A day in Boston
 

Taking our 14 year old grandson to the Sox on Tuesday night, June 21. We would like to show him some of Boston during the day, also. Thinking of Freedom Trail, a fun place to eat, Swan Boats,etc. We will have time to tour/walk from 11 am to 6 pm. Suggestions, as well as where to park. thanks

Where can we park for fenway? should we visit MIT first and then go to Fenway area? Is there any way to travel within the city with small dogs?
these are issues I forgot to mention above.

Does the Freedom Trail plug into Fenway area?

No dogs on public transportation, no dogs in restaurants, no dogs at Fenway Park. Don't bring the dog.

If you want to see MIT, go through there first.

Park the car in the Common Garage, walk the Freedom Trail to the North End, stopping for lunch either at Quincy Market or, for Italian, in the North End. When you get tired, take the Green Line T to Kenmore Square from Haymarket or take the Blue Line from Aquarium to Park Street and change to the Green Line there.

If this sounds like to too much walking, you can take a Trolley Tour from Aquarium that runs through much of Boston, and you can get on or off repeatedly.

I don't know whether the Duck Boats are running. They were closed down for a while this Spring. One of them killed a bicyclist and the driver and some of the other drivers had long strings of driving offenses.

Generally good advice from Ack.

Quincy Market will be a good place to eat with a 14-year-old since it's informal and there are several choices for food. Walk around there and let him pick the place.

The Common Garage is as good a place as any to park (and then take the subway to the ballpark). You won't want to drive or park in the Fenway area on game days.

You can bring pets on the T in off peak hours (google mbta and off-peak for more info). But on leash and not on seats.

Boston is acompact city and the walks suggested above are good ideas. Too bad you have to bring the car, but sometimes you can't avoid that. Boston.bestparking.com is one way to find parking spots & estimate costs in advance. Depending on your approach to the city you could leave the car in a T lot on the perimeter (e.g. Alewife).

I am not sure a 14 boy would enjoy the swan boats,but it depends on the kid, of course. They are charming but tame!

I'm a big fan of the Rose Kennedy Greenway which has a lot of variety in a small distance, watching the seals outside at the Aquarium, or even taking the T boat back & forth to Charlestown. Old Ironsides and the USS Cassin Young in the navy yard are a very interesting way to spend the day. Then you could climb the Bunker Hill Monument (sans dogs).

I really don't think bringing the small dogs is a good idea because you have no place to leave them when you attend the baseball game. It's really no fun walking on crowded sidewalks, especially if it's hot, with the pups. And CharlotteK is right. You can bring dogs on the subway and buses.

Visit MIT first and then drive to Boston. The Prudential Center garage is a good spot to park for baseball games, but their deal involves parking there after 2 p.m. on game days. So the Boston Common Garage may be your best bet if you don't want to move the car during the day.

I like the idea of walking the Freedom Trail from the Common to the North End then walking around the harbor area and the Greenway.

The Duck Boats are running. And just to clarify, one hit a motorbike carrying two people, which was stopped in front of the duck boat at a stop light, not a bicycle.

Yes, Freedom Trail good for Boston visitors...but one does tire so take it easy with breaks such as Quincy Market. With parking in Common Garage. May not make it all the way to Charlestown. Why MIT...just some buildings. And that's about all to see in one day with a Sox game that night. Forget the dog for goodness sake. But don't forget the hotdogs at Fenway.

Don't understand what a 14 year old would find interesting about what one can see in passing at MIT. Maybe the museum. Other than that, it's a collection of not so interesting/impressive buildings, except for the whimsical Stata. You can't enter classrooms or labs, and it will be quiet (student-wise) at this time of year. If you have a car, do a drive-by on the way in or out of town.

Grandson is driving this trip plan. Dogs are with us on cape cod for a week and cannot be left behind. I will drive the gs and his gf to the park and drop them off, hopefully, then go find a place to park with dogs and read while they enjoy the game. I realize this is less than optimal but it is what we must do in this case.
This boy asked to do three things- see the sox, visit MIT which is a dream of his to attend, and see the minutemen area( not sure where or what that is). He enjoyed school for the first time this year when he had a male teacher who inspired him to learn all about American History. Sorry I did not make some of these details clear earlier. We may have to forget the freedom trail.

