Neighborhood/housing suggestions near Quincy

Hi! We will be moving to Quincy in the Fall. Any suggestions on where to look for an apartment? It does not have to be in Quincy. Anywhere nice within a 20 minute radius would be good. Thank you for your suggestions.

Neighborhood/housing suggestions near Quincy

Quincy is full of good areas. There%26#39;s the Marina Bay complex up close to (and overlooking) the city), new condos/apts up near the Neponset River (a friend has one and loves it) and the Falls down by the Weymouth/Braintree line are popular. If you%26#39;re looking for more of a neighborhood (yards, two-family homes, duplexes, etc), I like Wollaston.

Neighborhood/housing suggestions near Quincy

Hi,

Depends on where you need to be. Are you planning to use the Red Line for getting to work? Do you want to be walking distance to shopping, etc?

If you want both, look in Wollaston. Nice tree-lined streets and walking distance to loads of shopping and the Red Line. Also, you can walk to the beach from most of Wollaston, and that%26#39;s nice this time of year.

There are some tower apts. on Adams. I hear they have a free shuttle to the red line in the morning.

SRO at Fenway

Just a couple of weeks ago my husband got on the Red Sox website and bought 2 Standing Room Only tickets for last night%26#39;s game. He paid face value.

It was a drizzly night, but the game was played. And, best of all, he and my son managed to snag some great seats behind home plate ... a bit in the back, but a great siteline and under a roof so they stayed relatively dry. After the 4th inning they got up and then they returned to different seats in the same area.

I guess there were lots of no shows. It was an enjoyable evening for the two of them.

SRO at Fenway

Make up games are also a good way of getting those good seats. Home plate is a great place to sit. I bet they had great stories for you.

cape cod for two twenty year olds with no car

hi, i am hoping to visit cape cod for three days in late august with a friend after spending some time in boston and having read through the forums i am very confused as to the best location for us. We are both 20 year old girls and as we are British we wont be able to rent a car. I am right in thinking the places most accessible to us using public transport are Provincetown and Hyannis? If we would just like to relax on the beach, see a bit of Cape Cod (ideally the ginger bread houses) and be in walking distance-ish of the beach/restaurants where would you recommend? THanks in advance!!!

cape cod for two twenty year olds with no car

Without a car, yes P-Town and/or Hyannis would be your best bets.

You could also look into Newport, RI, accessible by bus from Boston and lots to do/see within walking distance or a trolley ride. Lot%26#39;s of 20 somethings on the beaches and at the bars at night. Lodging costs however could be higher than something you might find in Hyannis.

Check out www.gonewport.com to get an idea of what%26#39;s there.

cape cod for two twenty year olds with no car

I think the spot for you two is Hyannis. It%26#39;s the transportation hub of the Cape and can easily get you to other places the easiest. There%26#39;s a couple of beaches in Hyannis, as well as plenty of things to keep you two busy. You can also hop on the ferry in Hyannis for trips to Martha%26#39;s Vineyard and Nantucket. Hyannis is very commercialised in areas, but it will be a good base for what you two want to do. You can take the bus from Boston to Hyannis Center.

There is a Cape Cod public bus. Check it out at this link:

http://www.capecodtransit.org/

If you decide to go over to Nantucket or Marthas Vineyard islands for the day these also have bus routes and bikes can be rented to get around.

When you say that you won%26#39;t be able to rent a car, is that because you%26#39;re uncomfortable driving on the opposite side of the road? Because we have friends from Manchester who have come to visit on several occasions, and they%26#39;ve had no trouble renting a car.

Great feedback above. I just wanted to add that although I would send you to Provincetown in a heartbeat, I realize you are not the legal drinking age (21 years of age in the USA) and you will not be able to take advantage of the vast nightlife there. That said, there are plenty of lively restaurants in PTown and Hyannis for when you are looking for that, and shuttles/buses you can catch to beaches. Chatham would be another option... What is your price range for accomodations?

Pastiche,

I believe they can%26#39;t rent a car in the U.S. because of their age.

Ooops, didn%26#39;t catch the ';20 year old girls'; part when I first read their post....for some reason I read/assumed 20 SOMETHING...that could change a few things....

A number of car-rental companies will let you rent a vehicle even if you%26#39;re as young as 18. (There is usually a surcharge if you%26#39;re under age 24, however.) It depends on company and location. Here in Buffalo, for example, Budget Rent-a-Car will rent to 18-year-olds, but the same company might have a higher age limit at a different location. If you%26#39;re interested in renting a car, check specific companies and locations before you give up on that option.

Sorry, I stand corrected. Just did a little more checking, and apparently 18-year-olds can rent cars here in New York State because the law requires it. Apparently most other states are not so lenient.

I%26#39;m pretty sure you have to be 21 to rent a car in the States if your from another country. I might be wrong. I think it%26#39;s ok to rent a UHaul however. Two 20 year old British girls cruising the Cape in a Uhaul. Priceless.

Bus to and fro from New York to Niagara!!

Hi!

I was wondering if someone could advise?? I wanna go to see the niagara from New york of New jersey... and I want to be able to come back the same night!!!

Pls lemme know if youl have heard of such a bus or train service that I can book or take once I get there!!!

Hope to hear from youl soon!

Cheers!!

Bus to and fro from New York to Niagara!!

You%26#39;ll probably get more responses if you post on a New York, New Jersey or Niagra Falls forum.

Bus to and fro from New York to Niagara!!

Hey

Thank you so much for that!!

Cheers!

the bees

Cape Cod Harbor House-Hyannis

Hello: Does anyone have any experience with this

B%26amp;B? My husband and I are travelling to the Cape the week of July 21 with our dog, so we are limited to dog friendly accommodations. Would also like a kitchen efficiency if possible. Any comments on Harbor House and any other suggestions please?

We are happy to go anywhere on the Cape, not necessarily Hyannis...would almost prefer a smaller town.

Cape Cod Harbor House-Hyannis

I like CapeWind Resort in Falmouth as a pet friendly place with efficiency units. Great place and very reasonable if you can get a room there. Lots of room for the dogs to run around. I think they enjoy the place as much as the people. LOL.

Cape Cod Harbor House-Hyannis

Hi Katie

Dont know if your ';week%26#39; in your message meant you were staying the week or just heading down for a few days during that week BUT

many cottages on the cape are pet friendly but also require weekly stays and one of the sites that I know of allows you to sort by arrival date and if they are pet friendly

www.weneedavacation.com

Good Luck

Budget hotel with car parking

Hello!

We%26#39;ll be arriving in Boston on the 18th of June, coming from Cape Cod. I`m trying to find a reasonably priced hotel/inn, preferably around $100, not more than $120.

We%26#39;re arriving with car. I`m not very keen on driving in the city so I`m looking on places outside of Boston, but within a 30 minutes drive and train ride to the city center.

So far I%26#39;ve come up with Holiday Inn ($120/night) and Country Inn ($100/night) in Brockton. I`m not sure how far away these are from Boston though. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated of course :)

Budget hotel with car parking

We just stayed at the Homestead Suites in Waltham. It%26#39;s about a 20 drive to the Alewife station (Red Line).

For a queen the price is about $95 after taxes and king is $100/night after taxes. It%26#39;s clean and has a small kitchen.

The hotel also has free shuttles to the station, but I think it%26#39;s very limited (mostly around business hours such as 7 AM and 5 PM). Parking at the Alewife station is only $5/day.

Budget hotel with car parking

Hi

Since you are coming from the Cape, I%26#39;d recommend two places which are steps off of the highway you will be driving on (I-93/Route 3).

There is a Motel 6 in Braintree which is cheap and has free parking. It%26#39;s $79/night. The good thing is that it%26#39;s next door to the Braintree Red Line subway station, so it%26#39;s extremely convenient to get in and out of Boston without your car. However, it%26#39;s basic, no-frills accommodations in a boring surburban area with nothing interesting for a tourist in the immediate area. But, if you just need a cheap place to sleep, a free place to park your car, and easy access to Boston, it%26#39;s great.

The other place is a Holiday Inn Express on Boston St. in Dorchester. It%26#39;s around $109/night, has free parking, free continental breakfasts, and it%26#39;s maybe a slight improvement in comfort over the Motel 6. It%26#39;s also a 5 minute walk from the Red Line at Andrew station. The down side is that it%26#39;s in an ugly light industrial area, with lots of auto body shops, and shopping mall as neighbors. Again, if you are just looking for a cheap place to park the car and sleep, it%26#39;s perfect. My 85yo dad stays there when he visits Boston and always has had good things to say about it.

http://www.motel6.com (Braintree is hotel #1057)

fodors.com/world/鈥eview-44353.html

The suggestions listed here are much better options than the ones you found in Brockton. You don%26#39;t want to go to Brockton, it%26#39;s not a very pleasant place at all.

I second Beantownmans suggestions. Getting a T station within walking distance to your hotel is key for a place outside the city. Remember that the Alewife Station on the Red line often fills up early morning with commuters (Mon to Fri) and the garage is undergoing renovations so different floors are often off limits so further limiting the number of parking spots there. Weekends it is fine place to park and we often use it without any trouble Sat or Sunday.

Based on your advice we choose the Motel 6. Price and accessability to Boston deciding factors :)

Thanks very much for your help!

http://www.bwadamsinn.com/

I think this is nicer than the hotel in Braintree... both are better than Brockton.

