Yes, let's exclude those parks, annon. Does the Freedom Trail close? I didn't think so

I will admit, it's fun to post on some threads without too much thinking -- those are the ones that frankly, are quite meaningless, but we enjoy them nonetheless.

BUT, the OP is asking for information about Boston and if people start giving information based on THEIR location (which for mooselywild is somewhere on the west coast?) instead of answers related to the location of travel, it becomes problematic!

And it's a no-brainer to realize that parks close at dusk

Uh-huh....see, I used to think that- but tourists/visitors keep asking questions about when parks close- 1 family right in front of the sign. Some have entitlement issues. Some want to know if they can "stay just a bit longer". Some want to play night games/seance in the cemetery. Some protest- they can only have campfires after dark- when open fires in most parks? Soooo illegal. I've even had relatives/friends (non residents) ask if Riverfront Park is "safe" after dark- and it's fairly safe to assume that no where in Downtown Spokane is completely safe after dark!

So, I'm certainly not classing galentheape with the idiots- nor most fodorites! But I no longer assume much of anything....

And you taking this so seriously is freakinin' hilarious

Carylspall- so glad this thread is doing something useful!

Time for you to go back to school, moosely.



galentheage, enjoy your visit!

Dude, I quite agree. Only two more weeks. Only two more weeeeeeks!

And I wasn't talking about city parks in the first place- and obviously, some parks can't be closed (too many entrances).....

I live in Boston so I'll answer

It has the potential to be very cold. Of course, you never can predict these things but NYE is often just about the coldest night of the year.

As to whether to visit during this time, it depends on what you like to do. If you want to go to restaurants, museums, plays, etc then you'll be fine. Just consider the potential cold if you plan on being outside a lot. Everything will certainly be open. You can walk the Freedom Trail, etc.

FIRST NIGHT in Boston is the original and the most successful in the country..It is a family event..Stores maybe closed that evening, but the majority of shops are opened on New Years Day and may close sat 600 p.m... The Boston Public Gardens and the Commons are always OPENED and patrolled by policemen on mounted horses.. As somebody in the UK told me.. Boston Commons is the only piece of land in the middle of any city that has never been taken over for buildings.. The early settlers used it for grazing their cattle.. There is no guarantee about the snow...I hope not.. "mooselywild" has relatives here.. we live here... outside of Boston.. Restaurants are always mobbed.. and public transportation has extended hours.. NYC has their "ball dropping".. we have parades, fireworks, exhibitions and a great atmosphere...Boston is known as a walking city and you can walk from Copley Square down to Quincy Market where there are fireworks over the harbor.. Any other Bostonians out there to chime in.. Oh yes.. other cities in MA have very successful first nights like Worcester..

Ahah- Park Street church will be closed. King's chapel is only open Saturday. Old State House will be closed NYD. As will Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, North Church. A few others shorten their visiting hours, including cemeteries (actually, a few cemeteries close at five even in the summer).
(courtesy of Walking Tours)

NE aquarium closes at noon NYD. New Bedford Whaling Museum is closed on NYD.

Plimoth Plantation closes after Thanksgiving.
(courtesy of museum pass info)

There's got to be several other places as well....

That was fun....
And that would be why I take everybody's advice with a grain of salt

and I never said my advice was better than the natives....

Mooselywild, we admire your desire to help. And, in many cases you're right about threads here being about opinions. In those cases, the more the merrier! But, when a poster is asking for specifics rather than opinion, it's usually most helpful to let the natives or those who've visited at that particular time handle it. The wonderful thing about this board is that there always seems to be someone who truly is an "expert" on any given area.

That's really all anyone was trying to say. No need to get upset.

You are so funny... who is going to go to Plimouth Plantation or the Whaling Museum which are FAR AWAY from Boston on New Years eve...

As much as I love Plimoth Plantation and try to "talk it up" at every opportunity, I can't say it's somewhere I'd care to be in January!

PM- yes, but the OP will be there for 5 nights...and weather doesn't stop me from doing anything, only closures do.

CAPH52: Ooooh, sanity I'm not offended, I just didn't understand why seetheworld (or others) didn't just correct me and then let it die- My first post was so general, and I didn't say something outright wrong.

But really, I have a difficult time taking any online community seriously- this is entertainment (interesting, occasionally informative,and if I help someone, so much the better- type entertainment), because I've nothing better to do now. So I apologize to those who truly do take it seriously.


galentheape- if you do decide to come over, have a great time!

Oh, I meant upset, not offended....And I know there are "experts" in every area here- that's what I like about Fodors. But that should in no way discourage "nonexperts" from piping up

Sorry- backing slowly away from the keyboard, right now, I promise...

Again, mooselywild, not trying to offend. I understand your point of view. But to many people the questions they post are serious because their hard-earned vacation time and their money are involved. And, sometimes even bigger things, as in the two threads from the poster who wants to move to a small town.

As I sort of said before, it's partly a matter of knowing when it's okay to give an opinion and when a response calls for knowledge and/or life experience. Or, to put it another way, when a thread is strictly entertainment and when there's something more serious involved.

Okay, I will get off my soapbox now!

Now, that POV I completely understand- but visiting Boston any time of the year, and being bored or the trip a waste of money?? Impossible

Auuuugh....must stop posting- oh, well