I will finally have the opportunity to visit Boston on October 17, 18 and 19. The only thing I have booked so far is a Saturday evening trip to Faneuil Hall that is being organized through the conference that I am attending all day on that Saturday. I will also have all day on Friday Oct 17 and Sunday Oct 19 to see the sites. The main things I would like to see is the historic parts of Boston and also to enjoy some great seafood and Italian food. I am also a teacher and wanted to visit Boston Harbor and the Holocaust Memorial. Any help and advise is greatly appreciated.

Walk the Freedom Trail, do a Duck Tour (need reservations way ahead), harbor cruise, No Name restaurant. Look up menus for Italian restaurants in North End and see what suits you. The city also has some great museums - Fine Arts, Science Museum, Gardner.

I don't know how you are arriving - if by air, consider taking the water shuttle from the airport across Boston Harbor to other side, nice intro to the city seeing it from the water side -

On the corner of Boston Common is a tourist info building with plenty of brochures, maps and people who can give great assistance and ideas, directions, etc -

www.thefreedomtrail.org

also : www.cityofboston.gov and click on visitors

become familiar with the site, maps, info and plan on seeing the Holocaust Museum along the way, as well as the harbor area and eat dinner in the North End is fun -

or choose one of the guided tours, etc

If you are a teacher and would tend to spend time at each site, etc and stop along the way to browse at other things, maybe strolling the cute shops on Charles Street before walking the overpass to the Charles River, looking at some storefronts (or going inside), actually climbing Bunker Hill Monument, etc - stopping for a sandwich or something, then you could easily fill a long, leisurely day with this


For Sunday; The Boston Public Library is open, I think at noon or 1pm, you can check the web site -
www.bpl.org

they often have fabulous exhibits, aside from that a walk through the building is inspiring, and don't miss the Sargent murals

Across from this, Trinity Church - magnificent and often photographed reflected in the Hancock tower -

From there, you can walk Boylston, Newbury, Copley Place/Pru shops if that interests you - and then cut over to Commonwealth Ave and walk down towards the Public Garden enjoying Comm Ave, the green and statues in the middle, walk over to the Christian Science Building - familiarize yourself with a map of Boston and what other sites you don't want to miss -

here's one from Walk Boston that I like:

also shows T stops and times:


http://preview.tinyurl.com/4yjrxy

In addition to the Freedom Trail I always recommend a walk around Beacon Hill to people interested in history. The Boston African American National Historic Site is very interesting. Several townhouses have also been turned into museums (the Nichols House and Otis House)

You might also enjoy going over to Harvard Square one day

Did you review this recent trip report?

Boston as a tourist --- http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35157356

The trip report mentioned above is a wonderful one, just be careful using it as a guide and have a map handy - Ackislander did a fair amount of driving and stayed in Brookline, which may not be convenient depending on where your conference is - but I assumed it was in Boston - so for only 2 days, I would restrict my restaurants to Boston and the North End for your two free night of eating on your own - and for breakfast spots, once we know your hotel locations, can recommend plenty of those too

I would mention that one of my favorite Italian Restaurants is Prezza (upscale) on Fleet Street in the North End (which is fun to walk around) and never would I visit the North End without a trip to Mike's for Italian pastry even if I have to get it to go .. Either a lobster roll (light flaky crescent shaped pastry roll with five different delicious creams) or a cannoli ... There are many wonderful restaurants in the North End of Boston .. they won't survive all that long if they aren't .. Prezza is just a favorite of mine .. You might want to consider a visit to Harvard Square in Cambridge and a walk through the area ... The Museum of Science and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum .. and the Museum of Fine Arts are great places to visit .. Also the JFK Musuem and Library .. not sure if you have a car but most of these places can easily be reached by public transportation .. I would visit any that interest you on line to see what if any special exhibits are going on during the time of your visit ... If you are a walker .. take a walk down Newbury Street .. lots of upscale shopping with some lovely cafes ... or walk around Copley Place the Prudential Center .. great walking around ... seeing the sites .. Boston is a great city with much to see and enjoy .. take a look at www.massvacation.com or
www.visit-massachusetts.com .. Enjoy !

Having just spent a few days there myself, IF an art museum is on your list, I'd do the Gardner over the MFA just because of all the construction going on at the MFA. Also, as a history teacher, you should consider a tour of the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides); the tours are conducted by actual (young) Navy seamen/women. If you have the option of renting a car for a day (I think 4 of us paid $65 for a rental car), then go to Lexington/Concord...the Minute Man National Park and then the "literature" part w/Alcott, Walden, Emerson, Hawthorne connections. Agree that you should walk Beacon Hill and Back Bay....cross the Harvard Bridge via Mass Ave so you can visit MIT and Harvard.

The hotel I am staying at is the Hilton Boston Dedham Hotel.

Be sure to keep a copy of the train schedule (for the Franklin line) with you, as you don't want to be stranded. It doesn't run very often on weekends; for instance, on Sunday the first train into the city leaves at 11:19 AM and arrives at South Station at 11:43. For many of the activities you're interested in, it might be better to get off at the Back Bay station.

www.mbta.com

deltasig711

Thanks for posting this question - saving the great replies for my trip next year.

Sandy

peggionthego--I was glad to see you were able to make it out to Lexington and Concord on your recent trip. I know you were having trouble with logistics. Aren't they fascinating towns especially Concord with all the sites associated with major American writers?

FYI .. If you are staying at the Dedham Hilton .. there are several train stations very close by .. I believe the hotel has a van .. if not .. close enough for a very inexpensive taxi ride if the timing is any better for you .. There is the Corporate Train Station which is right next to the Hilton .. for sure walkable .. there is the Endicott Station .. maybe a mile or so .. There is Route 128 station probably two miles or so .. probably offering more options .. You can check them out on line .. and again the hotel does have a van .. because you are so close they may be willing to drive you ... If you find yourself looking for a place to have dinner and you are in Dedham .. Isabella's in Dedham Center is wonderful .. !

All of the restaurants sound great. Are there any websites for those places and also what am I looking at in terms of pricing?

In Dedham www.isabellarestarant.com for Prezza in Boston's North End .. www.prezza.com .. Mike's is a Pastry Shop in the North End not far from Prezza .. www.mikespastry.com
Isabella's is less expensive than Prezza .. moderate to high .. take a look at the menus on line .. Both are excellent ..
Enjoy !

I second Prezza in the North End. Take a seat at the bar and enjoy the food. * You can order half portions on most of their pasta dishes * Enjoy.

I couldn't get the link for Isabellas to work. The other sites look amazing. I also got an e mail from a friend today about Concord and the Minuteman National Park. Has anyone gone there?

I have been to concord, to most of the Minuteman Park at different times. (It has different sites spread over a fairly long drive on the road toward Lexington. The North Bridge where the "shot heard round the world" was fired is probably the most famous part of the park. The Old Manse is right next to it)
http://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit/index.htm

Concord itself also has many other interesting places to see including Walden Pond and the homes of the Alcotts, Hawthorne, Emerson

You really need a car to see it

Our family spent the night in Concord last fall Oct. 19 and the foliage was beautiful then

Not sure why the Isabella link didn't work for you .. It is a great restaurant ... www.isabellarestaurant.com ... Here is the address ... they might email/fax you a menu if you are interested ....

Isabella's Restaurant
566 High Street
Dedham, MA 02026

ph 781.461.8485
fx 781.461.8613