Please, evaluate my itinerary for eight nights in Boston

You can do it!

You aren't wasting a minute, though.

I would probably give more time to the museums than you plan, but to each his own. You should, however, consider how you would adjust your plans for rain, and you may find that you need reservations for the IMAX movies. Fourth of July is a busy time in Boston.

I haven't figured out when you are going to eat, but there is plenty of food available on the street!

Just reading Day Two exhausted me. Are you passing by those landmarks or stopping in to actually visit them?

Hi, I would consider doing a trolley tour or the duck tour on your day 3. That way someone else will be driving you around after your exhausting day 2. It would give you an overview of the city attractions which might mean that your other days could have some items removed.

Your Day 4 could then be your MIT/Harvard Day. I think you'll want to enjoy the North end at a leisurely pace (Paul Revere house, Old North Church,nice Italian dinner, etc). Fanneuil Hall is where you'll be able to buy lots of souvenirs. You can even eat lunch there and save some time. If you get tired of the museums you might change your Day 7 to be a boat tour to Martha's Vineyard for the day. You might enjoy venturing out of the city to see the other beautiful sights in the area. Enjoy your trip. I'll be there next month myself but mostly to visit family.

P.S. When you go to Fanneuil Hall/Quincy Market you can buy some lovely inexpensive flowers for your bride and have a picnic lunch nearby in the park. There are lots of "fast food" choices inside of Fanneuil Hall.

Your itinerary looks fine to me.

I would also not be concerned about your Day Two. The Freedom Trail takes a day to cover, including going in and seeing the sights along the way. It's a full day of course, but you'll be fine there.

DebTS's suggestion to switch days 3 and 4 is reasonable, as your day 3 is a little less full and the break may be appreciated. Also note that there are scads of great day trips you can take from Boston, and I'd personally be less inclined to make one of them to and from Martha's Vineyard as a day trip -- nice as it is, that's a very, very long day. If it's a quaint seaside day you want, it's much easier to head to the North Shore via commuter rail (Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea) to get this kind of fix.

On Day 1, I'd skip Trinity Church as you're arriving fairly late. You want to visit during daylight hours in order to appreciate the stained glass windows by Edward Burne-Jones & John La Farge. I would move Trinity Church to Day 6. Trinity Church is open for free tour after its Sunday service (@12:15)
http://www.trinitychurchboston.org/news/38-art-a-architecture/455-june-2011-tour-schedule.html

You probably won't have time for this, but the Boston Public Library offers free guided tour on its art & architecture. It's well worth joining the tour if you have the time. I think you get much more out of the tour than if you were to tour it on your own. http://www.bpl.org/central/tours.htm

P.S. I see that the Boston Public library offers a tour at 6pm on Tuesdays - you may be able to make that tour if you arrive on time from NYC.

So, here's what I'd do for Day 1:
Arrive at Back Bay Station
Check in at hotel
Stop by the Visitors booth inside prudential Center, on your way to
BPL for the 6pm tour
photo op at Old south Church
Stroll along Newbury Street

You have a very ambitious and tiresome itinerary! LOL However, I guess that you can do what you want to do while on vacation. You will be visiting Boston during high tourist season and fourth of July will be especially busy. You have listed the 4th of July fireworks/concert at the Esplanade so know that it will be insanely crowded. People start camping out early on so that they will have a spot on the grass.

Here is one suggestion for you that would eliminate a lot of walking. A couple of years ago we had some friends visiting us from out of state that had never been to Boston b4. They came first week in June which was less crowded than the end of June forward. We do not visit Boston all that frequently and didn't want to drive around Boston (wonder why) so I purchased trolley tickets online (here's the website).

http://www.park-boston.com/

We drove to the Cambridgeside Galleria (a mall) and parked in the garage. We then went outside at the back of the mall and waited for the trolley there. The thing I liked about this particular tour was that you get a nice overview of Boston/Cambridge as the trolley leaves Cambridge and goes over the bridge into Boston. There are many drop off points and you can spend as long as you want visiting the sights. We went to Old North Church (they had a free lecture), Fanueil Hall, etc. The trolley has designated pickup spots and came along about every 20-30 minutes. It really worked out well for us. We got off at the North End stop and walked through North End and had lunch there.
When the trolley heads back to Cambridge (I think the last pickup was 5:30 ish) the driver will show you MIT and you could also walk to Harvard Sq. We were so tired we decided not to).