The Best Western looks nicer, but it%26#39;s roughly twice the price of the motel 6 in Braintree. As long as we%26#39;re not trading safety for a good price, I think we%26#39;ll stay with motel 6 :)

Thanks for all the suggestions. You%26#39;re all very helpful!

It is good that you decided not to stay in Brockton. It is out of the question.

Motel 6 is the American version of an Accor economy hotel, about at the level of an Ibis. There are two things that you can do near the motel that are not what one usually considers tourist activities. There is a Best Buy store nearby, but you will need to drive to it. And I strongly suggest that you get directions to ';Famous Dave%26#39;s'; barbecue restaurant in Braintree, which is about two km down the road. In my opinion it is outstanding.

I know, I know. The other Bostonians are gasping. You%26#39;re here to spend time in Boston. But Best Buy is now a phenomenon in the US, and I am sure you will find it interesting (as I am sure we would have found IKEA interesting in its early years there). And it will be so close. It is worth an hour. About Famous Dave%26#39;s, I have many friends from outside the US who love barbecue when I introduce them to it.

OK, Bostonians, you can resume normal activity... ';Nothing to see here.';

We found another room at a B%26amp;B that looks very nice. Carruth House in Dorchester. From the reviews at TA it it seems like a good place for $100/night. What do you think of the place? I thought I read somewhere that Dorchester area is iffy?

Hi,

The idea about Famous Dave%26#39;s is interesting. When I had friends visiting from England, their favorite place I took them was Bugaboo Creek steakhouse in Braintree (which is next door to Famous Dave%26#39;s).

I wasn%26#39;t planning to take them, but they wanted to see a real ';American Suburb'; restaurant. It fit the bill perfectly. Also, the food isn%26#39;t so bad and they really enjoyed the steaks.

Famous Dave%26#39;s is definitely a slice of Americana, and for someone from overseas it might be a fun dinner, in a campy sort of way. It%26#39;s difficult for us here to imagine the attraction of some of these chain places. However, if it%26#39;s not something you find in your home country, it can be interesting. Look at all the hype here when a foreign chain opens up, like Wagamama, for example.

Anyhow, it is a 5 minute drive from the Motel 6 and if you want to stick closer to the motel one evening for dinner, and you want BBQ, it%26#39;s a good option.

As for the Best Western Adams Inn, it%26#39;s a nice motel, but as mentioned it%26#39;s significantly more expensive. Also, it%26#39;s a bit less convenient for the Red Line. North Quincy station is a 10 minute walk. The Motel 6 is next door to the Red Line.

And yes, it%26#39;s in a perfectly safe area, so not to worry about that.

Cape Cod Harbor House Inn - Hyannis

Hello:

Does anyone have any recent experience with this B%26amp;B? The place ';looks'; nice but the reviews are mostly negative. We are travelling with our dog and are finding it difficult to find a nice place that is dog friendly during the week of July 21-23, 2008. Someone PLEASE respond! Thanks!

Cape Cod Harbor House Inn - Hyannis

Have you tried the SeaCoast Inn? I%26#39;m pretty sure they allow pets.

transport from vineyard haven to the airport

Hi does anyone know what is the best way to get from the mansion house hotel to the airport on Martha%26#39;s vineyard. We hope to catch a flight on a Thursday morning at 12a.m.Can you get a bus or shuttle or is taxi the best and what would it cost approx for 3 passengers.

transport from vineyard haven to the airport

there are public busses as part of the VTA- vineyard transport authority, however they can be crowded and you would have to walk to the bus stops with your luggage in the hot sun.There are bus stops in various locations in each town and one major stop is in the area in front of the bank behind the ferry terminal. You would be able to see them when you got off of the ferry in Vineyard Haven. I would suggest a taxi serveice. The taxis on the island are much larger than a normal cab and are large vans that hold 12- 15 people. They normally charge a certain rate per person, though they are normally pretty cheap as far as airport transfer and you can call ahead to schedule a pick- up directly from your hotel.

Some cab companies are:

Adam Cab 508-627-4462

Atlantic Cab 508-693-7110

Bluefish Taxi 508-627-7373

Mario’s 508-693-8399

Stagecoach 508-693-9632

Up Island Taxi 508-627-4566

The airport is close to Vineyard Haven so the ride is relatively short(12-15 minutes) and should cost about 20 or 25 dollars.

transport from vineyard haven to the airport

If you don%26#39;t have a lot of luggage, go with the VTA buses, cheap and reliable. As the previous poster said taxis are a good choice. I%26#39;ve never had a bad taxi driver or feel I was ripped off using them.

Labor Day (Monday)

Hello, any suggestions for Labor Day activities?

Most things seem to be planned for Sunday: Chatham Bars Inn has their clambake scheduled for Sunday, however if there is no room for non-guests (which is currently the case) then we plan to go to the Wellfleet Beachcomber that day.

We would like the same type of ';end of summer party'; experience on Monday, if possible. Anyone know of another clambake? Or even another great restaurant/bar on the beach?

We do plan to go to the Jetties in Nantucket, however had not planned to do that on Labor Day unless we could not find any actual Labor Day activities going on.

Thanks in advance.

Labor Day (Monday)

I live on the Cape and know of no activities..you seem to know more than I do..haa...It%26#39;s the day everyone leaves the Cape really. The Beachcomber would be a blast. I love it up there.

Labor Day (Monday)

In all honesty, I think you%26#39;ll have a much better time going to the Beachcomber than hanging out as a guest at CBI. The best advice is to look in the Cape Cod Times while your visiting. They will have a list of events going on for the holiday weekend. Keep your eyes open in town as well. Many places just advertise through flyers or signs.

Boston hotel for less than $100 a night?

Is it possible to find a hotel in the Boston metro area below under $100 a night from May 31st to June 4th? I鈥檓 having a hard time finding one. There seems to be a lot of events happening in this time frame like a large convention and graduations. I don%26#39;t mind staying outside the city as long as there are public transportation options since I won鈥檛 have a car. I don鈥檛 need a hotel with a lot of perks鈥?just a clean place to sleep. Any suggestions?

Boston hotel for less than $100 a night?

You will likely have to dig pretty deep, into B%26amp;Bs and the like, to find anything priced that cheaply. Or you%26#39;ll need to get a hotwire/priceline miracle. Given those dates and graduations, I seriously question whether you can find a decent hotel in Boston under $100.

Boston hotel for less than $100 a night?

I%26#39;m not overly familiar with Boston though I%26#39;ve been a couple of times. I%26#39;m planning a summer trip and another one in November. I%26#39;ve found nothing that inexpensive in the city, and my friends have told me I won%26#39;t. If you do come across something, would love to hear about it!

Hi,

Yes, there IS lodging in the general area for $100/night or less.

One option is to share a bathroom. If you don%26#39;t mind sharing a bathroom, the Oasis Guest House in the Fenway is very pleasant, clean, and has an excellent location near all of the tourist attractions and the MBTA Green Line.

A room there with a single bed and a shared bath, starts at $79/night.

Another Guest House is the 463 Beacon St. Guest House, which is located in the heart of Back Bay. Rooms there also start at $79/night, with a shared bath (although some of their rooms may have a private bath for that price...you%26#39;d have to call them directly and ask).

http://www.oasisgh.com

http://www.463beacon.com

Outside of the city, there are plenty of motels you can stay in, that would be under $100. There is a Motel 6 in Braintree, which was recently completely renovated. It%26#39;s very convenient, as it%26#39;s directly across the street from the Braintree Red Line station, which provides direct access downtown. This avoids the hassle of dealing with motel shuttles or having to take taxis.

I checked their website and they have a special ';Click6'; rate for those dates of $75.99/night.

http://www.motel6.com The Braintree Hotel is #1057.

Here are a number of suggestions in Cambridge area for B%26amp;Bs, convenient to the Red line subway into Boston. Somebody must have a vacancy, even on such aweekend.

www.bnbboston.com/cambridge/cambridge_1_e.htm

Prospect Place B%26amp;B (Central)

Birdhouse Suite (Kendall)

The Scholar (Harvard)

And lots of others

鈥arvard.edu/events/鈥iogeographylodging.pdf

opens a document originated by Harvard Univ. with a list of nearby accomodations

web.mit.edu/housing/och/guest_houses.html

another list, this one by MIT (Mass. Institute of Technology)

When we travel to Boston we like to stay at the Chelsea Wyndham. They have shuttle service that will take you to the T station at the airport and you are all set to travel into the city. Travel time is not long at all and the service at the hotel is great. Not sure what the prices of room are but I rarely spend more than $110 for a room. I usually search on orbitz or expedia.

Maizie,

There are quite a few reviews that don%26#39;t treat the Wyndham very kindly. We are only going to be there from 10 pm to 5am coming from Spain, then on to DC the next morning very early. Will it be possible to get to and from this hotel these hours, and if so, how would you do it?

Thanks,

Roger

Cenes_de_la_Vega:

They have an airport shuttle. Contact the hotel directly and see if these hours for shuttle pick up and drop off are available. Flight attendants and pilots used the Chelsea Wyndham regularly.

http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/BOSCH/main.wnt

Thanks Remay,

They said it goes from 4am to 12 midnight which should work fine for us. Thanks for the info!