By the minuteman area, he probably means Concord and Lexington--Minuteman National Park. If you're driving up from the Cape, you could visit Lexington and Concord, then MIT, then the Sox game. There won't be enough time for the Freedom Trail though that is full of history as well.

You can try to call about tours of MIT. They are geared toward potential students, walking through one of the very rudimentary, plywood dorm setups (for all that tuition $$$, surely they could give the students more comfortable dorms!)and some long, bare corridors of the classroom buildings. I went on one with a friend from another country who had looked forward to the tour as a highlight of his visit to Boston and, utterly bored, he couldn't wait to get away from the group once he understood what he wasn't going to be able to see (labs, etc).

You might have to find a café that allows animals if you intend to "park and read" with the dogs during the game, unless it is in the afternoon. If daytime, there is a portion of the Fenway, a grassy, flowered park area with benches, a couple of blocks from the ballpark. Parking around the ballpark is at a premium, very expensive on game days. I think there is a McDonald's across the street that has parking for customers; maybe you can stand there coffee/food in order to park and/or read close to the ballpark.

The McDonald's and the Burger King on outer Boylston St. are long gone. All high-rise buildings now.

meribeth: how familiar are you with Boston? I've been trying to think of a good place for you to park during the game. If you could find metered parking on Boylston St. near the Prudential Center or on Newbury St., it would be ideal. You could park, feed the meter until 8 o'clock, take the pups for a walk, and get something to eat or snack on. And your grandson could walk to meet you there after the game. Better than parking in a garage.

Alternately, you could just drive to Brookline and find parking and hang out there before meeting up at a pre-arranged spot to pick up your gs.

You are a nice grandparent. I just discovered a website bringFido.com (I have no proprietary interest in this site and don't even own a dog) which lists several Brookline restaurants that are dog-friendly. So you might head down that way with the dog during the game.

Or alternately, park at the Prudential or Boston Common, take the dog for a walk down Newbury St, Public Garden or Boston Common.

Perhaps drive through Lexington first - there is a Minuteman statue and some smaller historic houses. Lots of places for lunch in Lexington. Then head straight down Massachusetts Avenue (known locally as Mass Ave) thru Lexington, Arlington into Cambridge and drive by MIT. Stop if you want, but it is mostly a bunch of buildings. Tour if you have time.

Then continue into Boston. By then it is certainly after 2 PM and you can park at Prudential which has the best balance between convenience and cost for Red Sox games.

Not my idea of most interesting 1-day Boston itinerary - but you indicated grandson wants "Minuteman" stuff, MIT - and you have the dog to deal with. This is going to be a long, long day - no chance you could board the dogs for 1 day on the Cape?

These two pups, 13, Miles and Levy, cocker spaniels, are our children. Hubby will not put them in boarding. At home , we have a dog sitter come to the house when we leave on a trip.
I really appreciate all of your ideas and concerns.
cw, I think your plan, minutemen at Lex/Concord, lunch there, then onto some form of visit to MIT, ending the day at Fenway, is right on the money for us.Where is Brookline? I was thinking I could head north again and find a safe place to park, then pick up "the boys" after the game or even maybe early.
Years ago, we took our own children to the hands on children's museum, but, no, I am not familiar with Boston, but have several good maps in hand.

My first choice for you would be to park in Back Bay where gs could walk to meet you after the game. There is a garage on Dalton St. It is across from the Sheraton and right off of Boylston St. You could park and walk towards Fenway with gs. That way he could find you after the game. The garage is about a 15 minute walk and there are many others walking to the game so it is safe. I think evening cost is $18 after 5.

Parking right near Fenway is around $55 according to the sign I saw tonight on my way home. That was in the Target garage on Van Ness St. But you run into lots of after game traffic getting out.

Brookline is west of Fenway on Beacon St. Their main business area is Coolidge Corner where Beacon meets Harvard St. It's a little more than a mile from Fenway. There is a lot of metered street parking in the area. Do watch the meters because the meter police are vigilant. It's a very safe area. But you would have to find a meeting place not too close to the park. I'm glad you have some good maps.

