My wife has a conference in Boston from the 19th - 22nd of April, and I'm going to tag along. As she's going to be in meetings all day, I've got to find things to keep myself occupied during the day. I've never been in Boston before, so what are the "must see" things there? I'm going to be staying at the Westin Waterfront Hotel, and won't have a car, so they need to be things that are accessible from there on foot, or via the light rail system. I'd appreciate any input! Figures it WOULD take me this long to get to Boston....boomtastic told me that if I ever made it there, he owed me a dinner and beer. Of course, now that I'm going, he lives in Alabama....

There's a place, where everybody knows your name, ......
I would have to have a beer in Cliff's seat, .
Other than that, I got nuthin.

I can probably find you the address of a gentleman's club or two. Or three. Or more.



John Stricker

"Light rail system"? What light... oh, you mean the "T."

The T gets you everywhere, pretty much. Mostly, you want to stay on the Red Line or the Green Line.

What types of things you like?

Red Sox (If you can get tix): Kenmore station on the Green Line. Can also tour the park if no game is being played.

Museum of Fine Arts (say, "EM-ef-fay"): Green Line "E" Museum of Fine Arts stop (At street level)

Museum of Science: Green Line Science Park Station. Also can jump on a "Duck Tour," a WWII vintage carrier. You get to quack at people you see.

New England Aquarium: Aquarium Stop on Blue Line (Two stops from Government Center/Green Line), or walk from hotel.

Freedom Trail (Typically more than a day's walk): Park Street on Red or Green Line (junction). Walking trail to and through some of the most historic locations in the country. Starts at Boston Common, goes into Charlestown, ends at Bunker Hill Monument (on Breed's Hill) and/or USS Constitution.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Huntington Stop on Green "E" train. Site of most famous unsolved art theft.

Newbury Street: short walk from Boylston Stop on Green Line. Tony shopping district.

Harvard Square: Harvard Stop on Red Line. Fun to watch weird people.

Fanieul Hall: Haymarket or Government Center Stop on Green Line, or a walk from the hotel. Shopping surrounding famous meeting hall near Old State House, site of the Boston Massacre. Both stops on the Freedom Trail. Have a bite at Durgin Park.

First Church of Christ, Scientist: Symphony on the Green Line. Cool reflecting pool outside, Mapparium inside. Do not have to convert to go there. Unfortunately, the Boston Symphony Orchestra is not performing while you are here.

John F Kennedy Presidential Library: Bus ride from JFK on Red Line.

That should keep you busy for a while.

quote Originally posted by cliffw: There's a place, where everybody knows your name, ...... I would have to have a beer in Cliff's seat, . Other than that, I got nuthin.

Funny you should mention that, Cliff...I happen to be a mailman. Actually, I WOULD like to go see the Bull and Finch Pub, which was used for the exterior shots for the tv show.

quote Originally posted by jstricker: I can probably find you the address of a gentleman's club or two. Or three. Or more.

Why does that not surprise me one bit? What surprises me even more is that you didn't offer to come along to "chaperone" me around such places....

quote Originally posted by Patrick's Dad: "Light rail system"? What light... oh, you mean the "T." The T gets you everywhere, pretty much. Mostly, you want to stay on the Red Line or the Green Line. What types of things you like? Red Sox (If you can get tix): Kenmore station on the Green Line. Can also tour the park if no game is being played. Museum of Fine Arts (say, "EM-ef-fay"): Green Line "E" Museum of Fine Arts stop (At street level) Museum of Science: Green Line Science Park Station. Also can jump on a "Duck Tour," a WWII vintage carrier. You get to quack at people you see. New England Aquarium: Aquarium Stop on Blue Line (Two stops from Government Center/Green Line), or walk from hotel. Freedom Trail (Typically more than a day's walk): Park Street on Red or Green Line (junction). Walking trail to and through some of the most historic locations in the country. Starts at Boston Common, goes into Charlestown, ends at Bunker Hill Monument (on Breed's Hill) and/or USS Constitution. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Huntington Stop on Green "E" train. Site of most famous unsolved art theft. Newbury Street: short walk from Boylston Stop on Green Line. Tony shopping district. Harvard Square: Harvard Stop on Red Line. Fun to watch weird people. Fanieul Hall: Haymarket or Government Center Stop on Green Line, or a walk from the hotel. Shopping surrounding famous meeting hall near Old State House, site of the Boston Massacre. Both stops on the Freedom Trail. Have a bite at Durgin Park. First Church of Christ, Scientist: Symphony on the Green Line. Cool reflecting pool outside, Mapparium inside. Do not have to convert to go there. Unfortunately, the Boston Symphony Orchestra is not performing while you are here. John F Kennedy Presidential Library: Bus ride from JFK on Red Line. That should keep you busy for a while.

Thanks! There are several items there that sound interesting. I'd give you a plus, if I hadn't already done so. How about restaurants...are there any in the area you'd recommend? I'm not one for seafood, but my wife is, so it would have to be something that would cater to the both of us, and preferably casual. I'm also up for any good sandwich type shops, or any type of place that might be considered "a local landmark".

quote Originally posted by litespd: Actually, I WOULD like to go see the Bull and Finch Pub, which was used for the exterior shots for the tv show.

