We are staying at the Marriott, 2 Cambridge Center for a weekend in October, but will be spending most of our time in Boston. We would like to know how to best utilize our time in Boston, what are the things we must see and also casual restaurants, since we don't want to go back to our hotel to change for dinner.

I almost declined to answer this inquiry. There is so much more to do in Boston than you'll be able to touch in a weekend! Best bet is to get yourself a tour guide or (duh!) make yourself a tourguide here at Fodor's site and determine what's most appealing to you. Fodor's has fabulous restaurant recommendations. Note that if you're planning to take the "T" back and forth, the last trains leave just after midnight. Do hope you're not planning to drive back and forth...Some of the finest casual restaurants are in Cambridge.

The best way to utilize your time in Boston if you're only there for a weekend, is to walk the freedom trail! It's a path in the form of a red stripe along the sidewalks, taking you to many of Boston's landmarks. Along the way are many casual restuarants so you can stop any time for a meal. Just go to the Park Street Station--the trail starts there and there's even an information booth nearby that has trail maps. Of course, you should stray from the trail to see other things too.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by casual restaurants, but if you mean someplace where an outfit consisting of a collared shirt and Jeans would be appropriate, then almost all restaurants in Boston and Cambridge fit the bill. If casual is a T-shirt and shorts, 95% of the restaurants in the area fit the bill. Boston is a college town and a hi tech town - it is less dressy than most people think - and certainly much less so than DC or NYC.

That said, I would recommend a few general guidebooks as being good for Boston - Time Out Boston and Moon Publishing's guide. If you buy and read one of them your visit will be much more fun, and you will learn more than we can usefully share. If you have a specific qquestion, such as what is your favorite cafe in the SOuth End, please repost and we will be glad to answer.

(Btw. my answer for the above is Garden of Eden on Tremont)

Any maple trees down the Freedom trail? I'll be there in October too and will be walking the historic Freedom trail.

Pat,
I would definitely recommend wearing a polo out and about, and then to dinner at night, rather than a T-shirt. Bostonians can be snobby about their attire.
Go to the Parish Cafe on Boylston (take the Green Line T and get off at the Arlington stop-its right there). It is great for either lunch or dinner--if the weather's nice, sit outside. Have great sandwiches created by and named after Boston's top chefs. You can spend the morning at the art museum, then catch the green t "inbound" and eat at this spot. Also, avoid some of the trendier places to eat on Newbury St. If you like Thai food, go to Thai Dish on Newbury great prices, and amazing food. Go to the North End, obviously, walk around, go to Mike's Pastries. Have fun!

Pat:

Definitely walk the Freedom Trail and don't stop in Fanueuil Hall - continue to the North End and pick any one of the wonderful casual Italian restaurants for dinner.

Then, hit the Back Bay and walk Newbury Street if you like shopping and walk Commonwealth Ave. too.

Cambridge is nice and has some great casual restaurants too, so I'd take an evening and walk around Harvard and Harvard Square.

Have fun!

Some restaurants in Cambridge: Redbones, East Coast Grill, Henrietta's in the Charles Hotel...

Pat,

What kinds of things interest you? If you like art, for example, there are a number of possibilities: Not only the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston but also the Gardner Museum nearby as well as the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and the Fogg (for one) at Harvard.

The Aquarium is spectacular, and the Science Museum with its IMAX theater is great.

Definitely the Freedom Trail. If you like cooking and are interested in Italian cooking, a woman named Michele Topor gives wonderful culinary tours of the North End--but that would take about half of one of your days.

If the swan boats in the Public Garden are still sailing then--does anyone know?--do ride them. They're inexpensive and a quiet pleasure in the middle of the city.

The Duck Tours are popular, though I've never been on one.

If you're a baseball lover, you might be able to take a tour of Fenway Park.

So . . . let us know what your interests are.