5 Summer Days in Boston

[CaseyB]

smarty, find out from your local town library what free passes to some of the attractions they have available, I bet they have some. We get free passes all the time to the aquarium, science museum, Museum of Fine Arts, etc. They add one or 2 every year.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by DreamworksSKG

I would do as follows

Boston Subway map:
MBTA Subway 'The 'T' > Maps, Schedules, and Fare Information for the Boston Area Subway System


Day 1



AM --early afternoon

There's a grille/cafe near Park St. - by the common down the street from Lowe's theatre. - where you can grab a good breakfast. and its pretty cheap. I cant remember the name but its close to the Park St. "T" station

Walk from Park St. and follow the FREEDOM TRAIL

Go do the Freedom trail first thing - so you get the history stuff done
go to paul revere's house - the copps hill burial ground, old north church, and climb up bunker hill and board the constitution

Go to the Wharf navy yard shuttle ferry to Long Wharf
--by the aquarium
it offers a great view of the skyline and a nice 10-15 min boat ride

MBTA > Schedules & Maps > Boats > F4 (Long Wharf, Boston to Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown)

PM - Go to the New England Aquarium and check out a Sea Lion show , and a IMAX show in the IMAX theatre

Make sure you get to the Auqarium by 3pm becaus the Aquarium closes at 6pm most days (except Fri/Sat) open till 7pm
New England Aquarium Tickets, Hours and Discounts
New England Aquarium Home
get a combo ticket to save, IMax/Aquarium fee

Walk over to the north end (make a reservation earlier in the day just to be on the safe side) and go to one of the North End Establishments

make sure you save some cash (as most of the pastry shops are only cash only) - there' s ATMs around the North End though
try Napoli Pastry on Salem St. Bova's Bakery, or Modern Pastry.
Mike's is the tourist trap one , and pretty crowded most of the time, though its good :-) I prefer Napoli... :-) on Salem St. You could try a pizza at Pizzeria Regina, check out a Pizza at the pushcart cafe or Ernesto's, or try one of the many restaurants throughout the North End

The North End - Boston's Little Italy

After Dinner head to the Prudential Tower and go up at Night to see Boston at night - Prudential Skywalk
Skywalk Observatory - The Shops at Prudential Center
The Shops at Prudential Center


Day 2

------

AM

Take the Green Line to Science Park - get a ticket for the Boston Duck Tour
Boston Duck Tours - The Official Website & Online Tickets
You can buy them from the Museum of Science .
Go on a Duck tour
gives you a land and water tour of boston and a good overview of the city

come back to the Museum and Go to the Museum of Science make sure you see a Lightning demonstration, Live Animal Presentation, and a OMNI theatre show.
Have lunch at the Cafeteria at the Science Museum

After the museum walk down past the Museum of Science garage and turn left into a driveway to the path along the Canal to Lechemere Cambridge Galleria. Walk down along the canal under the bridge and you'll be at the Cambridge Galleria

PM/EVENING
head over to Harvard Square
check out the Harvard Yard, the Newstand, the Harvard Coop,
The Garage Mall, and have dinner at one of the restaurants in Harvard Square

The Garage - The Garage - Harvard Square - Cambridge, MA
Harvard home - Harvard University
Harvard Yard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Harvard Guide: Harvard Yard Gates
Harvard Virtual Tour
Harvard University Map
Harvard University Map
Harvard University Map

Harvard Square:
Harvard Square Welcome to Harvard Square
Harvard Square - Restaurants - Restaurants - Harvard Square
Shopping:
Harvard Square - Shops

Harvard Coop:
Welcome to The Harvard Coop*Bookstore
http://store.thecoop.com/coopstore/estore_home.jsp

Pandemonium Books & Games
Pandemonium Books and Games - Harvard Square
(Fantasy - Sci fi books )




head back home

Day 3
----

Start out at Museum of Fine Arts in the Morning -
take the "E" line to "MUSEUM"
also check out the Northeastern University Campus
on Huntington Avenue.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Home
Northeastern University