While, on the one hand, the Wyndham is pretty new and flight crews stay there and like it, on the other hand, it%26#39;s in absolutely the middle of nowhere. Your ';lifeline'; would be their shuttle to the T Airport station, and thence into town, and thus a major (albeit comfortable) effort to enjoy all that you deserve in a visit to Boston. I would strongly urge you to take one of the other suggestions.

Think of this scenario: In Boston, you walk a lot. It%26#39;s a given. So you tire. Or it%26#39;s showery, but just for a little while... You go back to your room. You think, ';Hey, I%26#39;d like to go grab something at that little (grocery, sandwich shop, pizza-by-the-slice or ice cream place, Dunkin%26#39;s, CVS).'; Or, you don%26#39;t go to bars or lounges, but you saw one that actually would work for you, maybe later. Or, you walk by one of the Bostix kiosks, and you see a ridiculously low discount... Or??? (It%26#39;s the ';Or?'; one I urge you to think about.)

Thanks for the suggestions. I settled with booking The Inn at Crystal Cove. It was $109 a night. Opinions seem mixed on it but it looks unique and it seems really close to downtown. I will have a car for a trip to Maine, so I will be able to drive to a T stop.

I%26#39;m actually flying into Providence airport on Tuesday at 12:30 pm. Any suggestions on the best route to get to Winthrop, best route meaning less traffic congestion?

the bees

Parking around Kenmore Square

Hi and thanks for reading.

Briefly lived in Boston when I was tiny, tiny, but this will the first trip back in 25 or so years. Coming at the end of this month for about a week.

The first couple of nights, I wanted to get close to town and ended up with the Buckminster. Say what you will, but I%26#39;m going to risk it for the price, location and the fact that there are no Sox games that weekend. Also, the reviews seem to be steadily improving.

Anyway, the clerk (who was actually crazy nice on the phone) said that parking is $18/night. But that, I assume, is a garage nearby. I realize that I don%26#39;t need a car, and wasn%26#39;t planning on even attempting to drive in Downtown Boston, but, because of the way weekly rates work, it%26#39;s actually about the same to get the car for the full week versus once we%26#39;re done with staying inside the city. And it would be nice to get down to the hotel from the airport by our own car rather than by T.

My question: what are my chances on finding street parking around Kenmore Square and the Buckminster? Is that totally stupid? We%26#39;ll be getting there about 10:30am on Sunday and will likely not move the car until we leave on Monday morning.

Also, I was planning on getting the day pass for the T on the days that we%26#39;re tramping around Boston. Are those available at all stations?

Thanks in advance.

Colin

Parking around Kenmore Square

Hi,

So if I understand you correctly, you are only staying for one night at the Buckminster, and it%26#39;s a Sunday night? Also, it%26#39;s a weekend when the Red Sox are not in town? I%26#39;m sort of confused about your plans, because then you talk about getting a day pass for the T.

You could park your car on the street at a meter on Sunday morning (meters are not in effect on Sunday), and move it before 8am Monday morning, and not get a ticket. Since the Sox are not in town that week, you should be able to find a metered space along Commonwealth Ave on the BU campus, or along Brookline Avenue or Beacon St., heading out towards Brookline. Keep in mind that you need to stay inside the Boston city limits, because Brookline doesn%26#39;t allow overnight parking at all.

What else do you need the car for? Certainly it is not a good use of money to rent a car just to get from Logan to Kenmore Sq.?

Parking around Kenmore Square

Thanks for the quick response!

%26gt; So if I understand you correctly, you are only staying for one night at the Buckminster, and it%26#39;s a Sunday night?

No, sorry. We get in Saturday morning and leave Monday morning. The plan was to park the car, drop the stuff off at the hotel, then take the subway into the city and maybe sit around in front of the water or something.

%26gt; I%26#39;m sort of confused about your plans, because then you talk about getting a day pass for the T.

The plan is to get a day pass for the T on both days.

%26gt; You could park your car on the street at a meter on Sunday morning (meters are not in effect on Sunday), and move it before 8am Monday morning, and not get a ticket.

Hmm. I was hoping that Saturday wouldn%26#39;t be enforced either, but I guess that was overly optimistic. Is there unmetered neighborhood parking somewhere? I%26#39;m not adverse to walking 1/2 mile or so once the luggage is dropped off. Maybe even parking and then taking the T back to the hotel?

Thanks for the FYI on Brookline. I would have never known (and gotten a ticket).

%26gt; What else do you need the car for?

We%26#39;ll be staying out in the %26#39;burbs for a few nights as well as taking a road trip up to Maine and an overnight to Connecticut for an awkward relative meeting.

%26gt; Certainly it is not a good use of money to rent a car just to get from Logan to Kenmore Sq.?

It%26#39;s like $40 cheaper to rent the car the day we get in versus the Monday when we actually need it. Makes no sense, I know, but it%26#39;s just the way the car rental companies work with the weekly versus daily rates.

Thanks again for responding.

Hi,

As you%26#39;ve probably noticed from reading this forum, bringing a car into Boston is a bad idea. Usually I try desperately to discourage it. I only thought it made sense in your case because it was a Sunday.

However, meters ARE enforced on Saturday, between 8am and either 6pm or 8pm in the evening. I believe in the Kenmore area, it%26#39;s 6pm, but you have to read the directions on the meter itself, to know for sure.

So you could park your car without a problem from 6:05pm Saturday night, until 7:55am Monday morning (they will pounce on you at 8:00am sharp, if you haven%26#39;t moved it...). I suppose you could just park it in a garage on Saturday and then move to the street, to save some money.

OOPS,

Sorry, I re-read your original question...there is some un-metered parking in the Kenmore area, but if you do find one of those spaces, I%26#39;d immediately go and buy a Mega Millions ticket, because you%26#39;d be bound to win with that luck :)

The un-metered parking is called ';visitor'; parking, and it%26#39;s located in the resident permit parking areas up along the Park Drive and Fenway areas and the side streets such as Queensbury, Peterborough, Jersey, etc. If a street has 100 resident permit only spots, they may reserve 2 for this special ';Visitor'; parking. Also, technically the visitor parking is only for 2 hours, not all day. Although I haven%26#39;t heard of anyone getting a ticket for parking all day in Visitor parking, it is technically possible.

That%26#39;s funny, but kind of what I had assumed about the unmetered parking in that area. Would Cambridge be better? Using Google Street View, I saw a lot of ';Permit Parking Only'; signs in Cambridge, so maybe not.

I%26#39;ve got this plan now: drive to the hotel, drop off the stuff, drive to Boston College, park (apparently, the garages are free on the weekends), then take the T back to the city. Saturday evening or Sunday morning, pick up the car from BC, since pay parking starts at 2am on Monday versus 8am in the city, and drive it back to the hotel area to park it for the night.

Maybe a little crazy, but I%26#39;m excessively cheap (never paid for parking before when staying in a city) and it would give me a chance to see the Boston College campus, which I had wanted to do anyway.

What do you think?

Your total parking bill for the two days would be $36. I agree that you are probably overreacting, if that%26#39;s the right word, to that cost. And then you%26#39;ll waste a couple of hours getting to and from BC. And who knows if parking is really free. Guess I wouldn%26#39;t do that.

AlanM

I would take the $36 rate for parking and run with it. Most places charge more than that for one night. Now, don%26#39;t get me wrong, I hate paying for parking ANYWHERE, but Boston is a tough place to park legally if you don%26#39;t have a permit. The going rate for a ticket if you illegally park in a ';permit only'; spot is $40. Now, let%26#39;s say you have the bad luck of finding a spot on a Street Cleaning day. Then you%26#39;re in for $40 for not having a permit, $40 for not obeying the street cleaning, and $55 for a tow. Is it worth the risk? If it were me,I would spend the $36 and enjoy the peace of mind.

BC has free parking? I guess you could try that, but I%26#39;d triple check it before counting on it. It%26#39;s a long T ride to BC...the trolley stops every block or so takes a long time to get out there... the BC campus is a pretty college campus but...it%26#39;s a lot of time out of a short trip.

Plus if you rent a car, it%26#39;s a toll out of the airport plus t fare to BC and back, plus the time spent, plus gas getting over to BC and if you don%26#39;t know your way, that can be a challenge and use gas if you get lost, plus there%26#39;s traffic...

Personally if I were doing it (and I%26#39;m a huge cheapskate when it comes to stuff ilke parking), I%26#39;d take the T from the airport and rent the car via Priceline starting whenever you want to laeve the city or even let the rental car company keep the car for those days rather than spend all that time and trouble dealing with it. Seriously, ask to pick it up later.

And if you try funky street parking arrangements, read signs carefully. CAREFULLY. I made a mistake I%26#39;m not soon to forget. Tow Zone really means that they%26#39;ll take your car away and charge you big bucks to get it back and you have to take a cab to this tow lot and...it%26#39;s a nightmare. Tickets are easy to come by too. Boston is CRAZY when it comes to tickets and towing. I assume Cambridge is the same.

Having your car towed in Boston can come to a total of 200- tow charge plus fine.... plus a very unpleasant experience of not finding your car and having to go to the tow lot...

BC Garages have free parking without a student id? That%26#39;s gotta be the best kept secret around. Although I agree w/ the others ... it%26#39;s a long trip to BC on the greenline.

Today Is The Day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Y%26#39;all! TODAY is the day we start our first leg of the journey to Boston. YAY! I have a zillion and twenty two things to do, but just had to send BIG thank you to all those who helped me plan our trip.

