Boston

wcc31

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Mar 18, 2002
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You guys were so good with the San Francisco suggestions, that I am now coming to you for my upcoming Boston trip (end of August). We're staying at the Boston Park Plaza, which I believe is in the Back Bay? My girl went to Northeastern so she'll know her way around. We won't be able to see the Red Sox. So, what do I need to see, do, eat, drink, etc?
 

UKserialkiller

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The walking tours, Bell in Hand bar (oldest bar in the U.S I think) and Green Dragon bar (where the Founding Fathers planned the gov't). They are right next to each other. Memorial Hall is awesome. Union Oyster House is good too
 
Dec 18, 2004
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Harvard Square and the University area is pretty cool to check out. Hit up the Red Line at Park St. or Downtown Crossing.

Chowder at Legal Seafoods is a must. Probably my #1 Stop every time. Should be one close to your hotel at the Plaza or Copley.

The Black Rose bar downtown is always a good time. Threw up many a time at the Purple Shamrock...RIP. Same for Buzzy's Roast Beef...RIP.

Harvard Ave. in Allston/Brighton is very eclectic and funky...gives a good vibe of BU and BC...as this is the University ghetto. Sunset Grill has great beers and burgers. The Wonder Bar was "THE" scene in the mid-90s...no clue anymore. Coolidge Corner on Beacon Ave. is also pretty awesome. Bottega Fiorentina...probably ate their 3 times a week in law school.
 

Ribsandwhitebread

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Apr 17, 2007
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Grab a few snacks at Mike's Patry. Oreo or hazelnut cannoli.

I'd also take a full day to just drive up north up Route 1.
 
Dec 18, 2004
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Route 1A (not 1 as this is the traffic main road) is very nice...check out Salem, Marblehead and Swampscott.

Route 3 to Route 3A is also very nice. Used to take my dog to the beaches at Cohasset and Scituate...quintessential New England shore towns.
 

-LEK-

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There is tons to see from the Freedom Trail, to Quincy Market, but the real gem for me is the North End. Lots of authentic Italian restaurants, Mike's Pastry's (World Famous Canolis, though the local's prefer Maria's (or something like that, just ask an Italian dude outside, seriously)). The North End is great to walk up, look at various places, and great food. Plus you can see the North Church, where Paul Revere crap with the lanterns.

+1 for the Union Oyster House.

If youre only going to be there a weekend, you should hit up North End. If you head down Commonwealth Ave, it turns into Allston, which has a lot of dive bars, and older kids. Cambridge is really cool, its where Harvard is. The Middle East is a great club over there to watch bands, and is also world famous. Cask and Flagon is cool just for the touristy stuff, near Fenway. Jillians has a 3 story bar and a lot of action down there, could be fun, and you can walk there from the North End.

The Commons is a really cool park, you go to Cheers, but its dinky and not what it looks like in the show. The barge/duck/water boat drive tour is neat. But just walk the freedom trail, its cheaper and cooler.

Chinatown is small, but pretty neat. Lots of underground gambling.

If you can make it out, Concord is a really cool little town. Walden Pond is there, and you can swim in it. HDT's cabin is there, and there is a cool little bed and breakfast/hotel called the colonial inn that is a great stay. Highly recommend. Author's ridge, and sleepy hollow are there. Salem really isnt worth the visit. Its pretty dumpy compared to all the other towns.
 
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DSmith21

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Head to Southie. Drop into any working class bar and use the phrase "Whitey was a Rat". You are likely to have some interesting interactions with locals.
 
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LineSkiCat14

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Great city, ****** people. But if you're not from New York you won't have to deal with their little brother syndrome...
 

wildcatadam6

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Mar 28, 2005
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Ye Olde Union Oyster House is awesome. Best beer I've ever had...brewed specifically for them by Sam Adams. Colonial Ale. Holocaust Memorial right outside the oyster house is neat. Walk through Harvard yard. Paul Revere house for $5 or $10 is worth a half hour. A cannoli from Mike's Pastry. Very walkable city.
 
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Mime-Is-Money

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May 29, 2002
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You're in a great, centrally located spot at Park Plaza.

