com/cgi-...dex.cgi?cid=21

gail

A serious advisory - bring warm clothes. Not sure where you are from, but I have been to Fenway in May and been freezing - layers, hat, gloves. (Assuming it is night game which most are). The rest of the country thinks May is mid-Spring, but Boston seems to miss the message some years.

emd3

I 2nd the suggestion for the Institute of Contemporay Art (ICA). It is really very good.

amyb

Gail makes a good point, the last five years or so May hasn't been the warmest month, even not at Fenway! I also second a trip to Salem for the Peabody Essex Museum. I recently revisited and was reminded how impressive a museum it is. It is conveniently off the commuter rail stop in Salem (which runs far more frequently on weekdays than weekends, so check that schedule)

baysidegirl

Thanks for the links Vttraveler they look ideal. Yes gail it is a night game and thanks for the tip. Hadn't thought about the weather, and I'm not good in the cold, so would be miserable if not prepared. I'm from Melbourne, Australia and we do get cold weather but never snow in town like you do in Boston.

nytraveler

Visit Lexington and Concord - to see where the revolution really started. IMHO Beacon Hill is cute but not really a sight - granted there are a couple of interesting mansions - but just the outside. (But perhaps this is a function of the fact that the family we used to visit lived there.)

Slow_Wanderer

You've already gotten some great suggestions, but I strongly encourage you to take a ride on the Swan Boats in the Public Garden. It's a historic, inexpensive, picturesque, and uniquely Boston experience.

http://www.swanboats.com/

baysidegirl

Thanks slow_wanderer, I have heard about them and love to do things that are unique to where I am. Put that on the list.

TDudette

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