What would I have done without the invaluable help of (and these are listed in no particular order) Remay, Will, AlanM, BeanTownMan (still have your walking directions Man!), Mahj, Forgotmypword, Voyagereuse, Kendrick, BostonComputerChic, BeansandCod, Eileengs2, Sedum, Queenslace, Cabinet, Thomas, Orion, VeronicaSawyer, Signofthetimes, Healey, Firewind, and anyone else who I forgot to mention.

I have no doubt our anniversary trip to Boston will be unforgettable and it wouldn’t have been possible if you hadn’t been so patient with my ENDLESS questions!! If anytime between Thursday and Tuesday you see a very HAPPY Texan skipping around your fair city, grinning from ear to ear, it’ll be me. Give me a shout out okay?

THANKS again and I better get to my list of things to do, before my husband catches me on here! %26lt;%26lt;wink wink%26gt;%26gt;

Today Is The Day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great time teacher. It%26#39;s been a pleasure helping you out. I%26#39;ll be looking for a happy texan with a cowgirl hat on! :)

Today Is The Day!!!!!!!!!!!!

I%26#39;ll be happy but you won%26#39;t see me with a cowgirl hat on. That%26#39;s a myth Will. We don%26#39;t all have hats, horses, or oil wells (dang it!) LOL

I wish I had an oil well!

Enjoy!!!

Hi Teacher:

Have a great time and here is wishing you the best weather Boston has to offer.

Hey ';Teachah';,

There should be a lot of buzz in the air during your visit. Great weather, the Sox are in town and the Celtics are in the finals! Don%26#39;t forget to write a trip report. Enjoy your trip and our city.

Go Sox and Go Green!

Have fun! With your attitude I have no doubt you will.

Hi,

You owe us a very detailed trip report.

Don%26#39;t let us down, or we WILL find you...;)

Enjoy your stay.

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. My husband just wishes he could see the Celtics %26amp; Laker%26#39;s, but it%26#39;s TOTALLY out of our budget!! Don%26#39;t worry BeanTownMan I will write a VERY detailed trip report when I return. You Guys are the BEST!

Today is a rainy, miserable day in boston but the weather is supposed to be beautiful from tomooorw on through the rest of the week. So, it will be perfect for enjoying the city. You should have a great time. I%26#39;ll keep my ears open for that Texas drawl while riding the T.

guided tour at harvard

Hello, in a few weeks I will take a seminar at the Real Colegio Complutense at Havard, I want to know if I would have the chance to take a tour through the university (also I would love to be at MIT)..and one more thing..can I buy a harvard t-shirt (or MIT%26#39;s)if I%26#39;m not taking any course but the seminar? thanks!

guided tour at harvard

Yes, Harvard has tours. In addition, there%26#39;s an ';unofficial'; campus tour available from Harvard Square. T-shirts you%26#39;ll find everywhere.

AlanM

guided tour at harvard

Here are some details on tours of Harvard:

www.hno.harvard.edu/guide/to_do/index.html

www.harvard.edu/siteguide/faqs/faq18.html

www.harv.unofficialtours.com/tours.php鈥?/a>

Harvard insignia clothing can be found at several stores in Harvard Square, including the Harvard Coop bookstore. Anyone can buy the clothing. At the Faculty Club, which is on one side of Harvard Yard, you will only be a 5 minute walk from the Coop and anybody local can give you directions.

Here is information on tours of MIT (2 stops away from Harvard on the Red line T subway or #1 Dudley bus down Massachusetts Avenue:

http://web.mit.edu/visit/do.html

The MIT branch of the Coop, with MIT insignia clothing, is across from the subway stop.

Have a nice visit. It looks like an interesting conference.

First Time to Cape Cod

Me and my wife planning to visit Cape Cod in August for about 5 days...

This is first time we are visiting so need help. I have been reading various forums but can%26#39;t find my way..leaning towards Chatam from my reading

We want to stay in a place where it%26#39;s not very commercialized and has reasonable night life. We are in mid 30%26#39;s.

Looking to spend around 200 per night for lodging.

First Time to Cape Cod

Chatham is very crowded in the summer. I%26#39;m not sure about the reasonable night life you mentioned. What is reasonable to you? Every town has the local ';watering hole'; and a few restaurants with nice bars. Chatham is not known for its night-life.

Perhaps you should consider staying on the outer cape...less commercial, closer to Provincetown (THE night-life town on the outer cape), and only a short 20-30 minute drive to Chatham for a day trip to shop on Main Street. Towns you might consider are Orleans (the largest town on the lower cape), Eastham (National Seashore Visitor%26#39;s Center and beaches), Wellfleet (great ocean beaches and home to Beachcomber for night-life), Truro (sleepy town but closer to Provincetown with motel accommodation that might appeal to you), and of course, Provincetown with all it gaiety!

You can check out the lodging choices at the local chamber of commerce sites: www.eastham.com and www.wellfleet.com should get you started. My favorite is Fort Hill in Eastham...they have a suite for $235 that will give you a full breakfast and no additional tariffs. They are small and fill up fast, as do many of the smaller lodging places on the outer cape.

First Time to Cape Cod

Yellowbird,

Fort Hill B%26amp;B hasn%26#39;t sold out those 3 rooms yet for the season?

Will, to tell you the truth...I dunno. Made my reservations in January....just in case! :-)

One of the reasons I mention the place so often is that they are small and not that many people know of them. I mean, they have their ';regulars'; who mostly do not talk about how great they are because they want to be able to call and get a reservation, and then there%26#39;s a whole lot of folks who would never consider a small B+B...even though this one is more like a inn not a homestay. Last year we decided to do a last minute (which is a month or so in advance for us) cape run in July and we got reservations over the busy 4th. So ya just never know. It%26#39;s always worth a call.

How about you Will? ever stay in a B+B?

Hi Yellowbird,

I%26#39;ve stayed at B%26amp;B%26#39;s in Europe, New Hampshire and Vermont, but it%26#39;s been 7 years since I%26#39;ve stayed in one. As with anything, some were better than others. That said, I would definitely stay in one again.

Treat yourself and try the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast. The cottage is our favorite but the suites in the house are very private as well.

The entire Cape is busy in the summer. There%26#39;s no respite from the flood of people here from late June until mid-September.

Something to consider: Try to pick a place that offers you the choice of lodging close to restaurants, shops, beaches that don%26#39;t require you to Drive anywhere. Driving is He(( on the Cape in the summer. If you stay in Chatham, there is a plethora of gorgeous inns, hotels, motels, resorts, B%26amp;Bs to choose from that will put you within walking distance of restaurants, shops, beaches, etc.

I%26#39;d much rather Walk through a crowd than sit in my car in traffic, bumper to bumper, in the heat and/or humidity, on that awful highway route 6 watching my gas indicator flop to empty as I try to drive away from Fort Hill on route 6 to get a lobster roll. Or a newspaper. Or a bottle of wine. And good luck making a Left turn on rt. 6 from Fort Hill in the middle of the busy season! Truly, you don%26#39;t need this hassle while you%26#39;re on vaca.

Fort Hill b%26amp;b wouldn%26#39;t be on my short-list in the summer. It isn%26#39;t everyone%26#39;s favorite; it%26#39;s out of the way of Everything and reminds me of a rest home or funeral home in it%26#39;s atmosphere. Other than yellowbird, I%26#39;ve never read a positive review from anyone who posts on the forums nor have I ever seen anyone else on the forum recommend it! And it%26#39;s expensive.

If Chatham lodging is over your budget check out the charming towns of the Harwiches. Great choices there as well and less expensive (general statement here) than Chatham.

Unfortunately, I can%26#39;t think of a seaside summer resort destination on the East Coast that isn%26#39;t commercialized!

However, Hyannis on the Cape has a large business base and is the commercial hub of the Cape. Plenty of big box stores in Hyannis.

shaime, there are many opinions on this forum...some are first hand and others are just negative opinions meant to dissuade people from going anywhere but Chatham. You will have to decide for yourself. Check other sources including the popular guidebooks like Fodor%26#39;s, Frommer%26#39;s and Kim Grant%26#39;s Explorer%26#39;s Guide to Cape Cod and the Island. By the way, Fort Hill B+B comes highly recommended in every guidebook I have read...and it%26#39;s #1 for B+B%26#39;s in Eastham on TA. So to each his own. Good luck!

shamie,

Feel free to look into staying in Sandwich. It%26#39;s a very historic Cape town with enough nightlife to keep you two happy. There%26#39;s no dance clubs there, but it has pubs and taverns. Sandwich also has a fantastic beach called Sandy Neck, a wonderful boardwalk to it%26#39;s other town beach and an enjoyable marina area. The Country Acres Motel is well within your budget and gets great reviews on TA. Having 5 days on the Cape will allow you to take day trips to whatever towns you want to see. The Melody Tent is a 20 minute drive and has national acts playing nightly. Check their schedule to see if anyone is playing while your here that you might want to see.

Any town besides Hyannis or Falmouth seems to be what your looking for. I happen to enjoy both of those towns as well, regardless of them being larger and more commercialized.

