I'm going to Boston! (Updated POST 86--Extreme was GREAT!)

[ducklite]

I haven't been there in five or more years. I got a heads up about a very special concert there on June 30th, and there was no mulling it over, I WAS going to be attending! Lots of my friends will be going, I"m looking forward to seeing people I haven't seen in ten years.

So now I'm trying to figure out flights and hotel rooms, we'll probably stay at the Back Bay Hilton. I'm hoping to fly in on the 29th and spend some time sightseeing on 6/30 and 7/1 before leaving for home on 7/2.

Anyone have any ideas on neat things to do? We've already done the whole Freedom Trail thing... We like offbeat history, offbeat museums (DH is NOT into art museums). I'm sure we'll be having Chowda for dinner one of the nights at our favorite "chain" restaurant. Any other meal ideas? (We've done the Fanieul Hall thing as well as Hard Rock Cafe and aren't interested in those) Prefer a local place, Italian is good...

Anne

 

[JESW]

Have you done the Duck Tour yet? Those are fun. And have you been to the top of the Prudential Tower? Great view of the city and beyond and you can get some cool aerial shots of Fenway park, among other things.

I love Boston and hope to get in there more now that my kids are getting older. I used to hang out in Harvard Square a lot back in the 80's.

Jill

 

[bicker]

You may want to consider Lexington, Concord and the Minuteman National Park between them. It's a walking tour of the Battle Road used by the British on April 19, 1774.

 

[winniedapooh]

OK Anne you sound like me when I get to go to Orlando, lol! I second what others have said about the Duck Tour. What about a show at one of the theatres??? Take in a Sox game if you can get tickets. Go walking and shopping on Newbury Street. There are some great shops there and it is really beautiful. Hope you have fun.

 

[kpm76]

Oh, you're going to have so much fun!! We love Boston and since we are not far, we visit often. I highly recommend Giacomo's for dinner. It's in the North End on Hanover Street. Honestly, it's worth the wait. They don't take reservations ( I don't think many places in the North End do) and they open at 5pm. People start lining up about 4:15pm to be in the first seating. It's a small place but boy is it good!!

As for things to do, JFK Library is always neat if you've never been. Of course, there's tons of shopping. Hope you have a great time!!!

 

[ducklite]

Have you done the Duck Tour yet? Those are fun. And have you been to the top of the Prudential Tower? Great view of the city and beyond and you can get some cool aerial shots of Fenway park, among other things.

Jill

It's funny, we were supposed to have brunch up there once maybe ten years ago, and the elevators were broken, so we had to cancel. Might be something we could do this time around... Thanks for the idea!

Anne

 

[ducklite]

You may want to consider Lexington, Concord and the Minuteman National Park between them. It's a walking tour of the Battle Road used by the British on April 19, 1774.

Hmmm, that sounds interesting, how long does it take at a "normal" pace?

Anne

 

[ducklite]

OK Anne you sound like me when I get to go to Orlando, lol! I second what others have said about the Duck Tour. What about a show at one of the theatres??? Take in a Sox game if you can get tickets. Go walking and shopping on Newbury Street. There are some great shops there and it is really beautiful. Hope you have fun.

Well, we're already going to see a concert on 6/30, so not sure we really will want to see a show as well... And baseball is definitely not our thing--the closest we get to FEnway is the bars across the street--Axis and Mamakins and such.

Newbury street sounds like my kind of thing to do. What type of shops are they?

And we never did the duck tour--that sounds like fun as well.

Anne

 

[Mister Incredible]

If you want great italian food, try La Familia on Newbury St or in the North End. For great Greek Food, try Steve's also on Newbury Street. Their deathburger (as I call it) is a bacon double cheesebuger that needs two hands to eat!

If you want real chowda and seafood, take a day and drive to Maine. Kennebunkport is very nice to walk around, have a couple of drinks and good eats!

 

[liamsaunt]

Some answers to your questions and comments:

Just FYI, Mamakins has been gone for years. Axis is still there though. Avalon on that same road seems to be where most bands play now.

To see Lexington, Concord, etc. I would say you should set aside about 1/2 day. It really depends how much you want to see. In Concord, you can go to the Old North Bridge area, there are some nice paths to walk, and there is a museum thing at the end. Lexington is pretty much the Battle Green, and some beautiful historic homes, unless I am forgetting something.

The nicest nature walk in Concord is the Walden Pond area, in my opinion. If not too crowded, it can be very peaceful.

Newbury Street has a mix of stores: everything from your basic gap, banana republic stuff to high end designers, both in individual stores and a larger mixed designers store (Louis Boston). There are unique jewelry shops, designer shoes, yummy ice cream shops, and generally overpriced restaurants that have the benefit of pretty patios when you'll be visiting. There are also a few used record shops, and a big virgin megastore. If you don't feel buying, it is still a good place to window shop and people watch.

If you like to look at housing, a street that runs paralell to Newbury Street, Marlborough Street, is a nice tree lined quiet road with beautiful brownstones.

The Duck Tours are a fun way to see part of the city if you have time.

Finally, the top of the Prudential building does have lovely views. The restuarant, Top of the Hub, is only OK. However, there is a bar up there with lounge seating. There is a $ minimum per person--maybe $15, but it is worth it for the view.

If I can help with anything else, just ask!

 

[bicker]

Hmmm, that sounds interesting, how long does it take at a "normal" pace?