Go check out the Reflecting pool at the Cristian Science Center
and the Mapparium
a walk-through stained glass globe
Mapparium® | The Mary Baker Eddy Library
Christian Science Center in Boston - Guide to Boston Christian Science Center


If there's no Game head over to Fenway park and take a fenway park tour
get a ticket for the tour at the Box office by gate A
on Yawkey Way
have lunch at one of the restaurants near Fenway
Fenway Park Tours | redsox.com: Ballpark

I would suggest Bill's Bar
Bill's Bar : Boston's dirty rock club

if you like Irish - you could eat over in Kenmore Square
Cornwall's - Boston, MA

if there's an off day with no game you could try the Bleacher Bar right under fenway park - behind the bleachers you can get a table looking out over the ball-park :-)
Welcome to Bleach Bar
Bleacher Bar - Fenway - Boston, MA
I love their brisket sandwich :-)


PM -

Go up in the Prudential tower again SKYWALK and see the day-time view.
From Kenmore Square walk up toward Berklee College of Music, and down Boylston St. to Copley Square, go up in the SKYWALK

walk over to Newbury St. and stroll the shops, and have dinner at
one of the Newbury St restaurants such as Stephenies
Stephanie's on Newbury
Welcome to Newbury Street, Boston

Head over to QUincy Market for a cup of Clam Chowder at the Seafood place or a plate of fried clams
and enjoy the nightlife.
Faneuil Hall Market Place


Day 4

AM - head up to SALEM
Salem Massachusetts - The Comprehensive Salem Guide

walk around Salem, check out the burial ground
the Witch House
The Witch House (Jonathan Corwin House), Salem, Massachusetts


Salem Common
Salem Massachusetts - Salem Common Yesterday


The Friendship Ship and the Derby Wharf Lighthouse
Salem Massachusetts - Friendship Overview


Pickering Wharf
Pickering Wharf in Historic Salem, Massachusetts

the New England pirate museum
Salem, MA: Witch Dungeon Museum - Witch History - Pirate Museum


the Wax Museum
Salem Wax Museum Halloween


and the PEM - Peabody Essex Museum
PEM | Peabody Essex Museum

check out the many interesting shops at Salem
take a Salem Trolley tour
Salem Trolley

if you have time you could also check out
Pioneer Village and House of Seven Gables
The House of the Seven Gables
Essex National Heritage


Many options to eat at Pickering Wharf and around Salem
I would recommend Capt's and FINZ as well as 62 on the Wharf and
Victoria Station.
Finz: Seafood & Grill
Home
Sixty2 on Wharf-62 on Wharf
Welcome to Victoria Station Restaurant



DAY 5

Go out to Lexington and Concord

AM--
Head to Lexington , check out the Lexington Green , Ride the Liberty Trolley
check out the different sights.
have lunch in Lexington

Lexington, MA: Visitors Information
Minute Man National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Home


Restaurants - Lexington
Palio's Italian Grill - PALIO'S
Lexx Restaurant - Home - LEXX
Khushboo Indian Restaurant - Khushboo
Lexington Restaurants - Lexington, MA Restaurants --* MassMenus.com *** Lexington, Massachusetts ***
Lexington, Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Member Seach


PM

Head to concord
see the old north bridge check out the Battle Road Trail on the Way to Concord. -
check out the Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington before you head to concord
Check out Walden Pond as well
In Concord, Stroll the shops and have dinner in Concord.


