[OT] Boston Trip

[Blood Jester]

My wife and I want to take an overnight (or maybe two-night) jaunt up to the Boston area. We just realized how close it is, and neither of us has been there. (OK I might have been there once when I was wee, but can't rightly remember.)

We're looking for advice on:

• Nice place to stay (preferably a B&B type, but...)
• "Must See" sites
• Nice areas to stroll through
• Anywhere that is a "Must Avoid" (I grew up in NYC and know that a stranger in a city can have widely varying experiences based on going 'left' or 'right' at the fork in the road.)

Any help appreciated. A few details that might help:

• We will probably go on weekdays, unless there is stuff we must see that only happens on weekends.
• We will be going sometime in the next month/month and a half
• We are both gamers (me long time, her newer)
• We are late twenties to early thirties
• We are fairly low-key
• Both appreciate Natural Beauty (but not to the exclusion of 'cool stuff'
• Me East-Coaster, her West-coaster (Both now Connecticut-ers)

Thank you in advance, I'm hoping the strong Boston contingent on the boards can help with suggestions!

 

[Piratecat]

Hey, I went to high school in Fairfield!

You're just about 2.5 hours away. Fastest and prettiest route is 95 to Bridgeport, Rt 8 N to I-84, I-84 E to I-90E.

No advice on B&Bs, although there are lots of places listed on the internet, I'm sure. Alternatively, go to a bookstore and grab a Boston guidebook, then surreptitiously copy a few phone numbers for the B&Bs that they liked.

There isn't anywhere in Boston proper that is a must-avoid, at least during the day. The nicest areas are genereally considered to be the Back Bay and Beacon Hill, with the North End and the South End nice as well.

A good way to start is to take a Duck Boat tour, which you catch from next to the Prudential Center on Boylston St. They're expensive but fun, and do a great job of getting you acquainted with the city. Besides, they're amphibious vehicles; how cool is that?

Do:

- stroll along the Charles River on the path, watching the rollerbladers and the beautiful view

- Walk through the Public Gardens, then down Charles St. Head up the hill and wander back streets through Beacon Hill.

- walk through the Italian, winding streets of the North End. Finish your walk at Copps Hill Burying ground, where British soldiers used gravestones for target practice during the Revolutionary War.

- Explore Harvard Square and wander through Harvard's campus. Pandemonium Books & Games is there, located in the Garage Building on JFK St.

- Hit the newly refurbished Mapparium (closed Mondays) at the Christian Science mother church, right off of Mass Ave near the Symphony. You walk through a huge stained glass globe of the world.

- The Isabella Stuart Gardener Museum is down by the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA). It's just beautiful, and good for seeing art without becoming overwhelmed in the process.

- Consider walking all or part of the Freedom Trail. In additional to cool historical sites, it walks you by or near places like Downtown Crossing, Faneuil Hall (good food and stores), and the like.

- Depending on when you come, take the ferry up to Salem for pre-Halloweeny goodness!

The waterfront is fun to walk along in some spots, but you have an equally good Aquarium in Norwalk, so ours isn't a must-see. Same with the Science Museum.

Let us know when you're coming! If it's feasible, it'd be fun to get together.

 

[incognito]

Night life:

Jazz Bars: The Good life, Limbo, or Les Zygomates - good on Weds, or Thurdsay.

Martini Bars: The Blue Cat (Kat?), Vox Populli, Temple BAr (Cambridge)

Pubs: John Harvards (Harvard Square), The Bell in Hand (oldest Bar in the US) - Faniuel hall

Dance Clubs: Pravda, Aria, La Boom, the Exchange (music varies)

Resturants:

Thai - Brown Sugar Cafe - Brighton
Japanesse - Fugaku (no seriously!) -Brookline
Vietnamesse Pho PAstuer (Three locations)
Indian - Bombay Club - Harvard Square
Spanish (not mexican) - Tapeo - Cambridge
Steak House ($$$) - Capitol Grille - on Newbury street (THE strip)
Vegetarian - Helmund - Cambridge

...


PirateCat made good suggestions as far as "stuff to do." The onyl thing I can advise is stay out of Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Dorchester (all pseudo suburbs of Boston) at night. Not safe unless your street savvy.

 

[Sialia]

1. Park the car somewhere and use the T instead . Driving in Boston is Hellish, and the T is a delight.

2. Walk down Newbury Street. Do not forget to do this. Look for the gargoyle store before dark--you won't find it after the sun goes down. Many good restuarants on Newbury Street. Also cool shops.

3. While on Newbury Street, check out Victor Hugo used books.

4. Just off Newbury Street, over on Boyleston, the Boston Public Library is a very fine place to relax, and admire murals, and find things out.

5. While in Copley Square there (just in front of the library) look up at the John Hancock Tower--the really, really talll glass building just kitty corner across from the library. From certain angles, it looks 2 dimensional--as if it is only one sheer wall of glass without any supports. This is stomach lurchingly cool.
Also, you can take the elevators to the very top of the tower to the observatory. The view from up there is great, and there's a little presentation about the geography of the Revolutionary War in Boston that's interesting. Don't bother if it's cloudy--the top is often obscured by clouds.

6. Admire the skateboarders in Copley Square. There used to be a farmer's market there Wednesdays as I recall, and the pumkin muffins were good, and the zucchini choclate chips muffins were to die for. Although I don't know if that still happens--my memories are about five years out of date. Also sometimes free concerts on Thursday nights in Copley Square, five years ago.

