Vacationing in Boston and Sprinfield (Springfield, Cambridge: hotels, rent , sick)

[On Fire For God]

Hi all,

I'm planning a trip to Boston and Six Flags in Springfield, MA. the second week in July. Looking for tips and advice on:

1. Where is the best place to park downtown Boston without having to pay a fortune in parking fees.

2. What's the best way to get to Logan Airport from the Museum of Science without worrying about parking, traffic, etc. And how long does it take by car?

3. Where's the best place to rent a nice, clean, affordable motel/hotel room near Six Flags?

4. Are there shuttles that run from nearby hotels to Six Flags amusement park?

5. Aside from the Boston Duck tour, what are some other "must see" places in downtown Boston?

Thanks a bunch!

[Xenos]

This may not be the best advice for parking, but when I go to Boston for sightseeing purposes I usually just park at the municipal lot under the Common - take the road that divides the Common from the public garden, and pull off at the right. This puts you right in the center of things, and you have an easy escape onto Storrow Drive when it is time to skip town. Cost in in the range of $30 or so - not cheap, but worth it in time and frustration saved.

At the Science museum (which has its own parking at fair rates, so use that when you are there), take a right as you leave, going to Boston, not Cambridge. The first light is for Storrow Drive, go left and connect to 93 South. Take one of the tunnels to East Boston, the signs will direct you from there to Logan. Trip will take at most 1/2 hour unless it is rush hour, and could take a lot longer.. give yourself a couple hours!

No advice for Six Flags.

As for Boston, do the freedom trail with a guidebook. This will get you to the various state houses, burial grounds, and major landmarks.

[tonrob]

Originally Posted by Xenos

This may not be the best advice for parking, but when I go to Boston for sightseeing purposes I usually just park at the municipal lot under the Common - take the road that divides the Common from the public garden, and pull off at the right. This puts you right in the center of things, and you have an easy escape onto Storrow Drive when it is time to skip town. Cost in in the range of $30 or so - not cheap, but worth it in time and frustration saved.

As an FYI - they do have a great weekend rate - can't remember the exact figure but it's under $10 a day. The Garage at Post Office Square has a similar weekend deal.

[On Fire For God]

Thanks for the tips!

[ryanjpimentel]

Boston's obviously beautiful and fun, but Springfield? Don't stay for any longer than necessary. Six Flags and the Basketball Hall of Fame are about the only things to do there.

[Celticz617]

i live in boston and theres relly nothing to see here besides boring history crap that i could care less about and museums and the duck tours would make me fall asleep

u can take the subway around the city in downtown usually on fridays there will be some break dancing contests in downtown that are sick

[Celticz617]

also the basketball hall of fame is sick its 10x better than the baseball and hockey u should defently go there if your in springfield

[ryanjpimentel]

Originally Posted by Celticz617

also the basketball hall of fame is sick its 10x better than the baseball and hockey u should defently go there if your in springfield

yeah i love the bball hall of fame, its so beautiful. and pretty fun.

[WestMass79]

For Springfield you can get a pretty good bargain if you use Priceline and stay at the Sheraton or Marriott Downtown. Both have cheap parking right on site or behind the hotels and are in nice clean areas of downtown right by City Hall and the Highway. You can get them on priceline usually for 60 or 70 bucks if you go for the 3 star category in Springfield/West Springfield. They are both pretty popular with the 6 flags crowd so reserve soon.

The other good thing is downtown you are near the Quadrangle, which is Springfields Museum area, a beautiful spot to visit that has a Dr. Suess sculpture garden and I think 3 museums.

If you want to spend a little more in your lodging, the Hilton Garden Inn is right in the parking lot of the Hall of Fame and is newer and usually tough to get into.

If you are really looking to cheap out, the Holiday Inn downtown is cheapest, but as they say.....you get what you pay for.