I'll keep thinking about this. You're a terrific grandparent!

Oh, and if you go to Concord, the Minuteman Visitor Center on Rt. 2A is worth stopping at to see the movie about the battle road. It's really well done. The only other stop you need to make is the North Bridge. The rest of Concord and Lexington is interesting but for your day, you can drive through.

"Several good maps" are still going to make logistics of driving within Boston challenging. How far can the dogs walk?

You have no idea how awful traffic right around Fenway will be starting about 2 hours prior to game and for about 90 minutes after. You do not want to drive there. "I will drop GS off at Park" is not as simple as it sounds. It will be combination of rush hour traffic and game day traffic. Gridlock.

I am not familiar with the Dalton St garage - but that area is a good mile from Fenway. Prudential is a little less, but still a hike.

How street and crowd savvy is GS? Could he take MBTA alone to/from game to meet you someplace?

Trying to help and am very familiar with Fenway area - having lived there and also attending several games/year. I am trying to avoid your getting into horrific traffic or worrying about GS getting to game or worrying about not finding him after game while meeting needs of the dogs.

You mention hubby will not leave/board dogs. Where is he in this logistical plan? Is he going to game? Staying on Cape? At home? Knowing his whereabouts might help me come up with a plan that will work.

Gail, the garage on Dalton St. is on top of the Summer Shack, slightly closer to Fenway Park than the Prudential Center garage. I've left that garage at the same time as a game was getting out, and while it was busy, it was a 10 minute wait, not longer, so not bad. The official name of the garage is the Hynes Auditorium Garage run by Pilgrim Parking at 50 Dalton St.

Then they can exit right coming out of the garage, right on Huntington (stay in right lane), then take the right ramp up to Mass. Ave. and make a left and go straight to 93 South.

I didn't suggest the subway since it is so packed after the game and it would seem confusing for first time users.

Google maps puts the walk at .6 miles and 13 minutes. It may be slightly longer, depending on what gate the kids enter the Park. There are also loads of pedicabs at the corner by the garage, which skirt the traffic and get you to and from the park quickly.

my hubby- GP- is taking Tyler to the game. He can walk about a 1/2 mile due to leg problems.I will have the car and we all communicate via text. Tyler is smart and can figure things out. Keep thinking and so many thanks to you all.

Dogs can walk at least a mile.

Ok - final answer (probably not!). Leave Cape. Drive to Lexington and do the Revolutionary War history stuff. I was in Lexington yesterday and driving thru downtown there are a number of restaurants with outdoor seating - I am wondering if you could take dogs there? If not, go to Wilson Farm (Pleasant Street) - it is like a farm stand on steroids. Beautiful fruits and veggies - plus a section in back with prepared foods of all kinds. Buy stuff for a picnic lunch. Drive back towards Lexington Center and there is a little park with benches. Have lunch there and get the dogs some out-of-car time.

Then drive down Mass Ave to MIT. Do whatever you are going to do there.

Continue into Boston (map quest or GPS it instead of me giving you directions.) I am thinking Tyler probably has a smartphone with GPS and he can direct you.

Park at either Prudential or Dalton St/Hynes garage mentioned above. The car should stay there. GP and Tyler can take a pedicab to game or walk. You can use car as home base. Walk to Public Garden or Boston Common with dogs. Sit on a bench and read. There may be restaurants on Newbury St where you can outdoor seat with dogs - not sure. The area is safe and you can window shop and wander around after dark. You could even return to car and take a nap - since it is going to be a long day. After dark there may be some street parking; while you are walking around check out the meter rules. But by leaving the car where it is, GP and Tyler will have no problem finding you after the game.

I am trying to think of something you could do for the approximately 6 hours you will have car, dogs and time - other than the above. That is the part of the plan I am hoping someone has a great idea about. (6 hours includes transit time for GP and Tyler to/from game plus game)

I think your main challenge is the pick-up after the game. That's why you have to park somewhat close to Fenway, in order to be able to rendezvous afterwards.