Hi there Shaime,

Would you like to stay ON the beach in a mid-cape location for $200. per night? You can stay on a beautiful strand of beach directly on Nantucket Sound during high season in Dennisport for that price. Check out these two places and if you don%26#39;t find space let me know so I can give you more suggestions.

www.colonybeachmotel.com

www.threeseasonsresort.com

You will be on the beach and just a bit south of an uncrowded (and south of Rt. 28) road that runs through Dennisport so that you can reach restaurants. Of course, in summer, there%26#39;s a wait for so many of them but the terrific Ocean House within walking distance, does take reservations as does Oyster Co. and Ebb Tide which will make life easy for you as it should be on your vacation. Both motels have a pool and I know Colony Beach has a fridge (or more) in the room. Maybe the other one does as well.

If you only want a fun bar scene at night you can find that in Dennisport but you%26#39;d have to leave for dancing. This is a convenient jumping off point for exploring the Cape if you want to do that too. And there%26#39;s plenty of charming shops of all types in Harwich, just minutes east or on the beautiful 6A side of Dennis - the north or Bay side. Good luck.

Confused with accomodations-need help please

We will fly into Providence R.I. on July 4th and we are renting a car for traveling to Cape Cod. We want to explore the Cape from Woods Hole to the National Seashore. We also will take the ferry to Nantucket and Martha%26#39;s Vineyard. At first I thought we needed to stay in Hyannis, but I was worried about some of the reviews,ratings and pictures of hotels. We want a very clean room with a pool and refrigerator for $300 or less. Hyannis was the only town I had heard of, so I thought that was the place to stay. We love water views and the beach, but can live without it since we have a car and could drive to it. We like to walk, so long distances won%26#39;t bother us. Is it best to suck it up and deal with dated places with a central location or will other towns be fine since we have the car? Hotel suggestions, please. We will be there until July 10th and then leave for Boston..

Confused with accomodations-need help please

Hi, there are quite a few places that would fit your needs - you can start by looking here at TA for places in Dennis, Harwich, Orleans, Brewster. These are all great towns and there are lots of choices with good reviews here. (Chatham, Wellfleet %26amp; Flamouth are all good choices to, but further from Mid-Cape)

Confused with accomodations-need help please

Hi,

While there%26#39;s nothing wrong with staying in Hyannis, it is a bit on the busy side. If your looking for a more quiet place to stay, look into the kendrick%26#39;s suggestions. You can stay in Chatham at The Bradford Inn for under your budget. You could take the ferry from Harwichport (next town over) to Nantucket without needing to go to Hyannis. I%26#39;m not sure if you would have a waterview but the water certainly isn%26#39;t far. It%26#39;s somepleace to consider. Best of luck.

http://www.bradfordinn.com/

http://www.mychatham.com/

http://www.nantucketislandferry.com/

At the risk of sounding snobbish, I find Hyannis tacky touristy and trafficky (is that a word?). There are some great places to eat and the ferries to the islands. The beach at Kalmus is lovely for a picnic and views. Otherwise phooey..head to charming 6 AM from Sandwich to Brewster, or Chatham or Woods Hole, IMHO

Since you included your dates I was able to try a few sites that I could recommend to you and found no time in the first two weeks of July that had 3 to 5 days available together.

Here%26#39;s an idea though that I did not check: www.beachhousecapecod.com. The rate range is $225-275. Their pool is called Nantucket Sound and that is their front %26#39;yard%26#39;. The rooms do have refridgerators. Plus this is a Mid-Cape location from which you can explore. If they don%26#39;t have rooms then try:

www.threeseasonsresort.com

www.colonybeachmotel.com

www.sandpiperbeachinn.com

The first two have pools and fridges and are on the beach in Dennisport. Don%26#39;t miss having dinner at the Ocean House if you stay in this area.

The third is in charming Harwichport and has a fridge but no pool (I think) and are directly on the beach. Hope you can grab a room soon. Good luck.

You might try the Four Points Sheraton in Eastham. That would put you midway between Chatham and Provincetown, close to National Seashore beaches where you can walk all day on the beach and never reach the end, and just a few minutes from charming Wellfleet and Orleans with its many shops and restaurants. And they have a pool. Not my favorite place but I think it might work for you!

If they still have room for you consider the lovely Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast. All three of their rooms fit into your budget and include breakfast and wonderful charm.

I looked this up in what I consider to be the best guide book for Cape Cod and it starts out stating ';Perched on a little knoll overlooking Nauset Marsh.....enjoys one of the Cape%26#39;s best locations.';

It goes on to describe each delightful guest room then on to the common space: ';The casual , yet refined 19th century Greek revival farmhouse is a charmer - with wonderful hosts, separate guest quarters and ....'; Lastly the author speaks of the delectible full breakfast which is included.

I haven%26#39;t stayed there but one of our reliable posters on this board does regularly. So, if you want to located on the Outer Cape this might work for you if they still have room. You%26#39;ll enjoy the Cape no matter where you land. Have a great time.

Mid range restaurants around Omni Parker House

I%26#39;m going to stay 3 nights at OmniParker and looking for a mid-range in this area, Skipjack%26#39;s is one in my list now. Do appreciate for any suggestion.

Mid range restaurants around Omni Parker House

What do you consider mid-range? What sort of cuisine do you want (or don%26#39;t want)?

Mid range restaurants around Omni Parker House

Here%26#39;s three recommendations, all within walking distance of the hotel:

1. 21st Amendment. www.21stboston.com

2. Sivertone%26#39;s on Bromfield Street. www.silvertonedowntown.com

3. The Kinsale at 3 Center Plaza across from Government Center. www.classicirish.com

Scollay Square on Beacon Street is probably another one to add, along with the West Street Grill.

West Street Grille closed last year.

I second Silvertone, and will also throw in Ivy and Kingston Station.

Those are great suggestions. One more thought: Chinatown is a few blocks in one direction and Faneuil Hall a few blocks in the other direction. Lots of choices.

the bees

Stays of less than a week - in a cottage??

As the summer draws closer - we here on the board see more and more inquiries/questions about family stays that dont have time or budget for a full week but yet prefer to stay in a cottage. I think families possibly would like to have more space and potentially maximize their food budget by cooking in or grilling out.

I have a suggestion that is certainly not a trend but I do see it happening more than ever as families that do own properties and use them for their own families on the weekends and offer them for rent from SUNDAY through THURSDAY stays.

This can be a win-win for both owners and potential renters.

I do know of one (neighbor) and just saw another ad this morning for another local (Dennis/Harwich) rental for this same arrangement.

Just an FYI for all - dont know if it is helpful but thought I would share. As the posts are really winding up.

Boston to Montreal - UK traveller help! (Visa Waiver)

Hey. I hope someone can help me here!

I will be travelling to Boston from the UK. We%26#39;re staying for a few days before departing to Montreal, Canada. I%26#39;ll be spending a few days in Canada before entering the US again (Buffalo) to go to New York for the last few days of my trip.

I was wondering what happens with the I-94W forms? Should the portion thats stapled to my passport be surrendered at Boston airport, as I%26#39;ll technically be leaving the US? If so, does this happen at check-in or prior to boarding?

When I then return to the US (via bus probably) will I then have to fill in a new I-94W form, which is then surrendered when I depart back for the UK?

Or does the original I-94W form stay stapled in from when I first arrived in Boston?

I hope this makes sense, and someone can help me stop worrying!

Thanks

Boston to Montreal - UK traveller help! (Visa Waiver)

Hope this helps-

The Arrival-Departure Record, CBP Form I-94W (green form), must be completed by all nonimmigrant visitors seeking entry to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Applicants applying for admission to the United States using a Form I-94W are exempt from having a visa. Contact your travel agent, airline, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for more specific instructions regarding U.S. visa requirements.

In addition to the Form I-94 standard requirements, the Form I-94W includes specific questions related to inadmissibility issues. If the applicant answers “yes” to any of the questions on the reverse side of the Form I-94W, the applicant should contact the United States Embassy/Consulate in his/her country to obtain a visa prior to travel. The applicant must sign and date the Form I-94W, which indicates agreement to waive his/her right to a hearing before an immigration judge, if found inadmissible.

After the successful completion of processing the applicant, a CBP officer stamps the applicant’s arrival and departure portions of the completed Form I-94W, the passport and the CBP Declaration, Form 6509B. The CBP officer retains the arrival portion of the Form I-94W and returns the departure portion of the Form I-94W and passport to the applicant.

The departure portion of the Form I-94W and passport is to be in the applicant’s possession at all times until the applicant departs the United States. If an applicant boards a commercial conveyance to depart the United States, the transportation carriers are:

To remove the departure portion of the Form I-94W from the applicant%26#39;s passport.

Annotate the reverse of the departure portion of the Form I-94W with the facts of the applicant’s departure from the United States.

Return the departure portion of the Form I-94W to the nearest CBP office.

It is the applicant%26#39;s responsibility to make sure the transportation carriers collect the applicant’s departure portion of the Form I-94W. If an applicant departs the United States by way of land to Canada, it is the applicant%26#39;s responsibility to return the departure portion of the Form I-94W to a Canadian Official upon his/her departure. If an applicant departs the United States by way of land to Mexico, it is the applicant%26#39;s responsibility to return the departure portion of the Form I-94W to a U.S. CBP officer upon his/her departure.

Boston to Montreal - UK traveller help! (Visa Waiver)

Hi

We are from Australia and recently visited the USA and drove from Boston to Montreal crossing through one of the main borders. Australians are also not required visas to enter into the USA.

To be honest I can%26#39;t remember what they did at the border. All I do remember is them looking at our passports and then handing them back. We then came back through the border at Niagara Falls (with a not so friendly customs officer) but still had no problems and didn%26#39;t have to complete any other paperwork.

