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rywith22 Mar 1st, 2011 07:47 AM

Stuff to do in Boston
 
Hello all, my girlfriend and I will be in Boston next week for 5 days and wanted some ideas on some fun things to do while there. Can any of you chime in and help out, PLEEEEEAASSEEE!!! We are staying in Hull and already going to a Celt's game on the 9th. Now, I've looked up zip-lining but that's in Charlemont and seems to be quite far away. Is there anything like that anywhere closer or maybe segway tours or anything?? What do you guys recommend? We are both 30 and in very good health if that helps with suggestions, thanks in advance.

sassy_cat Mar 1st, 2011 08:01 AM

A friend recommended the Boston segway tour but I don't think they're running at the moment because of all the snow!

Similarly Duck tours don't start until March 21st according to their website

You could walk the Freedom trail.
Interested in museums?

Best advice dress warmly in layers and wear good boots as the snow is slowly thawing.

tchoiniere Mar 1st, 2011 08:04 AM

Look at the sites along the Freedom Trail. There may be a Segway Tour for it but its probably closed for the season as its still winter.

You are staying quite a bit outside of Boston so commute time will need to be a factor for your plans.

You could go to the top of the Prudential. I believe Fenway Park offers tours during the winter.

Boston Aquarium?

Charlemont is a couple of hours from Boston so agree that that is out.

PeaceOut Mar 1st, 2011 08:37 AM

I am not sure if they are running now, but the Aquarium has really good whale watching tours.

bachslunch Mar 1st, 2011 09:05 AM

Re attractions. Did you look at a Boston guidebook or do a site search here? There's plenty of good info to find if you do.

You might consider posting up a rough itinerary. We're especially good at making suggestions around your basis ideas here.

Note also that getting to Boston from Hull is going to require driving (not fun and not recommended) or getting to commuter rail (the Greenbush line goes into South Station from there, though the rail stop isn't convenient to Hull's town center). There may also be a water shuttle into downtown from Hull as well -- worth investigating at the T's website.

wyatt92 Mar 1st, 2011 09:09 AM

Why are you staying in Hull? That's going to be super inconvenient.

gail Mar 1st, 2011 09:27 AM

What are you interests? And you do know that it is still winter here - despite what the rest of the country thinks. If you are interested in ziplining, does that mean you want outdoor activities rather than museums? Skating on the Boston Common? Market tours of North End or Chinatown?

Agreeing that staying in Hull is going to be a pain - hope there is a good reason.

rywith22 Mar 1st, 2011 09:36 AM

OK, a bunch of you are saying Hull is an inconvience. Is it that far away or just the drive? I know driving in MA can be a pain, right?? As for winter, I'm coming from FL so obviously winters are a bit different, hence why I mentioned the zip-line and segway tours....I didn't think about the snow on the ground still. :) I do plan on doing the tour of Fenway Park though and taking a day trip to Brockton (I was born there) but that's really all I've come up with. We aren't really into museums though either.

I guess I could switch the hotel if I had too, should I really look into that??

tchoiniere Mar 1st, 2011 09:40 AM

Definitely change hotels. Too much time will be lost. Especially since we can still get snow.

What is your price range?

rywith22 Mar 1st, 2011 10:03 AM

I booked it on Expedia so I'll look and see what I can figure out....Thanks a lot!!

socialworker Mar 1st, 2011 10:15 AM

Even young people who are not museum aficionados like the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Strongly recommend it.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Housed in a stunning 15th-century Venetian-style palace with three stories of galleries surrounding a sun- and flower-filled courtyard.

www.gardnermuseum.org/

wyatt92 Mar 1st, 2011 10:49 AM

Yeah, absolutely get out of Hull. I have no idea how you would even choose it. It's not a great town and not particularly close to Boston.

cw Mar 1st, 2011 10:55 AM

How about running the Freedom Trail? http://www.freedomtrailrun.com/

For Segway tours: http://www.bostongliders.com/ Looks as though they are offering tours this month (weather depending, of course).