In one direction from Dalton Street is the Commonwealth Avenue mall--a wide tree-lined green space that runs the length of Commonwealth Avenue. Lot of dog-walkers in that area. In the other direction, quite close, is the Christian Science Church reflecting pool. Though not as green, there is a big fountain and benches where you can sit and relax.

If a cafe has a few tables outside where people buy their food and take it out, then you can sit there with the pups. If it's a more formal patio, with a fence around it, usually you have to sit at a table by the fence and the dogs have to be outside the fence. You'll see both kinds on Newbury St. I think Stephanie's on Newbury (and Exeter, I think) is dog-friendly on the edge of the patio. It's a regular restaurant.

There are two nearby dog-friendly stores. Urban Outfitters (Newbury and Mass. Ave.) allows dogs as does the Apple Store on Boylston.

If they go to the game at about 6, you can take a walk, have a leisurely bite to eat, walk a bit more, and a few hours will have passed. As you mentioned, they may not stay until the end of the game so your time won't be too too long.

If I had time for either Lexington or Concord, I'd choose Concord for the history, especially the Minuteman Visitor Center.

I think cw and I are on the same track - with some fine tuning of details. cw's during-the-game suggestions seem logical knowing the area. I suggested you park at one of those 2 paces since it is close enough for you to find something to do during the game and close enough that they can find you in the same spot after the game.

Now - some Fenway info if they have not been before. The seats are smaller than any other ballpark - it is easy for even an average size person to feel cramped after a while. Get up and walk around. Try to leave seat between innings, or at least batters - we take our baseball fairly seriously in Boston.

You can not bring food or drink into Fenway, even water. As with most sporting venues, it is expensive inside. And Fenway has less variety than some of the newer venues. But at least the bathrooms are clean and work - unlike when I started attending games 40 years ago.

You can not bring in backpacks. Small clear bags (like with a sweatshirt) are OK. Even on a summer evening, it can get chilly later in the game. Even in July I have needed a sweatshirt after dark. The scoreboard is also not electronic - a guy comes out with a ladder between innings to change the scores of other games. When the score changes of RedSox game, the slide numbers up from inside a room in back of the scoreboard.

They are playing the White Sox - not a team especially loved or hated in Boston, so if you have some need to cheer for Chicago, no one will kill you. I would prefer that they cheer for Boston.

In the 8th inning they play as a sing-a-long Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond). It remains a popular and unexplainable part of the game - since it has nothing to do with baseball and supposedly was written about Caroline Kennedy - although that part makes no sense to me. (After the Boston Marathon bombing Neil Diamond showed up unannounced to lead the sing-a-long during a game).

Hope they enjoy the game an experience. If either is into baseball history or tradition, there are all sorts of plaques and statues in the food vendor tunnels. As the oldest baseball park in MLB, it really is an experience.

Thanks so much. GS texted me last night and he is very excited about time in Boston.
Anyone want to suggest activities on the cape?

Where on the Cape and when will you be there?

Where on the Cape are you based for your week's stay?

It seems it's going to be beach weather, even if the water might not be so warm yet. Maybe get him a skim board to use at the edge of the waves.Walking the beaches, and also the trails (get a map at the Nat'l Park Visitors Center, White Cedar Swamp trail, etc)are fun. Bike the path next to the canal. Whale watch. Art's Dune Tours in P'town. P'town shopsand restaurants. Chatham shops, Fish Pier with seals, seal tours to Monomoy Island. Surf casting (fishing from the beach, 14 yr old does not need a license).

We are in Orleans from Mon-sat next week

I printed all of this, but it came out in tiny print, anyone know how I can make the print bigger

Go on a whale watch from Provincetown, take a tour there with Art's Dune tours, visit the Pilgrim Monument and Museun.

Rent bikes and ride on the Cape Cod rail trail, visit the Audubon Sanctuary in Wellfleet, take a seal cruise to Monomoy Island, and visit the Cape Cod Visitor Center in Eastham and eat at Arnold's for seafood.

topping - wondering how parking, game, dogs, etc went on Wednesday.

I'm wondering too, but the OP is may still be on the Cape. Hope we hear after their return.

