Quick Question for Boston Dis'ers

[Tulirose]

Going up to Boston for the very first time for a quick weekend visit with niece who attends college just south of Boston.

Any suggestions of something to do, especially if the weather is not nice. Trip is this weekend (11/8) so I need an answer asap.

Not spending a lot of time up there either. Basically going up on Saturday and returning on Sunday and during that time we will tour her little campus. I thought it might be nice to see the Old North Church as one thing. Will it be open? DH and I like history.

Niece has only been to Boston a few times and she informs me that she will NOT do the Freedom Trail again, as she had done with her parents.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me on this.

 

[Margie J]

You can check the Boston Tourist Bureau site for quick ideas:

Boston USA

 

[aunties]

The Duck Tours are a fun way to catch a glimpse of historical Boston. Their web site is bostonducktours.com. The vehicles are covered so they can run in rainy weather.

The historical buildings should all be open. But they usually close pretty early, around 4 or 5.

Faneuil Hall is a great place to eat lunch or dinner (and shop).

Have a great visit!

 

[debster812]

After you tour the Old North Church, make your way up Hanover St in the North End, pick out a restaurant that strikes your fancy, and have a GREAT Italian dinner! I have yet to have a bad meal in the North End

 

[KingsFanInRI]

count my votes for Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market as well. Even in less than great weather you can have lots of fun there. You are also very near the North End for that Italian dinner.

You can also take any one of 4 or 5 guided bus tours of the city, but make sure you pick one that allows you to exit and re-enter at will (I believe Old Town Trolley, the red ones, do this). That may be your best bet for seeing as much of the city as you can on such a short stay.

Whatever you do, enjoy your stay in what is still my favorite city (and my home town

 

[Evil Princess]

My parents enjoyed the Duck Tour, but thought it was a bit too long. I refused to go during parents weekend

Quincy market is fun, but I can see how it can not be much fun in the rain. North End has some great places to eat, I was there tonight.

If it is pouring and there's nothing to do, you can always go shopping in the Prudential Center/Copley mall. It's enclosed and they are connected by a pedistrian bridge (also enclosed). There is a Cheesecake Factory in the Pru, my favorite lunch spot.

I'm not going to lie, I venture out to the Pru at least twice a week (it's a few blocks from my dorm).

 

[CamColt]

As for the weather they are saying this weekend should be sunny but cold(mid 40s).
Enjoy Boston!

 

[Mamu]

Tuli wish I had known you were coming to Boston.

Sadly I have plans for this week-end could have meet you for lunch.

There are so many things to do in the city, my favorite are shopping then eating in the North End.

We were just there 2 weeks ago. Took the T in for the day. Went to see "Say Goodnight Gracie" then we went to the North End to eat.

How much time will you have. Boston has a wonderful theater district. If you interested in see a play, sometimes you can get tickets on the day of the show.

Quincy Market is also a great options also.

 

[Virgo10]

Don't forget the science museum/planaterium and the aquarium. Both are just a short walk from a T station.

Here's their site:
http://www.mbta.com/
Just click on Subway for a map of the stations. The Science Museum is at Science Park (green line) and the Aquarium is at Aquarium on the Blue Line.

Actually the subway is a "trip" all in itself!

Roberta

 

[BedKnobbery2]

There are also some fabulous museums in Boston--The MFA, The Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum (soooo beautiful!), the Science Museum, and the Aquarium, which is near Fanuel Hall (so you can go shopping afterwards!) and the North End (a great italian dinner!)

 

[sue Z]

Don't know if you would be interested but this weekend at the world trade center is the Christnmas Craft festival and they have a shuttle from South Station!http://www.christmascraftfestival.com

 

[NHAnn]

I agree with the suggestions on Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market... and North End for food!

Originally posted by Tulirose
Going up to Boston for the very first time for a quick weekend visit with niece who attends college just south of Boston.

which college? Stonehill by any chance? DD is applying there

 

[Evil Princess]

Originally posted by Virgo10


Actually the subway is a "trip" all in itself!

Roberta

The Boston subway system is evil and should not be trusted!!

Seriously, I live on the greenline, which technically is a trolley, not a subway. It is the most unreliable thing I have ever encountered in my life. They enjoy shutting it down without notice on the weekends and you want a train at timed intervals? FORGET IT! It seems to come whenever it pleases, lol.

The rest of it isn't as bad, but its nowhere as efficient or as well planned as the NYC Subway system.

Then again, isn't the T the oldest subway system in the country?

 

[kirstyfly]

And link we are going to be there this weekend.

We fly out tomorrow for the states. Arrive in NYC at night and travel up with friends to boston for the weekend.

Will enjoy looking around this show and might find a nice decoration for the tree.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Don't forget Cheers across from the Boston Public Gardens..

 

[Tulirose]

A belated but sincere thank you to you all for the suggestions and links. We had a wonderful - but very short - time in the Boston area.

We arrived later than we planned. Niece took us on a tour of her house and campus and then we took her out to her favorite place to eat - Uno's! After that we headed for the T and went into Boston itself. We hit Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market area and had fun shopping. It was also the night of the lunar eclipse - absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!

We returned her that evening back to the campus. Got a late start on Sunday. We picked up niece again and then met up with my brother and explored the Minute Man Historical Park from the North Bridge to Lexington. It was a beautiful brisk day and we had a very enjoyable time.

Too soon we had to start back for home. Will definitely return to Boston because we hardly saw anything and niece enjoyed our company and visa versa ! We plan to go again in the Spring when the weather warms back up again and we plan to be a bit more organized in what we will do. Mamu, I would love to have our plans include a meet with you. But again, I know when we return it will be for another quick weekend visit. I promise to let you know in advance when we set a date.