Boston, Cambridge and Rockport next week!
 

Travelling to Boston on April 29th. Husband has meetings in Cambridge so I've booked into the Charles Hotel for two nights. Good choice?

I will have all day Friday and Saturday till about 1pm, by myself. Should I head into Boston? How? Is there much to see and do in Cambridge?

On Saturday, we move into Boston. I've booked into the Omni Parker House for 2 nights. But I'm having second thoughts after doing a bit of a search. I have room rate of $170.00 U.S. I've heard of the Lenox and just called there ---can get a deluxe room for $189.00. Should I switch do you think? Any other suggestions?

I have tickets for Blue Man group Saturday night ---reservations at the Union Oyster House for Sunday night. Good choice? We'll have Saturday evening, all day Sunday and Monday morning in Boston. Suggestions for what to do?

For Monday night, I've booked a room at the Inn on Cove Hill in Rockport. I was going to rent a car but the owner suggested a $5.00 train trip instead. We would spend Monday afternoon, evening and night in Rockport and then cab it to the airport for a 5:00 flight. Will we find enough to keep ourselves busy in Rockport? Would we be better off renting a car somewhere near the Omni Parker House Hotel, driving ourselves to Rockport and other communities and then driving to the airport? At first glance, her suggestion of the train seems to be the best and hassle-free.

Thanks in advance for responses to any or all of my basket of questions!

Best place to eat in Rockport?

The Cove Hill Inn is only a block from the center of town, so a car will not be usefull unless you want to go to Gloucester . The cab should be fine, probably @$50, so it is really a matter of funds. This is a quiet time in Rockport, try "my place by the sea", and "Bracketts". Both are walking distance and have a water view. Note that Rockport is a dry town,so bring wine/beer ahead if you wish.

Why not just stay at the Charles for the whole Boston part of your trip? A great hotel in a great location with landmark restaurant and others nearby. It's a few steps to the T and then you can get anywhere in the city. I hate moving from one hotel to another, so why do it if you don't need to? The Charles is a great hotel, there's SO much to do in the Harvard Sq. area (tell me what you like to do and I'll make more specific suggestions -- shop? oddball museums? architecture? bookstores? sidewalk cafes?)

Union Oyster House is okay, sort of a must-do, but not top of the list for seafood -- may be crowded, but okay.

Think you may be pushing it trying to get from Rockport to the airport -- taxi will be pricey. Hope that's not a 5 am flight!! And I'm not at all sure you want to try to do Rockport without a car -- with one you can also do the rest of Cape Ann and Gloucester. Rockport is a tad touristic and some of the more interesting/picturesque stuff might be found driving/puttering around that peninsula (Magnolia beach, etc.). It's probably too late, but might have suggested Marblehead instead.

Be aware, however, that driving into Logan Airport is like navigating a maze at high speed with only one eye open, and it can also be very badly jammed up with unpredictable delays. To get to the airport by 3:30 for a 5 pm flight, I'd probably start at 1:30, which doesn't leave you much time. So you may want to tinker with your itinerary a bit.

Wow! Such speedy responses ---thank you!

Can't really afford the Charles ---after the first two nights of business related travel, we're on our own! Omni Parker is $170/night (a special internet rate) ---Charles is $299.00 U.S.(quite a difference in Canadian dollars!)

Never thought we'd have to leave Rockport by 1:30 for a 5:00 flight (yes it is 5pm!) ---thanks for the advice. I do love the thought of being able to drive ourselves to Rockport, poking along and discovering sights along the way ---but your description of the precarious drive to the airport, makes me think we'd be better off taking the train ---enjoying a liesurely afternoon and evening in Rockport, a bit of a hike in the morning and then catching a taxi between 1:30 & 2:00 pm.

As for Harvard Square, I'm game for anything! Others have advised me to get myself into the city ---- but I'd love to hear some suggestions for Cambridge (do like to shop ---not too anxious to spend great quantities of time indoors especially if the weather is good)

Thanks very much ---still hoping for answers to other questions.

