The thing is, our deal we got through Priceline includes everything-- flights, motel and car. It was agreat deal compared to anything on any other Web Site. I don't know how we can change it.

Thanks

The way driving in Boston is different than the cities you mention has to do with the age, layout and history. As with many older cities, cow paths and the like defined the streets. The complicating factor in Boston is that much of the city is on land created by progressively filling harbor land - and this made it necessary to add streets in a seemingly random pattern. However, if you are a comfortable city driver and willing to tolerate getting lost and the nasty gestures and words if you appear so, there is no reason a stranger can not drive here.

Gail,

I'm sorry. I never did post a trip report to Alaska. We did go and loved it. But with working as much as I do, I don;t have much time to sit down and think about a trip report.

I can tell you that we were some of the luckiest tourists to ever go to Alaska. I say that because on our day trip to Denali, we had a 2- to 3-year-old grizzly bear come up into the compound area where they have the 30-minute stop on the 8-hour trip. It walked right in front of our bus-- I'd say within 3- to 4-feet of the bus. Got some great pics.

Overall, Alaska was probably the best trip we've ever taken. The only downside was the length of the drives to get anywhere. Nothing was less than 100 miles from our B&B in Palmer, Alaska (about 35 miles North of Anchorage).

We also went on a Glacier Cruise and saw a glacier calve off about the size of the boat we were on. It was spectacular.

Overall, if I were to rate the trip, it was an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10. We enjoyed it immensely.

Any other questions you might have, I will try to answer them. The past few days have been a little different for me because I've been able to get on the computer a lot. That will change though.

Thanks for the replies.

Thanks - and apologies to others for hijacking this post.

I think driving with a 'co-pilot' in the car in Boston is just like driving in any other new city - if you have a map/plan before you head in, have your directions down and one can drive while one looks for signs/landmarks that always makes it much easier -

if you miss a street winding your way back could lose you some time, so just leave some extra in case it is a day you have timed tix for soemthing. Your hotel should be able to help you, or those web sites I listed prior.

Pack layers and keep an eye on weather and be prepared for anything but mostly come with the thought of being hardy !

As for other ideas, some of my favorite things to do in Boston:
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (and lunch in their cafe) and onto the MFA (and/or lunch in one of their cafes/restaurants) - or at their Bravo Restaurant for finer dining. If I had to choose one I'd choose the ISG because it is different than your 'standard' larger museum - you can compare online

The Boston Public Library (check it out online first so you have some knowledge of the Sargent Murals, other exhibits it might have,also a nice cafe - and no entry fee - from there walk down Dartmouth St ( and the burgers, etc are great at Clery's Irish Bar/Grill and continue down to Tremont Street - take a left and cross Tremont and walk down Union prk to Shawmut Ave (and the Buttery which has great sandwiches and cupcakes) and back up to Tremont (and/or Garden of Eden which as great chicken salad among other things) or any of the other restaurants on "Restaurant Row" - Aquitaine, Francescas, Metropolis, Pops, Hamersley's Bistro, even Pico for pizza/salad/soup (although some only serve dinner there are plenty open for lunch) you can read most menus from outside.

This will give you a peek at some amazing Victorian brownstones, architectural detail , etc - and you will also at the corner of Clarendon see next to Hamersley's the Boston Center for the Arts/Cyclorama and you can walk back Clarendon to Boylston/Newbury and stroll to wherever you want from there -

I'm not wild about Wikipedia, but there info on the South End as an overview isn't bad, and w/ some photos also.

perhaps continue walking to the Boston Public Garden/Boston Common - and down Charles Street (and see some of Beacon Hill area homes, boutique stores, some nice cafes - Cafe Vanille/French Memories is particularly nice for a break and delicious coffee/pastry and at the end you can cross over the pass above Storrow Drive to the Charles River - and walk the banks of the Charles for a bit.

Or, keep walking straight on Tremont down into the Theater District area - which will also lead you by the transportation building and PF Changs (another place to grab lunch) and onto the Common, etc.

A partial day/night in the North End - walking part of Freedom Trail, dine, walk again, have coffee and dessert at any number of pastry shops -or you might consider one of MIchele Topors NorthEnd Market Tours - or tie it in w/ your hockey game - just roam the streets yourself get a feel for another historic neighborhood ( have you read the book about the Molasses Flood?) an interesting book w/ history about why/how that tank ended up in the North End and how even back then a large company was negligent in revealing things to the neighbors - or get the quick version online

Since you are not far from Salem, I would absolutely see the Peabody Essex Museum and a bit of Salem and spend a part of a day there -

Also, driving thru the North Shore area of MA is lovely, esp parts along the shore of Gloucester/Manchester/Beverly/Marblehead/Salem even in March, - I wouldn't miss the opportunity for that since you are staying outside of Boston.

And do think about looking into the public transportation possibilities from somewhere not far from Danvers - like Salem or Hamilton or Beverly or a town like these that are not far from you at all - or even a town closer to Boston, where you can park and ump on a bus or T for a few stops - even as a backup incease of unexpected weather issues.

