Boston trip

[Lucys dad]

Boston is a great little city--much more like NY than Florida.

Here is a link to the train to Portland. Looks like it's about a 2.5 hour ride. Looks like a beautiful ride and I definitely recommend Portland for a night or two if you want (select a hotel in the Old Port).

A car is definitely not necessary, especially in Boston. The Freedom Trail is great--my suggestion is start in the Charlestown Neighborhood with the Bunker Hill Monument--you can hike to the top of it. Fenway tours are great and they take you up on top of the left field "green monster" wall which is awesome. The Celtics will be in season at the end of October and beginning of November, so a game would definitely be doable (Oct. 30 vs. Wizards), (Nov. 4 vs. Bulls).

Cambridge is not technically Boston but it's where MIT and Harvard are and they are worth a walk around. Harvard Square should definitely be on your list.

In Boston, don't miss the Common and Public Garden. Faneiul Hall is very touristy but a walk through the food court in Quincy Marketplace is a must. I really like the Back Bay/South End just past Copley Sq. The South End, in particular has some of the city's best restaurants. The area around Fenway Park has been built up over the past few years as well as the Seaport (However, they don't have the "old" feel that the rest of the city does). I think the "Duck Tours" are better than any of the sight seeing trolleys you might encounter. You get a tour through the streets and then the truck you are on turns into a boat and you get a tour on the Charles River. For a great meal you have to go to Boston's Little Italy, The North End. There are so many great choices there, but after dinner (or any time!) you have to hit either Mike's Pastries or Modern Pastry for cannolis. Mike's is take out only but you can sit down at Modern's and get an espresso as well.

Hopefully this gives a little insight!

Excellent. Some great info.

I had a look at Portland and the Amtrak route from `Boston so will definitely do that and stay for at least 1 night.

Much appreciated.

 

[JayMass]

The orange line shut down in theory should be. The green line portion is not lasting as long. Unfortunately though, what's expected and what's reality with the MBTA don't often match. I've commuted into Boston since I was 15 and have experienced trains overshooting the platforms, derailments, being stuck on a train for 9+ hours with no way off (we were stuck on a bridge).

I can't imagine the orange line actually being shut-down too much longer than they are saying. I am not saying they are going to get all the work done they say they will ("5 years worth of work in 30 Days" sounds like absolute BS to me), but by mid October they have GOT to get some of it back on line. I'm a teacher and we go back to school in two weeks. In Boston there are no school busses for grades 7-12. All those kids rely on the T. My school is right on the orange line and I am predicting a total nightmare!

 

[RogueX]

I can't imagine the orange line actually being shut-down too much longer than they are saying. I am not saying they are going to get all the work done they say they will ("5 years worth of work in 30 Days" sounds like absolute BS to me), but by mid October they have GOT to get some of it back on line. I'm a teacher and we go back to school in two weeks. In Boston there are no school busses for grades 7-12. All those kids rely on the T. My school is right on the orange line and I am predicting a total nightmare!

Oh I absolutely agree with you. If it goes beyond the month it may be a few weeks...hopefully only that. Best of luck to you though, I'm so glad I don't have to commute anymore.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I can't imagine the orange line actually being shut-down too much longer than they are saying. I am not saying they are going to get all the work done they say they will ("5 years worth of work in 30 Days" sounds like absolute BS to me), but by mid October they have GOT to get some of it back on line. I'm a teacher and we go back to school in two weeks. In Boston there are no school busses for grades 7-12. All those kids rely on the T. My school is right on the orange line and I am predicting a total nightmare!

As if traffic wasn’t already bad enough!

 

[melk]

Maybe some ideas from this? Keep in mind that tis was 17 years ago.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/an-historic-day-in-boston-with-diser-mare-pictures.846647/

What a riot, as soon as I saw the picture of Jack Nicholson I realized he must have been here filming The Departed!

Looks like you had a great day, Dan.

For the OP we enjoy Faneuil Hall, the Aquarium and the duck tours. Fenway has a pretty good tour of the park as well.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

I tell everyone to skip the Aquarium. It's dark and dreary and smelly and you get through it in like 5 minutes. Brutalist architecture was popular for a hot minute, but it was a busy minute in Boston apparently. If you have an aquarium near you it's probably 10x better.

 

[clori]

Just today the mbta announced a fall schedule with reduced times etc. I won't comment beyond that. If you like pizzza and history the Boston pizza tour may be fun for you. There is also a sports museum at the TD Garden where the Celtics/Bruins play. I have taken the downeaster though not all the way. It is a nice train and the way the tracks go are not the same trains that run to NYC etc.

 

[JayMass]

I tell everyone to skip the Aquarium. It's dark and dreary and smelly and you get through it in like 5 minutes. Brutalist architecture was popular for a hot minute, but it was a busy minute in Boston apparently. If you have an aquarium near you it's probably 10x better.

I second this. The Aquarium is interesting but it's very small and overpriced. Also, there is nothing unique about it. Going to the Aquarium on a Boston vacation is like waiting in line to ride the Magic Carpets of Aladdin at MK--you wasted time on vacation doing something you could easily do anywhere. With that said, the Museum of Science might be worth it.

Depending on weather, I'd add a harbor islands visit. There are forts on many of the islands and the view of the Boston skyline from the ship is pretty cool. Alternatively you could go to Castle Island in South Boston and get some of the same effect but you don't have the boat ride.

Strolling the new Greenway is something to consider as well. An elevated highway used to run through downtown Boston but they tore it down and built a tunnel, part of what was called the Big Dig. It was a nightmare of construction for about 15 years but the green space it created is really nice (and the Ted Williams tunnel to the airport for those south and west of the city). In summer there are fountains kids can play in, benches and lawn to relax on, a beer garden (Trillium Brewing which is highly recommended!), and a carousel. I'm a fan of getting a sandwich to go in the North End, finding a patch of grass, and just people watching.

