A Week In Boston
 

We will be going to Boston the first week in July. We know that we will be taking in a baseball game or two (We are from Houston and the Astros will be playing!). We have never been to this area and would like to see different things. We would like to stay outside of the city but do not have a preference as to the area. So my questions are: Where is a good place to stay outside of the city? What is the best mode of transportation? Do we need to rent a car? What are the top things to do if one is only going to be there a week. We love to be outdoors and would enjoy being active.
Thank you for you help.

A couple of quick answers:

1. Definitely do NOT rent a car. Boston is not a fun city for driving!

2. Make sure you include the tour of Fenway Park. It may be the best tour given by any stadium in this country.

You could look at renting and apartment if you are going to be there a whole week in the city. You don't need or want a car. You can take the t everywhere/ http://www.bostonusa.com/visit/plany...gettingaround/
We always buy the week pass.
Take the ferry to Salem for the day. The ferry ride is beautiful.

Boston is also an easy city to walk. Great places to eat and we go also for the games. Love Fenway. I have never really stayed outside the city but we have gone and visited Concord.

https://www.flipkey.com/boston-condo-rentals/p119790/

I have rented from them. Great location but look at flipkey and that will give you an example of places a little out of the city. Just make sure the t runs there so you can get into the city and to Fenway easy.

https://www.flipkey.com/boston-condo-rentals/p159223/

This is by Bunker Hill, nice area, love the Warren Tavern. I think you catch the T by the college there or you take the water taxi back into the city.

Why do you want to stay out of the city? If it's for budget purposes, let us know your budget and we might have some suggestions.

What else do you want to do? Day trips?

Also look at Airbandb for rentals but check back here for opinions on the location.

We are ok staying in the city....sorry for any confusion. just trying to figure out where our base should be . Being we are going to gms on Fri/sat or sat/sun we have to keep that in mind. We are looking at July 2-9th or 10th as dates. Also ok staying at 2 different places. So we could relocate starting Mon-July 6th to next destination. We are in our late 40s and early 50's and neither have been to New England area so... . Do we go to Vermont area after Boston, Nantucket, Cape cod ? sorry being so open. We aren't into art much or museum's, more into outdoor activities. any suggestions are appreciated. Any suggestions for hotel stay while in Boston etc is welcomed.Would put budget $175.00--300.00/night acceptable. Thanks J.R.

Last fall we did Boston and then went to Portsmouth NH, very nice and took a day trip to Maine.

http://marginalwayfund.org/Marginal_Way_map.pdf

That was a beautiful coastal ride and we stopped at whatever caught our eye.

I love the cape and you can take a fast ferry to Ptown from Boston. Save you from driving and lots to do there.

Since you are from Houston and like outdoor activities, I think a loop up to NH's White Mountains/Lakes Region and then back thru VT would be fun. From Boston to Lake Winnipesaukee is about 2 hours and the mountains are just a few exits north. I93 runs right thru the mountains. You could do some easy hiking or visit The Flume, see wild animals in natural habitat at Squam Lakes Science Center in Holderness and take a pontoon boat ride on the lake where On Golden Pond was filmed. Take a tram up Cannon Mountain. Go kayaking. Go ziplining. Since you have Galveston in TX, I would go for some different terrain that you don't have back home. If you stayed in Meredith NH, there are a couple of summer theaters in the area, too.

Wait...you're talking about the 4th of July weekend, and you don't have a hotel yet? So the city is a complete zoo on the 4th, with everyone coming down for the Pops and fireworks on the esplanade. Hotels near the Charles will be expensive and booked up. Streets will be closed...do NOT under any circumstances rent a car and expect to drive in and park on the 4th.

You should check a site like booking.com. But my guess is you will be hard pressed to find something under your $300 budget. And availability will be scarce

What china_cat says.

The Fourth is a bigger deal in Boston than almost anywhere else in the country. It will be jammed.

It is also hugely fun. The city is full of energy as well as people. There will be a Boston Pops concert on the Charles River Esplanade and massive fireworks, both free. You don't want to stay out in the burbs. Anywhere in the Theater District, Back Bay, or Kendal Square in Cambridge would be great.

Get a place to stay, then get your tickets to the Sox. The rest of the country is celebrating the Fourth on Friday. Someone will tell you here when the Pops and Fireworks are. For various reasons, I can't look it up now. Do not miss the festivities even if you miss one Astros game.

based on some of the responses and more on doing some research, we have decided to do our Boston another time in the horizon. We appreciate all the responses and all who tried to help us with our trip but after looking at full picture, going to drive West to Arizona instead.

Is your visit tomAZ in July? Stay north.

Sedona AZ is our destination. Have reservations for 2 nights at a nice Resort and 3 nights at an Inn where will be doing hiking these days.