7. Check out the schedules at the Boston Symphony--see if there is a Pops concert anywhere.

8. Tea at the Ritz, end of Newbury Street near the Public Gardens. Dress nicely, call ahead for details, and arrive on time. Be pampered by professionals.

9. Swan boats in the Public Gardens.

10. Check out the church on the corner of Arlington and Boyleston, right by the T stop--they often are open for tours of the Tiffany Windows. These are not to be missed. The most beautiful representation of a paladin in the world is up on the second floor--I don't care if it is supposed to be the angel Gabriel or Joan of Arc or whoever. It's a paladin, exactly as a paladin ought to look.

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

My advice, don't try to do All of boston in a couple of days, it's to much.

If you like the outdoors look into the Emerald Necklace, it's a series of parks that run through Boston. The entire length is less than 10 miles, and it is easily accessible to public transit (The "T") all allong it's length.

It starts (or finishes depending on which way you walk) at Franklin park (with it's zoo).

From there you have the Arnold Arboretum.

Next is Jamaica Pond, and it's Nature Center.

Olmstead Park (named after Frederick Law Olmsted who designed the Emerald Necklace.)

The Riverway (the "Weakest Link" of the necklace). Where you pass some of Bostons Famous Hospitals (Brigham & Womens, Childrens, and Beth Israel

Back Bay Fens, which goes past several places of higher learning (Wheeloch, Simmons, Emanuael, Mass. Art, Wentworth, Northeastern), as well as a couple of museums (Gardner, Boston Museum of Fine Art), and is only a few blocks from Symphony Hall on one side, and Fenway Park on the other side. Plus Fens has some gardens of it's own.

Next is the Commonwealth Mall, which is nice to see if you are into Architecture, but also runs parrallell to Newberry street whis has many interesting (Expensive) shops (I recomend Tealuxe as a nice place for a cup of tea and a small bite.) You also are only 2 blocks from Copley Place wth the Boston Public Library, Trinity Church and the Hancock Building.

Then there is the Public Gardens (I don't know if the Swanboats will be running), and The Boston Common. (from there you can follow the Freedom Trail to Faneuil Hall.)

Whatever you do don't plan on driving around Boston. The roads twist and turn, 1/2 of them are 1 way, and if you can find where you are going there is no place to park when you get there.

If you don't want to walk everywhere buy yourself a 10 ride "T" pass (you'll be able to choose your stops on a whim and won't have to worry about correct change.)

Finally Avoid anthing that says "Cheers" on it.

 

[Sialia]

Oh yeah, and Jillian's in Fenway is good for pool, darts, foosball, VR and other arcade games. The club scene is down thatways, too, but I never did the club thing and can't tell you about it much.

If you happen to be out in Brighton--I can't think why you'd be out in Brighton, there's nothing else there to recommend the area--Moogie's is a terrific and special sandwich shop. But not so teriffic I'd make a special trip for it. Well, I would, but I wouldn't ask anyone else to. Much, much better than that place just down the road from Piratecat & Kidcthulhu's place out in Newton Center. And it's sort of en route if you're heading out to their place from downtown.

If you are going to hang with them at a time fo day when takeout sandwiches are probably on the menu, ask them for directions. They know where it is.

I miss Moogie's.

 

[Sialia]

Hey, go check out: cool stuff to do in boston

Apparently, among other interesting ideas, you can take your sweetie on a gondola ride down the Charles (if you get there before Oct. 13th).

Just like being in Eversink, eh?

Also check out

more stuff to do in boston

I am so jealous that you are going to be in Boston and I'm not. Can you tell?

 

[Blood Jester]

WOW

OK, quick check-in before I head to work (night job bad). I was thinking I would have to bump this from page 3. You guys absolutely ROCK! Thanks, I think I'll be printng this up so I remember it all.

PC - What, pass up a chance to meet you? Hah! If it is possible (for you) we'd love it.

Mav - Now that we realize how close we are, we will probably do this more than once (barring bad experience )

Sialia - Yep, grew up on NY subways, sounds smart. And thanks for pointing us at the stuff you miss.

Incognito - Thanks for the food tips.


Sincerely, thank you all again for the advice.

 

[widderslainte]

I've lived here for two years, and have yet to see anything in same class as the bad parts of Philly, Cincinnati, Detriot, Baltimore, or Chicago.

Some things not mentioned:
- There are some cool old forts on the harbor islands. It may be too cold, but you can still hit Castle Island (not really and island) in South Boston.

- IF you have a car check out http://www.hammondcastle.org

 

[nopantsyet]

For bed & breakfasts, I am not aware of anything of that sort in Boston proper or the immediate vicinity. However if you don't mind being a little drive from town, I recommend taking a look at Marblehead. Fantastic little North Shore town, and my hunch that they've got B&Bs was confirmed when I Googled this:

http://www.bnbfinder.com/bedandbreakfast/city/Marblehead/NSH/MA

I second the recommendation to take 84 to 90. It's a much more pleasant drive than 95.

For a cool place to grab a Martini, but not worth the price on the food, check out Top of the Hub at the top of the Prudential Center in Back Bay. But the best bars in my opinon are the historic ones around Faneuil Hall. But for a slightly different historic pub, in Charlestown check out the Warren Tavern. That is a very old pub that is where Paul Revere and his buddies are said to have hung out. It's a cool place with good pub food.

That's everything that comes to mind at the moment.