Also, you suck, because Nathaniel will be here in two weeks and that means you will miss him.
Stuff to do, just off the top of my head: * Duck Tour!!! * Walk the Freedom Trail * Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market * Boston Public Garden (ride the swan boats if the line isn't miles long!) * Wander around Boston Common (across the street from the Public Garden) * Museum of Science - one of my favourite places ever. Tons of hands-on stuff. * Your wildlife-loving self might enjoy some of the stuff available through Mass Audubon. * See a Red Sox game at Fenway Park! (If you take the T, be aware that the Kenmore stop is actually closer to Fenway Park than the Fenway stop is.) * Wander around Harvard Square in Cambridge, if that's your thing. Cambridge is a separate city next to Boston (across the rivah), but the public transport all goes there. * See Paul Revere's house (it's on the Freedom Trail, actually). Admission $3.50. Did you know that Paul Revere didn't make it from Boston to Lexington to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock, and it was his friend William Dawes who did? Paul Revere was captured by the British. He was a total propagandist as well. If you don't mind a more traditional (romanticised) view of him, you can have a look in his house and listen to people talk about him. ;)
And buy this map! Boston is a walking city, but is easy to get lost in, and you will be very glad to have a good map. You will likely not need another one while you're here. I have it and it's been so super helpful.
DO NOT RENT A CAR. You do not want to drive in Boston. I have lived here all my life and I refuse to drive in the city because I don't have a death wish. Between walking and public transport, you can get where you want to go. Cabs exist, but you can't flag them as easily in Boston as you can in, say, Times Square. You can probably flag them in a few of the busier downtown areas, but I've never tried. You can also call a cab company and have them pick you up, of course. I recommend walking as much as you can stand. There's so much to see!
For help with our public transport, see http://mbta.com/ . The map I linked to has a map of the T (subway) on the back to make your life easier, but the MBTA website has info about things like buses, getting from the airport to wherever you're going (shuttle bus to the Airport T stop, then from there to wherever you want), etc.
Locals are generally friendly and helpful (unless behind the wheel - then you learn why we're called Massholes), but do yourself a favour and never ask these questions: * 'Which T stop should I get off if I want to go to Boston?' Most of the stops are in Boston proper (within the actual city limits, as opposed to greater Boston, which includes some suburbs). If you want to go right downtown where a lot of stuff is, get off at Park Street, Government Centre, or Downtown Crossing. * COROLLARY: 'Which train goes to Boston?' They all do. * 'How much does it cost to get to (whichever stop) on the T?' T fare is the same no matter where you're going. You pay $2 and ride until you want to get off. If you want to buy a 7-day LinkPass, which I recommend, that will cost you $15 and give you unlimited rides for 7 days. I assume you're staying at a hotel right downtown, so the closest place to buy such a pass is the Customer Service Centre in the Downtown Crossing station. You can see other places in Boston to buy passes here; if you're not sure which of the Boston listings is closest, stick with Downtown Crossing. :)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2009-09-16 01:25 pm (UTC)Also, you suck, because Nathaniel will be here in two weeks and that means you will miss him.
Stuff to do, just off the top of my head:
* Duck Tour!!!
* Walk the Freedom Trail
* Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
* Boston Public Garden (ride the swan boats if the line isn't miles long!)
* Wander around Boston Common (across the street from the Public Garden)
* Museum of Science - one of my favourite places ever. Tons of hands-on stuff.
* Your wildlife-loving self might enjoy some of the stuff available through Mass Audubon.
* See a Red Sox game at Fenway Park! (If you take the T, be aware that the Kenmore stop is actually closer to Fenway Park than the Fenway stop is.)
* Wander around Harvard Square in Cambridge, if that's your thing. Cambridge is a separate city next to Boston (across the rivah), but the public transport all goes there.
* See Paul Revere's house (it's on the Freedom Trail, actually). Admission $3.50. Did you know that Paul Revere didn't make it from Boston to Lexington to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock, and it was his friend William Dawes who did? Paul Revere was captured by the British. He was a total propagandist as well. If you don't mind a more traditional (romanticised) view of him, you can have a look in his house and listen to people talk about him. ;)
For stuff I didn't think of: http://starthereboston.com/
And buy this map! Boston is a walking city, but is easy to get lost in, and you will be very glad to have a good map. You will likely not need another one while you're here. I have it and it's been so super helpful.
DO NOT RENT A CAR. You do not want to drive in Boston. I have lived here all my life and I refuse to drive in the city because I don't have a death wish. Between walking and public transport, you can get where you want to go. Cabs exist, but you can't flag them as easily in Boston as you can in, say, Times Square. You can probably flag them in a few of the busier downtown areas, but I've never tried. You can also call a cab company and have them pick you up, of course. I recommend walking as much as you can stand. There's so much to see!
For help with our public transport, see http://mbta.com/ . The map I linked to has a map of the T (subway) on the back to make your life easier, but the MBTA website has info about things like buses, getting from the airport to wherever you're going (shuttle bus to the Airport T stop, then from there to wherever you want), etc.
Locals are generally friendly and helpful (unless behind the wheel - then you learn why we're called Massholes), but do yourself a favour and never ask these questions:
* 'Which T stop should I get off if I want to go to Boston?' Most of the stops are in Boston proper (within the actual city limits, as opposed to greater Boston, which includes some suburbs). If you want to go right downtown where a lot of stuff is, get off at Park Street, Government Centre, or Downtown Crossing.
* COROLLARY: 'Which train goes to Boston?' They all do.
* 'How much does it cost to get to (whichever stop) on the T?' T fare is the same no matter where you're going. You pay $2 and ride until you want to get off. If you want to buy a 7-day LinkPass, which I recommend, that will cost you $15 and give you unlimited rides for 7 days. I assume you're staying at a hotel right downtown, so the closest place to buy such a pass is the Customer Service Centre in the Downtown Crossing station. You can see other places in Boston to buy passes here; if you're not sure which of the Boston listings is closest, stick with Downtown Crossing. :)