Boston in 2-3 days - what would you do?
 

Hi all,
We are planning in going to Boston on the next weekend (12-14 May), from friday to sunday. We are are couple (30 and 29). What would you recommend? Where would you eat?
Thanks

I'll give this some thought and respond later - but the eating part will be more of a challenge since it is Mother's Day weekend and restaurants will be crowded and many will offer nasty "special menus"

Our usual schedule is to do something interesting on Friday afternoon. Last trip it was a culinary tour of the North End. Other trips we have visited the JFK library before we check into the hotel. Friday is a good time to visit Haymarket which is a good place to buy fresh fruit for the room. The pushcart vendors are only there on Fri and Sat. On Sat it will be mobbed. We also liked walking around, reading menus and picking an Italian restaurant for an early dinner Sat is good for museums or a Duck Tour. Visit the discount ticket kiosk (there's one in Quincy Market) to see if you can get a bargain tickets for a Sat night show. You would probably like Blue Man Group but I don't think that is ever on sale. If you like Chinese food, visit Chinatown for Sat lunch for a dim sum adventure. I find it fun to also shop for some unusual ingredients. Check art museums to see if there is reduced price admission on Sundays. Museum of Science is also good. Check out the laser show and schedule for what's playing in the IMAX theater. Sometimes we see a show on both Fri and Sat nights.

Check on Bank of America website if you are a customer - there is some sort of free admission to museums promotion going on in May with B of A card.

Aside from all the historical "stuff" we saw as we walked the Freedom Trail, my husband and I really enjoyed the aquarium. Also, the Holocaust memorial was well done...it's located outside across the street from the Union Oyster House restaurant and is free.

Enjoy your weekend...Boston's a great town!

Christina

I'm in your age range and live in boston so this is what I'd recommend. Not sure what you're into or what your budgetary restrictions are but I would definitely eat in the North End one night. The other night I'd choose maybe Sonsie or Stephanie's, both on Newbury St.

Newbury St itself is a great attraction, you can easily spend the day walking and shopping. Charles St in Beacon Hill is another great area for cute shops and you can wander through the narrow streets of Beacon Hill as well. Stop for lunch at either Figs or the Paramount. Of course the Freedom Trail is wondeful.

The Sox are in town that weekend and even if you can't get tickets to a game, the Fenway Park tour is awesome. You may also want to head down to the Kenmore Sq area before or after a game to soak up the atmosphere. The Cask and Flagon and Game On are great bars to grab a bite and watch the game (tons of flat screen TVs). Eastern Standard is right near Fenway as well, it's a little more upscale and would also be a good place to try.

The Museum of Fine Arts is great.

What kind of food do you like? How about atmosphere? Laid back or trendy?
I agree with most of what Wyatt wrote, especially the North End and Sonsie (but for lunch, not dinner). IMO, I think there are better dinner options. I personally would not recommend Stephanie's - I will probably get yelled at, but the crowd is always random and it's really loud and obnoxious at times.
I, too, live in Boston and am your age. If it's nice out, and you're on Newbury Street, it would be fun to head to Tapeo, a tapas place. Get a seat outside - laws prohibit drinking outside without eating, so you'll have to order some kind of food, but their sangria is worth it!
Other restaurant recs would be in the South End. I really like Hammersley's Bistro and Sibling Rivalry. They're both a bit more upscale and less trendy. Franklin Cafe is awesome, but they don't take reservations so be prepared to wait a good hour or so. But it's worth it! It just depends on where you're staying and where you'll be in the city. If you're in the Quincy Market area, the South End is out of the way, definitely would need to take the T or a cab. Match is a fun scene and specialty burger and martini place.
Even though they are super touristy, I highly recommend taking a Duck Tour.
Have fun!!

Be sure to make reservations! Boston University will hold its Commencement cerimonies this Sunday (Mother's Day). The city will be packed!

...ceremonies...

BOstonGal - we often go to bars in Boston and sit outside without ordering food. What law are you talking about?

If the weather is nice, I would walk around either the North End, Charlestown or the south end. Plenty of places to stop and eat along the way.

What types of things are you interested in doing? I always recommend the Duck tours, but you need to buy in advace.

I too suggest a Duck Tour for a great overview of Boston and its history.

For dinner one night, try Elephant Walk on Beacon Street. It's consistently excellent.

www.bostonducktours.com
www.elephantwalk.com

saving...

I love Antico Forno for dinner in the North End...the gnocchi is to die for.

