bsweet

While in Boston, my husband will be in meetings, and I would like to sightsee on my own a couple of days...is this safe? What would you recommend...China town, etc?

Thanks!

TKT

You will certainly be safe during the day and in most areas at night.
Chinatown is small but an enjoyable place to walk around. Central Boston is small and easy to walk. The neighborhoods that are the best to walk around are The Back Bay, Beacon Hill and the North End. It always helps to tell us your interest-art, history, shopping? What kind of food do you like? The more specific you are the more we can help.

bsweet

Oh, yes..well I would like China town, but also will enjoy shopping in little "kitchy" places..open markets, etc. We are staying at the Intercontinental, so would like to know what is near there.

gail

If you are going to be here on a Fri/Sat, go to Faneuil Hall area early in AM to see produce vendor stalls at Haymarket. If you are a really early person, it is interesting to watch them set up. In same area and close by there are authentic small Italian specialty food shops to poke around in. While there, read menus in the windows and find someplace to return to with husband for dinner.

If it is nice weather, walk Freedom Trail or part of it, stopping at whatever is interesting. Good artsy photography opportunities if that is your thing.

Chinatown is small but can also poke around in small shops there. Find a tiny Chinese restaurant and have lunch (there are several large ones too, but the small ones are more authentic)

Go to Isabella Stewart Gardner art museum and have lunch or tea in the cafe - or do same at Mueum of Fine Arts. Institute of Contemporary Art as well.

Ride Red Line of MBTA to Harvard Square and, avoiding all the chain stores in the Square, walk south on Massachusetts Avenue towards Central Square - the closer you get to Central Square, the more unique and non-chain the shops get.

Get a Thursday copy of the Boston Globe and see what is going on thae particular week you will be here.

bsweet

Gail...thanks for the great information! I hope to be adventurous!

djkbooks

E-mail the concierge at the Intercontinental - they are fantastic with recommendations and suggestions and will provide a customized map for you upon arrival.

Recommend Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a walk through the Public Gardens then all the way down Newbury Street, a walk through Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, Harvard Square, Museum of Fine Arts.

There is a huge literature rack at the hotel, with loads of ideas.

dfrostnh

I highly recommend a culinary tour of Boston's North End with Michelle Topor. Great historical information about the area plus yummy food samples. I ate my first fresh fig. Also second the recommendation to visit Haymarket Square (near Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market) on Friday/Saturday. We found Friday afternoon nice to browse but it was mobbed on Saturday. Good place to buy some fresh fruit. It might be a good idea to get Chinatown recommendations on Chowhound.com for good food and a place where you would be comfortable by yourself. Go armed with an ingredients list for recipes you might like to make. North End is also a great place to find great ingredients. I brought home a selection of fresh antipasto ingredients but we were driving. We stopped in an Asian grocery store last night that we found unexpectedly and all I knew I needed for sure was soy sauce and dried shitake mushrooms. In general, I have found Asian groceries even outside of Boston to have much cheaper prices on some imported items i.e. our favorite Massaman Curry sauce used in Thai cooking.

Dreamer2

Great advice above.
I'll second Michelle Topor's Northend Culinary Tour. If you are at all interested in cooking, immigration history, or eating Italian food, make a reservation now! The NorthEnd is generally a nice, safe neighborhood. After the tour, there are plenty of retail shops to keep you busy! And you can visit the Old North Church while you're there.
Also, the carts at Fanueil Hall will provide lots of "kitchy" and touristy stuff to enjoy. This is another area you will feel very comfortable, and you will be in the company of many tourists, business people, and camp kids.
You can take the water taxi from the aquarium over to Charlestown to visit Old Ironsides.
I would also definitely do a Duck Tour. From where you are staying, you can pick it up at the Science Museum, or you can go to the Prudential Center for pick up/drop off and spend lots of time shopping afterward. The Duck Tour is particulary good at giving a nice overview of the city - and it's fun! Make a reservation for this one, too. While at the Pru, go up to the observation deck. Newbury St./Boylston St. is a very comfortable area, full of upscale shopping and couples/collegues dining.
Boston's Chinatown is very small - basically just a couple of blocks.
Enjoy the city! There is more than enough to keep you sightseeing on your own for a couple of days.

TKT

You are about a 15 minute walk from the Institute of Contemporary Art,they have free concerts Thursdays, and about a 5 minute walk from the Children's Museum. About a 3 minute walk from the Boston Harbor Hotel with outdoor dining and concerts, try to have one of your dinners there. The North End is great as mentioned, but it also has many small cafes to sit and people watch in, stroll Hanover Street, which is also becoming a fashion mecca.

Your Hotel has a Rum Bar and a 24 hour French Cafe.

ruangel82480

Ha ha! Is your husband attending the ACS convention? I'm in the same boat, looking around now so I'm not buried in the covers of a hotel bed until 5 pm each day...although...that does sound sort of appealing! Thanks for asking the question -- and great suggestions!