What to do in Boston? help!
Jan 4th, 2010, 10:09 PM
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What to do in Boston? help!
we recently got tickets to a celtic-laker game at the garden on jan31 and we will have 2 full days to do stuff in boston. we our from califonia(la area) and staying at the embassy suites at boston logan airport(price reasons) any knowledge about this hotel? during those two full days besides the celtic game, i know we want to tour fenway and see harvard what else should we do? we wont have a rental car so could i get some help with the whole subway system. any tips? the hotel is right next the T station. and can u take a subway into cambridge?
Jan 5th, 2010, 01:40 AM
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Here's a link to the subway map. Notice that different routes are different colors. Yes, you can get to Harvard. Just pay attention to where you have to get off to change to a different route.
http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/
You don't need a rental car, in fact, parking is a PIA and expensive in Boston.
If you are interested in cooking and local history, Michele Topor's culinary tours are very interesting and tasty. Only draw back is going in and out of shops in inclement weather/slushy streets. At the very least you should walk around the Italian North End, buy some great pastries and have dinner someplace even if it's just pizza. If you're good walkers, it's walkable from North Station/garden. Otherwise take Haymarket subway stop.
Ditto for Boston's Chinatown. Easy walk from South Station.
Make sure you wear good, waterproof walking shoes/boots.
Search old threads for things to do in Boston.
http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/
You don't need a rental car, in fact, parking is a PIA and expensive in Boston.
If you are interested in cooking and local history, Michele Topor's culinary tours are very interesting and tasty. Only draw back is going in and out of shops in inclement weather/slushy streets. At the very least you should walk around the Italian North End, buy some great pastries and have dinner someplace even if it's just pizza. If you're good walkers, it's walkable from North Station/garden. Otherwise take Haymarket subway stop.
Ditto for Boston's Chinatown. Easy walk from South Station.
Make sure you wear good, waterproof walking shoes/boots.
Search old threads for things to do in Boston.
Jan 5th, 2010, 03:23 AM
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Take one of the trolley tours, hop on and off. Plenty of history if you are interested. Buy a good sightseeing book and do some research about what you like. Hope for good weather. Great museums from art to science.
Jan 5th, 2010, 04:00 AM
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bp24cali:
Embassy Suites - stayed this past summer on our way to Cape Cod and would do so again. When you come out of the hotel front door walk straight ahead, stay on the path or cut across the green playing field and you will be at the T station. www.mbta.com employees on hand to offer help with the best route to take, how to purchase your ticket etc. My DH and I commented on this several times - friendly and helpful.
This hotel is not close to restaurants. You either need to eat dinner before you return or plan on eating at the inhouse restaurant. The breakfast is very good and the customer service at this hotel excellent.
We enjoyed our short stay.
Sandy
Embassy Suites - stayed this past summer on our way to Cape Cod and would do so again. When you come out of the hotel front door walk straight ahead, stay on the path or cut across the green playing field and you will be at the T station. www.mbta.com employees on hand to offer help with the best route to take, how to purchase your ticket etc. My DH and I commented on this several times - friendly and helpful.
This hotel is not close to restaurants. You either need to eat dinner before you return or plan on eating at the inhouse restaurant. The breakfast is very good and the customer service at this hotel excellent.
We enjoyed our short stay.
Sandy
Jan 5th, 2010, 06:24 AM
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We've stayed at that Embassy Suites a couple of times after arriving or departing from Logan. Rooms are very comfortable, though there is no view.
We agree with Sandy about customer service. Breakfasts are excellent, and dinners are boring. Eating before you return is a good idea. You can eat anywhere on the T, but Quincy Market with everything from a food court to Irish bars to high end steak houses is right outside one end of the Aquarium T stop, and there is a Legal Seafoods and French restaurant (Sel de la Terre) at the other entrance.
If you are young or have funky tastes, you might like a trip to Davis Square in Somerville (two stops past Harvard on the Red Line). It is a happenin' kind of place (sort of Berkeley Oakland kind of happenin') and you should ask directions to Redbones Barbecue, where you can pig out for little money before hitting one of the bars to listen to music, everything from Celtic to folk to funk to whatever.
We agree with Sandy about customer service. Breakfasts are excellent, and dinners are boring. Eating before you return is a good idea. You can eat anywhere on the T, but Quincy Market with everything from a food court to Irish bars to high end steak houses is right outside one end of the Aquarium T stop, and there is a Legal Seafoods and French restaurant (Sel de la Terre) at the other entrance.
