stokebailey

My brother and I are on our way back from Maine with our old Ma, returning our rental car at BOS late morning or so. She went to school here, went to the original Regina Pizzeria on dates with our father. I had a good city day Sunday, but my brother hasn't been to town for ages and would kind of like to see a Revolutionary War site.

We'll have five or six hours to look around. My idea of returning rental, taking the shuttle back and checking at the airport, then shuttle and T into town sounds potentially too taxing and complicated for the elderly relative. She can walk a couple of blocks without grumbling too much, and walk up a flight of stairs. I'm thinking a cab from the airport to the North End? Walk to Old North Church after pizza?

Getting over to Cambridge and her old stomping grounds from there looks maybe too daunting by T. Suggestions for other fair weather activity? Maybe a cab to the Commons and catch Blue Line at Gov't Center, head to Logan from there?

Thanks!

gail

I would keep the car. Does your mother want to see Revolutionary War sites? If so, take a detour on way from Maine to Lexington and see something there. There are some nice little restaurants downtown Lexington.

Then drive down Mass Ave towards Cambridge. She will be able to react to how things have changed or not. Probably don't even need to get out of the car. Drive thru Harvard Square. Then pick up Memorial Drive (or cross the Charles River and take Storrow Drive) and go to airport. If it is a nice day it can be quite scenic with the sailboats on the River.

If you rented car at airport, you are all set. Although you might want to drop mother and passenger and luggage at terminal and then swing around and return rental car. Or if you rented off-site and it is close to airport, same idea.

Make sure you leave enough time for traffic. And walking around the North End might be fun - but there are still so many places with cobblestones that walking can be a real challenge for mobility-impaired.

stokebailey

Aw thanks Gail.

My cousin mentioned possible Institute of Contemporary Art and a water taxi from Logan, but she admits her information is not necessarily accurate.

HappyTrvlr

Cambridge is only a few stops on the T, Red Line to Kendal/MIT, Central or Harvard Square.

gail

I love the ICA - would she be able to walk around in it? And many react to some of the 3-D installations by "is that art?" There are 2 water transport companies that I know of in Boston. One is thru Boston Harbor Cruises - and there does not seem to be a direct route from ICA to Logan. the other is Rowes Wharf Water Taxi - when I went to their website I was totally confused about how one would get from ICA to Logan, and I am very familiar about the area. I even went to ICA website to see if there was clarity there.

A water ride to the airport would be fun. But unless you can sort all this out and have it make sense that you think is reliable - with elderly traveler, weather uncertainty, and having to catch a flight. I would skip it. But I am a nervous flyer, always sure I will miss my flight.

stokebailey

Wow, thanks, Gail for checking that. We're leaving this morning, so will have to sort it out.

And thanks, Happytrav. I took the T from North Station to Cambridge on Sunday and tried to imaging how feasible it would be. I'm thinking just barely. My favorite was the #1 bus from Harvard to Symphony.

I don't use Uber. Any idea how hard it is to flag cabs around town, say if we made it to the Commons or North End?

gail

Have a good trip. Regarding flagging cabs - after having unpredictable experience doing so in Boston, I gave up and at advice of my Millenial daughter, now use Uber. I was sure Uber was difficult and that I would end up in a private car, taking me to China, driven by a murderer. It's really quite wonderful, and the advantage over cabs is that if you take it only a half mile, the driver does not glare at you that you cost him a longer trip with a decent fare.

Use it or not, but if you have a smart phone onto which you an install apps, it is easy, even for someone as technology impaired as me.

Best bet for a cab is to try to get one near one of the big hotels. In bad weather, pray.

The problem with MBTA is that elevators/escalators are as old as the city and sometimes are working and sometimes not. And sometimes you need to find a guy with a key to let you in to a hidden elevator. All sorts of disability groups in Boston have filed various lawsuits against the city to get this improved.

stokebailey

Or from say Long Wharf? I am resisting the Uber etc phenomenon but may need to break down and submit.

NewbE

Uber works a treat in Boston IME... If older person's physical abilities are limited, I wouldn't squander them on the MBTA.

stokebailey

They never changed it from MO to MA, but just to report back:

We had a lovely week in Wells/Ogunquit: visited, watched the moon rise over the water a few times, waded tidal pools and turned over rocks.

We ended up returning the car early partly to avoid rush hour, then finding out that we couldn't check our bags until four hours before the flight. So we hung out at Logan for an hour, the nice curbside baggage guy taking them at five hours till, then taking the Silver Line to South Station and a cab to the Commons. Had lunch in a picturesque little bar, then sat on benches and admired the Commons scene. It was a beautiful day with fine people watching. Finally caught a cab back to Logan, and my mother grabbed one last lobster roll for the road near our gate.

So, sorry not to take your excellent advice, but we ended up making our decisions by committee and it still worked out all right. Thanks again!