P'town lodging with a pool?

We%26#39;ve often stayed at the P%26#39;town Inn because of its pool. But the negative reviews of the Inn here continue. Is there another place to stay with a nice pool in P%26#39;town proper or on nearby 6-A? I%26#39;ll appreciate your advice. We%26#39;re a mid-aged couple. Thanks

P'town lodging with a pool?

Places that have a pool that I%26#39;m aware of:

Brass Key

Benchmark Inn

Crown %26amp; Anchor

Boatslip

Surfside Hotel

The Brass Key and Benchmark are both nicer upscale places. The Crown %26amp; Anchor and the Boatslip are known more for their entertainment than their lodging options in my opinion.

Another option would be to stay anywhere you like and go to the pool at the Crown %26amp; Anchor or Boatslip during the day. They each allow visitors and charge a small fee (maybe $10?) for visitors to use the pool for the day.

P'town lodging with a pool?

The Surfside is a rather large place that has a pool and is on the beach, so you have a choice. I think you can use the Provincetown Inn pool even if you don%26#39;t stay there. At least one used to be able to. There was no charge.

The Provincetown Inn has such a great pool/pool bar %26amp; grill. Such a great vibe there, love it!

I remember reading somewhere that their pool is open to the public.

Naomi :-)

Are any of these hotels clothing optional or have nude sunbathing areas?

to bareitall; I don%26#39;t think any of these places have a clothing optional area. The only ones I don%26#39;t know for sure about are Benchmark and Brass Key but it%26#39;s doubtful they would. The nude beach in Ptown is Herring Cove. Facing the ocean, walk to the left from the bath house/parking area. It%26#39;s a bit of a hike but you%26#39;ll know when you%26#39;ve arrived. Remember it%26#39;s technically illegal, though very few people get in trouble.

There are some places that have clothing optional sunbathing areas, but I don%26#39;t know for sure which ones.

The Crown %26amp; Anchor has very pleasant rooms, a continental breakfast, and is at the heart of a huge entertainment complex. If loud behaviour until last call would disrupt your stay, avoid this place as well as the Boatslip, as both cater more to the party lifestyle than the quiet, laidback one (although the Crown %26amp; Anchor lodgings are much, much classier than the Boatslip%26#39;s...

Unfortunately, most of the places with their own pools are obscenely expensive or too far a walk from the general part of town. Several motels and such near the Provincetown/Truro line offer swimming pools but are too far a hike to provide convenience into town. I%26#39;d suggest staying at a nice place in town and using the Crown %26amp; Anchor pool. They charge nothing for pool usage, a very small fee for a chaise rental ($3 for the day was the charge last summer), and have a full-service bar poolside as well as the option of getting lunch poolside as well.) The pool at the Boatslip charges more and is more cruisy. If you just want some good, chlorinated fun in the sun without the hassle or the gouge in the wallet, stay in an affordable guesthouse %26amp; use the Crown %26amp; Anchor.

We always stay at the Chateau. It used to be the Best Western Chateau, this year independently owned its now the Chateau Provincetown, and even better! Reasonable rates, outdoor heated pool, complimentary USA Today %26amp; continental breakfast (coffe, juice, muffins and great coffee cake), TV, refrigerator, coffee maker and plenty of free parking. Nice quiet location at the very west end of town.

www.chateauptown.com

restaurants

Hi

Looking for restaurant recommendations...North End, Quincy Market area, and Newbury street. Price doesn%26#39;t really matter...just good food! Lunch and dinner recommendations would be great!

restaurants

La Summa and Giacomo%26#39;s in the North End. Stephanie%26#39;s on Newbury. Your on your own at Fanueil Hall/Quincy Market.

restaurants

You may want to try a restaurant on Beacon Hill. Lala Rokh is great, so is the Paramount on Charles Street, and Bin Enoteca is quite nice too. I also like Scollay Square which is on Beacon Street.

A fun alternative is also Liberty Hotel. It used to be a jail and it is a really cool building. They have a restaurant upstairs and also a really nice bar downstairs with food as well, a bit more laid back than the upstairs one.

I%26#39;ll take the liberty to give you a link to my personal web site which has a listing of my favorite restaurants here:

lovebostonwithme.com/Boston/restaurants.cafe…

If price is not a major consideration I would recommend Mamma Maria and Prezza in the North End. They are in a separate class above typical, red sauce fare. But, of course, if you%26#39;re craving red sauce, there%26#39;s nothing wrong with that either.

Hi,

If you want good food, stay off of Newbury St.

On Boylston St. is Vlora, which is very good.

http://www.vloraboston.com

The Atlantic Fish Company is a good seafood place, also on Boylston.

I second the recommendations in the North End. Not far from Quincy Market/North End are Grotto, which is an excellent Italian place, and Pierrot Bistro, which is a very nice French Bistro on Cambridge St.

http://www.pierrotbistrot.com

http://grottorestaurant.com/

Here are a couple of good links:

www.boston.com/ae/restaurants

nextstopboston.com/boston_restaurants_main.h…

http://boston.diningguide.com

I%26#39;m a big fan of Antico Forno (casual) and Monica%26#39;s (less casual) in the North End. The South End has a huge selection of restaurants. Sibling Rivalry is nice, and the Beehive (go downstairs) has a funky atmosphere. Red Addis (Ethiopian) and The Butcher Shop are also good choices (these last four are on the same block on Tremont St.)

When you say ';Newbury Street';, do you mean the stret itself or just the Back Bay in general?

I mostly agree that Newbury Street is not a good street for dining, with the exceptions of La Voile (very good French) and Tapeo (which I don%26#39;t love as much as othe people, but it%26#39;s generally a solid choice).

Hi,

I meant Newbury St. My other suggestions were in Back Bay. But Newbury itself caters to tourists and the restaurants there are generally horrid.

Even the highly-vaunted La Voile...I have been wanting to try it, but I%26#39;ve been reading some awful reviews and ';downhill alerts'; about it on Chowhound. So, I%26#39;m not sure how well it%26#39;s held up.

Sorry, I was asking the OP whether or not restaurant choices should be limited to Newbury St itself or expanded into the Back Bay.

I agree with you about the street in general. It%26#39;s pretty and there are nice shops to go into, but as a dining destination, Newbury Street is really lacking.

I%26#39;m disappointed to hear La Voile might be taking a nosedive. I%26#39;ve been enjoying the influx of French places over the last couple of years.

I recommend Taranta in North End. A creative combination of Italian and Peruvian food, definitely try their seafood!

Wow! Thanks for the suggestions. Looking forward to trying the many restaurants.

Great seafood & places to see?

We will be in Beverly to see our son in a show at North Shore Theater in mid June and wanted to see as much as possible in 1 day as we could. Also want to eat as much good seafood as we can! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Tami

Great seafood %26amp; places to see?

What area(s) do you plan to visit? One day isn%26#39;t very long, especially with drive time. Unless you plan to spend the entire day in the car, I%26#39;d suggest picking a couple of %26#39;must%26#39; do activities and go from there.

Do you want fried seafood, or a restaurant that%26#39;s a little nicer with more options? It%26#39;s been our experience that the Clam Box in Ipswich has consistently good fried clams. Imo avoid Woodman%26#39;s, the food isn%26#39;t that great and it%26#39;s overpriced. For a little bit nicer experience, Passports in Gloucester is a good choice. (try the Sister%26#39;s Haddock or Steak Au Poivre!) Anyhow if you let me know what area you plan to be in, I can give more suggestions!

Boston on the Water

Hi and thanks for reading,

We (girlfriend and I) are coming into Boston in a couple of weeks for a week. We%26#39;ll be in the actual city about four days and will have a car, but will be using public transit mostly while in the city.

Living in Arizona (she%26#39;s a native), we really appreciate water and I was hoping to spend quite a bit of time near it. I%26#39;ve found that we both prefer spending time just sitting next to water (even a little creek) than to tramping around an over-air-conditioned museum for an hour.

Anyway, a friend of mine who college-d there sent me a link to a beach in Ipswich which looks like the most gorgeous place on earth, and I had planned to visit it. I%26#39;ve also read about sitting along the Charles River, which sounds nice and would be convenient. And, of course, being a Thoreau fan, I had wanted to go to Walden Pond for at least a bit.

Any other suggestions? Places on the harbor Downtown? I would LOVE to watch ships come in/go by. Other beach areas?

Thanks in advance,

Colin

Boston on the Water

DEFINITELY head out to the Harbor Islands for a daytrip.

http://www.bostonislands.org/

Boston on the Water

There are harbor cruises that leave from the Aquarium that are a lot of fun. You don%26#39;t have to actually go anywhere, just cruise around the harbor.

You might enjoy an evening at Boston Harbor Hotel.

They have outdoor movies and concerts on the harbor%26#39;s waterfront.

http://www.bhh.com/index.htm

bhh.com/summerseriespdf/鈥?008.FINAL.FINAL.pdf

I third the Harbor Islands.

Revere Beach is T-accessible via the Blue Line. Not exactly the most pristine beach, but you can grab something to eat a Kelly%26#39;s, a local institution, and see some local color.

Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea is a nice beach and easy to get to via the commuter rail, but be forewarned--the water will still be very cold, probably too cold to swim in.

Revere Beach actually isn%26#39;t so bad. They%26#39;ve done a great job cleaning it up and refurbishing the area over the past few years. It%26#39;s just not as pretty as some of the other NE beaches.