If you are young or have funky tastes, you might like a trip to Davis Square in Somerville (two stops past Harvard on the Red Line). It is a happenin' kind of place (sort of Berkeley Oakland kind of happenin') and you should ask directions to Redbones Barbecue, where you can pig out for little money before hitting one of the bars to listen to music, everything from Celtic to folk to funk to whatever.
Jan 5th, 2010, 07:35 AM
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There is so much to do in Boston. If you happen to be Harry Potter fans, there is a special exhibit at the Museum of Science that is terrific according to everyone I know that has gone.
The Museum of Fine Arts has really extensive collections - especially the American paintings and Egyptian artifacts.
The Freedom Trail is great for walking - Paul Revere's House, the Old North Church, the Constitution, Bunker Hill and more.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is performing that weekend.
Newbury St has shopping - though I'd be surprised if it met the expectations of a Los Angelino!
have a great time and don't mind the Beat LA chants while you are at the game.
And in East Boston not far from the hotel is a little Italian restaurant called Rino's that has the best Italian food in town. Its a tiny place and very reasonably priced - we take lots of out of town visitors there and they all want to go back.
The Museum of Fine Arts has really extensive collections - especially the American paintings and Egyptian artifacts.
The Freedom Trail is great for walking - Paul Revere's House, the Old North Church, the Constitution, Bunker Hill and more.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is performing that weekend.
Newbury St has shopping - though I'd be surprised if it met the expectations of a Los Angelino!
have a great time and don't mind the Beat LA chants while you are at the game.
And in East Boston not far from the hotel is a little Italian restaurant called Rino's that has the best Italian food in town. Its a tiny place and very reasonably priced - we take lots of out of town visitors there and they all want to go back.
Jan 5th, 2010, 07:39 AM
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Jan 5th, 2010, 07:51 AM
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When you get on the T near your hotel you are on the Blue Line, so take that into Boston and get off at the Aquarium stop and you will be at Fanuiel Hall/Quincy Market. From there you can pick up all the tour info of Boston you want including all the stops along the Freedom Trail, which starts at the State House (State Capital Building) and it will wind around downtown Boston with lots of stops so you can warm up.
Quincy Market is great for lunch and dinners tons of restaurants there, a local legend is Union Oyster House, so in that area you have lots of choices for food.
Little Italy is a few blocks away, just follow the signs and your Freedom Trail map.
Boston is very walkable and the T is great but remember it stops running at midnight, not like New York it is NOT 24hours.
Quincy Market is great for lunch and dinners tons of restaurants there, a local legend is Union Oyster House, so in that area you have lots of choices for food.
Little Italy is a few blocks away, just follow the signs and your Freedom Trail map.
Boston is very walkable and the T is great but remember it stops running at midnight, not like New York it is NOT 24hours.
Jan 5th, 2010, 10:28 AM
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bennnie has given you a good list of things you can do.
If you want to take a trolley tour, I think only the Old Town Trolley runs year-round. The Duck Tour may run on weekends in winter, but double check.
One word about the Museum of Fine Arts - there are currently only 2 galleries dedicated to American paintings. Everything else is in storage until the NEW American Wing opens later this year. Just want to let you know that in case you are a huge fan of American art and I don't want you to be disappointed. The current "Secrets of Tomb 10A" of Ancient Egpyt is quite interesting.
When visiting Harvard, it's worthwhile to take the FREE walking tour of the campus, led by students. http://www.harvard.edu/siteguide/faqs/faq18.php
If you want to take a trolley tour, I think only the Old Town Trolley runs year-round. The Duck Tour may run on weekends in winter, but double check.
One word about the Museum of Fine Arts - there are currently only 2 galleries dedicated to American paintings. Everything else is in storage until the NEW American Wing opens later this year. Just want to let you know that in case you are a huge fan of American art and I don't want you to be disappointed. The current "Secrets of Tomb 10A" of Ancient Egpyt is quite interesting.
When visiting Harvard, it's worthwhile to take the FREE walking tour of the campus, led by students. http://www.harvard.edu/siteguide/faqs/faq18.php
Jan 5th, 2010, 10:30 AM
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P.S. AnnMarie has posted a 3-day Boston trip report back in Nov. She covered a lot of ground during those few days and it's a very well-written TR:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...via-amtrak.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...via-amtrak.cfm
Jan 5th, 2010, 11:09 AM
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I recommend that you go to the MBTA website and order a Charlie Card. Fares are less than purchasing Charlie tickets at the stations.
https://commerce.mbta.com/program/?prog=stored
Two of you can share one card. It will arrive quickly in the mail. You can add additional value at any station.