Boston restaurants:
For eating outside/people watching and good food:
Stephanie's on Newbury Street (for brunch, lunch or dinner)
Sonsie's on Newbury Street (which has a nice brunch if they are not booked yet for Mothers Day)

For seafood:
McCormich & Schmick
Jasper White's Summer Shack

North End : Sage, Rabia's, Piccolo Nido, Neptune -which is good for seafood and small but worth a try) - and do go early enough to see the Paul Revere House, Old North Church and walk around the North End after dinner

Fun restaurant: Les Zygomates (winebar.com)
great food, music all at one place. Don't know where you are staying, you may have to cab or T it.

Hamersley's Bistro (Hamersleysbistro.com) one of my all time favorite Boston restaurants on Tremont/Clarendon St.

To do: Isabella Stewart gardner Museum - we have spent many Mothers Days there and it was never too crowded to enjoy. - gardnermuseum.org - museum, gorgeous courtyard, beautiful flowers, etc and nice cafe for lunch) and the MFA which is diagonally across.)
Walk the Boston Public Garden, Boston Common, Charles Street over to the Charles River.

See if anything on the Freedom Trail interests you.
(thefreedomtrail.org)

see the view from the top of the Prudential Center Skywalk ( a nice overview -sometimes a nice 'first thing' to do some morning, then walk the Newbury/Boylston/Charles st (lots of shopping on these streets)/Boston Public Gardens & Commons

See the Boston Public Library and Trinity Church

Check out the web site
www.gobostoncard.com - even if purchasing the card doesn't make sense, it's a good web page for seeing what is available as far as tours, sites, etc.

also - cityofboston.gov - visitors section for lots of info

Try and book restaurant now - maybe use
opentable.com - save yourself phone calls and view menus, and see what times are available. Not all restaurants are on it, but many are.

Have fun !

hlsam - really?!! I feel like everytime I go to somewhere that I just want to have drinks outside, we're not allowed, and we're told we need to order food.

This has happened at Tapeo, Ciao Bella, (a long time ago) Cactus Club. Sure, I've been able to drink outside at places like Tia's or Tavern on the Water or Landing, but I meant restaurant-type places don't usually allow it.

Unless things have changed for the better!

I second the Gardner Museum, and considering the weather forecast for this weekend, indoor activities are a good thing to have on the agenda. Shopping at Copley/Prudential is a relaxing way to spend a few hours inside, and the BPL is right there, too.

As for restaurants, what do you like, and where are you staying? Hamersley's is great, too, in the S. End. I agree with BostonGal (sounds like we have similar tastes :) ) about Stephanie's, but know plenty of people who seem to like the place. I also agree with her about the Franklin - get the turkey meatloaf if you go, it's amazing! Ivy on Temple (maybe West?) Street is a relatively new place that is kind of fun - tapas style Italian food. If you do a movie at the theater on the Common, Ivy would be a good dinner place - it's within walking distance to the theater (still thinking of indoor things to do). The chocolate buffet at the Meridien is one of my favorites (guess it's the Langham now); I think the Four Seasons may have one, too.
If you like Indian food, head over to Harvard Square to Tamarind Bay. It is really fantastic and not your average Indian restaurant - I was just there for lunch yesterday and am always sad to leave. Try the okra, even if you think you don't like okra.

As for not drinking at restaurants outside, Boston and Massachusetts both have very strange liquor laws, so it wouldn't surprise me if there is such a law - some establishments honor them more than others. Check out the ABCC's website if you're curious. We do not have happy hour here - it's not aloud (no special prices on drinks, ever, only food)!

Gee I am disappointed to here of those who haven't been pleased with Stephanie's - my family loves it and all our relatives want to return every time they visit - we just love the warm goat cheese appetizer to share, her meatloaf, salad and sandwhich selection - even her mac & cheese, although I think the Mac & Chees at the Garden of Eden on Tremont St is the most magnificent one I've yet to have -

In well over 50 meals there, I had one brunch experience with a few glitches, but other than that it was always great fun and a fun bar or to sit outside and eat.

BostonGal, I agree with you on the drinking outisde - any of the places we've said we'd just like to sit and have a drink there is either a minimum large enough so you'd need to order food or they tell you the tables are for diners - other than the few more 'bar oriented' type places that may have outdoor seating. But after walking in town, I can always order food to go with my liquids :)

BostonGal - I was talking about bars/restaurants - such as Kinsales, Jacob Wirth, etc.

Well, escargot, we all love Stephanie's! Sonsie's is not our favorite -- they can never honor a reservation time.