OT: Boston

[stitchlover]

You guys were such a big help when we planned our trip to Chicago this past summer I thought I would ask for your suggestions on our trip to Boston. We are planning (just DH and I) to go to Boston while our daughter is on her school trip to Washington D.C. and New York.

Does anyone have any suggestions for hotels? We plan to use public transportation and taxi's to get around and won't be renting a car. So access to these are a must. We also want to be in an area that we will feel safe walking in the evenings.

Any "must do" suggestions? We will be in town from June 8-June 12 and I believe there is a Red Sox's game on the evening of the 11th so we plan to do that.

Would love to hear anything you have to suggest. Especially hotel suggestions since we are clueless!

 

[auroralark]

We stayed in a nice hotel when DH won a trip there...unfortunately this was several years ago and I don't remember the name of it! So I'm no help there. But Boston is pretty walking friendly, and the T is super easy to use too. (Good idea to not rent a car...driving in Boston is a nightmare!)

Just a tip on the Red Sox tickets - Fenway park is small and sells out fast! So if you want to avoid paying extra money on tickets, try to buy them as soon as they're released. (Probably in the next month or two.)

 

[SusanWasHere]

I won a trip and stayed at the Marriot in Quincy. It wasn't downtown, but the T was right there and the hotel shuttle was great to drop off and pick up. The Marriot had the best clam "chowdah" I've ever had! Definitely visit Quincy Market and even ride one of the Duck Boats if you can! There is a really beautiful Holocaust Memorial there that was really touching to see. Pretty much anything right in that area is very easy to walk to and lots of historical places for great photos. As for the Red Sox - no comment from the Yankee fan Have a great trip. Boston is a great city to visit (except for that baseball team)

 

[jodiey]

There is a Marriott right in Quincy Market. Very convenient but very pricey. I think the Marriott we stayed at was called the Marriott Southside or something like that. It was within walking distance to the T and I think it was only 2 stops to Quincy.
As for things to do, the Duck Tour is a lot of fun. Quincy Market is always a good time and there is an aquarium right there as well. Eating at the Union Oyster House is always a must for us when we go, they have the best cornbread and clam chowder. We also did the Graveyard Tour and thought that was fun. There is also a comedy club called Comedy Connections that usually has some decent acts, we saw Carolyne Ray there a few years ago. It used to be right in Quincy but I think it is now in the theater district. If I can think of anything else I'll post again.

 

[TSWJan78]

Living 10 min from the Boston I take for granted the amazing things to do there but a few of my favorites are:

Faneuil Hall - Stop by here at least once if not twice. There are a few great sit down restaurants but the food court area is a great place to try lots of different things. If you want a fun meal try Dick's last resort.. It is like a 50's prime time for adults.

Boston Science Museum or Aquarium- Great thing for a rainy day

JFK Library - If you are into History this is a neat place to spend a few hours but it is outside of the city so plan a little time to get there.

Duck Tour - This is a 2 hour tour of the city that goes into the river. It is fun but not a tour that you can stop and get off so this is not the right tour if you are looking to do more than see

Fenway Park tour - Going to a game is great but it is also great to really see the ball park

Top of the Prudential Building - This is a great way to see the city (and you can pick up the Duck tours from here too)

Public Gardens/ Swan boats - Not the most exciting but a nice relaxing experience.

Shear Madness - This is an interactive play that you can usually get half price tickets to from bostix.com it is a nice fun few hours indoors.

I think that is all and sorry I do not have alot of hotel recommendations for you. I know the Omni Parker house is the oldest hotel in the country so if you are a history buff this may be a neat place to stay. If you are looking to stay outside of the city and save some $$ There is a Crowne Plaza in Newton with direct access to the Bus but if it were me I would splurge and stay downtown so if you want to go back to the hotel to rest up you have easy access.

Hope you enjoy our lovely city!!!

 

[NH Disneyfan]

I live in New Hampshire and visit Boston frequently, with it only an hour away. Here's some hotel suggestions and ideas for to-do.

First, no car is needed, you will love the T. Upon getting to the city, purchase the "Charlie Card" for stored value tickets and discounts. You can swipe on the trains and buses for easy access.