Concord MA
Concord, Massachusetts, USA: Thoreau, Emerson, Walden Pond, Alcott, American Revolution, Concord Minuteman, more...
Concord, Massachusetts Guide
History of Concord, Massachusetts, USA: Thoreau, Emerson, Walden Pond, Alcott, American Revolution, Concord Minuteman, more...
Concord Chamber of Commerce, Concord, Massachusetts 01742
Concord Museum
Amos Bronson Alcott: Concord
Orchard House - Home of the Alcotts
Department of Conservation and Recreation - It's Your Nature
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/walden/images/WaldenPond.gif (broken link)
Verrill Farm, Concord, Ma. | Fresh Produce, baked goods, and seasonal special events

Restaurants

Serafina Ristorante - Serafina Ristorante
Home - Chang An
WALDEN GRILLE - Concord, MA - A fine Concord restaurant.
Papa Razzi Trattoria Bar
Untitled Document
Town of Concord Massachusetts Business Directory, Food (http://www.concordchamberofcommerce.org/food.htm - broken link)

If you have time take route 3 up to 495 to Westford for an Ice Cream at KIMBALL Farms
:-) in Westford
Welcome to Kimball Farm


if you can squeeze a Harbour cruise, whale watch or trip out to the harbor islands --george's island that'd be cool
too.
I would highly recommend a whale watch
Boston Harbor Cruises, Whale Watch, Provincetown Ferry, Boston Sightseeing Tours
Boston Harbor Islands Visitor Guide || Explore the Islands

You could also try one of the dinner cruises on the Odyseey or the Spirit of Boston
pricey but worth it
Boston Cruises, Boston Harbor Cruises | Spirit Cruises in Boston (http://www.spiritofboston.com/bo/bridge.jsp - broken link)
Boston Harbor Dinner Cruise and skyline views at Rowes Wharf





Also Castle Island is pretty neat.. - as well - an old fort out by south boston
you can hop on the bus from Copley Square to City point ---out therethe busses are accessible from the corner of the Public Library - in Copley Square

Castle Island, Boston Harbor
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Those Castle Island hot dogs (http://www.examiner.com/x-1418-Boston-Fringe-Neighborhoods-Examiner~y2009m6d2-Those-Castle-Island-hot-dogs - broken link)
Rye Reflections: Castle Island in South Boston becomes a walkers' paradise
Castle Island Beach - Dorchester - South Boston, MA



You could also take a carriage ride through Boston
on horses
Horse & Carriage Rides In & Around Boston, MA - Bridal Carriage Company

if you visit newbury st. make sure you stroll through the public gardens on the way there and check out the make way for ducklings statue and island and the swan boats as well as the statue of George Washington, walk along Comm Ave a bit checking out the brownstones and the statues, then cut over the side streets to Newbury St. and Copley Square

Boston Public Garden- Boston, MA - VirtualTourist.com
Swan Boats of Boston
Friends of the Boston Public Garden
Public Garden, Boston

You could also cut over to Charles St. and Beacon Hill and walk through the old homes on beacon hill and check out the front of the Cheers bar (dont bother going inside unless its the SHOP) you want to go to , it doesnt look like the bar - in the tv show just the outside and the sign is like the TV show

Cheers | Where Everybody Knows Your Name (http://www.cheersboston.com/pub/ - broken link)
Cheers Boston Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill Online - Home (http://www.beaconhillonline.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi - broken link)
http://www.beaconhillonline.com
Beacon Hill Online - Walking Tour
Beacon Hill Online - Attractions




25 things to do in Boston for $25 or less
25 things to do in Boston this summer for under $25 - Boston.com

Hope this helps your planning

(Hope its not too late) :-)

Sorry for the long post but I had to get everything in :-)

Any time for a nap! great Boston post! and, no nap time, see old ironsides may be good also, since nap is out! Also pack your cooler, since money is out! It also is better! But, gets some saved money for snacks!

[Arny]

First of all, thanks a lot for your great post DreamworksSKG ! I'll be visiting Boston for the first time in a few days and now I know pretty much exactly what I'm gonna do over there.

I have another question though :
Me and my friends will be driving to Boston and it would be great if we could find a FREE parking spot fairly close to the main tourist attractions where we could leave our car for something like 3 days in a row without having to move it all the time. Is there such an area let's say somewhere along the red line between Park st. & Harvard ?

Thanks