I'd do a Boston day and a Cambridge/Harvard Sq. day, more or less.

Highlights of Harvard Sq. -- puttering around Harvard Yard -- see the Widener Library, Mem. Hall and Mem. Church -- there might be tours you can take. The Harvard info office is in the arcade of Holyoke Center, which is the building housing Au Bon Pain opposite the "T" kiosk/square. The arcade itself is fun, w/shops and food and a ticket office for last-minute tix.

Walking by the river is a wonderful way to spend an hour or three -- don't miss it, even if the weather's a teeny bit iffy (not if it's sturm und drang, though). Also walk up into the area between Mt. Auburn and Mass. Ave. from your hotel into residential areas and appreciate old Cambridge.

You might find the glass flowers in the Natural History Museum on Oxford St. (near the Law School) interesting. The Fogg Art Museum and the Busch-Riesinger each have specialty collections and just walking by some of the buildings is a study in architecture, good and bad. In the Square itself, have a latte in "The Coop" (pronounced "coop" even though it's origin is "co-operative") and regard the books, recordings, magazines, people. There are some stellar restaurants (Harvest, Sandrine's, etc.) and some local landmarks (Charlie's Kitchen, thought to be a hangout of Robt. Parker and long-time supplier of basic menu to students; etc.), Spanish (Iruna near the Sq., Dali out further), etc.

Central Sq. is a little less college-y but still kind of interesting -- it's the next stop on the T but you can walk it if you are a walker, and the scene on Mass. Ave. along the way is interesting, some very interesting stores, etc.

And that's just two parts of Cambridge. There's a big mall at "Lechmere"/Cambridgeside if that's what you'd like (eh!), and stuff around MIT at the Kendall stop.

In Boston it's Newbury St. for shopping (near Lenox Hotel, which is fine). It's the Public Garden for Swan Boats and memories of "Make Way for Ducklings." And again, unless the weather is horrific, DON'T MISS wandering around Beacon Hill to see cobblestone streets, townhouses, and old aristocracy at Louisburg Sq.

That's just a start..... ;-)

My goodness --just posted this this afternoon and already I'm #63. I was so buoyed at first with quick responses ---now I feel lost in the shuffle. Sigh...

I'll only do this once...write myself so that I might pop up higher in the list ----regardless, thank you thank you...doc, cfc, and cassandra.

Good evening to all.

A cab from Rockport to Logan is likely to cost more than $50. I live half-way between the 2 and it cost me $50 to get to the airport last summer. You could always take the train back to Boston and then catch a cab to the airport from North Station--this way you would eliminate the potential traffic problems.

I would pass on the Oyster House. You are pretty close to the North End--it would be much more fun to walk over there for dinner, desert and hanging out.

The North Shore is my favorite area and Rockport is pretty touristy, but its still early for big crowds. Maybe you could rent a car for a day in Rockport and tour the area--I prefer Ipswich, Essex and Marblehead-but that's further away.

I would change to the Lenox, not the Parker House. The Charles is a wonderful hotel; you'll enjoy it. Here's another vote for passing up the Union Oyster House; it's not what it used to be (a kabillion years ago). There are many many good restaurants in Boston.

I agree with most of what has been said. The Lenox is much better than the Parker House. If price is an issue, try last minute special webrates for Le Meridien, Hyatt Financial District, or Wyndham Boston. Better yet, stay at the Charles if you can. Forget the Union Oyster House, there are so many better restaurants for the money. I would recommend that on Friday, if you are by yourself, you purchase a ticket for a hop on hop off all day trolley tour. I believe you can get this from your hotel. There are serveral trolley companies, and you may even be able to get a discount as they are eager for business. Some stop at all the local attractions, in Boston and Cambridge, and most include a short harbor tour of Boston. You could shop, stop at museums, etc. They also stop at the SS Constituion in Charlestown (a part of Boston).
As far as Rockport is concerned, keep in mind the the fare is $5 pp each way. Then a subway ride with a line switch, then an airport shuttle bus. You will need to allow lots of time. However, unless you are adventurous, I would not recommend driving and navigating and parking in this area. A cab or limo to the airport would be at least $75, probably more. Hope this helps.

