relax2011

We're a group of three girls spending five days in Boston and Rhode Island. First of all, if we want to stay in one hotel the whole week, do we stay in RI or Boston? Our thoughts are that there are probably more things to do at night in Boston, so it makes more sense to stay in Boston. Are we right?

And the main question - we're not bars/clubs people, we don't want to go to concerts or movies, etc. What we have in mind is maybe an evening historic tour or something like that. So far all we've gotten is bars, clubs, and concerts, which we're not interested in. Any other suggestion?

gail

If you want to stay in one hotel the whole week, you are going to spend much of your time commuting. Eliminating concerts, bars, movies does not leave you much else in either location.

In summer there are Boston Harbor sunset cruises. Also I know there is some sort of ghost tour in Boston, like in many other cities - but in my opinion that would just be creating something to do rather than it being of any real merit. You could go to a Red Sox game, but I fear that fits into your category of things you do not want to do. Shopping is open in many locations until 9 or 10.

Curious why you insist on staying in one hotel "the whole week" - which then you describe as 5 days. And curious what part of Rhode Island? In the best of circumstances - car, no traffic, etc - Boston-Providence is at least an hour. If you are going to anyplace else in RI, it is longer.

cw

If you're not interested in movies, music or theatre, there isn't too much else going on except for the type of tour Gail mentions. The Boston Harbor Hotel has music and movies outdoors, there are movies and concerts at the Hatch Shell, concerts at City Hall, and Shakespeare in the Boston Common. Maybe you can people-watch at Quincy Market and in the North End.

Here's a link to summer activities in Boston. Maybe you'll find something. http://www.cityofboston.gov/summer/

The Museum of Fine Arts is open with free admission on Wednesday evening.

jenlovestravel

I work and play in boston and RI - and i know the best places to go well depending on what it is you are looking to do and eat. I would definitely recommend your splitting the hotel nights up to stay in Newport for a few days and then Boston. or visa versa. In Newport there are the mansions, small museums, the cliff walk, the beach, the antheneum (sure I spelled that incorrectly) and more. You can go out for a day on a 12 meter sail if you choose - that is lots of fun. The restaurants are very good in Newport..I can make recommendations depending on what you like. I would definitely recommend spending at least an hour or two at the Inn at Castle Hill and have a drink on the lawn there. Drinks are expensive there, but the view is worth it. Food there is very good, but again, very expensive and the place is fancy, so drinks will allow you to enjoy the ambiance while not paying full fare. it is about an hour and 15 minutes to travel from boston downtown to Newport - without traffic. You take route 24 which turns to 114/or 138 depending on your direction. Boston has the usual tours and MFA is great. Walking the freedom trail is fun but it is very hot this time of year...there are terrific walking tours that start at the commons. you can take duck tours of the city too.

LarryBee

The problem is you are specifically asking what to do at night, but the one thing you mention your group is interested in (historic evening tours) really are not that easy to find. Newport is worth a visit in any event, but some of the things referred to above really are daytime things (for example, last admission to the Mansions is about 5 pm). I suspect many of the museums and historical homes (in both Boston, Newport or Providence) are all closed by 7 pm if not earlier. That leaves you with some of the things mentioned by others: evening harbor tours and ghost walks.

yk

Bostonbyfoot offers various walking tours, many of which are in the early evenings: http://www.bostonbyfoot.org/calendar/tours/

I've taken a couple of their tours and I do recommend them.

Otherwise, there are plenty of sunset cruises by many different companies (from modern yachts w/dinner & dancing, to "old" schooner style ships). Or, even a sunset clambake on Spectacle Island http://islandalliance.org/spectacleclambake.asp [I'd really LOVE to do this but it's a bit too pricey for me.]

Also, many museums in Boston are open late. The Museum of Fine ARts in Boston is open until 9:45pm on Wed, Thu & Fri http://www.mfa.org/visit

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is open late on 3rd Thursday of each month http://www.gardnermuseum.org/plan_a_visit

The Institute of Contemporary Art on the Waterfront is open until 9pm on Thu & Fri http://www.icaboston.org/visit/hours-and-admission/

As cw pointed out, there are lots of free OUTDOOR movies and free OUTDOOR concerts in Boston in the evenings during the summer.

jenlovestravel

this time of year it doesn't get dark until 8pm so if you like the water, late in the afternoon evening in newport is great. whether it be at a restaurant, beach, sunset cruise, park ... you name it. there is lots to do at night, comedy clubs, movies, theater, eating out, bars and clubs and of course places to spa. you just have to decide what you want to do.

yk

More Boston evening ideas:

Tall ship sunset cruise:
http://www.libertyfleet.com/daily/boston.htm

Other cruise companies include:
Spirit of Boston (usu w/dinner OR just drinks)
Boston Harbor cruises

Bike at Night tour with Urban Adventours
http://www.urbanadventours.com/bosto...ily-city-tours

Or, rent canoes or kayaks on the Charles River (opens until 8pm)
http://www.paddleboston.com/kendall.php

relax2011

Thanks all for the suggestions - especially yk for the detailed list and links! We'll be checking out those cruises and the biking. gail - I refer to it as a week simply because I think of it as such, since we'll be there from Sunday - Thursday, just not the weekend.

gail

Wasn't just asking about week versus 5 days to be snarky - although I could see how it sounded that way - it must matters a lot if you are talking weekend or weekdays or 2 weekends. Sorry if I sounded that way. But I still think you need to stay part time in each city.

relax2011

gail - I forgot to mention it, but we are now planning on staying part time in each city. We hadn't realized just how far they were and how it doesn't make sense to travel back and forth, especially since the part of RI we want to visit is Newport. Thanks for your help!