Boston Trip to BU from Chicago (and reply to advice)
Nov 18th, 2014, 01:49 PM
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Boston Trip to BU from Chicago (and reply to advice)
Thought I'd check in to tell you kind posters from Boston how our trip went last week.
As you may remember my last decision was to rent a car because of what looked like a commute from Newton. That actually turned out ok, even though it'd been a toss up 'till the last minute between that and relying wholly on public transportation. As I expected, traffic was light driving in from Logan on Sunday (the 9th). The reference about taking the Ted Williams was helpful, but since we had time before our hotel check-in, I drove up to Cambridge and back around to Beacon Hill, to Government center and then a trial run through the BU campus from the east. By 3PM or so we got back on I-90 and headed for the hotel, easily finding the Washington St. exit.
That's when we got a shock! Don't know if any of you are that familiar with the Crowne Plaza - Newton, but the morons who designed it placed it right over the highway. WHAT IN THE WORLD? It compounded our mistake of booking this location in the first place. The noise from the traffic was literally unbearable, added to the other negatives we encountered - NEVER AGAIN! - but enough of that.
We drove back into the city Sunday night, nabbed a free parking spot on Atlantic Street (we should be so lucky in Chicago), walked the wharf, and dined at a Legal Seafood next to the Aquarium. Then we walked a little more and drove back to the hotel.
On Monday morning with phones in hand, we headed toward BU, when, of course, there was rush-hour traffic. We avoided most of it, however, and would have had clear sailing, but our google map guides did not match many of the street names on the exits or turns. It was a real adventure- but not a catastrophe. I had researched a little so we eventually found one of the reduced, university visitor parking lots and were on time for the orientation/tour.
When we finished around 2:30, we jumped the subway on Commonwealth, heading for more neighborhoods and landmarks.
Hey- I don't remember, but did anyone emphasize that the same colored subway lines have different routes? We didn't know about the different letters.
We got turned around a couple times because of that, but friendly Bostonians soon helped us out. After many trips and a lot of walking, we finally got over to Chinatown for dinner and later made our way back to the hotel, driving past Boston College just to see the campus.
Tuesday was the big test because I had to return the rental car at Alamo and then walk from there down Atlantic to meet my family at the South Station for the Amtrak to New York City. Well - that leg of the trip was a breeze! Fortunately, I had called ahead and discovered that the Alamo rental garage is actually on Milk Street ( I would have never known from their documents). It's the office that's around the corner on Atlantic.
Then my walk to South Station (with all due respect, DonTopaz) was not a problem at all. It took less than 10 minutes, and the sea air was refreshing. By the way, South Station is really nice and clean and presents a pleasing balance between old structure and modern improvements. We were actually more than an hour early; so we relaxed and enjoyed some coffee.
Overall, despite the hectic schedule, things went quite well (except for the C-Plaza!)- due in part to your comments, and very much owing to the wonderfully sunny and mild autumn weather we experienced. It was as if the city decided to show us its best side. We couldn't have asked for anything better, especially since we beat the approaching cold front by one day!
Thanks again to everyone, especially cw, Ackislander, DonTopaz, and gail.
Can't wait to get back.
As you may remember my last decision was to rent a car because of what looked like a commute from Newton. That actually turned out ok, even though it'd been a toss up 'till the last minute between that and relying wholly on public transportation. As I expected, traffic was light driving in from Logan on Sunday (the 9th). The reference about taking the Ted Williams was helpful, but since we had time before our hotel check-in, I drove up to Cambridge and back around to Beacon Hill, to Government center and then a trial run through the BU campus from the east. By 3PM or so we got back on I-90 and headed for the hotel, easily finding the Washington St. exit.
That's when we got a shock! Don't know if any of you are that familiar with the Crowne Plaza - Newton, but the morons who designed it placed it right over the highway. WHAT IN THE WORLD? It compounded our mistake of booking this location in the first place. The noise from the traffic was literally unbearable, added to the other negatives we encountered - NEVER AGAIN! - but enough of that.
We drove back into the city Sunday night, nabbed a free parking spot on Atlantic Street (we should be so lucky in Chicago), walked the wharf, and dined at a Legal Seafood next to the Aquarium. Then we walked a little more and drove back to the hotel.
On Monday morning with phones in hand, we headed toward BU, when, of course, there was rush-hour traffic. We avoided most of it, however, and would have had clear sailing, but our google map guides did not match many of the street names on the exits or turns. It was a real adventure- but not a catastrophe. I had researched a little so we eventually found one of the reduced, university visitor parking lots and were on time for the orientation/tour.
When we finished around 2:30, we jumped the subway on Commonwealth, heading for more neighborhoods and landmarks.
Hey- I don't remember, but did anyone emphasize that the same colored subway lines have different routes? We didn't know about the different letters.
We got turned around a couple times because of that, but friendly Bostonians soon helped us out. After many trips and a lot of walking, we finally got over to Chinatown for dinner and later made our way back to the hotel, driving past Boston College just to see the campus.
Tuesday was the big test because I had to return the rental car at Alamo and then walk from there down Atlantic to meet my family at the South Station for the Amtrak to New York City. Well - that leg of the trip was a breeze! Fortunately, I had called ahead and discovered that the Alamo rental garage is actually on Milk Street ( I would have never known from their documents). It's the office that's around the corner on Atlantic.