They give discounted parking at the Mall if you book the trolley tour. I think we pd. $6.00 for the entire day (what a bargain). I was very pleased with the trolley tour and our friends loved it.

The driver even drove us right up to Fenway Park so our friends could take a picture. BTW, do you have tickets for the Red Sox game?

You can pretty much see most of Boston this way, get to ride on the trolley and rest between spots. I would highly recommend seeing Boston this way.

You can also visit Old Ironsides as the trolley stops there. Check out the website.

Good luck and have a wonderful time in Boston.

May

your plans are so ambitious i wont try to rearrange anything but you might look into the following.
the stained glass windows at trinity church are spectacular and i was happy we took thier sunday tour. the windows come from an assortment of sources and they cover that very well.
the boston public library is a highlight and i wish i could have done thier tour.i was underwhelmed with paul reveres house.i have heard that the house next door is more interesting and they do tours.
Pierce/Hichborn House
enjoy

@Ackislander - I think that I should put more time for museums too. But I'm also afraid of getting tired of so many museums (in NYC there will be some).

As for the IMAX films, I don´t think of doing the reservation prior to not create an obligation to go, since this is an event that I can fit on other days or even use as a backup plan for a rainy day for instance.

I do not want a rigid plan in relation to food, but I'm cataloging a series of restaurants in the region that allows me to tailor meals to your route. I do not have many demands about food and hope I do not spend much on it.

@Amyb - attractions marked with (***) I'll just go quickly and maybe take some pictures.

@Debts - the idea of ​​making the tour in three days is good. The Fanneiul Hall / Market is certainly a place I should go more than once. I'll look for the inexpensive flowers.

@Bachslunch - I put the Museum of Science on Day 4 because it is on Friday, and on this day the museum stay open longer, giving opportunity for me to not miss the planetarium and IMAX. If I switch that to the day 5, it will not be harmed?

@Yk - I will move Trinity Church to the day 6 (Sunday) and try to get the Public Library tour. Very good advices.

@Luv2travel15 - I will evaluate your trolley tip.

I already bought tickets for Red Sox game by aceticket.com and they cost me $ 96.30 for BL 41. The tickets came in the name of another person. Will I have problems about this?

@Paulhelmick - following your and yk's suggestion, I'll put the Trinity Chuch for day 6 (Sunday) and try to make their tour.

Many Thanks to you all.

"I already bought tickets for Red Sox game by aceticket.com and they cost me $ 96.30 for BL 41. The tickets came in the name of another person. Will I have problems about thisI already bought tickets for Red Sox game by aceticket.com and they cost me $ 96.30 for BL 41. The tickets came in the name of another person. Will I have problems about this?"

I am not sure about this as I am not a sports fan. Perhaps others can answer the question.
Good luck.

No, you won't have a problem with the tickets. You don't have to show ID once you already have tickets. And aceticket.com is a reputable ticket reseller.

These are great activities and I hope you get to see/do all of them, but... don't forget to stop at Mike's Pastry in the North End while on the Freedom Trail. You will need the energy to complete everything on your great plan! Enjoy.

A couple of comments -

If you have not done so already, you might want to buy your whale watch ticket in advance, as it seems highly likely to sell out.

You probably want to be at the Hatch Shell Oval as soon as it opens to the public on July 3 (probably 4 PM) in order to get a place.

Some useful information on Red Sox game at Fenway. The tickets being in someones name does not matter - someone bought them and resold them to Ace Tickets.

