Boston E-Hellions

[Reddie321]

..or anyone who has been to Boston.

I'm going to Boston with two of my girl friends for our Spring Break (March 5-9th), and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to places/areas to stay (we're trying to be fairly cheap, but in a good location).  We're thinking 3 nights at a chain hotel and our last night at a cute bed and breakfast.  If anyone has suggestions, it would be much appreciated.  Also, what kind of fun activities are there that the normal tourist might not know about?  Nightlife?

We're so looking forward to this trip!  It will be nice to actually be with a few close friends visiting an area that isn't your typical "Spring Break" location!

Thanks so much!

[rolld20]

If you want a fun meal, I'd recommend Fire & Ice (www.fire-ice.com).  It's billed as in 'improvisational grill', which basically means do-it-yourself stir fry.  Fill a bowl with whatever ingredients you want, pick a sauce, and watch them cook it on a huge circular grill.  Fun, tasty, all-you-can eat, and they have a private grill for cooking special needs (vegetarian, kosher, etc.).  Their one-trip lunch price is pretty reasonable.  The biggest drawback IMO is they get horribly crowded and noisy during peak hours.  Good for weekend brunch, or early dinners.

Enjoy your trip!

[Cz. Burrito]

Just a warning: (and no offense to those of you who are from Boston, because I have met some very nice and polite people there) Boston seems to have a very high proportion of extremely rude people.  I visit the Boston area once a month, and one weekend I took the train to NYC.  The New Yorkers were absolutely refreshingly polite and courteous.

I can't really recommend night life spots in Boston because the trains don't run late enough for us to be in Boston past 11:00 or so at night.  Usually we leave by 10:00 to be sure that there will actually be a train running.  [Rant on transit system redacted.]

If you need things to do during the day, though, I highly recommend the Boston Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium.  We have been on a duck tour, which was a bit overpriced.  Visit the North End for good authentic Italian food.     

I actually recommend Fanueil Hall and the surrounding area.  The shops inside are nothing special, but the buildings themselves were fascinating.  The second floor of Fanueil Hall (if you can find it) houses a large meeting hall that was once used for town meetings.  I though it was interesting.

[Morty'sCleaningLady]

I'm from Boston!  (Okay, the suburbs, but I work downtown.)

First of all, check where the hotel is on a map.  Great bargains abound outside of the city, but it can be inconvenient to travel too far if you are truly enjoying yourselves.  Many 'Boston' hotels are actually up to twenty miles outside the city. The Boston-Manchester Regional Airport, for example, is in New Hampshire, and, in traffic, can be a two hour ride.

Inexpensive hotel suggestions -- Days Hotel Cambridge, Hampton Hotel Cambridge, Best Western Longwood.  I'd also check for specials.  A quick peak on Expedia showed the Park Plaza for $159 a night and the Omni Parker House for about $10 more.  That's really cheap for the 4 star hotels.

Fun things to do include ice skating on the open air Frog Pond on the Boston Common.  I'm a history buff, so I recommend the Freedom Trail, which is free.  (I think the only pay-for items on the trail are the Revere House and the Bunker Hill Monument.)  The USS Constitution is an absolute must.  It's a free tour of the oldest commissioned ship in the US Navy.  The tour is given by Naval officers, who tend to be young and hot.  The Museum of Fine Art is fabulous, but the Museum of Science is much more fun.  I loved the duck tour, but it was pricey.  The trolleys are cheaper and pretty good.

You'll be here during Boston Restaurant week.  All the best places will be serving price fixe meals.  The list isnt' up yet, but stay posted -- http://www.restaurantweekboston.com/  Mike's Pastry in the North End is world famous.   Go early and grab a table for a cannoli and coffee.  The North End is full of great Italian eateries of all price ranges.  The South End (not to be mistaken for South Boston or Southie) is also full of great eateries.  The colleges are split between Cambridge and the western end of Boston -- great food deals there.  Anna's Taquiera is cheap and delicious, for example.  Also check out the Barking Crab for seafood.  It's on the pier next to the Moakley Courthouse, technically in South Boston, but just over the bridge.  It's walking distance from South Station.

I don't get out and boogie any more, but there are plenty of places to try.  Most college kids hit the street next to Fenway Park.  (Oh, if you are baseball fans, you can take a tour of the old ballpark.  It's the one of the two oldest in operation.  Opening Day, the Titantic sinking bumped it off the front page.  The seats are horribly small.)  If you are sports fans, getting tickets for the Bruins and the Celts are certainly doable.

Please don't drive while you are here.  I only drive into the city once every couple of months.  The roads change daily.  I know that sounds weird, but they do.  The road next to my office is one way and changed directions over night, once.  Seriously!  The city is 400 years old and the roads were originally cow paths.