Let's start with the Sox. This is by far the toughest ticket in town. A tour is a definite way to see Fenway Park. If you want tickets, you will need to try early/often on the website. There are some tricks to getting tickets, but I can't share them here. Just keep trying at various times. If you really want to see a game, you might just have to pay for it. I would recommend Stub Hub - friends have used this website before and had great success. Beware of the obstructed view - there are a lot of them. I would recommend some research on the park before buying, just so you have an idea of your seats.

You will be on the green line if you stay at the Marriot Copley, Westin Copley, Sheraton Copley, Hilton Back Bay. Copley Square is where the Prudential tower is and about 3-4 blocks from the Hancock Tower. The green line will take you to Kenmore Square (Fenway Park) in 2 stops or you can simply walk. You will be near Newbury Street for high-end shopping and it is an easy walk to the hatch shell where the Pops play on July 4. There are sometimes other concerts there in summer.

The green line will take you to Government Center or Haymarket for easy access to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. A place other posters have recommended. There is a Marriot in Quincy Market and also Mariott Long Wharf, next to the Aquarium. From here, it is a great place to walk the Freedom Trail which is a history classic in Boston. At 34, I finally did this in 2009 and LOVED it. What a great tour of the city and free since you walk. You do need to pay to see various attractions. USS Constitution, Bunker Hill Monument, etc. It isn't much.

Other hotels to look into is Boston Park Plaza, W Hotel (Brand New), Radisson which are all close to the park and Commons (with the swan boats). The green line is this line as well.

Downtown Crossing is another great place to shop, with large department stores.

If you like chocolate, look up Cafe Fleuri (in the Langham Hotel) for the Chocolate Brunch. This is amazing and may not be offered when you're there, but worth a look. All I can say is Wow after enjoying in May 2009. The hotel is historic and in the middle of the financial district, not a place I would stay.

If you do google maps and enter Boston, then type "Transit" you will get a fully functional map of the trains, etc. You can then search for hotels and get an idea of the city. Just remember, the Green Line is the primary downtown rail and runs through just about every sightseeing spot. Walking is one of the best parts of Boston. Have fun!

 

[stitchlover]

Goodness, thank all of you so much for the information. I know NOTHING about Boston so appreciate any help. But we didn't know anything about Chicago before we went and we loves it.
We realize the Soxs tickets won't be easy to come by. It was the same way with the Cubs. We ended up buying from some ticket resale place on the street before the game. We paid $150 to go to that game but we are happy we did it.
I will look into all these hotel suggestions. Also the Duck boat tours sound great.
I want to say I've heard something about a "little Italy" type district? Any recommendations on restaurants?

 

[kafitty]

everything NH DisneyFan said.

YES, our Little Italy is called the North End, it's right near Government Center. Many excellent restaurants - you really can't go wrong.

and just a tip for the T...stick to the Christmas colors!! The orange line is a little...well...

definitely check out the Common, it's beautiful in the spring/early summer.

 

[firsttimemom]

You guys were such a big help when we planned our trip to Chicago this past summer I thought I would ask for your suggestions on our trip to Boston. We are planning (just DH and I) to go to Boston while our daughter is on her school trip to Washington D.C. and New York.

Does anyone have any suggestions for hotels? We plan to use public transportation and taxi's to get around and won't be renting a car. So access to these are a must. We also want to be in an area that we will feel safe walking in the evenings.

Any "must do" suggestions? We will be in town from June 8-June 12 and I believe there is a Red Sox's game on the evening of the 11th so we plan to do that.

Would love to hear anything you have to suggest. Especially hotel suggestions since we are clueless!

I lived on beacon hill for 4 years but that was a loooong time ago. You're smart not to get a car. Not only is driving a nightmare but parking at the hotel would be $$$.

