Visiting Boston in August (Cambridge, Quincy: where to stay, hotels, cinema)

[zoeadelle]

So I am bringing my 15 year old son for a visit to Boston at the end of August. We are both extremely excited but I am struggling to know the most suitable area to stay in. I have read so many articles that they have become blurry so who better to ask but the city's residents! Where would you recommend? Maybe someone also has recommendations of where to stay, as that is also confusing. We are there for the last week of August, so will be there during the St Anthony festival I believe and I see that they will be showing Ant-Man in the open air cinema in the park... all exciting stuff! Any recommendations will be great, as we are traveling from from Gibraltar I want this to be a really memorable holiday. Thanks all.

[rethcir]

Back Bay or Downtown are best for getting around. Seaport is fine, so is Fenway, so is Cambridge.

[bjimmy24]

Back Bay is best in my opinion.

[robr2]

What's your budget?
Will you be driving or flying?
Do you have any specific things you want to see?

[jayyz]

If you're excited about the St Anthony festival, you'll probably want to stay near the North End. Airbnb might suit you well. Pretty much anywhere in Boston, Cambridge, and Quincy is fine as it's accessible by the train. You can pretty much walk everywhere in Boston within 1-2 days.

For a 15 year old, you might want to go to a Red sox game, duckboat tour, SoWa, or Boston public market.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

Back Bay is best in my opinion.

I agree. If I was coming to Boston as a tourist I would want to stay in Back Bay. There are a ton of shops/restaurants in that area and you have great access to the rest of the city from there. You can find anything from chain hotels there to small boutique hotels. It will not be inexpensive but there is certainly a range of prices. My personal favorite hotel is the Copley Fairmont.

[stanley-88888888]

also last saturday of august there is a big caribbean carnival.

[BostNative]

You may want to consider Harvard Sq. Cambridge also. You would have access to the train to all points. Your 15 year old would be blown away by the excitement, plus the college kids will start moving in that week so the place will really be hopping. There are a few hotels in Harvard Sq. but book now. If you get in town the weekend of the 26th and 27th the Red Sox are in town, Fenway Park is a must. If your driving, Storrow Dr. is right out of Harvard Sq. and within minutes your in Back Bay, Newbury St. Boston Public Gardens and the North End. Everything is so close but plan so you can enjoy everything.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by BostNative

You may want to consider Harvard Sq. Cambridge also. You would have access to the train to all points. Your 15 year old would be blown away by the excitement, plus the college kids will start moving in that week so the place will really be hopping. There are a few hotels in Harvard Sq. but book now. If you get in town the weekend of the 26th and 27th the Red Sox are in town, Fenway Park is a must. If your driving, Storrow Dr. is right out of Harvard Sq. and within minutes your in Back Bay, Newbury St. Boston Public Gardens and the North End. Everything is so close but plan so you can enjoy everything.

Harvard Square is cool, but part of me feels it isn't as good to stay in as back back. Back bay is just more central and has more for visitors. Easy walking distance to everything nearby. Harvard yard is worth a walk through but after that, there isn't a ton there that I think a 15 year old would care about. And there's really nothing else to do in Cambridge unless you also want to visit mit (but again, pretty much just a walk through).

[yaeger07]

The MIT Museum is a cool spot to visit, too.