5 hr. connection at Logan -- what's possible?
 

We have a 5-hr. connection at Logan and with two youngish teenagers, I sure don't want to spend the whole time in the airport. But I understand it's really complicated to get to and from downtown Boston from the airport. So what is possible by way of sight-seeing from the airport? (We have a 5pm flight out, so I assume I have to take rush hour into account.) Someone mentioned watertaxis to me -- what are they, where do they go?

Never fear..there is plenty to do.. Take the water taxi to the Quincy Market area and I can guarantee your teenagers won't have enough time..there is the aquarium across the street.. there is the great North End..one of the few ethnic areas left with the best Italian food and bakeries.. and if you still have time there are Trolley Tours from the Quincy Market.. It's all in one area...walkable..after you get off the water taxi which really is a fun way to see the Boston Harbor and the skyline...It's not the traffic you have to worry about not that it's not a problem, but the Big Dig..the largest construction site in the US..

It's not complicated to get into downtown Boston from the airport at all. You can take the subway from the airport to downtown very easily and quickly. Quincy Market would be a good place to kill a few hours. There are water taxis available too, although the subway is probably cheaper. I know that one goes to Rowes Wharf (near the Boston Harbor Hotel.) I'm not sure whether there are any other stops. <BR> <BR>Taking a regular taxi between downtown and airport can be difficult at rush hour. The subway is probably your best bet.

In order to get into Boston from Logan, you'll take a bus from your terminal. It will drop you off at the T station at Logan where you can catch a subway into the city for 85 cents. If you take the water taxi it will cost more like $7 per person, but it could count as part of your fun in the city. Your choice. Either way, it won't take long at all. Follow the advice of the previous posters and your teens will have a great day in Boston. <BR> <BR>If you're coming to Boston soon (next two weeks) the tall ships will be in Boston and a ride on the water taxi will let you see them docked in the harbor. A very special side benefit!

If you make it into the North End, make sure to stop at Mike's Pastry (right on Hanover St) for some goodies--great pastry, huge, cheap (great cannoli, ricotta pies, etc.); and, it'll put the kids in a nice sugar coma for the connecting flight. The North End (w/ the old North Church--one is by land, two is by sea, etc.) is close to the Aquarium, which they may enjoy, as well as Quincy Market and Faneuil (rhymes w/ Daniel) Hall (shopping, food and outdoor jugglers, etc). This area would be more than enough for a few hrs.

Logan Airport is a nightmare. Again, every time I come home I dread that airport. Getting in is horrendous...getting out can be equally horrendous ANY TIME OF DAY. I can't believe people are telling you this can be done. <BR>Think about it....do you really have a 5 hour layover? It takes about l/2 hour to deplane then the other plane starts reboarding l/2 - 1 hours, depending on your destination. Granted there is not much to do at this airport but I think you would be very sorry if you ever got stuck in traffic either coming or going into this nightmare of an airport.

Yes, getting to and from Logan can be a pain, but you should have no problem getting into the city-use the T. As Ann mentioned above, get on one of the buses (get it from Baggage Claim level) that take you to the Airport T station. Take the T inbound to Government Center. From there, you're a short walk (1 block) from Fanieul Hall. Since you won't be driving, you don't have to worry about traffic and the T is very reliable. To me, Logan is not as bad as some people make it out to be. But then again, I fly in and out of there alot, so maybe I'm just used to it! Have a good time on your short visit to Boston!

it's easy to get into Boston, as the others have noted. You might consider walking the Freedom Trail, a painted path that hits many of Boston's historical landmarks (Paul Revere's House, Faneuil Hall, Bunker Hill Monumnet, etc.). Try to walk through Beacon Hill. It's like London in the time of Dickens! You could take the "T" over to Harvard Square (20 minutes) in Cambridge and see Harvard University. The Aquarium just across from the airport is nice and there are a few short boat rides nearby into Boston Hazrbor that are great, also. Have fun! 5 hours is more than enough time to do much of the above.

There is lots of information in everybody's posts. I'd like to add/emphasize: <BR> <BR>Anyone who tells you it's impossible, horrendous, etc. to get downtown from the airport is probably someone who is used to traveling by car. Although "traffic" is always bad around Logan airport, that is automobile traffic. The subway from the airport into town is immune to this. <BR> <BR>The water taxi from the airport to Rowes Wharf is a fun ride, but the fare is $10, and they only run every 30 minutes on weekends. I found some info at www.mbta.com and www.massport.com <BR> <BR>Having said all that, you do have to allow travel time if you decide to venture into town, taking into account check-in time. If you want to play it safe, you can kick back at the Legal Seafoods restaurant (there is a full service Legal's restaurant in the terminal) and enjoy an unrushed, authentic Boston seafood lunch.

Mike's Pastry and No-Name..thanks for reminding me..I'm heading both places if I can after seeing the Tall Ships on Wednesday...Yummy, yummy... I can have a sugar attack just thinking of the pastry....

Legal Seafood is a must. Fanueil Hall a must...and if time, a hot fudge sundae at Bailey's. You will have enough wonderful food to put you in a trance for your connecting flight. The traffic is the worry....the "t" and the ferry are NOT traffic! Enjoy!

PB, please tell me where you found a Bailey's in Boston in the past ten years! Am I missing one??? There are a few Brigham's left, but to the best of my knowledge, we Boston ice cream lovers have had to find other places to indulge for quite a long time, much to our sorrow. Bailey's was an institution, and is missed by many. Cabot's ice cream in Newton (not a tourist location, but close to my home) is the only place I can think of that still makes an overflowing sundae. If you were unaware of this, sorry to have to break the news. If I'm missing one that survived, please let me know!

Ann, I worked at the Bailey's in Chestnut Hill as a kid and we were instructed to make sure that the hot fudge dripped over the dish onto the silver tray. <BR> <BR>Cabot's has great milk chocolate fudge. <BR> <BR>If we are talking food, heading north from the airport is Kelly's Roast Beef( and clam rolls) in Revere Beach. The Wall Street Journal did a story of where to eat(unique places) during a long airport layover,,and Kelly's was named as one of the places near LOgan.

I drove from NY to Boston and the Cape two years ago. I turned in my rental car at Logan. I wondered why in the world everyone made such a big deal out of it. It was the smoothest ride and car turn in I'd ever had. I'd planned ahead and got there 2 hours in advance b/c of the advice I'd been given re: traffic at Logan, yet I got there in 10 minutes and finished it all in less than 20 minutes. I think it's all relative. I come from a big city, so I'm used to traffic and cars. I also ask directions before going anywhere. In addition, and I think this is the key, I always make plane reservations, coming and going, taking into consideration rush hour. I never fly into or out of a big city early in the morning or at 5 pm. If you can swing that, do so...saves time and less stress. Good luck and have fun.