Whoever commented on rudeness is kind of right.  Not everyone is friendly.  Most of us do try, though.

Have a ball!

Mrs. B

[rolld20]

I forgot to mention the Institute of Contemporary Art moved to a brand-spankin' new building and is worth a visit if you can manage it:

http://www.icaboston.org/

I also like the Arnold Arboretum, though I'm guessing March isn't the best month for it:

http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/visitors/visitors.html

[Morty'sCleaningLady]

The Globe did a "Boston on the Cheap" bit in last Sunday's paper.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2007/01/14/boston_on_the_cheap/?page=1

Also, Boston Girl's Open Wallet (a finance blog) did a cheapy tribute as well:

http://bostongalsopenwallet.blogspot.com/2007/01/how-to-find-free-in-boston.html

Email me if you have any specific questions!

Added -- Try to stay on the T for the most inexpensive transportation.

[krista_e]

You might want to try the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum, I think it is usually overlooked in favor of the Museum of Fine arts, but it's probably a more peacful and less crowded place!

http://www.gardnermuseum.org/

Also, if you check out the north end (the italian section) - you will see this giant crowd around Mike's Pastry.  While Mike's is good, for even more excellent pastries, and a much less crazy spot, try Bova's 24 hour bakery a block over on Salem street.  I've actually gone there at 2am for a canoli.  (and at 7am for fresh baked bread!)  Now if I could only afford to live down there.

Harvard square is nice for little shops and the like, and I will second the suggestion of Fire & Ice, especially if you will be dining with a large group at any point.

Lastly, I know that the aquarium is a very touristy place, but dang those penguins are so stinking cute!

[Cz. Burrito]

I'm from Boston!  (Okay, the suburbs, but I work downtown.)

Please don't drive while you are here.  I only drive into the city once every couple of months.  The roads change daily.  I know that sounds weird, but they do.  The road next to my office is one way and changed directions over night, once.  Seriously!  The city is 400 years old and the roads were originally cow paths.

Whoever commented on rudeness is kind of right.  Not everyone is friendly.  Most of us do try, though.

Have a ball!

Mrs. B

I second the not driving, but wish to add a very emphatic, please do not under any circumstances attempt to operate a motor vehicle in Boston.  The are three reasons why you shouldn't drive in Boston unless you absolutely have to:

1) The drivers.  Speed limits signs are a quaint throwback to when people cared.  They are a mere formality.  Traffic generally flows 20-30 mph above the speed limit.  Rhode Island is even crazier.  Going less than 80 mph on highways there would be a safety risk.

2) The roads.  Very windy.  Very prone to closure, collapse, and other changes.  I think the airport detour is different every time we take it.  It's been a detour since the tunnel collapsed in July (for an extra added Boston Fun Driving bonus...I was flying out a few hours after the collapse).  90 degree angles are verboten.  To get an idea of how hard the roads are to navigate if you are not intimately aquainted with them...one of the GPS services (Garmin, maybe?) says that their device works in all "modern" cities.  It doesn't work in Boston, because there are too many short and twisty roads.

3) The signage.  I've seen an awful lot of roads that are simply not marked.  I believe that Boston is home to an elite team of nocturnal ninja gnomes who stealthily steal and reposition signs in the dead of night.  That's the only way I can explain it.  Here's my favorite road sign: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43792043@N00/354416031/, from which it can be infered that 3 of the 4 cardinal directions are "North."  There's a reason why a person from Boston started this site: http://www.signslanguage.com/

Bottom line: if you don't drive, and if you stay in a hotel on a T line, you should have a good time.   

[Reddie321]

The USS Constitution is an absolute must.  It's a free tour of the oldest commissioned ship in the US Navy.  The tour is given by Naval officers, who tend to be young and hot. 

Oh, we are so there, then! Tee hee!  Update: our number has gone down by one, so it will just be me and one friend, but it actually works out a bit better, since we were going to have to rearrange the days we were staying (and probably cut a day off the trip).  Now we get to go during the time frame we originally wanted (the ones in the original post).

Hmm, we're both single now...hot Navy guys just might be what we need! 

Don't worry...we'll be reasonably good!

I've been looking up Boston tourist sites and every site lists the Freedom Trail as a must, and we both like history, so I think we'll both enjoy it.  I'm also looking forward to the JFK Library and Museum.  Thanks for the reccommendation on the Aquarium, too CzarinaBurrito!

[Reddie321]

Thanks for the warning MrsBart and CzarinaBurrito...we will definitely not be driving up there!