The bleachers - where you are sitting - is fun. There is no protection from sun (even though it is late), rain, etc. While the tickets probably say "no bags" can be brought in, they are OK with purses, small daypacks - but you will need to have them "searched" upon entry - they just ask you to open them and hardly look inside at all.

Once you are inside Fenway, you can not leave and return. Gates open an hour or so prior to the game and if you get there early you can watch batting practice - but the game is rather slow anyway, so that would be way too much time for me to sit there.

The food inside Fenway Park is not very good and is expensive. You can not bring any food in. At the beginning of the 8th inning they play an old Neil Diamond song (Sweet Caroline) and everyone stands up and sings - a really silly tradition that is difficult to explain.

Your itinerary will work - and you may end up making some minor modifications once you are here. One final reminder - If I remember correctly you are from Brazil. We eat dinner hours earlier than you are accustomed to - if you wait to find a restaurant until 10 PM, almost everything will be closed.

@Luv2travel15, wyatt92, turista, Cranachin - thanks.
@gail - thanks again, you cleared up a lot of my doubts.

well, now I'm checking where to eat.

I put many points on the map that are relatively close to the attractions and will not make me go bankrupt. Below I relate what I have found in researching. If you could give me some hints about this, I would be very grateful.

---------

* BACK BAY

Pour House, Bostone Pizza, Cheesecake Factory, Legal Sea Foods - Prudential Center, Bostone Pizza.

* DOWNTOWN

Jacob Wirth, Hong Kong Eatery, Burritos Express, Chacarero.

* NORTH END

Modern Pastry Inc, Ernesto's Pizza, Umberto Galleria, Caffe Vittoria, Giacomo's Restaurant, Al Dente Restaurant, mike's pastry, Bova's Bakery, Pizzeria Regina

* BEACON HILL

Villa Mexico Cafe

* FENWAY / KENMORE

Boston Beer Works, The Squealing Pig, Uburger

* BAY VILLAGE

Picco, Franklin Cafe, Mike & Patty's

* CAMBRIDGE

Clover Food Truck, Mary Chung Restaurant, Dosa Factory, Rangzen Tibet Restaurant, Bartley's Burger Cottage, Felipe's Taqueria, Pinocchio's Pizza & Subs, Grendel's Restaurant & Bar, Flat Patties, Courthouse Seafood Restaurant

-------------

Should I remove or add something?

do you know if there is any place convenient and cheap where I can have breakfast? in preference, near the hotel.

Please do not eat at Cheesecake factory! I guess if you REALLY want to try their cheesecakes, you can go there for dessert (or take-out) AFTER you have dinner elsewhere. There are so many better options than Cheesecake Factory!

BTW, there are farmers markets at Copley Square (every Tues/Fri afternoons) and at Prudential Center (every Thurs afternoon). You'll find fresh fruit, lots of baked goods, and cheese stalls, all from local farms and freshly made.

The Clover Lab has a food truck in Kendall Sq (in Cambridge), but they also have a brick-and-mortar store in Harvard Sq. I like the Harvard Sq location, esp if you want to eat while sitting down.

Regarding North End, you'll most likely encounter long lines at Mike's Pastry and Modern during July 4th period. If the lines are long, just head west on Hanover Street, make a Right on Cross Street and patronize Maria's Bakery. I just had a sfogliatelle there yesterday and it's incredibly fresh and tasty (and no lines too). They are open until 7pm.

Also, don't forget all the food trucks we have now in Boston, many of them are located along the Greenway (which is very close to sections of the Freedom Trail). This recent article has a good run-down of the food trucks and their locations:
http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-08/ae/29634638_1_great-food-truck-race-mobile-eateries-cambridge-restaurant

And this thread on chowhound has suggestions for cheap eats near tourist attractions:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/782641

Finally, what type of breakfast are you looking for? Sit down restaurant or grab-and-go? Simplest would be a Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts or Panera Bread to get some baked goods and coffee. Your hotel is also connected via pedestrian walkway to a supermarket (Shaws) so you can buy some ready-to-eat breakfast item from Shaws and eat in your room. There is also a Trader Joe's across the street from the Pru on Bolyston Street.

