What to do in Boston?

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 11:32pm

I'm in Boston for the next two days to visit college. I'm going to have a bunch of time to kill, and it's my first time in the city so I don't really know what to see (My hotel's concierge wasn't much help).

Any Bostonians or others have any suggestions? How about restaurants too?

[pemberlee]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 11:39pm

I go to college in Boston. It's a fun town. If you want to do something that's really touristy but free you can walk the Freedom Trail which starts by the Commons and goes to all these historic places. Newberry Street is good for shopping; North End for Italian food; Fenway has lots of clubs nearby (I like Jake Ivory's which is a piano bar where you can sing along.) The Museum of Fine Arts is awesome and free w/ student id, plus you can get there on the T really easily.

Oh, and the best sush is at Mr. Sushi by Coolidge Corner. It's reasonably priced too. Noodle St. on Commonwealth is good too.

What are you looking to do?

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 11:42pm

Thanks, that's great.

I don't really know, I'm up for anything. I wanted to get at least a small taste of what the city has to offer, since I might be living here for the next four years.

I didn't know what to do tonight, so I ended up at kind of a crappy restaurant and then just came back to the hotel.

[guitargeek0624]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 11:52pm

Do a Duck Tour!

I know it seems corny, but we went with my brother (whom my family was visiting at his college, and naturally, he didn't want to look like a tourist) on one. It was actually really fun! We went on a tour of the city on land first, and then it went into the Charles River, which was really cool. My brother even enjoyed it, too.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 12:00am

You HAVE to go to Dulce Vita in Little Italy. We waited for a long time, and it was kind of expensive but SO worth it. I had the most amazing risotto I have ever eaten. And my favorite before that was a nice restaraunt in NYC so that is saying something. It's amazing. I don't know if it's still there, but when I went in February is saw Forbidden Broadway: SVU, which was great. Shopped at Macy's, Filene's, and H&M. Fun town.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 1:02am

The Isabella Stewart GARDNER Museum.

Red Sox game at Fenway Park if they're playing.

Legal Seafoods for lobster, etc.

Museum of Fine Arts.

Glass Flowers at the Peabody Museum in Cambridge.

Arnold Arboretum if you have a car.

Walk the Freedom Trail.

Swanboat ride in the Boston Commons.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 1:03am

And check under "Regional Sites" above on BWW because they have a Boston Board you can ask on, too.

Just include a theatre inquiry in the thread. Updated On: 4/28/06 at 01:03 AM

[LightMyCandle]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 2:06am

Stonehill is performing Grease. :)

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 2:30am

I was working in Boston on a project for two consecutive Winter/Springs.

I loved going to Boston Commons and walking the freedom trail, especially if you are history junky, see Paul Revere House, and just look at where this country came from.

For arts, both the Gardner museum, and the museum of fine arts and nice.

I am not sure what shape the North End is in these days, but it has the best Italian food. It also has a great farmer's market if you want to get some fresh fruits and veggies.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace is touristy, but it is a fun place to look and window shop.

It is also great to walk along Beacon Hill, and Newbury Steet.

For more history, go see the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides).

It is in many ways a walkable city, so put on some comfortable shoes and start strolling through!

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 6:44am

It's actually Emerson that's performing Grease. I know because I saw it last week.

[mominator]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 7:15am

Also check out the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum as well. An amazing lady's personal collection.

[LightMyCandle]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 8:10am

""It's actually Emerson that's performing Grease. I know because I saw it last week.""



It's actually Stonehill, too. My friend directed it and I'm leaving for a six hour car ride this afternoon to see it. :)

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 9:00am

Eat at Finale, or The Union Oyster House, or The Chart House, or Teatro.

Walk the common and Newbery St.

See Damn Yankees at the North Shore Music theatre.

You won't get tix to a Red Sox game, but wander the area before the game, it's a great atmosphere.

[meagan9848]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 9:02am

Stonehill is nowhere near Boston, though.

What schools are you visting?

My favorite is sunday brunch at Fire and Ice...it's SO good. It's one of those places where they cook your food in front of you on a huge grill. For brunch they do omlets, pancakes, and stir fry.

Shopping at Copley/Prudential center is always fun...what part of the city are you in? Where is your hotel?

[mominator]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 9:04am

Also the Swan Boats in the Public Garden are a must. The Public Gardens are far prettier than the Boston Common. Sadly many years ago the trees on the Common were hit with a blight, and the city never replaced many of the ones thathad to be cut down.

[meagan9848]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 9:09am

Wicked is also in town, but I'm assuming you know that...

[peach]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 10:04am

The great thing about Boston is that it's so walkable. Right now, we're having fabulous weather (sunny - even though it's a bit cool), so definitely explore!

Like others have said, The Freedom Trail is very interesting (wear comfortable shoes!) and educational. Take a walk through the Public Gardens. As mominator points out, The Public Gardnes are far prettier than the Commons (more flora and fauna!). Take stroll down Newbury Street. Great shopping and fun to people watch!

I'm not sure if the Sox are home this weekend - but if they are and you want tickets, there are always people selling tickets in the Kenmore Square area before the game.

I hope it works out for you. Boston is a great place to go to college. There are so many activities geared toward students (because there are so many students in the city). Students can often get theatre and museum discounts among other things.

Have fun!

ETA: Definitely go for the Duck Tour. They are lots of fun. As far as restaurants, there are a gazillion. Seafood is wonderful at most restaurants. Legal's is the "famous" place, but Atlantic Fish company on Boylston is also very good. For excellent Italian, go into the North End. Pick a restaurant - most of the them are pretty darn good.
Updated On: 4/28/06 at 10:04 AM

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 10:10am

Thanks for all the suggestions! I really appreciate your help.

I'm leaving now to tour the school, but I'll definetly use some of these suggestions to fill the rest of my day and tomorrow.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 10:33am

http://www.explorenewengland.com/travel?state_name=massachusetts&town_name=boston

[orion59]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 6:31pm

Oh for Christ's sake...It's NEWBURY ST, not NewBerry or NewBery

Updated On: 4/28/06 at 06:31 PM

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 6:34pm

sox are away till monday, then they play the yankees at fenway.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 7:13pm

See SHEAR MADNESS at the Charles Playhouse. It's hilarious!

A bit north of Boston is Salem--home of the witch hunts. Lots of interesting museums.

A little south of Boston is Plymouth. Take the time to see what's left of Plymouth Rock and visit the Olde Plimouth Plantation.

A short drive from Boston is Walden Pond. Take a walk around it and understand why Thoreau wrote his famous book about it.

[meagan9848]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 9:16pm

I live in the town next to salem

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 2:17am

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I had an absolutely wonderful first trip to Boston. What an amazing city!

I hung out in the Back Bay, toured Fenway Park, went shopping at the Prudential Center and Newbury Street (Painful to look and not touch ), strolled through Boston Commons, saw Wicked, and went to the cemetary (name?) where John Hancock and Ben Franklin are buried.

I had an absolutely wonderful time. So wonderful in fact that I decided I do want to go to school in Boston in the fall. The school was perfect, the town was amazing, and I am HAPPY!

Thanks again!

[meagan9848]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 3:34am

Congrats on your decision

Hopefully you'll be happy here!!!