The Harbor Islands is a great choice. Cruise around the harbor and look at the scenery or choose one or two of the islands to spend the day on.

A few other local beaches to look into: Nahant, Nantasket, Wollaston and Carsons Beach. Since you will have a car, if you wanted to use it for a day trip outside of Boston to visit some really nice seaside areas there are some places in NH and ME. York Beach and Ogunquit in Maine and Hampton Beach in NH. All are a pretty easy drive from Boston.

the Charles River is certainly nice and it%26#39;s convenient but since you coming from AZ to visit NE, you should take advantage of the proximity of the ocean and enjoy it....even if it is too cold to swim. Just sitting on the sand, soaking up the sun and watching the waves roll in can be so enjoyable.

Thanks for the responses, guys!

Yes, I forgot to ask about the islands in the previous post. The ranger-led thing is a little too expensive and doesn%26#39;t sound like it%26#39;s really up our alley, but which one of just the boat tours is better, the regular or the sunset? The sunset sounds nice, but, being that the ocean is to the east, is it worth the extra $5? Are the other islands that the boats hit worth the extra $3?

Also, Kelly%26#39;s was mentioned. Would that potentially be a good place to get crab?

Thanks again.

Cranes Beach (Ipswich) is a great beach -- but as another poster said -- It%26#39;ll be cold! It%26#39;s also a hike. But if you go, then Gloucester and Rockport could be part of your day -- and that would be a great day trip -- you can do it without a car. See mbta.com for train service.

I too am a Thoreau reader, but I%26#39;d recommend against Walden Pond. I%26#39;ve not been there for some time, but it%26#39;s no more than another nice state park. You don%26#39;t get a ';whoa'; moment sitting there... well, I didn%26#39;t.

I%26#39;ll agree with others that the harbor islands are a great way to be in town and on the water. You can also take the commuter boats from downtown to either Hingham or Quincy -- $6.00 and I do not think they charge you when you just stay on for the round-trip.

When you%26#39;re on the water, bring a jacket -- yep, it%26#39;s chilly! Finally, I think the view of Boston from the Cambridge side of the river is one of the prettiest views of Boston you%26#39;ll find. And you can visit Harvard the same day.

Kelly%26#39;s is the self-proclaimed ';World-Famous'; place for roast beef. I know no one who would challenge that assertion.

Crab is not a local catch. Lobster would be the shellfish of choice -- and of course steamed clams.

Oh! Woodman%26#39;s Fried Clams in Ipswich. Essex County clams have a great reputation (yeah, world famous';). They%26#39;re not health food -- but they%26#39;re good! Woodman%26#39;s claims to be the home of the fried clam. I think the inventor was ';Tubby Woodman';... a name that testifies to their addictiveness.

Cranes Beach in Ipswich is amazing. One other word of warning though. Parking is expensive. You might be better off going to Gloucester.

If you would like warmer water and don%26#39;t mind a day trip, head down to Horseneck Beach in Westport, MA. It%26#39;s just under two hours driving, but is very nice and you can stay in the water for more than a few mintues without catching hypothermia.

Once again, another vote for the Harbor Islands. They are fantastic, and best yet, Uncrowded as most Bostonians still do not know about them.

The Harbor Islands are also cheap. The Ferry from the Aquarium is cheap, about $10 (round trip) and takes you to Spectacle Island and George%26#39;s Island (where there is an old Fort). From there, ferries will take you to other islands, and they are FREE. Also, if you are adventurous, bring a tent and camp on the islands.

Regardless, enjoy your stay in Boston and MA.

If you want to look at Boston skyline from the Cambridge side, you%26#39;ll actually see it if you go to MIT. If you go to Harvard all you%26#39;ll see would be the Harvard Business School. Nevertheless, both colleges are worth visiting for the river view.

the bees

Whale watching: morning or afternoon better?

We%26#39;re planning a whale watching tour in mid-June, most likely from the Aquarium. Is there an advantage to either the morning or afternoon tour? I.e. calmer water, better chance of seeing whales, etc.

Whale watching: morning or afternoon better?

I just did one this past week in the afternoon. We saw 2 mamas and babies and lots of others. Finne, humpback, and minke. They said morning was good, too. So, probably either. ???

Whale watching: morning or afternoon better?

Unless I%26#39;m mistaken, calmer water has nothing to do with time of day... it%26#39;s a wind/weather thing...

Before you decide to go out on the boat be sure to check the weather for the wind speed. It could be bright and sunny but if the wind is blowing over 25mph you might want to wait a day. The boat will still take you out but it could be rough. I went on a whale watch out of Plymouth and it was windy. We didn%26#39;t give it a thought. They told us it was going to be rough after we bought the tickets. Seventy five percent of the boat was sick throwing up. The water was breaking over the boat. You couldn%26#39;t let go of anything or you%26#39;d fall down. My father was a commercial fisherman so I have been on boats my whole life. I didn%26#39;t get sick. It wasn%26#39;t any fun. Not worth it if it%26#39;s rough. If the wind is going to be light and variable then go and have a great time. I hear there are a lot of whales out there now.

I gotta second that warning - the last time we went out it was miserable because of a storm further out to sea. That being said, I have been 4x and the most whales we ever saw was on a sunset cruise - even the crew was excited about the number - it was thrilling. Just keep an eye on the wind.

Thanks for the advice; sounds like it%26#39;s much better to buy the tickets the day of the tour. We have to schedule this for the weekend. Anyone know if the tours offered by the Aquarium sell out in advance on weekend days?

Is this a silly question - how will I know if the wind is blowing over 25 ??

I am hoping to go on the whale watch during our day trip to Provincetown, but we have got a spare day at the end of our trip that we could move the whale watch to if it is very windy (end of July)

25 mph

I checked the detailed weather reports before I went and chose the day with the least wind and chance of rain. I also took 1/2 of a meclizine tablet to be on the safe side. I don%26#39;t know if I needed it or not, but had no trouble w/ nausea or sleepiness.

If you have access to the net while in Boston, go to this site. There%26#39;s a big square box in the ocean east of Boston. Click on the middle of the box and that will give you the forecast for Stellwagen Bank. It will give you wave heights as well as wind in knots instead of mph. 1 knot equals 1.1 mph

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/

That looks really good Will, thanks so much. I will check on the Saturday before we go to Provincetown and if it looks windy we will not go out from there and wait until later in the week.

It will certainly help for planning eldest daughter who does get sick - she will be better informed, if it is calm she might give it a go. It will be a shame to miss it as she loves nature, but just to be sick for 2 1/2 hours it is not worth it.

room available at Harborside this weekend

Due to an unfortunate mishap we had to cancel our weekend stay at the Harborside Inn. If they aren%26#39;t able to sell our room we will be charged. I am so dissappointed about the change of events and having to pay for a room we can%26#39;t use makes it even worse! This hotel came highly recommended by a friend who lives in Boston and frequently makes arrangements there for his guest. Everyone I%26#39;ve dealt with over the phone has been very friendly.

room available at Harborside this weekend

Meant to add that the website is showing no availablity for tomorrow night but I just spoke to them and our room is available.

Getting to Cambridge from NYC

What%26#39;s the easiest way to get to Cambridge from NYC? Train, Air or just drive?

Getting to Cambridge from NYC

I personally prefer to drive. Takes about 4 hours. Just make sure you have parking arranged or be prepared to pay for it.

AlanM

Getting to Cambridge from NYC

If you%26#39;re in Manhattan I always take the Fung Wah bus to South Station and then get on the Red Line towards Alewife which will take you to pretty much anywhere in Cambridge.

https://www.fungwahbus.com/

The best part of Fung Wah is that the buses leave pretty much every half and hour and it doesn%26#39;t matter what time you buy your ticket for as far as I%26#39;ve experienced.

Just buy your ticket online and print and show up. You just get in line and when the bus is full it leaves. You will almost certainly have to sit next to someone, but for $15 one way it can%26#39;t be beat.

... and the worst part of Fung Wah is that you risk your life every time you use it. Take any of the alternative competing bus lines, all of which cost about the same, instead.

AlanM

Yes they are ';notorious'; for fast drivers, and have had multiple incidents over the years, but these guys have the best service in my opinion and on one has ever died. For the number of buses these guys run their percentages are probably as much as the other bus lines.

The biggest plus for me is that you can jump on any bus and they leave so frequently so you don%26#39;t have to leave your house 2 hours ahead of time because you%26#39;re worried about missing your bus.

But if you%26#39;re worried go ahead with another bus line, but I certainly prefer the efficient business they run.

You can jump on any bus run by Greyhound too, and they also run on the half hour. Buying a ticket doesn%26#39;t hold you to a specific time.

The best part of Fung Wah would be the end of the trip if still together.

The last accident they had, a bus from the same service came to collect the stranded passengers. A very sharp trooper asked for the second driver%26#39;s log for the day. This driver was way over the hours allowed to drive. The trooper then called Greyhound for the stranded passengers.

I%26#39;ve never made it to NYC in less than 4 1/2 tiring hours of driving from Cambridge. And if you drive from NYC, then there%26#39;s the next 4 1/2 hours of driving around Cambridge looking for parking. :-)

Soooo, I guess that means I%26#39;m not going to go with you as your passenger. I do agree about the parking, by the way. That is difficult and/or expensive.

AlanM

Places to watch Celtics games?