I'm with yk...Cheesecake Factory is really only good for the Cheesecake, plus it's a chain you can go to anywhere else in the country.

Also agree on Maria's, but anything but Mike's is a better choice imho (mass-produced, previously frozen pastry...blah!). One overlooked restaurant in the North End is Antico Forno on Salem Street. For the second year in a row, I took a visiting group of Boston Marathoners there for their night before the race meal and it was wonderful. Very consistent and I think very reasonable.

ZiDenis, of the places you mentioned, I can recommend:

-Hong Kong Eatery
-Chacarero
-Modern Pastry Inc
-Umberto Galleria
-Caffe Vittoria
-Giacomo's Restaurant
-Al Dente Restaurant
-Mike's pastry
-Pizzeria Regina
-Uburger
-Picco
-Franklin Cafe
-Mary Chung Restaurant
-Bartley's Burger Cottage
-Villa Mexico (it's a take-away place in a gas station, but it's good)

I'd avoid most of the other places you mentioned, either because they're lousy (Grendel's), basically okay but inconveniently located and not worth the effort to get to (Courthouse Seafood), or okay but not worth going to over other close-by choices (Bova Bakery, Ernesto's Pizza) given the limited time you'll be here.

Definitely search the chowhound website, and take a look on past food threads here as well (I've participated in most of them).

More shortly.

you mentioned some concerns about the time you will be spending at museums. by day 8 you may be getting tired but i would encourage you not to skip the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. it was one of the highlights of our trip.

<<<Also agree on Maria's, but anything but Mike's is a better choice imho (mass-produced, previously frozen pastry...blah!)>>>

this has been a regular topic of friendly banter on this forum over the years. Last time we were in Boston, we decided to try cannoli at all three of the "standards" -- our own little taste test -- Mike's, Modern and Maria's -- and we still like Mike's the best. (yk, did you ever take me up on my offer to contribute $$ to you doing the same taste test?)

>>this has been a regular topic of friendly banter on this forum over the years. Last time we were in Boston, we decided to try cannoli at all three of the "standards" -- our own little taste test -- Mike's, Modern and Maria's -- and we still like Mike's the best.<<

I don't think it's playful banter, I think it's disclosing the facts. I work across the Greenway from the North End and used to be responsible for getting cakes/goodies for office celebrations. Three times in a row we got cakes and once we got cannoli from there, and each time, the cake were frozen solid in the center and the cannoli had ice crystals in the ricotta, despite ordering over a week ahead. Since then it's either Modern or Maria's. I pay for fresh, I want fresh!

For cheap eats:

Chinatown is definitely a great place to go. Besides Hong Kong Eatery, consider the following:

-King Fung Garden, Peach Farm, East Ocean City, New Shanghai, Pearl Villa (Chinese)
-China Pearl, Emperor's (aka Empire) Garden, Hei La Moon, Chau Chow City (Chinese cart style dim sum)
-Hing Shing, Ho Yuen (Chinese bakery)
-Shabu Zen (Japanese shabu shabu)
-Ginza (sushi)
-Xinh Xinh, Pho Pasteur, Pho Hoa, any bahn mi hole in the wall shop (Vietnamese)
-Penang (Malaysian)

In Cambridge, the Porter Exchange in Porter Square has a bunch of small and cheap Japanese style eateries of varying kinds. The sushi place there is awful, but everything else is very good.

You can't go too far wrong having Indian buffet for lunch, and some of the best such spots are in Cambridge's Harvard Square: Tamarind Bay, Cafe of India, and Tanjore. If you head up two further subway stops to Davis Square, you'll find another Indian lunch buffet spot, Namaskar, and arguably the best Tibetan place locally, Martsa on Elm.

