First trip to Boston next weekend...help!

[unrequited23]

Maybe do your Duck Boat tour first. If you have a good driver they will point out all the sites of interest and perhaps their descriptions will interest you more. Ours pointed out the oldest bar in the country so of course my husband HAD to have a beer

You NEED to do the Duck Tour. The tour of Fenway is very cool if you can't get to a game. (If there is a game and you are not going, stay far, far away--it is a madhouse in the area.) I loved the Isabella Stewart Gardner house much more that the MFA if art museums are your thing. There is a semi-touristy seafood place right on the water called the Barking Spider, it's by the Children's Museum. If you are heading out to Cambridge, there is/was a Espionage Museum at MIT that was really interesting.

Things seemed to close early to me. The last time I was there the T didn't seem to run past 11:45. We saw a band and we concerned about missing the last train after the show. A lot of places in the North End were closed on Sunday too. Keep that in mind when planning.

 

[QueenIsabella]

You NEED to do the Duck Tour. The tour of Fenway is very cool if you can't get to a game. (If there is a game and you are not going, stay far, far away--it is a madhouse in the area.) I loved the Isabella Stewart Gardner house much more that the MFA if art museums are your thing. There is a semi-touristy seafood place right on the water called the Barking Spider, it's by the Children's Museum. If you are heading out to Cambridge, there is/was a Espionage Museum at MIT that was really interesting.

Things seemed to close early to me. The last time I was there the T didn't seem to run past 11:45. We saw a band and we concerned about missing the last train after the show. A lot of places in the North End were closed on Sunday too. Keep that in mind when planning.

Hmmm, this would explain why I keep seeing Lyft charges show up on my joint credit card with DD22. I really don't mind, I'd rather that she be safe, but it's kind of funny when I open the bill--what!?! she's charging rides?!? AND GROCERIES?!? On the good side, she just accepted a real job yesterday, so she should theoretically be completely self-supporting soon.

OP--I personally love using the T most of the time. But know that Lyft and Uber both have a strong presence, very easy to use in Boston. I was nervous at first, since we don't have either of those services where we live, but we found both to be fast, courteous, and have clean vehicles.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

Keep in mind there is MAJOR work going on around Comm Ave./the BU bridge. So...not that I would ever suggest anyone take the Green B line anywhere anyway, but don't take the B line!

 

[Judique]

You NEED to do the Duck Tour. The tour of Fenway is very cool if you can't get to a game. (If there is a game and you are not going, stay far, far away--it is a madhouse in the area.) I loved the Isabella Stewart Gardner house much more that the MFA if art museums are your thing. There is a semi-touristy seafood place right on the water called the Barking Spider, it's by the Children's Museum. If you are heading out to Cambridge, there is/was a Espionage Museum at MIT that was really interesting.

Things seemed to close early to me. The last time I was there the T didn't seem to run past 11:45. We saw a band and we concerned about missing the last train after the show. A lot of places in the North End were closed on Sunday too. Keep that in mind when planning.

Lol, is it possible you mean the Barking Crab?

We usually eat at Barking Crab when we stay in this area. Have to get a Lobster roll and fries with a cup of chowder.

 

[unrequited23]

Lol, is it possible you mean the Barking Crab?

Yes, probably. I always get the name of that place wrong, but I know how to get there.

 

[mrsap]

What is wrong with you?!?! Everyone knows that it's Mike's for cannoli for dessert! You and I may need to step outside over this one!

Seriously, though, OP--you literally can't go wrong in the North End if you like Italian food. I've had some of the best meals in little hole-in-the-wall places, so authentic, you'll be waiting for Nona to whack you with a wooden spoon!

Sorry I disagree!!! Tried both and LOVED Modern's cannoli!!!!! I was surprised myself because I heard the same thing from everyone! But I really didn't like Mike's!!!! (My husband felt the opposite!)

