Cheap Boston Aquarium Parking? (Quincy, Medford: restaurant, prices, garage)

[mucknort]

Headed into Boston tomorrow to go to the New England Aquarium. It has no parking, just validated prices with some garages nearby. Validated means $30 a day instead of $35. I can't afford that, so I'm looking for help.

Usually when I go into Boston for a family trip, I donate blood at Children's Hospital and one of their perks for donating is free parking in their garage. I just gave blood last month so that option is out. The other reasonable option I've heard of is parking at one of the outlying train stations, like Alewife. But since I'm driving from NH, I won't get near a station until after 9am, and everything I've read says that commuters fill those lots by 8am or earlier. Any other suggestions?
Thanks!

[smarty]

If you want to park nearby... go to Northern Ave (Court House/Fan Pier) and walk to Aquarium. I think they're about $12. Not sure about how many space there are left on a weekday.

It may even be cheaper if you go all the way to Drydock Ave.

[mucknort]

Originally Posted by smarty

Not sure about how many space there are left on a weekday.

Thanks, the price sounds right, but my fear is availability midmorning.

[miu]

Park at Anthony's Pier 4 for $10 (I think). Call up the restaurant and ask them what they charge to park at the end of their lot. I think that the ICA parking lot is $11 or $12.

[mucknort]

Big THANK YOU to smarty and miu! I drove in this am and pulled up to Alewife Station around 11 a.m. There WAS parking available (now I know that for future reference), but I felt compelled to drive all the way in and try the lots suggested. Sure enough, there was plenty of parking available at the lots suggested around Fed Courthouse/Fan Pier on Northern Ave.

I ended up parking at the lot in front of Anthony's Pier 4 Restaurant and paid a whopping $10 bucks. Other lots nearby were $11-$12, as stated. It was an easy 12 minute walk to the N.E. Aquarium (which is across from Fanuial Hall, Freedom Trail, etc.). The friends we met wanted to park close and paid $30 at the Boston Harbor Parking Garage.
Thanks again!

[TheWereRabbit]

Originally Posted by miu

Park at Anthony's Pier 4 for $10 (I think). Call up the restaurant and ask them what they charge to park at the end of their lot. I think that the ICA parking lot is $11 or $12.

a little ways further down the road you can park at Harpoon brewery. It's illegal but you can def get away with it. I did it regularly over the summer when I worked on the waterfront.

edit: i hadn't seen that this was already solved. Well, if anyone ever needs to park in that area at least now they can be sneaky (be cautious when going to shows at the pavillion though cuz thats when they crack down)

[DreamworksSKG]

I might suggest the Government Center Garage in the future- its a 10 min walk to the Aquarium and if you want you can stop at Quincy Market for lunch or the North End-

Government Center Parking in Downtown Boston Garage - GovernmentCenterGarage.com

Another tip would be park at Oak Grove on the Orange Line - in Medford convenient to 93. and pay $5.50 all day. - and take the Orange line right to State, and walk down the street to the Aquarium.

---Jeff--
Winchester, MA