The DW and I will be in Ptown next week. Will anyone care about the games? Better for a lesbian couple to go to The Pied, or a place like The Governor Bradford? (Last time I was in Ptown, the Bradford clientele had declined significantly than I last recalled...too bad because I loved that bar for backgammon.) Thanks!

Places to watch Celtics games?

There are two places I might recommend, either Good Times Pub (where Chasers use to be) or the Squealing Pig. Both have Boston sports on the TV when I%26#39;ve stopped by.

Places to watch Celtics games?

The hubby and I were just in Ptown this weekend wandering the streets looking for a place to watch the game. We were told to check out Bubala%26#39;s, which was indeed playing the game, but there were no seats at the bar. We went across the street to Enzo and asked if they would mind putting the game on. They obliged and we had the entire place to ourselves.

Also - we didn%26#39;t check it out but someone mentioned in a review of The Squealing Pig that he watched a world series game there, so we were considering that as a possibility.

Go C%26#39;s!

Hi QB: It%26#39;s going to be a great weekend up at the Cape. If you%26#39;re also looking for dinner suggestions, you might try Cafe Edwige on Commercial St. Fantastic.

http://www.edwigeatnight.com/home.html

Have the same question as the OP. My additional caveats: a) I am staying downtown without a car, so somewhere within walking distance or convenient to public transportation preferred and b) I am actually from LA, so someplace I can cheer not too obnoxiously for my Lakers w/o getting into a bar fight would be preferred :)

Ooops - I thought I was in the Boston forum, please disregard my previous post.

Thanks for the responses! Very helpful.

Hey there, fussy! Yes, we%26#39;ve been to Edwige many times and love it, but this year, it%26#39;s probably going to be out of our price range. Good reco!

In general I%26#39;ve found that nobody cares about the games, however usually if you ask nicely they%26#39;ll be happy to switch on to the game. I think (hope) the Finals will generate more interest. You may run into some trouble with the late start time of the finals - tipoff isn%26#39;t until 9:07 p.m.

A couple of other places you may try is the Wet Bar in the lobby of the Boatslip (they have a big screen)or the Top of the Lobster Pot.

My husband and I were in town last weekend. Friday night we were searching for a place to watch the game and we wandered into the Grotto Bar downstairs at Enzo. It was early and no one was there but they were happy to put the game on for us. Nice TV and had the place to ourselves. I also read here on Tripadvisor that someone watched a world series game at the Squealing Pig so we were going to check that out if we didn%26#39;t find something else. Bubala%26#39;s was showing the game that night as well.

Questions - Holiday Inn Express Sharon

Has anyone stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Sharon recently? It has mixed reviews on this web site, and most aren%26#39;t very recent. We%26#39;re going to the Jimmy Buffet concert in September. This location looks pretty convenient to the Tweeter Center and the price is definitely right. Last year I think we stayed in Milford, which was a bit out of the way for us, but that HI there was brand new which we loved. This one looks closer to the Tweeter Center which appeals to me since I%26#39;m usually the driver. One reviewer commented on horrible traffic noise. I%26#39;m booking for 3 other couples so I want to be sure it%26#39;s half way decent.

Any advice would be apprciated. Thanks

Questions - Holiday Inn Express Sharon

Hi,

I haven%26#39;t stayed at the Holiday Inn Sharon, but I can understand the complaints about road noise. It%26#39;s right on Route 1 which is a heavily traveled stretch of road. I%26#39;m not sure what your budget is, but the Holiday Inn Taunton is a fantastic HI right off of Route 495 about 6 miles to The Comcast Center (formerly Tweeter Center). You can even go in the back way via route 140 which would avoid 495 and save you time. It would be a far nicer place to stay than the HI Sharon.

Teacher91

Enjoy your trip!!!

How will we know you? ... surely you won%26#39;t be the only visitor w/ a drawl. Could you wear a bandana tied to your wrist or something? ;)

Teacher91

Teacher will be the one saying..tea is always Iced..in all the restaurants.

Teacher91

I think Mc Donald%26#39;s just started their new Sweet Tea for $1.00 campaign just for her visit!

...that stuff is delicious! Who knew Iced Tea could be so good?

She%26#39;ll be the one with the laminated schedule of where to go and when, detailed down to 10 minute increments.

;-) I keed, I keed.

She%26#39;ll be the woman with a determined look in her eyes, walking briskly with a rope trailing her tied to a man who keeps saying ';please honey, slow down. Can we take a break now?';

Teacher, are you here? What happened to the weather you were supposed to bring with you? THIS rainy stuff wasn%26#39;t in the long-range forecast. :(

I don%26#39;t like this type of rain. Not sure when to wash the car. It seems to keep coming back.

my lawn loves this rain... :-)

the bees

Food items unique to or especially good in Boston?

Hi all, am leaving for Boston tomorrow, will be my first trip there or to New England. I want to try all (or as much as possible) of the food unique or particularly good in the area. Things that come to mind - New England Clam Chowder, Boston Baked Beans, and, well, I%26#39;ve heard Italian is very good in the North End? Not really sure what else I should be on the lookout for so could use some tips. Also would like to not waste the opportunity on things that are just as good in Los Angeles (where I am from).

Food items unique to or especially good in Boston?

The Chowder would be one to try often. Yankee Lobster is my favorite on Northern Avenuue.

Things you don%26#39;t hear much about but I think is really good in Boston would be the chicken pot pies.

Sebastians makes a really good one. I stop at the one on Congress Street in The Seaport area. The crust is always very light and roasted potatoes are the choice.

Food items unique to or especially good in Boston?

Durgin Park in Quincy Market specializes in foods that are notable New England.

AlanM

If you don%26#39;t mind leaving the beaten path, Portuguese food in East Cambridge.

Also, lobster rolls (I like Neptune Oyster%26#39;s version) and fried or steamed clams.

Since you live in L.A. I%26#39;d avoid Mexican and sushi.

We went to Neptune Oyster especially for the (CT-style) lobster roll. Also loved my first-ever profiterole, which I got in a North End pastry shop. Both are foods I%26#39;ll definitely get again the next time we come to Boston.

schrod/scrod (white fish); canolis in the North End, Pizza at Pizzaria Regina, ice cream ... don%26#39;t know if this is still true but Massachusetts used to have the highest per capita consumption of ice cream off all states w/ the other New England states close runner ups.

COFFEE Ice cream (and syrup for frappes, etc) used to be a RI thing, although I think now coffee ice cream is pretty wide spread.

My sil always complains she can%26#39;t get a good bagle in LA ... Finagle is pretty good, Katz%26#39;s in Chelsea and the place in Brookline whose name I forget ... NOT New York bagels, but not %26#39;round bread%26#39; either. ;)

Lobster!!! My favorite places are outside of Boston, Woodman%26#39;s in Essex for example. I know that there has been lots of posts earlier about lobster IN Boston so I hope you can find a great suggestion if you are looking for lobster.

Just enjoy all the bakery goods...whoopie pies especially that we don%26#39;t have in LA!

Does a fluffernutter sandwich count?

I see marshmallow fluff here on the shelves but it isn%26#39;t real Fluff made at the Lynn, MA factory. I dont think you can get it outside New England.

IMO, Boiled Lobster with Steamers and New England Clam Chowder, you cannot have a better New England meal!! Other Bostonian and New England specialties: Fisherman%26#39;s Platter, Lobster rolls, Whole Belly Clam rolls, Lobster pie, Fried clams. Besides seafood -Yankee Pot Roast, Fenway Franks, New England Boiled Dinner, or a coffee Frappe.

Raspberry lime rickey

Fenway Weather this weekend

Hi,

My husband will be flying in from England tomorrow to catch the Friday and Saturday Red Sox games.....what%26#39;s the weather forecast looking like this weekend?

Many thanks

Fenway Weather this weekend

Warm on Friday and HOT on Saturday!

Fenway Weather this weekend

Supposed to be scorching hot this weekend. The good news is that the Red Sox will win both of those games.

Last night on TV they showed a group of people holding up a sign that said ';Hey Remy - All the way from UK - Please explain the rules to us';

Jerry Remy, the TV commentator (and former ballplayer) said he%26#39;d be happy to explain the rules after the game, perhaps over a ';spot of tea.';

I am somewhat fascinated by the demographics of the people who can afford to go to Fenway park these days...

I don%26#39;t believe Fenway has its own microclimate. Whatever forecast you see on weather.com or (insert your favorite weather source here) for Boston will be the same for the park.

The bleacher seats during a day game actually feels a lot hotter than the temperatures outside the park.

Friday will be perfect around 70 or so, but it will be uncomfortably hot on Saturday nearing 90 especially if you are sitting in the sun.

As a note the Sox will let you bring in one unopened container of Water per person if you don%26#39;t want to spend 4 bucks on a water from them.

When its approaching 90 degrees and your in those nice cramped seats with sweaty people all around its nice to have something. You can also refill your containers at the water fountains throughout the park.

Or you can simply consume vast quantities of beer like everyone else and not notice that you are melting into your seat....

Spooky - my wife and I fly to Boston from London on Saturday and will be at Fenway on Sunday afternoon, so will keep the English flag flying...

Go Sox

It is going to be in the 90%26#39;s and very humid. I am heading to the game tomorrow and lucky it is a 3:55 game. Plan on bringing an unopened bottle of water. Honestly, I%26#39;m not looking forward to the heat.