1 week free after New York - where could I go?
Apr 5th, 2009 | 04:42 PM
#22
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,829
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Anonymous, I agree, and thanks for the correction -- I wouldn't ordinarily consider sending a tourist anywhere near Dorchester either, unless one considers the JFK Library to be here.
My concern, perhaps misguided, was to think of the safest way a tourist might consider seeing the Melville Park houses suggested by AndreaNewEngland. They're actually nice old Victorian houses, but that stretch of Melville Avenue is essentially an island surrounded by a whole lot of bad neighborhood. In retrospect, I probably should have just given a roundly ringing "no" to the idea altogether -- it's not really worth the effort to get there, and one can see houses as nice or nicer in lots better areas.
Let me also say that I don't at all endorse AndreaNewEngland's idea of "tak[ing] a walk through Dorchester from either the Shawmut or Ashmont T stops." No way I'd wander Ashmont Hill at all, and AndreaNewEngland's notion that one needs to "just be sure you know where you are going so you don't end up somewhere too sketchy" is putting it very, very kindly indeed. Tourists don't usually have this kind of knowledge anyway, and I'm not certain you'd stay safe even if you did.
My concern, perhaps misguided, was to think of the safest way a tourist might consider seeing the Melville Park houses suggested by AndreaNewEngland. They're actually nice old Victorian houses, but that stretch of Melville Avenue is essentially an island surrounded by a whole lot of bad neighborhood. In retrospect, I probably should have just given a roundly ringing "no" to the idea altogether -- it's not really worth the effort to get there, and one can see houses as nice or nicer in lots better areas.
Let me also say that I don't at all endorse AndreaNewEngland's idea of "tak[ing] a walk through Dorchester from either the Shawmut or Ashmont T stops." No way I'd wander Ashmont Hill at all, and AndreaNewEngland's notion that one needs to "just be sure you know where you are going so you don't end up somewhere too sketchy" is putting it very, very kindly indeed. Tourists don't usually have this kind of knowledge anyway, and I'm not certain you'd stay safe even if you did.
Apr 7th, 2009 | 02:04 AM
#24
Original Poster
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 33
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Thanks everyone, even more great ideas. The only thing is I don't want to hop on a plane, few hours on train/bus (or overnight) from New York is what I'm after. I fly out of Newark in the evening so will need to get back there as well.
go_laura, I'd love to hear your tips for Philadelphia and DC.
go_laura, I'd love to hear your tips for Philadelphia and DC.
Apr 12th, 2009 | 08:56 AM
#25
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19
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jk, very good point about Quincy/JFK as a "day trip." I didn't mean to disagree with that.
I don't at all recommend tourists coming to Dorchester, except as I said if they have a particular interest in Victorian houses. There are people who travel to see architecture. I have a guest right now who is at the JFK Library, but I was surprised that his interest in it was basically to see an I.M.Pei building.
However, let's not overstate the "danger" of Dorchester. I did warn to get advice about what streets not to cross. Dorchester Ave. is totally safe. Fields Corner is NOT Melville Park, that's a good example of a few blocks making a big difference. You would not take the T to Fields Corner at all, Shawmut is the stop for Melville Park. And anyone who thinks Ashmont Hill could be dangerous in any way just doesn't know. But no need for the locals to get into a pissing contest over this. I actually agree with the poster who says you can some fabulous houses in Cambridge, which can be a nice walk too.
I don't at all recommend tourists coming to Dorchester, except as I said if they have a particular interest in Victorian houses. There are people who travel to see architecture. I have a guest right now who is at the JFK Library, but I was surprised that his interest in it was basically to see an I.M.Pei building.
However, let's not overstate the "danger" of Dorchester. I did warn to get advice about what streets not to cross. Dorchester Ave. is totally safe. Fields Corner is NOT Melville Park, that's a good example of a few blocks making a big difference. You would not take the T to Fields Corner at all, Shawmut is the stop for Melville Park. And anyone who thinks Ashmont Hill could be dangerous in any way just doesn't know. But no need for the locals to get into a pissing contest over this. I actually agree with the poster who says you can some fabulous houses in Cambridge, which can be a nice walk too.
Apr 12th, 2009 | 06:09 PM
#26
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,829
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AndreaNewEngland--
I've walked in this area before, and I'm just not in agreement with some specifics you've stated re Dorchester.
The Fields Corner Red Line stop is right on Dorchester Ave., and I've never felt unsafe there, though I wouldn't venture off Dot Ave. here. The Shawmut Red Line stop is indeed closer to Melville Park, but I did not feel at all safe there even in the daytime -- as I said above, Melville Park itself is OK but the surrounding parallel streets are in my experience not. Nor did I feel safe when I tried walking the Ashmont Hill area -- I left after a brief venture into the area.
I prefer being safer than sorrier in my wanderings, and I'm guessing tourists prefer that as well. Dorchester is in my opinion and in my experience too dicey to take the chance for those unfamiliar with the area, except maybe for the Savin Hill area east of the Expressway, parts of Dot Ave., and the Melville Park strip. And even then, only in the daytime.
Disagree with me if you must.
I've walked in this area before, and I'm just not in agreement with some specifics you've stated re Dorchester.
The Fields Corner Red Line stop is right on Dorchester Ave., and I've never felt unsafe there, though I wouldn't venture off Dot Ave. here. The Shawmut Red Line stop is indeed closer to Melville Park, but I did not feel at all safe there even in the daytime -- as I said above, Melville Park itself is OK but the surrounding parallel streets are in my experience not. Nor did I feel safe when I tried walking the Ashmont Hill area -- I left after a brief venture into the area.
I prefer being safer than sorrier in my wanderings, and I'm guessing tourists prefer that as well. Dorchester is in my opinion and in my experience too dicey to take the chance for those unfamiliar with the area, except maybe for the Savin Hill area east of the Expressway, parts of Dot Ave., and the Melville Park strip. And even then, only in the daytime.
Disagree with me if you must.
Apr 12th, 2009 | 06:38 PM
#27
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13
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Go to Washington DC if you've never been there before.
DC is very easy to get to from NYC. Just take Amtrack from Penn Station at 34th and 7th Avenue in Manhattan. You'll be directly in the heart of Washington in about five hours for under $100. DC has the Smithsonian, the national archives, the mall, the Washington and Jefferson monuments and lot else. Plus just about all the museums are free of charge.
DC also has cherry trees that will be in full bloom around that time frame and should be quite lovely.
DC is very easy to get to from NYC. Just take Amtrack from Penn Station at 34th and 7th Avenue in Manhattan. You'll be directly in the heart of Washington in about five hours for under $100. DC has the Smithsonian, the national archives, the mall, the Washington and Jefferson monuments and lot else. Plus just about all the museums are free of charge.
DC also has cherry trees that will be in full bloom around that time frame and should be quite lovely.
