Six hours in Boston - What to do?

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

South Shore people would know better than I, and hopefully Columbus Day weekend wouldn't be as bad as summer ones, but that last 15 miles and the bridge onto the Cape can be an absolute nightmare on Friday afternoons.

I'm not a huge cape fan as I mentioned earlier, but in the summer time, you pretty much plan 2 hours just for that bridge and rotary. No idea on Columbus Day weekend, but my experience is during any Fall holiday that has 3 day weekends, every single path out of Boston is largely delayed (including Cape Cod, North to New Hampshire and west out the Mass Pike)

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

What Ronnie said. There's also bunches of carts and vendors both outside and on the wings of the food-court at Faneuil Hall - some of them have touristy schlock, but some have actual nice local artists stuff. That's if you're looking cheaper than like...the nice galleries, for knick-knacks and smaller things.

If we were to buy a nice piece of art I would say our top-end is $300-ish, but more likely something under $100 unless we find something we love. But we try to get something whenever we go to a new city.

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

It's one of the easiest if you know what you're doing or have someone who does. If you're an out of towner who tries to come in and drive around downtown... good luck Walking/taking the T should be fine as long as you either 1) don't really care about making it to a specific point or 2) have a nice map (I've seen ones that overlay the subway system on top of a street map.)

Speaking of out of towners and driving... without needing specific details I am curious about your itinerary... you're planning to rent a car in the city? and then is there a rehearsal dinner you need to be at on the Cape at a certain time Friday night? South Shore people would know better than I, and hopefully Columbus Day weekend wouldn't be as bad as summer ones, but that last 15 miles and the bridge onto the Cape can be an absolute nightmare on Friday afternoons.Is that by the jump over from Rt 9 to the Pike? I used to work like 2 miles down near the Stop&Shop and take that every Fri/Sat/other nights I went straight into Boston.

We have no obligations on Friday. We are not a part of the wedding party or going to the rehearsal dinner. We just have to check in to our hotel.

The proposed plan is basically:

1. Arrive in Logan 11:00AM
2. Take silver line into the city
3. Enjoy the city
4. Leave sometime after rush hour (which will involve picking up a rental car in the city somewhere)
5. Drive to the cape
6. Check in to hotel

Originally Posted by molson

Ya, you have to pick a neighborhood and then be the kind of person that feels OK about wandering around and possibly getting lost. If you need to be somewhere a certain time and you're not familar with the area, you really have to be careful.

We are definitely fine with wandering around neighborhoods. The only thing we'll need to get to in time, despite saying we have no obligations above, is picking up the rental car.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

It's one of the easiest if you know what you're doing or have someone who does. If you're an out of towner who tries to come in and drive around downtown... good luck Walking/taking the T should be fine as long as you either 1) don't really care about making it to a specific point or 2) have a nice map (I've seen ones that overlay the subway system on top of a street map.)

Speaking of out of towners and driving... without needing specific details I am curious about your itinerary... you're planning to rent a car in the city? and then is there a rehearsal dinner you need to be at on the Cape at a certain time Friday night? South Shore people would know better than I, and hopefully Columbus Day weekend wouldn't be as bad as summer ones, but that last 15 miles and the bridge onto the Cape can be an absolute nightmare on Friday afternoons.Is that by the jump over from Rt 9 to the Pike? I used to work like 2 miles down near the Stop&Shop and take that every Fri/Sat/other nights I went straight into Boston.

Yep. Speen Street is the cutover from Rt. 9 to the Pike - my building is right there on Speen Street on the right - in the same parking lot where the hotel is, right as you come off Rt. 9.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Alan T

He said behind burlington coat factory, so that sounds like the crossover side. The other side is by the movie theater I think. (which ironically enough I ran into DT at once out of the blue).


Since we have a bunch of folks it sounds like in the Framingham area, right down the street from my office is a pub called Owen O'Leary's that has a monday night special 25cent wings and 99cent cheese pizzas (personal pizzas) that I go to fairly often with friends from my softball team. It's over at the Southborough side of Framingham and not the Natick side though.

If anyone is looking for a cheap place for Monday night football get togethers.

Nice - you hit up the Owen O'Leary's hmm? We oughta do that sometime everyone - maybe when it's a good game but not a Pats game so it won't be as crazy?

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

The proposed plan is basically:

1. Arrive in Logan 11:00AM
2. Take silver line into the city
3. Enjoy the city
4. Leave sometime after rush hour (which will involve picking up a rental car in the city somewhere)
5. Drive to the cape
6. Check in to hotel

We are definitely fine with wandering around neighborhoods. The only thing we'll need to get to in time, despite saying we have no obligations above, is picking up the rental car.

Sounds like you're pretty set in that case... I wouldn't even try to leave the city until about 630/7. Only thing (and I don't rent cars,) is I'm wondering if it might make more sense to go back to Logan to do it... the ones there are open 24 hours, and it would be a lot easier on the back end. Not sure how much luggage you'll be packing, but they might have a place you could store your luggage during the afternoon too instead of bringing it around the city. Or you could rent the car, then park it in a T parking garage - I only know Alewife (wrong way - Red Line/to the West) but South Station/Braintree/one of the Quincy ones might work. (Not sure how long a T ride they are - the Red Line is only 15 minutes from Alewife to downtown, but I think it's the shortest and most direct.)

