A Week In Boston ?

Never been to Boston so am looking to splash a few hundred thousand miles on some UC reward seats.

Is there enough to do, places to go etc to last 7-10 days? ( awaits the king of Boston, Nottingham Nick to come along )

Perhaps venturing a bit outside the city but not too far, don’t want to have to hire a car unless I really have to.

Looking to go in either May/June or September time.

Thanks

We spent 5 nights there before heading on New England Tour, was too long. Defo split it with a trip to cape cod!

In no particular order

Day in Salem - only 30 mins by train from North Station. Ignore much of the witch nonsense - there is a fascinating maritime history and the Peabody-Essex museum is excellent and has a wonderful collection of asian art as Salem was a major maritime port in the past.

Ferry to Providence (not been there but have had it highly recommended) and maybe stay overnight but you can do it in a day.

In Boston itself the Museum of Fine Arts is excellent. The Isabella Stewart Gardner museum is interesting with the blank spaces still on the wall after the robbery in 1990 (there is a covenant on the museum that it must be left as she left it).

JFK Library and Museum is just outside the city but easily reachable by the red line and free bus.

Walk the freedom trail and if feeling fit you can climb the Bunker Hill Monument (which isn't actually on Bunker Hill) for some fabulous views.

Do one of the revolutionary walking tours that start on Boston Common - led by a real revolutionary character

Walking tour (guided or self guided) around Harvard.

Visit the Massachusetts State house - guided and self guided tour (the guided tours take you into the two legislative chambers)


And even I as a non baseball fan enjoyed the tour of Fenway Park.

And both Sam Brown and Harpoon offer tours of their respective breweries.

Few more esoteric places would be the Otis House, the Museum of Medical History and the 'Ether Dome' (the latter two on the Mass General Hospital site). The glass dome of the Mapparium on the Christian Science campus is also interesting.


I now want to go back!

Hi Chumba

Agree with Tontybear. Boston is a truly great town and I am sure you will enjoy your time there.

My missus and I have spent many happy weeks there in the Autumn and in the Winter. I cannot really say too much more than Tonty rather than just support all his recommendations.

The Museum of Fine Art is a fascinating place and you could spend several days there if that's your thing. Not so impressed by the Isabella Stewart Museum but possibly worth half a day.

A must see is the JFK Museum and Library. You can get to it by subway . Also a must in my opinion is the Mapparium which we found fascinating. Also you must visit Harvard where you can be shown around by one of the young guys or gals studying there. They give their time free.

However, can I just end by saying that Boston is a friendly town and it's full of great bars and restaurants. ( especially Italian and fish places ) Also it's relatively flat and a great town to walk and just stroll and people watch. ( On Tripadvisor, I am Francis47 so if you fancy it you can see lots of my recommendations for the town )

So, I hope you enjoy your stay....and like Tonty I am extremely envious and already want to go back now rather than our next visit in October .

We went last November for 5 days (4 nights). It was brilliant, I not only fell in love with the City and the people, but the Godfrey hotel was in the most perfect location. We walked miles (and I really mean miles), it was bloody cold (their first proper cold weather of the year and a good 15degrees below normal) but it meant we got out and did everything and we did it quickly!

We had no intentions of hiring a car and only did it last minute to go to the shopping mall an hour away as the public transport was fully booked - driving was no hassle at all in/out of the City.

But if we were to go for longer in the future, I would love to take it some of the other places nearby and would make a real break of it.

Oh and if you eat at only one place, it absolutely must be Q. It doesn't look much from outside and you need to queue early, but you won't find better Asian food.

Must say, I have to agree with all of the above.

To add to this, if like myself you are a fan of sport and are going at the right time of year, taking in a game or two for any of the sports teams there can be recommended also. Ice hockey (my personal favourite) you have the Bruins, and basketball the Celtics, both play at the TD Garden, above North Station, and the baseball team, the Red Sox play as mentioned above at Fenway Park. All three team steeped in history. With the dates you've mentioned, you may just about catch the playoffs for the Bruins/Celtics, if either of them are still in with a shot, and providing the Red Sox are at home when you visit, it'll not be too far into the season in the May/June months. For September however, the Red Sox should just about be coming to the end of the regular season, and if you are interested in a bit of American Football, and a short trip to Foxborough, the New England Patriots season will have just about started in September.

Also another thing not yet mentioned (I don't think) would be going to the top of the Prudential Tower, for even greater views over town.

Love Boston myself, and out of the US cities I've visited, it'd be the first place I'd choose to go back to!

[mitchja]

I too love Boston. It's just so relaxed and way more laid back compared to say New York.

Boston always goes partially crazy (in the good way though) during St Patrick's Day weekend as I found out the other week!!

I too love Boston. It's just so relaxed and way more laid back compared to say New York.

Boston always goes partially crazy (in the good way though) during St Patrick's Day weekend as I found out the other week!!

This is also true. We were there for St Paddy's day in 2013, and I'll never forget the sea of green around Fanueil Hall. Unfortunately for us our trip back home was on St Paddy's day too, and the transport back from our hotel near Boston Common back to Logan International took around 45-50 minutes due to the excess of traffic!

I'm going back to Boston at the end of this month, I love it.
Whale watching trip is fascinating - have been three times now and saw whales every time
The Museum of Fine Art is wonderful, and there are other museums (as mentioned) that I have yet to visit.
I tend to get distracted by the bars...

However on this trip I am going to New York for three nights.
It's an easy train journey (or quicker flight) and there is just so much to do in New York...

Thank you to everyone who contributed, definitely looks like it'll be worth while, now just need to find
those elusive G's