Have a wonderful time !

For our tour of Fenway Park and the Boston Bruins game at The Garden, what should be our plans? Where could we park or if we decide to take the public transport, where should we catch it and what should we catch? Remember, we are staying in Danvers.

I don't mean to sound stupid on this subject, but we try to stay away from public transportation.

I don't know what to tell you about public transportation.
I listed several websites above (mbta, hopstop) that can give you an idea what is available from Danvers. I think you have to drive at least 10 min or so to a neighboring town as I mentioned to take the train/bus or just park closer to Boston

I would also assume the hotel would be able to assist with this part when you get there and firm up your plans.

As far as the tour at Fenway - what time is it?
you have several choices - go into town, park at the BOSton Common garage and walk to the green line right there at Park Street and take it to Fenway -
on the corner of Boston Common is the tourist center ( the corner near Tremont St) - GO THERE -
inside are hundreds of brochures and greeters who will answer ALL your questions in detail - it is so easy to take the T from there to Fenway and the T entrance is right next to the Tourist Center and people will help you

Or you can drive in, park in one of the lots near Fenway (you'll see them) - have your tour - and either leave your car there for the day - and walk down to Kenmore Sq - and if you are walkers keep going all the way down Comm Ave (enjoying the statues, etc in the middle green) and maybe lunch at a hotel or restaurant along the way

or take the T from Kenmore Sq (it really is soooo easy) into Copley Place or wherever you want to be that day in town - and then back to your car at days end (after dinner and rush hour traffic)

or move your car that day to the Boston Common lot and go from there

The Bruins Game day - again, I'd make that my day to do the waterfront, that end of the Freedom Trail, Old Ironsides, NOrth End, etc and finish the day with the game. Therefor, that day I would drive in, park right near Faneuil Hall for the day along the waterfront (again, you will see the garages) YOu can also find much of this info online beforehand enough to give you a feel for options

"I don't mean to sound stupid on this subject, but we try to stay away from public transportation"

No offense, but you do sound if not stupid then hopelessly naive.

Driving is not like LA at all, or even San Francisco. LA off the freeways is incredibly simple, and San Francisco is a piece of cake. Boston is like Paris or Rome.

Many thousands of people travel efficiently on public transportation in Boston (and NY, see your other post) every day.

There is virtually no on street parking in Boston and fines are high if you park in a resident space or overstay the meter if you are lucky enough to find one.

Why ask advice if you don't plan to follow it?

There will be no tours of Fenway offered at that point since the season will not have started. For the Bruins, just check their schedule on their webpage. Plenty of Tickets offered.

Your trip is going to be a little different from most "Fodorite Forays" into Boston if you stay in Danvers every night. It's NOTHING like LA or SF -- think New York with bigger hills and much crooked-er streets.

But since you apparently are:

1. Urge you to rethink your attitude toward public transport, especially in a city as well-served by it as Boston is. All you have to do is get caught in rush hour traffic or try to park, especially after a heavy snowfall, JUST ONCE and you'll understand how valued the commuter rail and T systems are! And think of it this way: if you get into a traditional Boston fender-bender with the rental car, it'll cost you!

You can rent a car, but park it at one of the lots near the commuter rail or T -- go here: http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/ to see a map of the rail lines, here: http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/ for the "T" and then

here: http://www.mbta.com/riding_the_t/parking/ to find parking.

Warning: driving around the Salem area isn't much fun, despite the apparent proximity to things.

If it were me, I'd park at Wonderland (they say it has over 1000 spaces) and ride the Blue Line in.

HOWEVER:

2. There are a number of things to do outside Boston that a lot of people miss because they DON'T putter around elsewhere. So spend a few days outside Boston! You'll be on the North Shore (Nawth Shaw) -- Here's a really quick list:

Concord/Lexington battle fields
Walden Pond
DeCordova Art Museum (and surroundings) - un-stuffy, lovely place
Longfellow's Wayside Inn and grist mill
Rockport and Gloucester
Marblehead (Mabblehead)
Salem (the Witch House is a little touristy but the museum is better than you'd think)

Then there's coastal NH and Maine, not far north of you.

They have tours of Fenway Park all year long, check the website for the winter schedule.

It sounds like I'm in the minority, but I didn't think driving in Boston was all that much different from other cities. I actually find Chicago worse.

As others have said, if you can tolerate being lost or off-track, you'll be fine. We never had to be anywhere at a certain time, and looked at being lost as a way to see something new.

We also parked in the Boston Commons garage - left the car in the morning and picked it up in the evening. We were pleasantly surprised at how active that area was at night. We come from a city where downtown shuts down after dark, so seeing so many people walking around was nice.

The Fenway tours being available in winter is a change this year as friends of mine looked into them last year and were told they were only offered during the season. That being said there is a good amount of construction going on inside Fenway(should be almost complete in March) and not all areas will be available. Not sure what else is open in terms of the stores near Fenway.