Hi there,
I'm heading to Boston for the weekend, and my luck it will be raining most of this weekend in Boston. We had initially planned to do a walking tour, but I'm leaning away from that as you might imagine. Unfortunately, my friend is not keen on art museums - ( - . Any suggestions on indoor things to do? I'm open...

You might do a Duck Tour - good way to see the city, and the Ducks are covered and heated so you wouldn't be exposed to the rain.

Even if your friend is not a fan of art museum, you should still consider going to the Gardner Museum. It's like stepping into a grand mansion in Venice with a beautiful courtyard. Right now, it has a 20-foot hanging nasturtium vine in the Courtyard (this year from April 1 through April 13 only). Go there and enjoy, and have lunch at the cafe. Fabulous food.
http://www.gardnermuseum.org

http://www.theinsider.com/Boston/Fun/Fun.htm

http://thephoenix.com/

http://calendar.boston.com/

Second the suggestion to take a 'Duck Tour' -- did so several years ago during a visit and was surprised on how much I enjoyed it (actually grew up in a surrounding town).

http://www.bostonducktours.com/

Are you here for entire weekend?
Sunday looks good I thought, and you never know about Saturday.....it's New England - the showers could pass or be intermittent....
so if rainy but not pouring -

Agree on Duck Tour

Also:
Go into the Boston Public Library and Trinity Church

Both are amazing - architecture, gorgeous to walk through - (perhaps an actual tour of Trinity but if not, walk through) - the BPL is amazing - and has a cafe, etc - don't miss the Sargent Murals (even though your friend does not like art museums, just go look at them for a moment ) -
check it out online there might be a cool exhibit that she might entertain looking at (they've had photographic exhibits, Adams manuscripts, it isn't always "art" )

If not pouring: Skywalk Observatory at Pru - some historical exhibit as well

If you bring a rainjacket and umbrella, and it isn't pouring, you can likely brave the outside - walk down Newbury/Boylston at least where you can duck in and out of plenty of stores, galleries, boutiques etc -
and you have the Pru/Copley inside mall shops

Would you take the T to the JFK Library? not a far ride out of the city at all -

Would she go to the Museum of Fine Arts? check out the web site and see if there is some exhibit that might interest her - sculpture, egyptian, asian art....something? Or if they have a film series?
Or the exhibits in the ICA?

If a wash out/ tickets for a matinee?

Stroll down Charles St - also an easy street to duck quickly in and out of shops, some great dining options and if the weather changes - you can walk on the walkway over storrow drive to the charles river esplanade easily -

Cambridge/Harvard Square - again, lots of things in close proximity
(Kendall Sq for great film options)

Long, lazy lunches !!

The Gardner just installed their famous nasturtiums along the balconies. It will be a lovely preview of spring!

Or you could just get an umbrella and follow your original plans.

Wunderground.com is currently predicting 60% chance of rain for Saturday and clear on Sunday.

Experienced Bostonians never check the weather forecast more than 12 hours in advance.

Ooops, I see now that yk already posted about the Gardner's flowers. Well, consider my recommendation a "second the motion"!

Anon- Great minds think alike!

Anonymous: actually, I think most of us don't check it until we are walking out the door

and oh the Gardner is a treasure if you can get her there...

if it is a washout you could consider one of the jazz brunches at the Beehive...if you like music -
or some other music/jazz/blues option:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/3xnxqb

Thanks to you all for the advice!! I actually did read it all before I left, but with work being so busy on Friday did not get a chance to print it all out and write to thank you then. However - I did take the suggestion on the Duck Tour - even drove the duck while in the Charles River, which was fun. That was a really good suggestion. It did not rain on Saturday, but it was quite nippy. After the tour, we spent a good amount of time eating lobster and oysters at the Union Oyster Bar (sat at the front bar...the food was really good, but the server was quite sarcastic - might call him crusty), strolled through the green market that was there, and did some shopping. I'm hoping on my next trip to go to the Gardner Museum - it sounds lovely.

Thanks again!!

I'm glad you had fun!

come back soon when spring is here !

escargot - "come back when spring is here" Let me know when that happens - haven't seen a real spring in 47 years of living in New England. Wait - there's was that day back in 1987 or was it 88 when there was a sunny day in April and I saw a crocus. (just teasing you!)

Bennnie - my crocus in my yard west of Boston were in optimistic full bloom this morning! LOL the OP could have posted for this coming weekend - another rainy weekend on the way! But maybe all this rain will bring some nice May flowers for us and my DH has promisd he will remove the snow markers from our driveway in another week.

Removed our snow markers today !
Crocus , bulbs, all coming out - yellow and purple -
Bennie SMILE - spring is here -

they say after a rainy weekend
April showers bring May flowers

the weather is going to turn mid week with our spring front coming in to stay !!

Actually today is a beautiful day - I am going to Kelly's at Revere Beach for lunch as soon as I stop typing. Our crocuses are in bloom also - for today!