Last minute Boston advice

[Todge]

Since this is a worldwide board, and there's a ton of world travelers in here.....Heading out for Boston in the morning with the GF. Gonna be there 6 days, what should I not miss? We already have plans for the freedom trail, Fenway, and of course Sam Adams.
TIA!
Todge

[MRM]

With six days you probably want to take a day trip to Providence Rhode Island. That's where the huge mansions of the old robber barons are preserved as museums. It's touristy, but if you go down to the harbor you can get a ride on any number of 30-50 foot sailboats. This time of the year the wind and weather will be perfect for really cutting some waves. One of my wife's and my favorite memories is a day trip to Providence where we stumbled onto a beautiful old fashioned three master right out of mutiny on the Bounty and we took the cruise. The captain kept smiling at the crew and giving them permission to put out a little more sail until the crew was smiling ear to ear and we had every sheet of sail on the masts. It was a memory to last a lifetime.

Go down there and find one of the old wood sailing boats. Tell the captain you want a sail that is the kind of sail he wants. If he flashes a pleasantly surprised smile at at you and says "You bet!" You know you've found the right cruise. Stop at the boat dock on the way home and buy the freshest lobster off the boat in the world. The lobster I steamed and ate that night is still the best I've ever tasted.

Another thing to go for is Plymouth Rock and Mayflower Pilgrim Village. The USS Constitution in Boston Harbor. Lexington and Concord. A day trip to Bear State Park in New Hampshire. And of course a day trip to the Cape. It will be too cold to swim but perfect for walking. Walk Harvard Yard.

Oy vey. I wish I was going with you.

[Hugh R]

Union Oyster House in Government Center, one of the oldest continually operated restaurants in the USA.

I grew up in Boston, going back twice in the next six or eight weeks.

[id10t]

Shaun is local Id wait for him to chime in. The two times I went I was either doing family stuff or attending a conference. Did get to meet up w Shaun though for lunch.

[sugarwood]

Do a tour at Fenway.

Probably the most useless/stupid part of the trip was North Side Italian area.

Duck tour was a nice break from walking.
Faneuil Hall was stupid.
Aquarium was cool.

I think you missed the USS Constitution

Eat lunch at Harvard Sq.

Try a walking tour. We did two different ones.

[red-beard]

If you can take a full day, Martha's Vineyard. Definitely go to the JFK museum.

[Por_sha911]

Wear a Montreal Canadians jersey. Everyone will notice.

[pors1968]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Wear a Montreal Canadians jersey. Everyone will notice.

That funny.

[Todge]

Great advice guys, thanks!!!
We have the Fenway tour set up the same day we're going to a game. I can't believe how ridiculous ticket prices are, but whatever, its a once in a lifetime thing, right?

We are currently looking into the Plymouth rock trip. That actually sounds pretty cool, especially since i'm a Hemi guy.

USS Constitution, of course!!!
Todge

[Noah930]

Enjoy Fenway. It's a stadium like no other. Tons of character and history.

Close by in the Fen is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) is around there, too.

If you have a car and don't mind driving for an hour of three each way (depending on how far you go), a trip to the Cape. Absolutely beautiful for New England fishing/beach villages: Woods Hole, Falmouth, Chatham, Wellfleet, Provincetown. Or, see if the ferry is still running from Boston Harbor (I think you can catch it by the Aquarium) to Provincetown, at the tip of the Cape.

If you want a shorter drive/day trip to a New England fishing village, consider Rockport to the north. Or, like someone else mentioned, Newport , RI is about an hour to the south.

Lots of great restaurants all over the city.

Ride the T to Harvard Square and take a tour of the campus.

Chocolate chip cookies from the Boston Chipyard when you're down at Quincy Marketplace/Faneuil Hall. That's the most touristy part of town, probably.

Probably too late in the season for Swan Boat rides. But it's always nice to walk through the Public Gardens and Commons.

Charles Street (Beacon Hill) especially on a Friday evening when a sea of young people descend down the streets to go out to the restaurants and bars.

North End for Italian food, but bring cash as a few of the restaurants don't accept credit cards.

[David Goodman]

Don't agree with a previous posters comment about a trip to the North End being "stupid".

Perhaps if he went there to sight see.

If you go there to eat, there is nothing stupid about that trip.

The Veal Braciolettine at Lo Conte's on Salem Street is a beautiful meal.

Assaggio's around the corner on Prince street is also a favorite.

Neither of these restaurants serve dessert (many don't) because a short walk away on Hanover street is a world class bakery called Mike's Pastry. If you can still walk after your dinner, go there for a nice take out treat.

If you want to sit and enjoy a Cappuccino or Espresso with dessert, go to Cafe Vittoria also on Hanover near Mike's. If you go, I wouldn't drive. Parking is a PITA. If you have to drive, park at Lewis Wharf and walk up.

Enjoy,
Dave

[Noah930]

Good point about car/parking; having a car is a liability in Boston. I would walk or take the T (subway) everywhere. I suppose Uber is an option, too, for getting around town.

[LakeCleElum]

Have some "CHOWDA" for lunch. It's Wicked good ....

[LEAKYSEALS951]

..if you don't mind, pick me up a spare beige hat just like this and send me the bill!

[Todge]

Thanks for the advice guys. Ending up doing most of the recommendations, and a few others. I've been to a few places now, and I'd have to place Boston near the top. The people were great, we were in a position where we could walk to everything, and The history.....Just amazing. You don't even need to be a history major to see/understand all the stops.

Highlight of the trip, had to have been the Freedom Trail. Although Sam Adams was also a good stop as well. Fenway, eh, great experience overall, but not a great place to watch a game. At least from our seats. We did get to watch big Papi hit his last regular season homerun, a 2 run shot that won the game, so that happened.

Thanks again, and I'll definitely give you guys a shout once the next vacation is planned.
Todge

[Dan J]

Todge,
You have PM

[bkreigsr]

Don't even dream of finding a parking place - forget the car - use public trans or walk.
Bill K

[Tobra]

Where is Shaun?

[stomachmonkey]

Avoid anyone who smells like Cadmium or tries to sell you a Wok from Shanghai.