Weather in late October, early November is a toss-up. It could be a beautiful sunny 60F or a windy rainy 35F.

 

[leebee]

@JayMass in post #20 is spot on! I grew up in Peabody, which is right next to Salem, and lived there for 28 years; I still consider it "home." I worked for a couple of years in Boston (in the building with the Citgo sign on it, that you can see from Fenway), and I now live in Maine. If you can get to Portland, go for it. It's a great little city, with great food, great breweries, great shops in the Old Port. If you don't want to go that far north, Greyhound will take you right into downtown Portsmouth. I love Portsmouth. If you get there, definitely go to Strawbery Banke to see what old New England was like. Food is also terrific in Portsmouth! If you decide to rent a car, once you get out of Boston, the traffic isn't bad (but I grew up there, so my definition of "not bad" and yours may differ). Also, the trains now run fairly far north, so you could take the train to Gloucester or Salem pretty easily.

Definitely do the Duck Tours; it is hands down the best sightseeing tour in Boston!

 

[JayMass]

@leebee Portland really is wonderful! If you like beer, Portland is amazing. There is an ongoing debate among New England beer lovers if Burlington VT or Portland ME has the best beer (honestly, they are both equally great!)

Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth NH is great too, I agree with that. I love it in the winter when they put up the skating rink! There's a live cam of the rink that we keep on our kitchen TV all winter. But it's great all year and there are many good restaurants right around the corner in Market Sq.

 

[Minnie1222]

DD and I would like to go visit the universities areas - and shopping! We would only have a long weekend as she is in school. My nephew plays football for MIT so maybe catch a game? Look around the areas of MIT, Harvard, BU... am I missing any? Stroll along the big shopping street - Newberry or something? I think my nephew stays on the south? side of the river so maybe a hotel close to that. We were hoping to use public transportation as I grew up with it in NJ/NYC but DD is new to it - but the subways are a mess right now?? Maybe do the freedom trail or part of it? Catch a good meal or two? I also have a friend who lives in Wayland - not sure just how far that is or if she might come to Boston or we go to her house... any input would be great!

Yes, Newbury Street is very nice. You can start there and walk to the Public Garden and Beacon Hill. There are many shops and restaurants along the way.

Wayland is 20-21 miles from Boston, but the drive can be long depending on traffic. Exactly how long depends on what types of construction/street closure happening at that moment. If your friend is familiar with Boston, it would be easier if she could drive into the city and park at your hotel.

 

[Rick195275]

Going to also agree that Portland is great!
Are you a hockey or basketball fan at all? Boston garden isn‘t the “nicest” arena to catch a game but there is definitely something special about catching a B’s or C’s game at the Gaahden if you’re a sports fan.

 

[Erica Ladd]

Yes, Newbury Street is very nice. You can start there and walk to the Public Garden and Beacon Hill. There are many shops and restaurants along the way.

Wayland is 20-21 miles from Boston, but the drive can be long depending on traffic. Exactly how long depends on what types of construction/street closure happening at that moment. If your friend is familiar with Boston, it would be easier if she could drive into the city and park at your hotel.

Thanks!

 

[aprilgail]

My daughter went to school at Northeastern so I spent a lot of time in Boston- we loved staying at the Marriot Copley Place. We took a trolly tour and a duck boat tour, went to the aquarium (dont recommend that), Boston Tea Party, Faneuil Hall, Salem was awesome, ate in the Italian section in Boston, took a whale watching tour and of course went to Mikes pastry.

 

[leebee]

@leebee Portland really is wonderful! If you like beer, Portland is amazing. There is an ongoing debate among New England beer lovers if Burlington VT or Portland ME has the best beer (honestly, they are both equally great!)

Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth NH is great too, I agree with that. I love it in the winter when they put up the skating rink! There's a live cam of the rink that we keep on our kitchen TV all winter. But it's great all year and there are many good restaurants right around the corner in Market Sq.

My sister owned shops in Portsmouth for 25 years (relocated to Exeter thanks to the pandemic) so we have spent a LOT of time there. It really is a fun little town.

Maine is up and coming on the brewery front; I think we are #1 in breweries per capita, or something like that. We have spent weekends in Portland, just checking out the area breweries. I live in a tiny town, Orono, right outside of Bangor. We have 3 terrific breweries/taprooms right here in town, all within walking distance of my house, and breweries are springing up in Bangor/Brewer all the time!

I second, third, fourth, and fifth what everyone has said about the New England Aquarium in Boston. It's fine as aquariums go, but there is absolutely nothing special/unique about it. With so many things to do in Boston, don't spend time at the aquarium.

Regarding the Freedom Trail... You can pay for a docent-led tour, or you can follow it yourself through the streets of Boston; it's marked with a red line and there are dozens of tourist manuals available to help you do a self-guided tour. I, personally, enjoy the docent-led tours that start on the Commons, but we've found that the Tour that ends at Faneuil Hall to be our preferred tour. While it's intriguing to go to Old North Church and Paul Revere's House, you can't go INTO PR's house, and it's just a loooooong walk, IMO.

(Haven't checked out the Greenway but the next time I go to town, we'll grab a sandwich in the North End and do some people watching!)

 

[JayMass]

Going to also agree that Portland is great!
Are you a hockey or basketball fan at all? Boston garden isn‘t the “nicest” arena to catch a game but there is definitely something special about catching a B’s or C’s game at the Gaahden if you’re a sports fan.

Have you been recently? They have done a ton of upgrades in the past two years. But, the only other major arena I’ve been to is Madison Sq. and Boston Garden is nicer than that!