Posted on 08/13/2017 8:44:34 AM PDT by Bigg Red
The husband and I will be visiting the Boston area in about 10 days. As history buffs, we are very much interested in seeing all of the sites relating to colonial history and to the Revolution.
Hoping to hear from anyone familiar with the city advice regarding areas to avoid, transportation, places to eat, must-see sites, etc.
If it’s history you want, stay at the Omni Parker House ...
https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/boston-parker-house
You will not be disappointed. The history alone inside the hotel is enough to fill a whole day...Presidential stays, library, etc.
It is located right in the middle of the old colonial era downtown Boston. You step out the front lobby and you are standing on the red line of the Freedom Tour and the Old South Meeting House is right in front of you. From here you can easily walk to more history in one square mile than anywhere in the country. The historic charm of the hotel puts keeps you thinking history.
The hotel caters to history buffs!!
Here’s a map of all the sites around the hotel:
Here’s the history of the hotel, which was founded in 1855:
https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/boston-parker-house/property-details/history
And do yourself a favor and skip the Cheers bar..it’s nothing like the bar on TV and really it’s just a college dive.
Never been there.
I would suggest that You check out Any and All Monuments and Statue’s that still exist before they are all torn down in the name of PC CRAP!
I want to see it before it’s All gone.
Dances with Wolves.
There is really no part of Boston that is dangerous during the day.
The North End has great Italian food and the North Church. The commons is a nice visit.
Fanieul Hall and Quincy market are fun, and the Duck Boats leave from across the way in front of the Aquarium.
Where are you staying? Most of Boston is with walking distance.
Plymouth is a wonderful seaport town with a beautiful harbor and many historic sites to see. It’s where the Pilgrims landed and rich with history.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g41773-Activities-Plymouth_Massachusetts.html
I concur with Lexington/Concord.
Newbury St for fancy shopping.
Other full day trips are Springfield (The Armory Museum and the Basketball Hall of Fame if you are into that stuff.). About 90 minutes west.
Sturbridge village has a decent Colonial age “living museum.” About an hour west.
If you are staying at a hotel, I am sure they have all of the things you need.
I have to chuckle about Quincy Market for food. It’s OK. Very Touristy. There are great places to eat outside of that area, but within walking distance. Ask your hotel.
And if you wish to get the greatest “death grip” driving experience, drive from Braintree to Peabody from 4:30 pm to 6 pm any weeknight.
Check to see if the North End is having one of the festival weekends.
I haven’t looked throughthe whole thread yet - so this may be posted already.
You absolutely must do the Duckboat tour. You’ll see alot of the city, go boating on the Charles, and learn lots of history.
If you have little ones - they usually get a chance to captian the boat on the Charles.
Worth every penny! Make reservations now for tickets at the Prudential Center.
http://www.bostontours.us/offer/1144/Boston-Duck-Tour
Good advice!
Naaaahhhh...Tobin Bridge any time it is loaded with trucks and busses.
Plenty of good history suggestions in this thread already. I’ll add some basic “city walking” ideas:
Boston Common is nice but perhaps not pretty. The Boston Public Gardens are right next door, smaller, prettier, with a pond and swan boats.
From the Public Garden, you can walk down Newbury St (8 blocks in total) — expensive shops blend into funkier, artisitic shops.
Parallel to Newbury, and also starting at the Public Garden is Commonwealth Ave which has a broad tree-lined walkway down the middle. This is the heart of the Back Bay — nice architecture on all sides, showing Boston brownstones from the Gilded Age.
Lastly, you can cross toward the Charles River, from Commonwealth to Marlborough to Beacon to the Charles River Esplanade which is a pleasant river walk (big fireworks area on July 4).
All of this is really quite small and contained. Streets here are alphabetical (not common in Boston) — Arlington, Berkely, Clarendon, Dartmouth, Exeter, Fairfield, Gloucester, Hereford — then Mass Ave and the city changes.
You have a private message.
spent a few years working there, and wife is from there.
Paul Rever house, North Church not far away , both are in the North End, and the best place to eat too.
faneuil Hall , and Broad street which are across from the North end, for a drink and the old State House where the so called Boston Massacre of which it wasn;t occurred.
The Bell in Hand and Green Dragon are a restaurant /bar where the food is good, and where the revolutionaries used to have their secret meetings, and it is well worth a visit there too.
Downtown crossing for shopping, and then right next to that is the Boston Common which is a big park, and very nice to go around.
All which has been mentioned is within a 10 min walk.
John Quincy Adams house in Quincy which is a 20 mins ride on the red line of what is called the T which is the local train ride.
Do not get on the Orange line as you will head into the crap hole of Mattapan, and Roxbury.
The Aquarium is worth a visit too. Rowes Wharf is nice to relax and walk about which is across from the North End
The good thing with Boston apart from nutcase drivers, rude people, and liberals is that it is a good walking city unlike many other major cities in the country
You never said if you are staying in down town or not or if you have a car. If you do have a car Concord , and Lexington are OK, and Cape Cod is worth a visit too. If you go there you take route 3, but what ever you do stay off the road first thing in the morning, and later afternoon as it is a car park.
Any questions then please ask me as I spent a few years there, delivering to many of the places, if not all the places in Boston..
Old Ironsides
Freedom Trail
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Boston Public Garden/Swan Boats
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Fenway Park
SIDE TRIPS:
Lexington & Concord Battlefield National Parks(west out Rt 2)
Plymouth (about 35 miles south off Rt 3)
Salem, Marblehead, Gloucester (North on Rt 1)
TRAFFIC AREAS TO AVOID:
Southeast Expressway through Boston at Rush Hour
Fenway area if Sox are having a home game
Franklin Park Zoo
Blue Hill Avenue, Seaver St, Dudley St, Grove Hall
Are you referring to what I used to call the “Indy 128”? ( although I think Route 128 is now Route 95 is it not?)
Pizzeria Regina in the north end, the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum is gorgeous, & Cambridge is a fun day trip to eat & just roam......great bookstores & shops. Enjoy!!!!!
Yes, 95 and 128 share the road. It splits going north and 95 continues after the split south of the city.
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