I'm traveling with my husband to Boston in mid-April. He will be in meetings during the day & I was looking for some ideas for things I could do by myself. We are staying at Le Meridien & have heard that Boston is very walkable but was looking for some specifics. Thanks!

Lucky you! There are SO many things to amuse yourself in Boston, it's hard to know where to start without knowing your particular interests -- shopping, history, museums, art? Just walking through the Public Garden is charming at that time of year.

Fodors own destinatoin guide is florid and not completely accurate, but it's a good place to start. (Please accept my apologies in advance is this loooong link causes text-wrapping problems.)

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=boston@33

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...tion=boston@33

Thanks for all the information, Ellen. I'm starting to get excited! I'm interested in doing a little bit of everything but thought I would probably focus on the museums by myself, since hubby is very interested in history & shopping & we can do that together after his meetings!

One museum not to miss is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It's right down the road from the huge Museum of Fine Arts on Huntington Ave., very accessible on the subway's Green Line (but be sure you take the right branch). www.gardnermuseum.org

The JFK Library is another worthwhile destination, on the Red Line. www.jfklibrary.org

Of course, you should double-check the opening hours of the things you do after hubby's meetings, as not everything is open every evening.

For a hubby who's interested in shopping, Filene's basement is an absolute must!

Jo, if you want to do museums, you can spend a whole day (and more!) at the MFA. Really a world class museum with everything from paintings and sculptures to decorative furnishings and period rooms. They are having a special Impressionists exhibit on right now.

They have 3 eating establishments in it too, so staying is easy. I was there last week with my girlfriend; it's fun to have lunch in the museum cafe, sipping darjeeling tea...

Also, Harvard's Natural museum recently re-opened its glass flowers exhibit.

Have fun!

Oh, Klam, I agree -- the period rooms at the MFA are worth seeking out. I think you'd never come across them if you just wandered around the museum. I visit them every time, even though they make me feel so bad about my own stuff when I get home.

Thanks, Klam & Ellen. The period rooms sound right up my alley. Are the subways OK during the day? I tend to be a little paranoid!!

Subways are fine!

For the MFA & Isabella Stewart you'll be on the green line, E train. You can easily get a good map of the "T". Also available are for purchase is a "passport" for the "T", which is a short term subway pass so you don't have to fill you pockets with tokens.

Both the Isabella Stewart and MFA are beautiful. If your husband is into history you may considering waiting to go to the JFK until he can join you.

Have a wonderful time!

Ellen...same here!

Jo, the T (subway) is easy to use. As Sandy referenced, you might want to get the visitor pass; it's a bargain at $11 for 3 days, unlimited subway and bus rides. There's also one for 7 days...not sure of the price. The MBTA (subway admin) has a great site with maps, etc.: mbta.com

The subways are safe, as is walking around in Boston during the day, and even at night. Just use common sense as you would in any big city. Thing I like about the T is that there are actual conductors aboard the trains so if you feel edgy (or are paranoid you can sit by them.

Have a great time!

You guys are great. I was afraid to ask about the subways but am glad I did. The passport sounds perfect for me. It doesn't sound like I'll have any trouble filling 2 1/2 days by myself. Then I can show hubby around on the weekend! Thanks again!

You will easily fill your 2.5 days. The concierge at Le Meridian will be helpful at pointing you in the right direction to get out and about. Many areas are walkable from Le Meredian- Fanueil Hall for one. Your biggest decision will probably be deciding what you will have to forego seeing because of everything else. You may want to take in a trolley tour to get an overall sense of things and narrow it down from there. The amphibious Duck Tours are also great fun.

Restaurants- you will want to make atleast one foray into the North End. If you ask 20 people what the best restaurant in the North End is you will get 20 different answers but for starters: Maurizio'a, Monica's, and Cantina Italiana.

You said you are here mid- April but if you are here the weekend of April 15, that is the weekend of the Boston Marathon, it is a fantastic time to be in Boston- bonus for you if you are!

Have a great time!

Sandy -
Actually, we will be there that weekend! Is that a good thing or a bad thing?? Do I need to make reservations for dinner Friday & Saturday? Oh, & one more thing, exactly what is a Duck Tour?? Thanks!

It is an AWESOME thing!

