If you end up with a few spare minutes, go check out the MAPARIUM. I won't tell you what it is, because that would ruin it, but it's neat.
I looked it up---very cool! Thanks for the suggestion.
Ann,
I have spoken with the people at Fenway on numerous occasions and their policy is that ANY camera is allowed so long as it does not interfere with another fans experience of the game. In other words, don't bring a monster huge lens like you see the sports photographers using on the sidelines! MOST of us don't have the extra $6000+ for those lenses so you are probably safe with whatever you bring.
As far as what to see in the freezing weather? That is a tough one. Quincy Market is nice at that time although it is most ly an outdoor mall type place. I suppose it is outdoor/indoor. Also a place that we find sort of fun around the holidays is the Prudential Center. Again, just a large mall but it is cool. A link is here:
http://www.prudentialcenter.com/
Thanks Andy! I'm glad to hear I won't have any problems with my camera---although I must admit, I may not bring it. I'm going to have blankets and hot drinks to manage, my camera may just be one too many things to deal with.
As far as the Prudential Center, we'll be there! We're going to eat at the Top of the Hub for dinner one night and from what I hear it's a fantastic view, I'm looking forward to it.
The Freedom Trail has a lot of historic sites along it. If dressed properly it should be too bad a walk. Mike's Pastries, in the North End, is a must for dessert
The Freedom Trail goes right near there. We walked the trail for the 1st time 2 weeks ago. I live 30 miles from Boston, my DD goes to Boston University and I rarely get into town.
http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/
The Freedom Trail was something on my list, I think it'll just depend on how cold we are that day. As far as Mike's Pastries, our neighbor who was born and raised in Boston swears that you
shouldn't go to Mike's. She says if you want
really great Italian dessert you should go to Bovas? I'm not sure of the spelling but if we're up there I may just have to try both so I can report back which one was better.
That is awesome. I am so jealous. If you get cold, you can burn my Hurricane season tickets for warmth. Oh, the question is what to shoot in Beanie Town.
Near the Parker House Hotel and Boston Common, you have some old churches and cemetaries. Very cool to shoot. North End is good. I recall some markets near Faneuil Hall. Not sure what it like in winter, though. Take a train to Harvard. Plenty to shoot there. Newbury street has tons of shops with older store fronts.
Did I say I was jealous. If I was not going to Disney a few weeks earlier, I would have to grab my hockey fight loving, goal celebrating 11 year old DD and road trip.
Chuck
I'm sure if nothing else, it's going to be a memorable event to go to. I doubt it'll be a good hockey game in terms of the view---but we'll be talking about it for years.
What week are you going to The World? We'll be down there Dec. 12-18th---can't wait!!
1. Do the freedom trail. It goes right through Quincy Market. You see the Common, the State House, the graves of Paul Revere, Sam Adams, John Hancock, and the Boston Massacre victims, and it ends at "Old Ironsides" (The USS Constitution). It is a nice walk and has plenty to photograph along the way.
2. The New England Aquarium is fun and indoors. It is also a challenging place to photograph (practice your manual focusing).
3. If you're traveling with kids, the Museum of Science is fun.
4. If you are beer drinker you could go to the Sam Adam's Brewery in Jamaica Plain or the Harpoon Brewery.
5. If it was warmer weather I would recommend a whale watch or a trip to the harbor islands...
6. As for shopping as mentioned above, check out the Prudential Center (North America's largest Apple Store is across the street), Copley Place, Quincy Market, and of course, Newbury St.
7. I'll keep thinking of ideas but see you soon!
Wow, thanks for all of the suggestions.
We are not traveling with kids (don't have any yet), so no Museum of Science this time---but the Sam Adams Brewery in Jamaica Plain was on our list. My co-worker went to school in Boston and said he loved the tour, went a few times. Looking forward to it!
Wish I had tickets to the game. (To be fair, I was at the "Cold War" Michigan State-Michigan game back in 2001 which started the recent spate of outdoor hockey games. It was way cool.)
A few of things I haven't seen mentioned yet:
1) The North End (particularly Hanover St): Italian neighboorhood which also has Paul Revere's house and The Old North Church. The Freedom Trail does run through it.
3) If you're near Copley, take a look in the main library, especially the courtyard.
4) Charles Street (and the surrounding Beacon Hill area) has a very nice "old" feel to it. (It's right near the Bull & Finch (the original Cheers) if you're into that.)
6) If into modern art, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is supposed to be quite something. If you're into older art, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is quite nice as well. (The MFA is running an Egyptian special exhibit through May 16.)
Enjoy your trip.
The Old North Church is something that our neighbor insisted we see (I think, is that the place where he hung the lanterns?). She said it's cool to see it in the middle of a whole crap load of shiny new financial buildings.
We do plan to have a drink at Cheers. I mean c'mon---it's Cheers! I've heard it looks nothing like it did on TV (which was to be expected) but taking a picture with the sign for the bar is a must-do for us.
We will definitely be going to the MFA if I can drag DH, not because I am a huge fan of Modern Art, but because on New Year's Eve they are offering free admission and since we don't have much planned---I figured we'd pop in to keep warm for an hour or two.
There is so much to see and do right in that area.
I agree with dressing really warmly and trying to do the Freedom Trail. You can stop for hot toddies and bites of food at different places along the way and you'll have tons of photo ops. That would be great fun. You might want to read up a little on the historic buildings of Boston before you go so you know what to look for and what the significance is of what your shooting (something I had to do myself even after a lifetime of passing certain buildings).
You
have to get over to the North End of Boston, just a quick jaunt from Fanueil Hall over the aforementioned Rose Kennedy Greenway and keep walking. Anyplace you go pretty much is going to have great food. Read some reviews ahead of time to see what type of restaurant you might like the best. From there, try to head north and walk over along the Charles River by the Coast Guard station and you'll have great views of the Charlestown Navy Yard and Old Ironsides, and the Zakim Bridge looking to your left. Very nice at night (bring tripod). Be sure to try out one of the public toilets that cleans itself.
Just walk around, look at a map, it kind of goes in a semi circle. (Wintertime's still fun, but summertime in Boston is even more fun. They have some bus-type tours I don't think they run in the dead of winter, like the Ghosts and Graveyard tours, but if they do, try to catch one of those!)
You might enjoy catching a show at the IMAX theater at the Aquarium, see what's playing.
If you go to the Prudential Center you could have a drink or eat at The Top of the Hub restaurant, which is at the top of the Prudential. I'm not sure if you can still go up to the observatories at either the John Hancock or Prudential Buildings, but if you can, both of those are fun.
There's lots more to do in Boston, but those activities right where you're staying ought to keep you pretty busy. You're gonna love it.
All of these suggestions are making me tired just looking at them!!
We are planning to eat at the Top of the Hub restaurant. Apparently they have an awesome dessert that's just a plate of hot fresh-baked cookies served with milk that an attorney I work with highly recommends.
I didn't see anything about bus tours (I'll have to look into it) but I did look into the Duck Tours that they run around Boston and it seems like those take place all year round. Most of the stuff I am looking to do on the cheap or for free (like walking tours, tours of the public library, etc.), but if there is a really good city tour/ghost tour/etc. I'd be willing to pay for that.
I'm not sure I'll love Boston, but I'm hoping I will. I hate cities in general---they're just dirty, crowded, expensive, etc. but I'm going with an open mind.