We're both from and live in Tallahassee, Florida, and there is no way either one of us is confident enough to try our hands behind the wheel in an unfamiliar city.  I don't even drive to visit my sister who lives in Atlanta.  I'll either fly (lame, I'm sure) or we'll do a halfway exchange (mom drives me half way, sis picks me up and takes me to Atlanta).  On the old forum, I posted about an accident I witnessed on 295 while I was there, and I refuse to drive up there.

Not sure how much of this is true, but we heard Boston has a good mass transit system, and we love subways!  They're such a novelty for us!

Thanks for all the great tips, E-Hellions!

[NYGirl100]

Not sure how much of this is true, but we heard Boston has a good mass transit system, and we love subways!  They're such a novelty for us!

Thanks for all the great tips, E-Hellions!

If you're going to use the mass transit system most of the time, consider getting the day pass or the weekly pass.  In the end it will probably save you money and you don't have to keep buying one-ride tokens. 

[ShadesOfGrey]

I am also from the Boston area (MrsBart, are you northshore too?) I would double-reccommend the following:

The Acquarium, Cambridge (Boston and Cambridge are 'walking cities' - so lots to do and see and SHOP), Any of the museums (Contemporary one has received rave reviews recently, and I always love the Museum of Fine Arts), The North End for italian food, but Charlestown for some other really good restaurants (there's one street with 4-5 really good ones, but I cant remember the name of it!! sorry!!).  

For nightlife clubs, you may want to go downtown to Lansdowne street, there's a ton of clubs on that street (some are shady, some are ok, I dont frequent it, and when I do go, I am almost always with a group of males anyway), and Jillians is on the end of the street (atomic bowling/pool/sports and tv bar).  

There's also a ton of bars in Fanuiel Hall, mostly touristy bars, some ethnic (think Irish), but bars nonetheless (some are pretty good), and during the day, this is a tourist hotspot too.  

We are definitely a sporty city, so seing the bruins or the celtics or even visiting fenway park is a MUST when you are here, if only for the historic significance.  

OOOH, Restaurant week!!! I LOVE this week in Boston (there's one in the summer too!), You picked a GREAT Week to come to town!! For $20.07 you can get some REALLY good meals, there's always write ups in the local papers about the best places to go too (Boston Globe)!!

Definitely use the T for transportation, dont bother renting a car unless you stay far out of the city.  Even then be prepared to drive in, park somewhere, and pick the up the car at the end of the day to drive out (yes, traffic is horrible, and yes, the roads do change DAILY-that wasnt an exaggeration), or unless you plan to visit other areas of this or other NE States.

Newbury Street is the local 5th avenue, and has lots of cafes and high-end shops, and just parallel to that is Boylston Street, and the Prudential Center (mall - "the Pru") - also a high tourist area. At one end of Newbury is the Boston Common and the Public Garden (not to be confused with 'the Garden' aka the Fleetcenter, aka TDBankNorth Garden, where the Celts and Bruins play).  These two areas are about the most amount of green you will see in our lovely city.  

I cant really help on hotels, as I dont often stay in hotels in this area, but probably you will appreciate staying as close to the center of town, even if it is a little more expensive.  

I dont want to sound like a Mom here, but seriously, we are known for our bitter weather, even in march. Layers work best, (ears and hands covered) and definitely check the weather before you come, it's been kinda crazy lately.  

I hope you have a wonderful time here!

[krista_e]

Not sure how much of this is true, but we heard Boston has a good mass transit system, and we love subways!  They're such a novelty for us!

Thanks for all the great tips, E-Hellions!

If you're going to use the mass transit system most of the time, consider getting the day pass or the weekly pass.  In the end it will probably save you money and you don't have to keep buying one-ride tokens. 

Actually, the T just switched over to the Charlie card - it's like a debit card.  You put money on it, and just swipe it at the station or on the train.  You can order them online if you have a little time before you go.

[NYGirl100]

Not sure how much of this is true, but we heard Boston has a good mass transit system, and we love subways!  They're such a novelty for us!

Thanks for all the great tips, E-Hellions!

If you're going to use the mass transit system most of the time, consider getting the day pass or the weekly pass.  In the end it will probably save you money and you don't have to keep buying one-ride tokens. 

Actually, the T just switched over to the Charlie card - it's like a debit card.  You put money on it, and just swipe it at the station or on the train.  You can order them online if you have a little time before you go.

Ah, good to know!  Thanks!

[Cz. Burrito]

Actually, the T just switched over to the Charlie card - it's like a debit card.  You put money on it, and just swipe it at the station or on the train.  You can order them online if you have a little time before you go.

But not all stations take them or sell them!  I would keep some dollar coins on hand in addition to the Charlie Card, just in case.  You can still spend them if you end up not having to use them on the T, so it's not like you'd be wasting money.