Has anyone taken any of the Boston Driving Tours where you are picked up and drove around Boston seeing the sights? Tours last about 6.5 hours and cost $30 to $40 and was checking to see what you thought about them.

I've never heard of this, but it sounds odd. For over six hours, you must go IN something, yet then you must have to rush through to get back in the car. Boston is not that big! You'd be better off touring downtown with a Duck Tour, and walking around Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market. The North End Culinary Tour is another excellent walking tour, and the Freedom Trail would show you all the historic sights on your own. If you can't walk, check into this car-tour more throroughly, but find out if the cost includes any entrance fees.

Sounds like an oxymoron to me. Driving and Boston just don't mix. It probably lasts 6.5 hours because you're stuck in traffic the entire time. Boston is suffering through one of the largest construction projects in the history of mankind and traffic is a constant issue. Is this a private tour or one of the trolley tours?

Could you be talking about one of the (many) trolley tours which goes around Boston? (I have lived here for 10 years and have never heard of a "Driving Tour.") If you are talking about a trolley tour, it allows you to depart the trolley at certain points on the tour and you are free to walk around and board another trolley to continue with the tour. That's the only driving tour of Boston that I know of which could be over six hours.

If you are talking about the trolley tour, cousins of mine from Maryland took it when they were last in Boston, and they really liked it.

The tour company is called Boston Tours and they pick you up at a designated spot in a 13 to 20 passenger van/bus and drive you to sights such as the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, Old North Churh and other spots. I thought this might be easier then me driving around or anything else. What about the trolleys, are they good about getting around town and seeing the sights?

Scott

Another question. Would I be better off driving into town and parking my car in a parking garage and pay up to $24 or try and ride the subway in from an outlying point? Believe after more research I am leaning towards the Gray Line Beantown Trolley Tour.

If you are going to Boston for just the day, it's definitely convenient to "park and ride" (see www.mbta.com), so long as you plan to return in time for the last train. There are places to park for less than $24 for the day if you feel like driving around a bit. The open air trolleys, with hop on/hop off service, are a fabulous way to see the city in the nice weather. The commentary is actually amusing and informative, too.

Most of the city parking is a max of $24 for the day. As long as you're not planning on moving the car all day, it would probably be quite convenient to do that, especially if you have kids in tow. Y