I second the suggestion to stay at the Charles for the whole trip. It is so easy to get into Boston from the hotel. The $299 rate you are paying strikes me as a bit high. We stayed there recently in two rooms (one basic, one larger) and neither room cost that much per night. Of course, exact time of year, length of stay, and supply/demand will make a difference. I would check back with the hotel as to whether they can offer you a better rate on at least one of your remaining nights. This hotel often has weekend specials. It's worth a shot anyway before you go to the hassle of moving hotels.

One great thing about the Charles Hotel is now there is a Legal Seafoods right next door. You'll definitely want to eat there at least once. We ate there three times!

There's plenty to do in Cambridge. It's fun just to walk around Harvard Square. Touring Harvard and/or MIT are other options. Mt Auburn Cemetery is beautiful with a number of notables buried there. The glass flowers are worth seeing and several other Harvard and MIT museums may be of interest.

Charles Hotel has an Avis rental desk and there are other locations downtown. If you reserve in advance you can get a car for about $35 a day and return it to the airport. Depending on the time of day the traffic might not be too bad. If you get good, precise directions the drive from Rockport to Logan Airport shouldn't be too bad.

A lot of good suggestions here, but I want to defend Rockport in case you're getting the impression that it's a tourist trap.

Sure tourists go there, but they should. It's a really quaint, beautiful town, but it's far from a tourist trap. It's a quintessential New England sea-side town with lots of good restaurants (I also like "Bracketts" and "My Place"), so I hope the "tourist" label won't scare you away. I also think it would be a good idea to rent a car and drive around as has been suggested. The whole Cape Ann area is really great. The drive itself is worth it if you go along the coast.

Other thoughts...

Cab from Rockport to Logan??? I'd avoid it. Too expensive.

Blue Man Group - it's hard to explain, but I found it really cool. good choice.

Union Oyster - I've only been for lunch a few times and I was very impressed. I don't think you'll go wrong (although the North End suggestions are also worth taking note of... excellent food and a nice place to walk around afterwards.

Have fun!

Car in Rockport? - for time within Rockport, not necessary and parking is a pain - but if the weather is nice and you want to venture out of Rockport, a car would be nice. Driving to airport from Rockport is not all that difficult - it is within the airport property that it can get a little confusing. But with one navigator and one driver, you can do it. (Terminals are lettered and different ramps for arrivals/departures. However, rental car return is at beginning of airport property and then they take you in a van to correct erminal - so less chances to get lost)

Cambridge to Boston is very easy on MBTA - safe and easy, even alone. Start in Cambridge on day one, then decide if you want to spend day 2 in Boston or Cambridge. I also vote for Lenox over Parker House - have heard rooms at Parker House are a little tired - but location for either is great.

You've got some good replies here so I'll just add a few things. The Omni Parker is not bad. It's in a good location and you cut over to Charles Street for some good restaurants (Toscanos or Torch, Lala Roch) and its right near the shopping district. You can walk over to Fanueil Hall and the North End too. The best part of Union Oyster is the ancient raw bar. Have a pint with a dozen on the half shell if you're into that. It's a cool thing to do. Boston is a great walking town. Just amble about and take the T -- it's safe. Good luck.

Lucky you, some great restaurants at your door, like Legal Seafood, Rialto, Henrietta's Kitchen and also in the hotel, a great jazz club, the Regatta Bar.

I agree with those that do not think much of the Omni Parker House - it is really a second rate hotel and after the Charles Hotel you will be disappointed.

Also, the Union Oyster House is a place that typically attracts tourists, but locals would not go there. If you don't want to break the bank, walk over to the North End - the Italian District - and pick almost any place that appeals.

I am overwhelmed with such generosity from strangers.

Computer has been down ---I'll read over your responses in the a.m. and may have even MORE questions!

But thank you ever so much for taking the time to help me in planning our brief, but oh so anticipated visit to Boston.

Good night all.