A really good and fairly cheap diner-style breakfast spot in the South End is Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe (closed Sundays, though). A very inventive and fairly priced sandwich shop choice is Parish Cafe, close by the Public Garden.

For sub sandwiches, there are a boatload of spots of varying quality. Two especially good such spots that are also sightseeing convenient in Boston and Cambridge are Al's State Street (not far from Faneuil Hall) and Dino's (North End). The Italian cold cut sub with everything on it is the iconic choice for me.

Will second amyb's mention of Antico Forno, an excellent place that specializes in Southern Italian baked items and also does a worthy brick-oven pizza. Though if you only choose one pizza place, make it Pizzeria Regina on Thacher Street.

Cheap seafood is not so easy. Consider Dolphin Seafood (near Harvard Square) or Yankee Lobster (Seaport area) for this, or spend a little more and get the best (if still not the most expensive) at Neptune Oyster (North End).

Re the North End bakeries: I've never encountered amyb's problems at Mike's, but I know some folks who complain vociferously about this spot over at Chowhound. There may well be smoke where there's fire, but I can in fairness only go on my own experiences here, which have so far been positive. And I've had less good experiences at other North End bakeries, including Parziale's, Bova, and Boschetto's. Both Maria's and Modern are excellent places, no question there for me -- reports seem consistently positive about these two spots.

<<<I pay for fresh, I want fresh!>>>

Fresh or frozen, we still liked the Mike's cannolis best

bachs is spot on re: Al's State Street, for sandwiches is a cult classic among the financial district working class. Get there early and prepare to stand in line as long as it takes. I have never, ever been disappointed there.

A bit out of the way, nearer Boston Harbor Hotel on the corner of High and Oliver is a new Asian deli, Foumami. It is across from where I work now and I go a couple times a week strictly for the Chinese cobb salad which is to die for. And only $7. It's maybe 5 minutes up Batterymarch from State. But if you've walked this far up State Street, I'd rather see you go to James Hook Lobster next to the Boston Harbor Hotel for a lobster roll!

Also off State Street on Broad Street is Sakura Bana, which is our local haunt for sushi. I don't think it's as good as Ginza, but it's the place we go for sushi near work and it fills the void.

This is a restaurant in the North End that my cousin goes to alot. They have a facebook page too. Nebo is located at 90 North Washington Street Boston MA and reservations can be made by calling 617.723.nebo (6326). For more information please visit www.neborestaurant.com

I agree with what bachslunch said. There are plenty of beach/scenic towns nearby if you decide to get out of the city. Also, your hotel may offer suggestions. Ask if they have a concierge.
I'm glad that you have some open time on some of your days so you can revisit somewhere you didn't see long enough or enjoy something more that you saw on your tour.
When you take the trolley tours you can ask if they offer the headsets for different languages...but your english is very good so you should be fine with the tour guide.
When I vacation I buy postcards and I can put them in the albums with my pictures. For example if you have a post card of the North End then you can put the pictures of that area near it.
On Hanover Street in the North End you will find plenty of restaurants, small italian grocery store, etc. Also, if you stop by the Fire Dept. they sell tee shirts there if you are interested in that.
Have a wonderful trip. I hope you'll post on here after you return home so we can read how you liked it.
By the way, Congratulations to you and your fiance!!

Wow, what a great thread this is. You have received so many wonderful tips about your visit to Boston. You will have a wonderful time.

I am going to bookmark this post for my own use.

BTW, as far as the pastry shops are concerned. When we had our friends from out of state visting us, we got off the trolley and walked to the north end for lunch. We stopped at the fire station, there was a fireman sitting on a chair outside the station. We asked for lunch recommendations and he suggested a restaurant right down the street from the station. Don't remember the name but in my opinion the lunch was only so so.

