Toro

The commute from the South Shore and Cape Cod into Boston every morning is the reason people NEED vacations. Believe me you don't want to make it a part of your vacation. If you want a Boston vacation stay in Boston. If you want to see the Cape, make it a Cape Vacation and pick a weekend for a daytrip to Boston. If you have to see both then do 4 nights in Boston and 3 on the Cape.

The convention talk is cracking me up. I live in Boston and I actually can't wait for convention week. It's going to be a train wreck and I'm curious to see how bad it can get. I'm no longer angry at the situation because it is becoming so comical I can't stay mad.

Anonymous

Yes, exactly: If the parking garage at Braintree is full, you will not be able to park there. Braintree is a suburb of Boston, the T (subway) station is in the middle of an area with a hotel and shopping but those places are of course very strict about not allowing commuters to tie up their parking spaces.

Privincetown is at 90-minute drive (at least) from Hyannis, then you'd have time spent on the ferry to Boston, so it's not any improvement, in terms f time or hassle.

One last time: Hyannis is not a feasible base for visiting Boston.

Anonymous

Oops, that "Yes, excactly" was in response to muffy's question, "Are you saying that there will be no where to leave our car once the garage fills up?"

Anonymous

LOL, Toro, I'm in the same state of mind regarding hte convention fiasco. The recently-announce 30-mile airspace is just surreal!

Toro

The northeastern part of Rhode Island is in the no fly zone! Rhode Island!! hahahahhaha!

gail

Another time - you can't reasonably stay in Hyannis and use it as a base for Boston - you can't leave early, late, or in the middle and have it make sense. You can't fly, boat, car, train and have it make sense. I really understand your goals - and unlike some who post here, it seems you have actually consulted a map. But while the mileage may seem sensible, particularly if you compare it to more rural areas of the country, the actual logistics of a commute make it impossible.

FilmNoir

Just a reminder . . . the DNC is coming up soon. Steer clear of Boston.
Boston will be hectic -- July 26-29th !
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34499879

easytraveler

buttercup: You'll enjoy Concord. My recollection is fuzzy, but it seems that the cemetery there with all those famous names is quite spooky even in the daytime.

When in Boston, enjoy the Barking Crab for seafood. Take a walk along Newberry Street at night, stop off at Bolio & Emack (sp?) for the best ice cream ever!

When at Cape Cod, take a ferry out to the islands - Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

Enjoy your trip! Great part of the country! Good food! Nice people - but strange accent!

After Bostonians filled up the BIG HOLE that had been dug up downtown for years and filled it with a metro system or something, they were at a loss what next to do to create gridlock downtown - that is, until the DNC arrived!

seafox

Boston on a good day is a nightmare to navigate and park. The DNC will turn into Dante's inferno. All means of transportaion will b e limited or halted....stay away.....go to the Cape and enjoy your holiday

Anonymous

I'm reviving this thread so it's handy tomorrow when the convention impact begins.

Update: The "Red Zone" area around the convention center has been redrawn; my daughter reports that her block is now in the "yellow zone" rather than the "red zone," probably because of the methadone clinic across the street -- you can't get security clearance for all those clients, and you certainly can't just turn them away.

She also reports that the area set aside for potests is really really scary -- very small area, virtually a construction site, and not only completely fenced in but also covered with netting. She says the area looks too hazardous for anybody to enter for any reason! Perhaps someone wants to give the protesters a reason NOT to use the designated area? Huh, the last convention I remember was Chicago in 1968. Can't toss tear gas canisters back at the cops if you're inside a net enclosure . . .

Stay tuned!

cigalechanta

I went to filenés basement yesterday and was on Newbury/Boylston streets. They took away the trash cans so explosives could not be placed there, and what a mess the streets were. They also removed the newspaper boxes. I couldn't find the "Improper Bostonian."
But you could see alot of locals left town, it was very quiet.

lvk

Any updates from the Bostonians? We'd love to know how it's going. It is as bad as predicted? (I'm sure some New Yorkers would like to know what to expect too!)

I spoke to a friend who lives in Wellesley and works south of Boston. He said his commute couldn't be better -- the highways are relatively empty. He didn't venture into the city, however.

ahhnold

No traffic problems. In fact, it has been the opposite of what was expected since the whole city of Boston has left town. The businesses are doing poorly since the delegates are all at free meal events. Mayor Menino is offering free parking and discounts on everything this weekend to bring people back to the city.

These conventions are a waste. Like we had no clue Kerry was the nominee.

Cassandra

It'll never ever happen, but I'd kind of like to go back to when we didn't have to suffer through all the primary machinations, and the convention was where all the brokering went on. There was genuine suspense about who would be Pres. and who VP nominees and it was great drama. Such fun (no matter which party you were watching) -- right up to the moment when one state held the votes that would put one or the other candidate over the top. The head of that state's delegation would get his/her moment in the nation's view, standing up to roar, "Ladies and Gentlemen: The delegation from the great state of South Wherezis proudly casts its 97 votes for..." a breath .... "Jefferson Quincy Wellborn!!!!" Yayyyyyy! Who hah! Who'd a thunk it? Wow! On to Washington!

Now, it's all Excedrin Headache #43, even with a couple of decent orators with a couple of good deliveries.

I congratulate Boston on -- so far -- surviving. From the Big Dig to the Big Shovelful. Look out, New York! You're next!

Blacktie

ah, yes, cassandra, the good old days, when the backroom bosses (sans women, minorities, naturally) made the decisions on behalf of democracy. the media heads, by the way, agree with you. the GOP'er promises to be more to your taste, so hope is on the way. I find tv offers good suspense, have you tried that?

Barbara

blacktie, you mean there's some question about whom the GOP will nominate?

Anonymous

The city is a ghost town! No highway problems at all, partly because so many people made other plans, but also because the roads were not closed as early as they said (4:00).

I've traveled the length of Route 93 from Milton right through Boston into NH and back, 3 days this week. What a dream commute! All 6 trips were near-record-setting. Hitting the Boston bridges and tunnels at 4, 4:30 and 5:30 on the 3 days (as I got bolder I worked later), I had the whole place to myself, it was positively eerie. The AM commutes were excellent, too.

Restaurants are empty because the regulars are absent and the delegates are apparently eating at the convention center and at parties (I guess the caterers are raking it in).

Stores are quiet, too, though my daughter who works at the H&M store in Downtown Crossing reports brisk business selling to delegates.

cigalechanta

Most restaurants and shops are quiet, complaing of business they lost. The few delegates I saw in Harvard square were buying Harvard t-shirts, caos etc.
A few were at a sidewalk café on Newbury Street otherwise in these neighborhoods, it's business less than usual but there has been tons of private parties to kep that low-key.

Cassandra

I don't know why Fodors would have deleted my response to Blacktie's question -- which was no more political than his. It was to the effect that I am quite certain that the "GOP'r" will not be more to my taste.