Here's another fun activity for you:

http://www.jimmyfund.org/eve/event/scooper-bowl/default.html?track=featured-event

 

[GoPatsGoSox]

Newbery Street is also great for shopping--or just an afternoon stroll to take in the surroundings. And the Freedom Trail is amazing. Regarding the Sox--do try and get to a game--they are truly special and worth it even if you have to pay a bit more for the tickets. Try the Sox site around the middle of January for information on regular price tickets--I think the June games usually go on sale late January or early February (be prepared to spend some time and patience on the phone or computer the day they go onsale). The Marriott Long Wharf is near the Aquarium, North End, and Faneuil Hall, there is also a hotel called the Millenium Bostonian right across from Faneuil Hall and a nice one right near Fenway/Kenmore called the Hotel Commonwealth (this is in the Back Bay area a little further from downtown). Have fun--Boston is a great city!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

http://www.mos.org/
http://www.bostonducktours.com/
http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/maps/maps.html
http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/
http://www.neaq.org/index.php

Did anyone mention the Boston Harbor Dinner cruises?
http://www.odysseycruises.com/boston/index.cfm
http://www.spiritofboston.com/bo/index.jsp

 

[stitchlover]

Thanks! I will check all this information out. I had not heard anything about the dinner cruise.

 

[Sawx04]

I want to say I've heard something about a "little Italy" type district? Any recommendations on restaurants?

It's hard to pick a bad restaurant in the North End, they are all so good. We always end up at Cantina Italiana for Gnocchi al Forno (Handmade potato gnocchi, tossed with marinara sauce and parmigiano cheese, baked with mozzarella and ricotta cheese). It is the best gnocchi I ever had! Cantina Italiana is located at 346 Hanover Street, the main street in the North End.

Here is their web-site:

http://www.cantinaitaliana.com/dinner-menu.php


Here is another useful web-site highlighting most of the North End eateries:

http://northendboston.com/dining.htm

Be sure to leave room for desert and stop at Mike's Pastry shop.

Oh, and nobody has mentioned Legal Seafood....best seafood in Boston....several locations.

For the best breakfast in town at a great price, try Mike's City Diner in southie, 1714 Washington Street...it's right on the Silver Line (bus route). Beware it's cash only and started to get an out-of-town following after it was featured on the Food Network's Diners, Dive-ins and Dives last year.....if you like turkey this is your place for lunch Links:

http://www.mikescitydiner.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hvJhM53bCY


Enjoy your trip to the hub!

 

[PearlySwan]

I will look into all these hotel suggestions. Also the Duck boat tours sound great. I want to say I've heard something about a "little Italy" type district? Any recommendations on restaurants?

^^^ Oh my! I wish I had been around when you asked about Chicago as we lived there for 14 yrs! We also lived outside of Boston for seven years after we left Chicago. Here's what I'd recommend:

If money is no object, you can stay at the Ritz-Carlton Back Bay which is the first hotel of that chain (near the Boston Public Gardens where Swan boats operate); the Westin Copley Plaza (near Copley Square downtown Boston); or the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Warf in Boston. Across the Charles river on the Cambridge side, there is also the Hyatt Hotel in Cambrigde near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Or the Charles Hotel in Cambridge smack in the middle of Harvard Square.

Things to do:

1. Freedom Trail (USS Constitution (Old Iron Sides); Bunker Hill Monument; Old North Church; Paul Revere's House; John Hancock's House; etc). Check it out: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/

2. North End ("little Italy"). Restaurants to try: Damiano, Giacomo's, Mike's Pastries (for capuccino and the best cannoli this side of the Atlantic).

3. Boston Public Gardens. Make sure to see the "Make Way for Ducklings" bronze sculptures and take a ride on the Swan Boats.

4. Boston Common.

5. Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

6. Red Sox Game at Fenway Park.

7. Funeil Hall in Boston.

8. Harvard Square. Tour the Harvard Yard. The Harvard Coop bookstore. You might want to dine at Ches Henri; Grendel's Den; or Sandrine's Bistro (my neighbor is part owner of this last restaurant).

9. MIT Campus. You might want to go to the Legal Seafood's restaurant in Kendall Square near the MIT Coop book store.

10. New England Aquarium.

11. Boston Harbour Cruises.

12. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

13. The Museum of Science Boston.

14. Symphony Hall in Boston.

15. Boston Pops at the Hatch Shell.

16. Newburry Street shopping.

I concur with others. Don't drive in Boston! When we first moved to MA we couldn't believe how horrible it was to drive there. After a while we too became 'assimilated' and eventually became one of those terrible MAssh*l*s.