Everything that has been mentioned I can totally stand behind! Boston is such a fun trip! We are going back in October!! We loved the restaurant called L'Osteria (North End) for dinner and for pizza fell in love with Regina Pizza!!! SOOO good!!! Going to try to tour Paul Revere's house this time, you should check it out!! It was really cool from the outside! Amazing how small houses were back then! The Freedom Trail is truly fun to follow! And Faneuil Hall is cool to walk around where you can eat or shop! Our hotel was on the harbor so the views were beautiful and walking over by the pier was beautiful! There's the Boston Tea Party tour right there too, and next to that is the Children's Museum (that my kids loved!) Aquarium was on the small side, but still fun! We didn't do the duck boats, but might try this year! Oh and we went on a horse and buggy ride!!! That was fun!
Also there are boat rentals/rides located over in the aquarium area. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!! Have a great trip!

PS - Also wanted to recommend the Boston Go card if you plan on doing a few of the attractions they offer! Definitely saves you some money!!

 

[1st*toright]

Yes, probably. I always get the name of that place wrong, but I know how to get there.

Barking Crab, Barking Spider, whatever it is called ... That place has been there forever - even when there was nothing on that side of the channel but parking lots!

 

[busy mom]

Thank you for the many replies, my itinerary is shaping up nicely.

Has anyone ever toured one of the Boston Breweries? If so, any suggestions?

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Thank you for the many replies, my itinerary is shaping up nicely.

Has anyone ever toured one of the Boston Breweries? If so, any suggestions?

I recommend Harpoon and Trillium.

For restaurants I like Giacomo's in the North End and Mike's for pastry if you like pastry.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

Faneuil Hall and that area is great, super touristy. The USS Constitution is fun. Newberry Street for the shops, Boston check out Harvard while you're there too!

Check to see if the USS Constitution is there. We were there two weeks ago and it wasn't in its normal dock. It had been in dry dock for 2 years and just relaunched back into the water, but as a result it was moved to a different dock for part of the summer (and can't be toured on board). I don't know how long that was going to last, but it was part of the summer.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

Legal Sea Food is amazing but yes, terribly expensive, even for Boston. I would recommend the Sail Loft. It isn't far from the Aquarium at all, and is pretty close to Hanover St. where you can go to *Mike's Pastry* for the most amazing cannoli you'll ever have. Now mind you, the Sail Loft isn't impressive looking, but many tables have water views and the food is always excellent.

The Sail Loft... That was great! Reasonably priced and on the water. Wonderful chowder. I had both the Chowda from Quincy Market and the chowder from Sail Loft in one day. Very different styles. Sail Loft has a dill flavor to it and it's creamier. The one from Chowda was chunkier.

I also ordered the appetizer of mussels as my meal. Huge! I couldn't finish both the mussels plate and the bowl of chowder.

 

[monorailmom]

The Sail Loft... That was great! Reasonably priced and on the water. Wonderful chowder. I had both the Chowda from Quincy Market and the chowder from Sail Loft in one day. Very different styles. Sail Loft has a dill flavor to it and it's creamier. The one from Chowda was chunkier.

I also ordered the appetizer of mussels as my meal. Huge! I couldn't finish both the mussels plate and the bowl of chowder.

I'm so glad you liked it!!!! It's definitely one of our favorites when we're in the city. I hope you had a great time while you were here!

 

[clori]

I live within a few miles of Boston. Most people have listed touristy places. I will say that having been on the duckboats in NYC, San Juan, and Philadelphia even knowing the area we enjoyed Boston Duck Boats the most. I did the superducks once and found that was decent though not quite the same level.

If you enjoy history the Prudential Skywalk is a fun place to go where there is a 360 panoramic view of the skyline with an available audiotour. There is a new Wax Museum opening in August (not sure of the date) near City Hall which is near Faneuil Hall. I'll check it out in the fall.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

I'm so glad you liked it!!!! It's definitely one of our favorites when we're in the city. I hope you had a great time while you were here!

Most of the family liked Boston. The seventh grader said "I have history 10 months of the year at school. Why do we have to do history on vacation?" But, he did love Toscanini's for ice cream and enjoyed walking around MIT.

 

[ellynsoh]

Trillium Brewery has an outdoor beer garden on the Greenway. I just returned, and the Boston Public Library was my favorite. The subway was easy to use. MBTA has a good trip planning section, like Mapquest for public transportation. The library T stop was convenient to shopping and the Prudential Center, if I remember correctly.