Hmm, I wonder. Is the inside a replica ?
We want pics, .

quote Originally posted by cliffw: Hmm, I wonder. Is the inside a replica ? We want pics, .

The interior is a lot smaller than "Cheers." There is also a bar called Cheers that is modeled after the bar in the TV show, which is modeled after....

As I mentioned before, there is Durgin Park, but since you had already given me a plus, I should tell you that 1) All the tourists go there, and 2) the waitstaff are famously unfriendly (intentional).

Top of the Hub is not casual, but, at the top of the Prudential building (50 floors up), it offers great views. Legal Seafood is the local chain - "If it isn't fresh, it isn't Legal" Almost anyplace in the North End if you like Italian. The Border Cafe in Harvard Square if you like Mexican. Bartley's Burger Cottage on the other end of Harvard Square for big, greasy delicious burgers. Zaftig's Deli in Kenmore Square for "breakfast all day."

I'll post more if I can think of them.

and a bump....anyone else from the Boston area want to chime up?

I'm not from Boston, but I've been there.

Definitely the aquarium!

For restaurants we would just top in cool sounding places we saw along the streets, always up for an adventure.

But, Fire and Ice, is definitely an experience. It's buffet/hibachi. You pick the foods you want, steak, chicken, salad, LOTS of combinations, and you pick a sauce (another HUGE selection), and they hibachi it up for you. VERY tasty.

I'm not sure how to get there, I've been to the one in Boston and Cambridge, but Google Maps says 205 Berkeley St.

[This message has been edited by ace35 (edited 03-30-2009).]

I always wanted to tour the USS Constitution. Last October we went on a cruise out of NYC to New England and Canada. One of the stops was Boston and we were able to get aboard her. She is a very important part of our country's history. George Washington was involved in her being built as one of the first ships for our newly formed Navy. I recommend it as a "must see" if you are in Boston.
http://www.ussconstitution....sitorInformation.htm
Larry

The Freedom Trail www.thefreedomtrail.org

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86 Fiero 2.5L, 5spd.
00 Ford Focus 2.0L 5spd
66 Chevrolet C10 250 cid, Powerglide

Anyone know anything about a "Michael's" or "Mike's" Bakery? A girl my wife met told her that we should go to that place when we get to Boston.....

Mike's Pastry Shop in the North End. Almost any place in the North End, really, but my wife knew it when I mentioned it.

http://www.mikespastry.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

i heard the quickest way to make friends in Boston is to walk around in a yankees jersey and all cap asking where yankee stadium is...or maybe just rent a boat and dump some red rose tea into the harbor??? i sure if you google you will find lots to do...tim

Thanks to all of you that replied. I just got home yesterday, and had a really good time, save for the weather...although there was some sun a couple of days, it was always cold, windy, and it rained quite a bit. I still got around to see quite a few things. Never having been to Boston, I bought a 7 day pass on the "T". Of course, afterwards, I found that you really COULD walk to most of the places you'd want to see, but because of the rain, the "T" pass came in handy. I rode the Old Town Trolley the first day...I figured it would take me to most of the places I'd want to see, and I'd have an idea of how to get there later when my wife had time to go see the town with me. I DID make it to Cheers...a couple of times, both to the real building you'd see on tv on Beacon Street, across from Boston Common, and also to the tv set replica bar down at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. I spent a lot of time at Faneuil Hall Marketplace...they have a lot of shops and restaurants there, and some amazing street performers. I made it to the Constitution, but was a bit disappointed....they have her all torn apart for restoration. Still, it's amazing to stand on the deck, and realize that the keel below you is the one that was set for her back in 1794. I got out to the Museum of Science one afternoon, which is nice, but I'll admit, I liked the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago better. I walked up a bit of Newbury Street, but didn't spend a LOT of time there, as there were a LOT of people just coming in from running the Boston Marathon down in that part of town. That, and of course...it's a bit "spendy" for my tastes. The nice thing about the trolley was that it DID take me to, or past, a lot of the sights...many of which I came back to later on. I stopped in at Durgin Park, but thought that the prices were a bit on the steep side (I AM, after all, a Fiero owner!), so we didn't eat there. We made it to Mike's Bakery...they have wonderful goodies there, and we hit an Italian Restaurant called La Dolce Vida in the North End one night for dinner, which was very good. I wanted to walk the Freedom Trail, but my wife's legs were hurting her most of the trip, so the trolley was a better choice for us.

Anyway...once again, I wanted to thank all of you that replied (you too, Boomtastic!), as it helped make for a great trip. Boston is a really nice place, and I hope to make it back there someday!

Congrats, .

quote Originally posted by litespd: I DID make it to Cheers...a couple of times

Was Norm there, ?

quote Originally posted by cliffw: Was Norm there, ?

Kindasorta......