There will be alots of events and activities around the city. A very BIG must do for you and your husband will be to go to Copley Square and walk down Boylston Street to the finish line. It is just a historical, world class event you will feel the excitement in the air.

Also- the Red Sox are in town that weekend playing their nemesis Yankees. Tickets will be difficult to come by fo that reason, but you couls always luck out if you were really interested.
Duck Tour are amphibious vehicles tha take you on a tour throughthe city and then finish by driving in to the Charles River where you can take in both Cambridge and Boston while motoring down the river. It's alot of fun. You can buy tickets 48 hours in advance at teh Prudential Center (big shoppin/office complex- Copley Square/Boylston Stree near marathon finish line)

The Newbury Street area is one block in from Boylston Street and is great fun for shopping and people watching.

Please report back afer the trip with high's/low's do's/don'ts- Have a GREAT time!!!!!!!

Whoops- forgot- yes, dinner reservations
would be well advised- Enjoy!!!!

Another vote for doing the MFG and Isabelle Gardner, but don't miss the JFK in South Boston... Hadn't been there for years and just went back and history just hit me in the face, I remember it all...sadly.. I only wish there could have been years more.. Don't miss the little movie theatre on the Cuban Crisis.

Just a word of caution about the visitors T pass. Since a regular token for the T costs only a dollar, and a bus ride even less, you'd have to ride a LOT to make an $11 pass worth it in 3 days, especially since your hotel is within walking distance of so many things. The MBTA also sells a "weekly combo pass" for $12.50, but it's specifically for Sunday thru Saturday; the 7-day visitors pass is $22 but I think it can start any day of the week.

Patriots Day weekend is indeed an extremely exciting time to be in Boston, but also extremely crowded. Plan accordingly -- the Copley Square area is a gridlock for most of Monday, the day of the marathon.

http://www.mbta.com/text-only/passfares/types/index.cfm#subway

Don't miss the National Park presentation at Fanueil Hall, and tour the Old Statehouse Museum if you get a chance. We were in Boston right after 9/11 and it was especially important to walk the Freedom Trail and visit so many places important to our Nation's history. The food court in Quincy Market is great for reasonably priced lunch or dinner. There is a 1/2 price ticket booth near Fanueil Hall/Quincy Market for day of preformance tickets.

Jo: The concierge at Le Meridien will provide you with a walking map of Boston and a subway map. Also, there's complimentary limo (yes, limo) service to the destination (one way, you're on your own to return) of your choice (ask when you check in, as you must make arrangements ahead of time, preferably the night before, for your departure time). Here's another recommendation for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - a real gem. The Museum of Fine Arts is a short walk from there, where the magnicent "Impressionist Still Life" exhibition is in progress. We saw this at the Phillips (the tour sponsor) in DC over Thanksgiving and it is not to be missed! See www.mfa.org for details and ticket information (it's best to reserve tickets, as popular exhibitions sell out in advance). The bulbs will be in bloom in the Public Gardens. From there, you may want to walk along Commonwealth Ave to enjoy the magnolia trees in bloom! Then, over to Newbury Street for the shopping and sidewalk cafes. At 161 Newbury is Kitchen Arts ("heaven" for cookware, utensils, gadgets) and at 167 Newbury is the E6 Apothecary (cosmetic heaven like no other, with a truly professional, friendly, and helpful staff, where brands are stocked you've heard of but haven't seen anywhere else). Both are between Exeter and Dartmouth. One of my favorite places for lunch is Stephanie's on Newbury, at the corner of Exeter. There's some fine shopping at the Prudential Center as well. Note that English Style "Tea" is held in the Bristol room (with a lovely view of the Public Gardens) at the Four Seasons from 3-4:30.

Thanks everyone!! It sounds like I will have a lot to do. I will definitely check out the Impressionist exhibit, sounds wonderful. Your suggestions have been so helpful - I'll definitely give an update after the trip. Thanks again!

Just wanted to say how much i enjoyed this thread! My hubby will also be in Boston for business beginning April 16th. We are going out early on Sat for the weekend. I'm thrilled we'll be there for the marathon. Thsi info was so very helpful. Sounds like I better get busy making some restaurant reservation since it will be such a busy weekend. Any other recommendations? We LOVE good food!

We are staying at the Wyndham Tremont, which was not our first choice, but everything else is sold out! Has anyone stayed here?