Boston trip
- Thread starter Chizit
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I spent 3 summers working near Boston when I was attending ISU. Definitely hit Boston BeerWorks. They have one across from Fenway and a newer one near the Fleet Center. As previously mentioned, the T is the only way to get around. Traffic is terrible and its a tough city to drive in.
Wow, Thanks for the heads up. Would you recommend walking to things within walking distance?
Definitely. Its an old city, so a lot of the streets are not set up in squares. They have a lot of bends and turns in them instead of running north/south and east/west. This makes it easy to get lost in my opinion. I think they are still working on the Big Dig project as well, so all the construction just makes things worse.
Another spot you may want to hit is the Bull in Finch bar. It's where they filmed the outside shots of the bar on Cheers. The inside is nothing like it. It was probably a cool little bar at one point, but now its just a tourist trap.
There's a cool historic trail that's a great way to see all the historic places in Boston.
You can pay and have a guided tour, although I'd recommend doing it on your own. It's very easy to follow: there is literally a red line painted on the sidewalk that you follow.
When I went, we kind of turned it into a pub crawl as there are a lot of really cool bars along the way including Cheers, the Bell in Hand Tavern (oldest bar in the country...rumor has it that Ben Franklin, Paul Revere, et al used to drink there), Union Oyster House (oldest restaurant in the country).
If you like to shop (or if you're taking a lady friend) check out Newbury Street. It's Bostons's version of Rodeo Drive. Cool to see even though most of us can't afford to buy anything
The North End is Boston's Little Italy and has some awesome Italian restaurants and pizza places.
We also took a pretty cheap sunset boat cruise on the Harbor that was really fun.
Did all of these things and of course went to Fenway which is everything it's cracked up to be. Overall great weekend...Boston is a great town. You'll love it!
You can pay and have a guided tour, although I'd recommend doing it on your own. It's very easy to follow: there is literally a red line painted on the sidewalk that you follow.
When I went, we kind of turned it into a pub crawl as there are a lot of really cool bars along the way including Cheers, the Bell in Hand Tavern (oldest bar in the country...rumor has it that Ben Franklin, Paul Revere, et al used to drink there), Union Oyster House (oldest restaurant in the country).
If you like to shop (or if you're taking a lady friend) check out Newbury Street. It's Bostons's version of Rodeo Drive. Cool to see even though most of us can't afford to buy anything
The North End is Boston's Little Italy and has some awesome Italian restaurants and pizza places.
We also took a pretty cheap sunset boat cruise on the Harbor that was really fun.
Did all of these things and of course went to Fenway which is everything it's cracked up to be. Overall great weekend...Boston is a great town. You'll love it!
I agree 100% with what isunorth said. Fenway is awesome. Its nice to go to an actual ballpark instead of a stadium.
Cyclonepride
Thought Police
I live in Boston. How long are you going to be here? Are you bringing kids? Most of the things to do are history related, but here's my list:
1. The Freedom Trail - a walking tour of the city that takes you from downtown and ends at Bunker Hill. Along the way you see the gravestones of several famous Americans, the state house where the Boston Massacre happened, Paul Revere's home, and an old Navy war ship. This is free, though they have tours that lead you through the early part.
2. Duck Tour - You ride on some strange boat/car thing and go see Boston. At some point you go from land to water and ride around the Charles river. This is more about Boston itself and less about the Freedom trail type of stuff. The drivers lead the tour and are generally very entertaining. You need to buy tickets in advance for this, and they aren't cheap.
3. Sam Adam's Brew Tour - I haven't been there, but it gets good reviews. I know it involves free beer, so how bad can it be?
4. North End - Have to eat somewhere here, there are >180 Italian restaurants in a very small area. Our favorite ones are Carmen, Giacomo's and Tiranata, which are all great but kind of pricey. Most restaurants have a menu in the window so you can see what you're getting yourself into. DEFINITELY try Mike's Pastry while you're there. The Freedom trail goes straight through the North End, BTW.
5. Ride the blue line to the Revere Beach and check out the Sand Sculptures: http://www.reverebeachpartnership.com/nessf07/index.htm
6. Just wander around Boston Common and the Public Gardens, which are convieniently close to Newbury street if you have someone interested in shopping.