You can purchase a Charlie Card once in Boston, but this must be purchased from a clerk (and not the machines) and the ticket booths are often unattended.
https://commerce.mbta.com/program/?prog=stored
Two of you can share one card. It will arrive quickly in the mail. You can add additional value at any station.
You can purchase a Charlie Card once in Boston, but this must be purchased from a clerk (and not the machines) and the ticket booths are often unattended.
Jan 5th, 2010, 12:45 PM
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bp24cali:
Important Note: Don't talk with too many Bostonians..you're sure to "catch" the unique accent. Having been away from there (Quincy) for 52 years, I still hopelessly lapse into "pahking my cah in the hahvidd yahd" whenever I speak with some of my friends or relatives.
Went to my cousin's son's wedding here in SoCal over the weekend...and after chatting for hours with my Quincy cousin, on the way home my wife kept asking..."What did you say?"...it usually takes a few days to get over it.
stu tower
(be sure to take the trolley cah to Watahtown Squay-ah"...it stops at Pahk Street"...alas, no more trolley cahs!)
Important Note: Don't talk with too many Bostonians..you're sure to "catch" the unique accent. Having been away from there (Quincy) for 52 years, I still hopelessly lapse into "pahking my cah in the hahvidd yahd" whenever I speak with some of my friends or relatives.
Went to my cousin's son's wedding here in SoCal over the weekend...and after chatting for hours with my Quincy cousin, on the way home my wife kept asking..."What did you say?"...it usually takes a few days to get over it.
stu tower
(be sure to take the trolley cah to Watahtown Squay-ah"...it stops at Pahk Street"...alas, no more trolley cahs!)
Jan 5th, 2010, 12:49 PM
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bp:
Enjoy the game...I have the constant dilemma whenever the Dodgers play the Sox, or the Lakers play the Celts. I grew up a Sox and Celt fan...but so many years have passed...and i still have to live with my L.A. neighbors..(but they're a helluva lot more passive than Boston fans)!
stu
Enjoy the game...I have the constant dilemma whenever the Dodgers play the Sox, or the Lakers play the Celts. I grew up a Sox and Celt fan...but so many years have passed...and i still have to live with my L.A. neighbors..(but they're a helluva lot more passive than Boston fans)!
stu
Jan 5th, 2010, 01:17 PM
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Stu, the very first time I ever went to Boston (which was for an NCAA hockey game), we got there, pulled up to a parking attendant and asked where to park, to which the answer was "Pahk your cah behind the gah-den". We were thrilled!!
Jan 5th, 2010, 02:16 PM
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should we do the freedom walk if it is snowing? still fun?
Whether there is snow or not, you need to be appropriately dressed for being outdoors at 20-30F for 1-2 hours. Since you mentioned you're from LA, I want to make sure you understand what you need: wool hat, gloves, scarves, +/- ear muffs, thick socks, thick-soled shoes, lots of layers, and a wind-resistant warm coat.
If you're not dressed appropriately, I can guarantee that it will NOT be fun; snowing or not.
Whether there is snow or not, you need to be appropriately dressed for being outdoors at 20-30F for 1-2 hours. Since you mentioned you're from LA, I want to make sure you understand what you need: wool hat, gloves, scarves, +/- ear muffs, thick socks, thick-soled shoes, lots of layers, and a wind-resistant warm coat.
If you're not dressed appropriately, I can guarantee that it will NOT be fun; snowing or not.
Jan 5th, 2010, 02:48 PM
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we got there, pulled up to a parking attendant
sf:
If he was wearing Celtic Green, that was my Uncle Chah-lie from Conkidd, who used to live in New Bedfidd until he moved to Medfidd. He's now retired to Wistah, but has a summer place in New Hampshah. (Ya gotta be from N.E. to get it)
stu tower
sf:
If he was wearing Celtic Green, that was my Uncle Chah-lie from Conkidd, who used to live in New Bedfidd until he moved to Medfidd. He's now retired to Wistah, but has a summer place in New Hampshah. (Ya gotta be from N.E. to get it)
stu tower
