Visiting Boston for a weekend

[Midnyghtchilde]

PAXEast is at the BCEC April 5-8th, so hotels will be booked for that time period. (I know, I'm going :-D !)

I've gone to Boston a few times (Besides for PAX), and we got good hotel rates via hotels.com and other such sites. If you're willing to book ahead and pre-pay you can find some great rates. Both times we were around 100$ a night, though we didn't stay immediately downtown - we always stay a bit outside city center but within walking distance of a T-stop.

The museum is awesome, the aquarium is alright, though as others have said not one of the best (it's mostly showing its age), and the street performers at Quincy market and Faneuil Hall are great fun.

 

[Sarah'sMomfrom PA]

My daughter goes to school in Boston (MCPHS) and we love to go there and play tourist. I recommend the duck tours (can get these at the Prudential Center) and the Maporium which is at the Christian Science Center (and it is really cool as you take the tour inside of a large crystal globe.). North End is really yummy as far as Italian food and pastries and not to be missed. Can't give you hotel recommendations as we stay at DD apartment and just pay to park (which can be pricey--$39.00 overnight for the Prudential Center but still cheaper than paying for a hotel!)

 

[shamrock30]

Still putting together our weekend. Which do you think is better for a 7yo, Childrens Museum or Museum of Science, or both?

My niece loved both when she was year or two older than that. Regarding the MOS, be sure to get there first thing and head for the interactive exhibits. It gets harder to get to do those as the day goes on because it gets so crowded.

We used to split a day between the Aquarium and the Children's Museum. I agree the Aquarium has its faults, but my niece still enjoyed it. The MOS was more of an all day trip for us, but of of course, you don't have to stay there that long.

 

[3boymthr]

I'd say the MOS but both are utterly appropriate. They both are very busy on a weekend. If you have a child who is into dinosaurs then the MOS is definitely way more interesting as they have a real stegosaurus skeleton and a T-rex fossil footprint. The MOS is bigger and can take up an entire day but you can spend more or less time there as you like. It's a great option if you have a rainy day. Another thing to think about is access; the MOS is on the T line (a very short walk to the station) but also offers plenty of parking - with their own garage and there are all the TD Garden garages not too far away as well. The Children's Museum does not have as much parking and is a good walk from the nearest T station.

On a budget note for the MOS they have a TON of reciprocal agreements for memberships so if you have a museum in your area that you belong to and/or like check our their membership prices and compare to the MOS admission fee as it may pay to have a membership. http://www.mos.org/members/levels_and_benefits/reciprocal_admission

The Children's Museum also has reciprocal agreements but only half as many as the MOS.

 

[powelweb]

An update on the Aquarium- they are in the middle of a major renovation project. While it sounds like the work itself is being done at night so the Aquarium is open during the day to guests, there have been some changes made in order to accommodate the project-

Most of the pengiuns have been moved to an offsite facility in Quincy (there may be a few remaining in Boston) to make room in the pengiun pool for the residents of the giant tank.

I'm sure it will still be a great experience and fun visit, but not quite the same for returning guests, so worth a mention to set expectations.

You can info on their website about the renovation and plans to reopen in July 2013.