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We eat at Beerworks all the time . . . if you are going on gameday, I would get there at least 2hrs before the game if you want to eat. But it is the best place in the Fenway area.
If you're near downtown at lunchtime, this place is the best: http://www.samlagrassas.com/
If you're near Newbury street at dinner time, this place is the best: http://www.stephaniesonnewbury.com/
If you go to the Sam Adam's bewery and want to eat somewhere, this place is the best: http://www.zonsjp.com/
Another cool bar/restaurant near Fenway . . . this place is in the stadium (does not require tickets to the game) and you can look out onto the field, though the view isn't great. http://bleacherbarboston.com/
If you go to the Revere Beach, you have to eat here: http://www.kellysroastbeef.com/
If you want to eat a whole bunch of food for not very much money, this place is the best: http://www.pourhouseboston.com/
Another good place for lunch in the back bay: http://www.parishcafe.com/
Best place for seafood or clam chowder: http://www.legalseafoods.com/
If you end up near the Quincy Market area and are looking for a place to eat, I like this one: http://www.neddevinesboston.com/neddevines/
If you're near downtown at lunchtime, this place is the best: http://www.samlagrassas.com/
If you're near Newbury street at dinner time, this place is the best: http://www.stephaniesonnewbury.com/
If you go to the Sam Adam's bewery and want to eat somewhere, this place is the best: http://www.zonsjp.com/
Another cool bar/restaurant near Fenway . . . this place is in the stadium (does not require tickets to the game) and you can look out onto the field, though the view isn't great. http://bleacherbarboston.com/
If you go to the Revere Beach, you have to eat here: http://www.kellysroastbeef.com/
If you want to eat a whole bunch of food for not very much money, this place is the best: http://www.pourhouseboston.com/
Another good place for lunch in the back bay: http://www.parishcafe.com/
Best place for seafood or clam chowder: http://www.legalseafoods.com/
If you end up near the Quincy Market area and are looking for a place to eat, I like this one: http://www.neddevinesboston.com/neddevines/
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Not to be disagreeable, but I think this place is awful. I would only recommend it to really big Cheers fans. Even then, you might consider taking a picture by the Cheers sign and just moving on.
In addition to going to a game at Fenway, I recommend taking the Fenway Park tour. I can't remember what the cost was, but I was really happy I did it.
If I were you, I'd rent a car, drive out to Lexington and Concord, see the historic battlefields into Boston, stop by Walden pond, and then drive up to Cape Cod/Cape Ann. In Cape Cod, take yourself a morning or afternoon cruise on the Thomas E. Lannon, a 73 foot Cod Schooner.
But most of all, eat yourself sick with fresh seafood/shellfish. I went to Linguist/Interrogators school at Fort Devens back in the day, and enjoyed the heck out of it. Plus, I got my M.A. from B.U.. Boston is full of all sorts of attractions.
BTW - are you single? Boston's a great place to fix that, if you're going to spend any significant time there. And I don't know it first-hand, but I had buddies that went there single, but that didn't last very long.
Enjoy.
But most of all, eat yourself sick with fresh seafood/shellfish. I went to Linguist/Interrogators school at Fort Devens back in the day, and enjoyed the heck out of it. Plus, I got my M.A. from B.U.. Boston is full of all sorts of attractions.
BTW - are you single? Boston's a great place to fix that, if you're going to spend any significant time there. And I don't know it first-hand, but I had buddies that went there single, but that didn't last very long.
Enjoy.
Do the Freedom Trail. If you like history, it's a must. Even if you don't like history you should do it.
Eat at, Ye Ole Oyster House. It's the oldest restaurant in America. Clam chowder is good.
Quincy Market is nice.
Samuel Adams brewery.
Beacon Hill is a BEAUTIFUL part of town. Very old. Still has the oil lamp lights on the streets.
Eat at, Ye Ole Oyster House. It's the oldest restaurant in America. Clam chowder is good.
Quincy Market is nice.
Samuel Adams brewery.
Beacon Hill is a BEAUTIFUL part of town. Very old. Still has the oil lamp lights on the streets.