The fireman told us to go to Modern Pastry for cannollis (my friend wanted one) and said that they are not pre-made there but they make it up right in front of you. We had to wait in a short line out the door but it was true, made before your eyes. My friend loved it. I'm not a cannoli fan, we got some gelato instead.

Hope all the advice is helpful to you. Congrats and have a wonderful trip. Please do a post on your return, we'd love to hear about your trip.

On your Beacon Hill day I would visit at least the African American Meeting House, possibly more sites on the Black History Trail

In Cambridge the Longfellow House is a very interesting place to visit and is an easy walk from Harvard Square.

I don't see how you are listing campus tours of Harvard and MIT as ***. If you take formal tours, they won't be short. I know Harvard has self-guided tour suggestions, too

guys, thank you for all the tips. It is so much information that I don´t know if I can process it. So, I'll print the thread to read and reread during the flight... I´ll have time (about 12 hours, hehehe)

The time is short since the wedding is coming.

Certainly, I'll report the trip when return. But I guess I'll have plenty to write and takes me a while to write in English.

Regarding information about eating, I created a map on google to help me in locating the suggestions. To see just follow the link http://goo.gl/3fBDO

It may be useful to someone else in a future. I'll update with the latest tips.

see you soon.

So much has been said! And you already have a full schedule indeed mapped out, thanks to your research. We are new in the area and have yet to cover the places you mention. m I actually think that after day 3 you will drop dead! That's partly because you are doing alot of walking covering the entire the Freedom Trail over to Charlestown. And even out to Cambridge. Boston Harborfest before and after the 4th presents lots of things to see and do with special entertainment and costumed people, etc.

I see you mention getting a Charlie Card which is good. We've relied alot on a bus or subway since moving here. Personally I don't like the big noisy ducks which go too fast. You will no doubt have your T map and like lots of other folks will you can get help.

P.S. Please root for the Red Sox who are finally winning.

Good luck...Bill in Boston (actually Watertown)

Re the food places mentioned since my last long food post -- will definitely second Sakurabana in the Financial District for excellent and reasonably affordable sushi. O Ya in the Leather District is terrific for this, but also very high-end. James Hook Lobster provides a really good and reasonably priced lobster roll, but don't expect much in the way of atmosphere. Have had one lunch experience at Nebo in the North End, and sorry to report it was not a positive one. Agreed that the small grocery stores in the North End (some focus on Italian specialties while others concentrate on a particular food such as meat, coffee, fruit/vegetables, etc.) are fun to explore. Haven't tried Foumami yet.

Another good and reasonably priced food place in the part of the Financial District mentioned above is Sultan's Kitchen, which serves up most worthy Turkish cuisine.

Regarding Charlie Card, since you're here for 9 days, you should buy a 7-day Tpass which is only $15. http://www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/subway/

I'd use that from Day 2 through Day 8 on your itinerary. Day 1 and Day 9 are your arrival & departure days which you won't be using the T (unless you take the T to the airport). Since a single ride on the T is $1.70 using a Charlie Card, you definitely will save $ by getting the unlimited 7-day T pass instead.

In case you want to know the origin of the name Charlie Card, this thread explains
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/boston-north-end-walkable-or-t.cfm

here's a link to a performance of the song on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VMSGrY-IlU

Just an FYI about the Charlie Card, you cannot use it on Commuter Rail. So if you're thinking about a day trip to Salem or Rockport or anywhere on the Commuter Rail, it is not included on the Charlie Card that you load value on to. The T hasn't had the ability to figure out how to decrement the fares from those cards on board a moving train....

Oh yes, Vttraveler, just heard Kingston Trio last night on WGBH TV fund raiser singing about Charlie and his continual ride on "The M.T.A." Am I the only one who actually remembers back to when this song first was sung by these folk singers? I am a regular user of the Charlie card myself, the senior version...bus only 40 cents and subway only 60 cents! Good advice from yk on saving bucks.

Ozarksbill, we heard it the other day too, on XM radio (we were heartily singing along). And we do remember it from "back when"!