We have returned to Pa yesterday.

The drives up and back both were riddled with accidents, road work, and snarls, so almost 8 hours each way,
but our time on the cape was super. The weather was perfect, GS swam in Skaket- bay and Nauset-ocean- beaches.
Tuesday morning we got a late start and got to Concord at about 11. We walked to the bridge and saw the little movie. Then GS was ready to go to Boston.
We had no trouble getting there or driving in the city itself. We passed MIT, could not see any parking, so we did not get to the bookstore. Next, we needed lunch but could not find a place with parking nearby, so we wrestled up a very nice lunch at Trader Joe's and tailgated.

By now it was getting warm, so we drove to the parking garage, after perusing the city. Prudential garage was found, then we got a parking spot near the elevators up. Guys left for the game around 4. They walked a few blocks toward Fenway and then grandpop saw and decided to employ a bike taxi, which they both enjoyed. They loved Fenway, saw two homers over the green monsters, got free garden gnomes of Dave Ortiz. They both really had a super time at the ball game. The first pitch of the game went over the green monster.

By that time I left the underground parking because it was really hot in there and I had to run the car a lot to cool us. I paid 30 dollars to park there. I put Brookline in my gps and headed out of town. Passed Fenway 3 times but finally got to Brookline, and sat in a Target parking lot for several hours. The people and surroundings seemed safe enough and it was cooler there.

At about 8, they started texting me about meeting up. Soon, I drove back to city proper and saw that other cars were parked along Boylston Street, so I went to the Prudential Garage entrance and parked on the street. No one cared. I had a handicapped tag that may have helped. After a while, a taxi pulled up and out got my family with big smiles on their faces. We had an easy out of town using route 93.

Driving back to the cape seemed endless, but a fine time was had by the ball enthusiasts and my day was ok, too. I read, played games, knitted, people watched.

On Wednesday, we traveled to Province town, climbed the tower( Tyler pushed and pulled me), then went on Art's Dune Tour. That was truly beautiful and enjoyable.

As we drove different places, I did notice several cars that had major key scratches, and today saw that my car also had been keyed. But all in all, a very special week with our grandson.

The three of us thank all of you who gave us smart advice and helped to make our trip less stressful.

We ate at Cooke's, Sir crickets, the Jailhouse, Hole in One,.
Dogs did fine.

Maribethp, thanks for the report. I'm glad they enjoyed the game and you seemed to navigate well through the area though I have no idea where you went from the garage. It all worked out.

Sorry about your car damage. Did it happen in Boston or on the Cape?

Glad you all enjoyed the Cape and the dune tour. I like Cooke's for seafood though I haven't been in a couple of years. You had great weather for your visit. Happy the pups did well too.

Thanks for reporting back. I think logistics of the Boston trip went about as well as possible - but it certainly was a long day. Sometimes those horizontal scratches are not really "keyed" but from mirrors, low hanging stuff on passing cars in close quarters. There really is not any epidemic of keyed cars in Massachusetts that I know of. (I have a similar mark on my car from a holly bush next to my garage - that I have since trimmed)

As you discovered, driving in Boston is not fatal, and there truly is no street parking during the day (as you noted trying to get lunch).

The scratch went through the glass of my rear lights, so it seemed deep and purposeful.I was not aware of hitting anything.

cw. seems most places serve food on paper plates now and hubby did not like that. I think the best seafood, especially chowder, is found at Sir Cricket. Cooke;s was just ok.

I haven't been to Cooke's in awhile. We go to Arnold's for our fried clam fix. I'm not sure I pay attention to paper plates when we're eating casual. Usually the clam plates come in a basket, I guess.

We rent a house at the Cape and usually reserve a few nights for "fine" dining, and cook out the rest of the time.

I often make chowder at home because I'm not a fan of the thick chowder. Does Sir Cricket's have thick or thinner chowder? I know people love the thick chowder but it's just too much for me.

Sorry about the car.

Chowder was thick and filled people up. I cannot eat it as I am allergic to wheat.

Thanks. You could eat my chowder!

No chowder worth the name has wheat.