Must do's IMO :

- Hit up Boston's green spaces (Boston Common and Public Gardens right by your hotel, a walk down Commonwealth Ave right off Public Gardens [Pitino's old stomping ground], Esplanade along the Charles River, the Fens around Kenmore and Jamaica Plan [goes by your lady's old hood near the NU campus], JFK Park on the river in Harvard's campus, etc, etc, etc)

- Library Hotel for drinks - down by MGH on the River, an old prison converted to a boutique hotel. Really fun spot at the foot of Beacon Hill.

- Union Oyster House, Bell in Hand / North End / Christopher Columbus Park / new parks opened after Big Dig

- A stroll through the South End, specifically Tremont and Shawmut streets

- Hit up Harvard Sq for some drinks/eats. Easy trip on the red line from Park Street to Harvard Sq, takes about 10 minutes at the most, but you get a fantastic view of the city/Beacon Hill while crossing over the Longfellow Bridge. You can also walk across the bridge but you end up near Kendall Sq / MIT. Kinda dead/sterile in that area, but getting better.

- if you get a chance, hit up any of the coastal towns up Route 1A up to Cape Anne. (Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem, Manchester-By-The-Sea, Gloucester, Rockport). Crane Beach by Ipswich is dope as well. DO NOT take Route 1 unless you want to travel back in time to Florida in the mid 80's

Overrated places you can skip, some already mentioned :

- Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
- TD Garden area
- Cheers
- Bunker Hill
- MIT, except for Killian Court
- Allston/Brighton unless you're into college bros (Coolidge Corner and Washington Sq in Brookline is great, no need to head north from there)
 

80 Proof

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Jan 3, 2003
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Modern Pastry > Mikes for a cannoli

Cheers is stupid, don't waste your time

North End (Italian area) is awesome, Dolce Vida is the ish and Franco (the owner) is friends with Calipari, he's also likely to sing if you're lucky

Seafood, lots of seafood

Liberty Trail is awesome if you like history, I paid $10 or so for one of those goofy walking tours and loved it

Another really cool thing to consider is the sunset cruise on the liberty fleet tallship, well worth the money, drug the Mrs along against her will and it ended up being one of her favorite parts of the trip

The Chinatown in Boston is pretty well known for being awesome

Hit up a bar down on a peer and knock down a few cold ones while looking at the harbor

Fenway area is cool, even when the Sox aren't playing

Pizza Regina is one of the best pies I've ever had, and it will make @bbdk jealous if you go (the original)

USS Constitution is pretty bad ***

We did one of the double decker bus tour passes for two days as well, the ones that stop at all the hot spots and give a brief description. Great way to hit a lot quickly and save dough

Boston Gardens is pretty beautiful, be a good romantic stroll for you and the lass
 
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wildcatadam6

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Mar 28, 2005
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There's a printing press operation near the paul revere house that blew my mind. The guy in there is a total geek for it, so much so that he started a business in his basement doing wedding invites/stationery/etc using the same equipment and techniques used in the 18th century. Totally worth spending a half hour listening to his spiel. The guy loves his craft, it's obvious, and can answer any damn question you throw at him. I bought a copy of the Declaration of Independence that is identical to the originals, except that it was printed in October 2015.
 

wildcatadam6

Active member
Mar 28, 2005
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There's a printing press operation near the paul revere house that blew my mind. The guy in there is a total geek for it, so much so that he started a business in his basement doing wedding invites/stationery/etc using the same equipment and techniques used in the 18th century. Totally worth spending a half hour listening to his spiel. The guy loves his craft, it's obvious, and can answer any damn question you throw at him. I bought a copy of the Declaration of Independence that is identical to the originals, except that it was printed in October 2015.
http://bostongazette.org
 

vhcat70

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History buff here. On the Freedom Trail, liked the Granary Cemetery with graves of John Hancock, Samuel Adams (of beer fame), Paul Revere, & Crispus Attucks. Also, out in Quincy are the graves & homes of John & John Quincy Adams. Homes were not lavish though stout. Buried next to each other in church basement.
 

UpstateNYCat

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A shame you're not wanting to drive anywhere, Portland,ME is a great spot to check out. I believe it's only about an hour or two North of Boston. You're also about an hour or so from Springfield and the BB HoF. Boston's a great town, very walkable.
 

P19978

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Was there last year with fam; lots of good advice already.

I'll second:
Mike's Pastry
North End/Little Italy
USS Constitution
Green Dragon
Clam chowder at pretty much any decent restaurant
Harvard Square
The Duck Tour
Tour of Fenway
Tour of Harvard