We are traveling with 2 teenagers to Newport RI for a family reunion and are flying in to Logan airport on Thursday. We will have the day to spend in Boston and thought we would head to the North End and at least do part of the Freedom Trail. We are renting a car at the airport and will drive in to the city. Any suggestions for parking? Should we take public transportation into Boston before we rent the car? If so, where can we leave our luggage for the day?

Any help would be appreciated!

This is kind of tough.

Having a car in Boston is no advantage, yet going back and forth to the airport and figuring out what to do with your luggage is no fun either.

In your position, I would probably pick up the car and drive into Boston, heading for the Boston Common garage. I would park there, then pick up the Freedom Trail at the edge of the Common and follow it to the North End and back. It will take you past the Old State House (guidebooks and pamphlets available) and through Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market to the North End and Old North Church. That makes a good afternoon.

Parking isn't as horribly priced in the Common Garage as on the waterfront or Pru, but it isn't quite as easy to get into or out of either. If you have a GPS it will be easy, otherwise print out directions and a map from the web before you go.

Traffic southbound toward Newport will be reasonably awful until 6:30 or 7. Unless you have a dinner engagement in Newport, I would maybe have dinner in Boston before driving down. It stays light plenty late this time of year.

Thanks for the help! If we park near the Commons, how long on the trail (I know it can vary... but my teens won't dally much) before we end up in the North end (Kids want to go to Regina's for pizza)?

The North End is only about a 15 minute walk from the Common.

And you can spend all day or a short time on the Freedom Trail. Also possible to take the Green Line of MBTA back from North End (Haymarket stop) to Boston Common (Park Street) - only a few stops and hardly worth it, but if you are exhausted, good to know it is an option.

I was wondering about getting back... great tip! Since there are 4 of us, I guess it would be a short taxi ride back ... is there much difference in cost?

4 people will be difficult in a cab as you cannot sit in the front seat.

Actually, you can sit in the front seat of a cab, I've done it many times.

Maybe it depends on the driver then as last week in Boston, there were 4 of us and we were told we had to split up.

Try this link, as well as doing other searches for "boston public garages" -

However, this link if you also click on parking garages and lots, will show you how many are around as soon as you exit the tunnel from the airport -

You could consider parking at this end - and walking thru Faneuil Hall and over to Boston Common/Boston Public Garden this way (you can go to the Freedom Trail website and print out maps, etc ) - Depending on how much time you have, you can also walk down Charles St and over to Storrow Drive and then head to the North End for dinner and after dinner you will be closer to your car and right there to jump on 93 South and head down to Newport -

Leave your luggage locked in the trunk and not visible -just wise information for whenever traveling -

You don't say what time you arrive in Boston, but I would also agree with Ackislander - enjoy the day and an early dinner and then drive to Newport - without traffic you will be in Newport in less than 90 minutes