Don't know if you'd be interested in a brewery tour but you can do that at Harpoon or Sam Adams breweries.

Dress in layers, the weather is unpredictable.

wliwl Mar 1st, 2011 11:07 AM

Walk up and down Newbury Street.

Shop at Copley Place:
http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?id=784

Head to Harvard Square and visit all the shops and the cupcake place.

Visit the Glass Flowers Museum, it's awesome:
http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/on_exhib...ollection.html

Visit the newly remodeled Museum of Fine Arts:
http://www.mfa.org/

The Science Museum is fairly cool:
http://www.mos.org/

Visit the North End for Italian food:
http://northendboston.com/

Obviously, you are visiting at a pretty bad time of year, but you will still have fun in Boston. And DEFINITELY change hotels!

MareW Mar 1st, 2011 11:21 AM

As the previous poster said, check put the Museum of Science. It has a lot of interactive exhibits, so you might like it more than you'd expect.

Kealalani Mar 1st, 2011 11:24 AM

maybe some music?

http://www.houseofblues.com/tickets/...ar=Go&caltype=

gail Mar 1st, 2011 11:35 AM

foodtoursofboston.com We went on North End market tour and it was fascinating for both me and my 20 year old daughter.

Make sure you bring appropriate clothing - although you are old enough to know how to dress, it could still snow a lot during the time you are here and there is still snow, slush, water, general muck on the ground. You will need a winter-weight coat, hat, gloves and waterproof foot covering - no matter what the forecast says - and the forecast will be wrong no matter when you look at it.

Do a search here on Boston lodging. I strongly suggest people stay in the heart of the city, but understand that Boston hotels can be pricey. However, March is perhaps one of the least popular months so you might catch a deal.

Distances in Boston can be quite deceiving. In Florida, 20 miles takes 20-30 minutes to drive. In Boston it can take 20 minutes - 2 hours (really). Public transportation is good within center of city but from outlying areas it operates mostly during rush hour into and out of the city.

Most people in Boston area will question your sanity for traveling from Florida at this time of year - since many of us are still planning trips to someplace warmer through March (I leave for Florida Thursday).

Ackislander Mar 2nd, 2011 02:03 AM

There are commuter boats from Hull to the Waterfront in Boston, but I think they stop running too early for you to have much in the way of nightlife, though the ride itself will be beautiful -- if cold! Check the MBTA website.

If you can get out of your hotel reservation in Hull, use Priceline for the Back Bay and Theater District, **** hotels only. You ought to be able to get a good rate at that time.

You will need a car to go to Brockton, and Budget and Avis have offices in Park Square. It is an easy shot onto the expressway from there. Brockton has a wonderful craft museum if you want to spend more time there, really a destination.

When you get to Boston, pick up one of the free papers -- the Phoenix, Boston After Dark, Stuff -- from one of the street boxes to see who is playing and what is going on in the clubs.

gail Mar 2nd, 2011 02:40 AM

Quick look on Expedia found Park Plaza, Parker House, Radisson - all in main tourist area of Boston and all fine (I know, they get mixed reviews, but their location is great and hotels are OK) for $130-150. This is a situation that screams for Priceline - pick Back Bay, Theatre District or Quincy Market areas. (Not Waterfront, Convention Center or anything else - not Cambridge since those areas are not specific enough). No experience bidding on Priceline for Boston since I live here, but I would guess you could catch something for $100 or less based on prices I found at regular rates.

rywith22 Mar 2nd, 2011 04:32 AM

You guys are the best, as usual. I love that I can come here and get the info I need....I can't thank you enough. We are going for a conference at the Hilton by the airport. I will see what I can do about the hotel and get that changed. As for Brockton, I have family there so not sure how much we'll be doing there other than that but I now have some options if needed.

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the responses.


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