Then my walk to South Station (with all due respect, DonTopaz) was not a problem at all. It took less than 10 minutes, and the sea air was refreshing. By the way, South Station is really nice and clean and presents a pleasing balance between old structure and modern improvements. We were actually more than an hour early; so we relaxed and enjoyed some coffee.
Overall, despite the hectic schedule, things went quite well (except for the C-Plaza!)- due in part to your comments, and very much owing to the wonderfully sunny and mild autumn weather we experienced. It was as if the city decided to show us its best side. We couldn't have asked for anything better, especially since we beat the approaching cold front by one day!
Thanks again to everyone, especially cw, Ackislander, DonTopaz, and gail.
Can't wait to get back.
Nov 18th, 2014, 01:54 PM
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So glad you had a good trip - and very kind of you to take time to report back with thanks. Now you have to promise to let us know where your kids choses to go to school.
And we spared you details about the Crowne Plaza - which has had 3 different chain names in the decades I have been in Boston - since you indicated it was a non-refundable reservation. I think we all felt bad for you that you would be staying there.
And we spared you details about the Crowne Plaza - which has had 3 different chain names in the decades I have been in Boston - since you indicated it was a non-refundable reservation. I think we all felt bad for you that you would be staying there.
Nov 18th, 2014, 02:06 PM
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I'm happy that worked out well. It's too bad about the hotel noise. It's been there so long that it didn't occur to me to mention it was over the Mass. Pike. They should have better windows at least.
Well, you learned about the Green Line--B, C, D, and E lines. Probably there is no one who hasn't gotten on the wrong train at some point. Good that there were nice people around to help.
Do let us know about the final college decision, and hope to "see" you more often in Boston.
Well, you learned about the Green Line--B, C, D, and E lines. Probably there is no one who hasn't gotten on the wrong train at some point. Good that there were nice people around to help.
Do let us know about the final college decision, and hope to "see" you more often in Boston.
Nov 19th, 2014, 03:35 AM
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Thanks for letting us know how it worked out.
Like CW, I didn't even think about the CP being over the Pike. I still think of it as the Sheraton
and like the Shaw's Supermarket over the Pike further out, it is just part of the landscape! At one time we thought of moving our company there from Newton Lower Falls. All it took was one visit!
We did, I think, mention various Green Lines, but only in passing because you were focused on BU rather than also wanting to see BC and Northeastern.
You managed this really well. If your daughter is like you, Boston needs her.
Like CW, I didn't even think about the CP being over the Pike. I still think of it as the Sheraton
and like the Shaw's Supermarket over the Pike further out, it is just part of the landscape! At one time we thought of moving our company there from Newton Lower Falls. All it took was one visit!We did, I think, mention various Green Lines, but only in passing because you were focused on BU rather than also wanting to see BC and Northeastern.
You managed this really well. If your daughter is like you, Boston needs her.
Nov 19th, 2014, 05:31 AM
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Yes, the Crowne Plaza is notoriously known for it's poor sound proofing.
It's used as a last resort for accommodation by the company my husband works for in Watertown and they suggest earplugs!
Glad everything else worked out well for you!
It's used as a last resort for accommodation by the company my husband works for in Watertown and they suggest earplugs!
Glad everything else worked out well for you!
Nov 19th, 2014, 07:00 AM
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Thanks for your sympathetic remarks about C-Plaza Newton. Since we were locked into the reservation, we had to deal with it, but it's nice to know we weren't alone in our impression. BTW: I gave the location a just review in Trip Advisor.
Then there's this: I should have underscored in my report how warmly we were greeted in your city. My family couldn't help but remark that - from the staff people at the airport, the rental agency, Boston University, the restaurants or even the Dunkin' Donut locations to the numberless other folks we encountered or stopped to ask for directions and advice - everyone was so nice! We kept expecting a rude attitude or a disapproving frown - but it simply didn't occur! You should be proud. Boston sure looked beautiful as well.
Thanks again. See you soon.
Then there's this: I should have underscored in my report how warmly we were greeted in your city. My family couldn't help but remark that - from the staff people at the airport, the rental agency, Boston University, the restaurants or even the Dunkin' Donut locations to the numberless other folks we encountered or stopped to ask for directions and advice - everyone was so nice! We kept expecting a rude attitude or a disapproving frown - but it simply didn't occur! You should be proud. Boston sure looked beautiful as well.
Thanks again. See you soon.
Nov 22nd, 2014, 09:22 AM
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Zola... thank you for your kind words with which I proudly agree. Grew up in and around town, in Quincy, which I still call my hometown. Took my grad degree at BU after completing my BA on GI Bill at nearby Emerson. Convinced one of my granddaughters to go to Emerson and she loved it, and Boston...she ran three of its heralded marathons while studying there. But as a California girl she returned after meeting her Vermonter husband at Emerson. They now live a five minute drive from me in Ojai, Ca. Like you, I throughly enjoyed every one of my nostalgic visits there over the years and my publisher launched my newest book in Massachusetts and NH....even spoke at the Boston GTG .... had such a good time of it all.
Boston Strong! You bet!
Stu Tower
Boston Strong! You bet!
Stu Tower