Originally Posted by Alan T

Since we have a bunch of folks it sounds like in the Framingham area, right down the street from my office is a pub called Owen O'Leary's that has a monday night special 25cent wings and 99cent cheese pizzas (personal pizzas) that I go to fairly often with friends from my softball team. It's over at the Southborough side of Framingham and not the Natick side though.

If anyone is looking for a cheap place for Monday night football get togethers.

I avoid going out to places if its the Patriots, but if it was random teams I'd be down to stop by if I don't have work.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

Nice - you hit up the Owen O'Leary's hmm? We oughta do that sometime everyone - maybe when it's a good game but not a Pats game so it won't be as crazy?

I'd be up for it. Since I didn't grow up in the area, I'm perfectly fine for any football game. I'm not a die-hard Pats fan (especially after they clobbered my Falcons earlier this month)

[miked]

Don't take the Silver Line, it will probably dump you near South Station which is very traffic-y and not near much (except Chinatown and construction). If you are going to hit the Quincy Market/North End/Freedom trail, take the Blue line to the Aquarium station. It is 2 stops from the airport and quite literally across the street from Quincy Market. From there, North End, Faneuil Hall, Freedom Trail are easy.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

If we were to buy a nice piece of art I would say our top-end is $300-ish, but more likely something under $100 unless we find something we love. But we try to get something whenever we go to a new city.



We have no obligations on Friday. We are not a part of the wedding party or going to the rehearsal dinner. We just have to check in to our hotel.

The proposed plan is basically:

1. Arrive in Logan 11:00AM
2. Take silver line into the city
3. Enjoy the city
4. Leave sometime after rush hour (which will involve picking up a rental car in the city somewhere)
5. Drive to the cape
6. Check in to hotel



We are definitely fine with wandering around neighborhoods. The only thing we'll need to get to in time, despite saying we have no obligations above, is picking up the rental car.

Although Columbus Day shouldn't be as bad since Labor Day is really the end of the beach season there, I would think more like leave around 9 PM, rather than rush hour, especially if the weather is nice. So maybe add dinner to the Boston itinerary.

Is there a reason you wouldn't rent a car at the airport? Seems like a lot of hassle to avoid $30 in parking.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by miked

Don't take the Silver Line, it will probably dump you near South Station which is very traffic-y and not near much (except Chinatown and construction). If you are going to hit the Quincy Market/North End/Freedom trail, take the Blue line to the Aquarium station. It is 2 stops from the airport and quite literally across the street from Quincy Market. From there, North End, Faneuil Hall, Freedom Trail are easy.

Very good point here.

[DaddyTorgo]

lordscarlet like pizza?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Also note that you will have to take the Airport Shuttle to the T station - don't confuse that with the Silver Line.

[lordscarlet]

Getting the car in the city was advice from my wife's boston-native coworker. I wasn't aware there was convenient parking downtown, and didn't feel like dealing with street parking.

I was under the impression you could go straight from the airport to a T-station? You need to take a shuttle?

My wife likes pizza a lot. I like pizza, but I have never been overwhelmed by a slice of pizza.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

The shuttle goes from the various terminals to the T station. There are also shuttles to long term parking, the ferry, etc.

ETA: That's one benefit of the Silver Line. You get on it at the terminal, and you're off to South Station.

[molson]

I hate airports with shuttles. That's the greatest thing about living in a mid-sized city. Park your car and walkup. Or land in your plane and walk to the rental car. I think at Logan, you need to take a shuttle to go to the bathroom.

I'm really OT here.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

Getting the car in the city was advice from my wife's boston-native coworker. I wasn't aware there was convenient parking downtown, and didn't feel like dealing with street parking.

I was under the impression you could go straight from the airport to a T-station? You need to take a shuttle?

My wife likes pizza a lot. I like pizza, but I have never been overwhelmed by a slice of pizza.

Plenty of pay underground parking lots, albeit expensive.

On the pro side, you don't have to deal with lugging your baggage around with you, the hassle of pubilc transportation, and getting your rental car at the end of your day.

What I would do is a rent a car at the airport and then stick it in a lot downtown while you do the tourist thing.

[Alan T]

Yeah, I am not sure which would be worse. Lugging your luggage around Boston kind of stinks, but parking in Boston is more expensive than other cities I've lived in (Atlanta/Dallas). In the end, I'd probably say i would prefer to just get a car at the airport and pay the $20 - $35 to park somewhere in Boston and not have to worry about the luggage toting around. But that is my preference.

[molson]

And if you just drive into the city, you can research exactly where you want to park your car ahead of time, so you don't have to worry about driving around, getting lost, looking for a place, etc, and you can setup a good "ground zero" location for your touristing. Take that hassle out of it, and it's definitely worth whatever you have to pay.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

Getting the car in the city was advice from my wife's boston-native coworker. I wasn't aware there was convenient parking downtown, and didn't feel like dealing with street parking.

I was under the impression you could go straight from the airport to a T-station? You need to take a shuttle?

My wife likes pizza a lot. I like pizza, but I have never been overwhelmed by a slice of pizza.

If you're feeling kindly to your wife that week, take her to Pizzeria Regina in the North End for lunch.