There are four main pieces. The Lexington portion is pretty small. There are just some monuments on the Green and a very small "museum". From there you'd drive a mile or so up to the National Park HQ, and there's a 20 minute film. From there you can walk past some historic monument (including where Paul Revere was captured; though there is a separate parking lot for that, if you don't want to walk the mile to get there). There is a second main section of the national park past the entry to Hanscom Field. It has a fully-restored colonial home. (I love this area in Spring and Summer, because they bring the sheep out to mow the lawns. ) Finally, there is Concord; Old North Bridge, etc. It's a good half day all told.

 

[ducklite]

If you want great italian food, try La Familia on Newbury St or in the North End. For great Greek Food, try Steve's also on Newbury Street. Their deathburger (as I call it) is a bacon double cheesebuger that needs two hands to eat!

If you want real chowda and seafood, take a day and drive to Maine. Kennebunkport is very nice to walk around, have a couple of drinks and good eats!

We don't really have time for a side trip--and the last thing we're going to do is more driving, I'm flying to Boston, but then we're driving back to Orlando--hopefully in my new car!

La Familia sounds liek another place to put on the list.

As far as "Chowda", we've got that covered.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Some answers to your questions and comments:

Just FYI, Mamakins has been gone for years. Axis is still there though. Avalon on that same road seems to be where most bands play now.

LIke I said, it's been awhile. I forgot about the Avalon, which I want to think used to be called something else.

Newbury Street has a mix of stores: everything from your basic gap, banana republic stuff to high end designers, both in individual stores and a larger mixed designers store (Louis Boston). There are unique jewelry shops, designer shoes, yummy ice cream shops, and generally overpriced restaurants that have the benefit of pretty patios when you'll be visiting. There are also a few used record shops, and a big virgin megastore. If you don't feel buying, it is still a good place to window shop and people watch.

It just dawned on me where Newbury St is--Newbury Street Comics!

Finally, the top of the Prudential building does have lovely views. The restuarant, Top of the Hub, is only OK. However, there is a bar up there with lounge seating. There is a $ minimum per person--maybe $15, but it is worth it for the view.

If I can help with anything else, just ask!

$15 isn't too hard to hit--a couple beers and glasses of wine. Sounds like a nice place to grab a cocktail later in the evening.

Anne

 

[dg39]

We just got back last weekend. We stayed at the Boston Harbour Hotel. Not sure if its near where your going, but, its a beautiful hotel, right on the water. We also walked around Feniul Hall (sp?). My dd goes up quite often, she's going to go to school there and has loads of friends there. She went up there with us and hung out with Walt Disney's great grandson. They have an apt. on Joy St. She told me everything in his apt. is disney related. She said he's a real nice guy. I know this has nothing to do with the topic, but, I just thought I'd add it..LOL...

 

[ducklite]

There are four main pieces. The Lexington portion is pretty small. There are just some monuments on the Green and a very small "museum". From there you'd drive a mile or so up to the National Park HQ, and there's a 20 minute film. From there you can walk past some historic monument (including where Paul Revere was captured; though there is a separate parking lot for that, if you don't want to walk the mile to get there). There is a second main section of the national park past the entry to Hanscom Field. It has a fully-restored colonial home. (I love this area in Spring and Summer, because they bring the sheep out to mow the lawns. ) Finally, there is Concord; Old North Bridge, etc. It's a good half day all told.

The sheep-mowers alone might be worth the trip!

Thanks for the info!

Anne

 

[Monte Cristo]

special concert there on June 30th

Anne

Who's playing?

 

[kelleigh1]

We just got back last weekend. We stayed at the Boston Harbour Hotel. Not sure if its near where your going, but, its a beautiful hotel, right on the water. We also walked around Feniul Hall (sp?). My dd goes up quite often, she's going to go to school there and has loads of friends there. She went up there with us and hung out with Walt Disney's great grandson. They have an apt. on Joy St. She told me everything in his apt. is disney related. She said he's a real nice guy. I know this has nothing to do with the topic, but, I just thought I'd add it..LOL...

I work right at the Boston Harbor Hotel. You should have stopped in to say hello! We're at 30 Rowes Wharf which is across the rotunda from the hotel entrance (not the main entrance).

(Psst...if Fanueil Hall. But no worries. If I didn't visit their at least once a week, I probably wouldn't know how to spell it either. But go with Quincy Market instead, because that's actually what all the shops are. Faneuil Hall is actually just the one building at the far end.)



Salem is another fun place to go for old history...home of the Salem Witch Trials. It's not far from Boston. A quick drive up Route 1. I think it's less than 1/2 hour, but it's been a little while since I've been up that way.

You might also want to check the Trolley Tour companies. I know there is one that does a Chocolate Tour - but it's not year-round, so you might miss out on that one. And there is a Ghosts & Graveyards tour too. Let me see if I can find links for you.

 

[kelleigh1]

Ok...Ghosts & Gravestones:

http://www.ghostsandgravestones.com/
or http://shophta.com/acb/stores/15/product1.asp?SID=15&Product_ID=6&kc=y

Chocolate Tour (Sorry to say this one only runs January through April)
http://www.trolleytours.com/ChocolateTour/

 

[ducklite]

Who's playing?

The original members of the band Extreme--Pat Badger, Nuno Bettencourt, Gary Cherone, and Paul Geary. The last time they played together was Nuno's wedding ten years ago.

Anne

 

[Annette_VA]

Too funny....I just asked about Boston this morning:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1083482

I'll have to keep an eye on this thread, too