 

[CamColt]

I recently stayed at the Marriott Long Wharf, which is right across from Fanuiel Hall, and enjoyed it.

As for the Red Sox, You will need to be online right when tickets go on sale and plan on spending the day in the "virtual waiting room". I try every year and have only had luck getting through once (some tickets are currently on sale). I'm not a fan, but my kids are, and we have had better luck with away games.

A nice little hole in the wall in the North End is La Familia Giorgio. Nothing fancy, but a ton of yummy food at inexpensive prices.

The Duck Tours are fun, and very informative.

 

[splashmountain86]

I have lived right off Hanover Street in the North End for a few years now and I have come to love sooooo many things about this area that I hardly hear mentioned when people talk about the North End :

1. Salumeria Italiana: This place is a tiny italian specialty store that is filled with so many goodies it will make you drool. They have a large selection of aged balsamic vinegar, olives, breads, meats, and cheeses. The staff is super friendly and will help guide you in the selection process from beginning to end.

2. Polcari's Coffee: Walking into Polcari's is like going back in time. They sell many things such as coffee beans and dried spices, which I doubt you will need during vacation , however; just taking a look around the store is pretty awesome!

3. Galleria Umberto: This is a great place to grab a cheap slice of Sicilian style pizza. The best time to get there is early afternoon before the enormous line forms. Umberto's also has pretty strange hours. They are open only until they sell out of pizza. This usually occurs around 2:30 so get there early, I swear it is worth it!

4. Wine Bottega : WB is a god-send for wine nerds. They have tastings every friday night, and offer the best wine selection out of any store in Boston.

5. Modern Pastry: The battle between the cannoli's of Mike's Pastries and the cannoli's of Modern Pastry has lasted for years. In my opinion, Modern has perfected the art of crafting a beautiful cannoli, and has put Mike's to shame (sorry for those of you that like Mike's ). Unlike Mike's, they fill the cannoli upon order so that the cookie does not become soggy. The fillings range from vanilla cream to ricotta cheese. I get the ricotta every time because of its beautiful, velvet texture

6. Restaurants: My three favorite restaurants in the North End are Trattoria Il Pannino, Lucia, and Neptune Oyster. Each one is good for its own reasons. Il Pannino serves food that most resembles food that is served in Italy. Lucia is a fantastic Italian-American restaurant with a delicious stuffed pork chop dish. Neptune is, in my opinion, the best (actually a tie with B&G Oyster House in the South End) seafood place in all of Boston. The fish is fresh and cooked perfectly!

I hope this list helps in some way. Boston is beautiful during the summer, and many of the things mentioned in the above posts are great ways to get acquainted with the city. The Duck Tours are awesome, the Swan Boats in the Common are fun, and the Graveyard Ghost Tour is a great way to get a history lesson while seeing the city during the night!

Have a great trip!

 

[stitchlover]

Thanks for all the additional info! Today is my first day really back up on my feet...I've been sick since Saturday. So I think I am going to start looking into hotel room rates this evening and see what I can come up with.

We couldn't decide if we were going to do this trip or not because a few weeks ago it was announced that my husband's company is being bought by Exxon Mobil. But it appears his salary and bonus' are safe for at least a year and we are going to go ahead with our plans.

 

[doconeill]

DW and I spent an anniversary night at the Seaport Hotel on the waterfront...it wasn't expensive at all ($129 for a harborview room with King bed, $99 for a non-harborview), very nice and comfortable, sort of business oriented. The only problem it wasn't really in a great "walking" location. It did have a nice sports bar nearby (Atlantic Beer Garden - watched the Patriots there) and a pricey but nice steak house (Morton's) right next door.

There is a Silver Line T stop right nearby, so you can hop that to South Station to get to the rest of the system (or walk from there).

 

[AngB21]

If you're there on a Saturday and happen to love chocolate, there's an all you can eat chocolate bar at Cafe Fleuri at the Langham Hotel. Its wicked awesome!

PS. they have the menu listed on their website

 

[GAN]

I would compare the rack rates vs a "name your own price" website -I've had a lot of good luck in Boston. In fact, that is the only way for us. As someone mentioned, it's a fairly walkable city(except this time of year) so throw an offer at a 4* in an area you want to be and you'll save.