Rockport to Boston for Sightseeing

My family and I are in Rockport for a week and really having a great time! Thank you to all the trip advisers here for giving us ideas on what to see and do!

We want to come in to Boston for one or two days. We were looking at taking the ferry from Salem or the train from Rockport, but we%26#39;re traveling with a toddler, and are thinking we%26#39;d be best off with our car somewhere nearby. Is there a T station we could drive to from Rockport that would be more on the outskirts of Boston (so we could avoid heavy traffic)?

Our plan is that, once we arrive, we%26#39;ll buy tickets for one of the hop-on, hop-off trolleys and see Boston that way.

Thanks!

Rockport to Boston for Sightseeing

I really can%26#39;t think of a better way to get in and out of Boston than by train from Rockport. There really isn%26#39;t a better way to get in and out of the city while avoiding heavy traffic. Especially with a toddler in tow I think the train is your best bet. People takes kids into the city on the train all the time.

Rockport to Boston for Sightseeing

Hi,

Could you take your trips to Boston over a weekend? If so, I%26#39;d suggest you just drive into the city and park. It%26#39;s not nearly as much hassle on a weekend, and it%26#39;s reasonable to park downtown.

You could come down route 128 (which becomes 95) to route 93 south and get off at Sullivan Station (Orange line subway) which has parking lots.

Hi szpal,

You will need to get your trolley tickets over near Long Wharf at the ticket booths. I recommend taking the Old Town Trolley. It seems to get the best reviews of the 3 companies doing the tours.

Taking the ferry into Boston would obviously be the most expensive option, but it%26#39;s also a great way to cruise into Boston. There%26#39;s nice scenery to look at along the way and the ferry drops you off at Long Wharf, right where you would buy your tickets for the trolley. VERY convienent for what you have planned.

Taking the train in would drop you off at North Station. From North Station, you could walk the 15 minutes to Long Wharf to get your tickets.

The car option is iffy. Your going to hit traffic well outside the city coming into Boston, so there%26#39;s really no avoiding it. Weekday driving anywhere near Boston is frustrating and confusing. If you come in on a weekend, it is far more manageable for both traffic and better parking rates.

If you can afford it, the ferry would be a great way to come into the city. Train would be my second choice and car third. Have a good time in the city.

During the week the commuter rail train from Rockport to Boston would be the best. The schedules say it is about a 45 minute train ride. I was shocked to see that it is zone 8 so it will cost $7.75 X 2 = $15.50 per adult for a round trip ticket. Yikes! Didn%26#39;t realize it had gone up that much. One good thing is that kids under 11 ride free (MBTA commuter rail, subway, bus, ferry) with a paying adult. If it is a weekend, you could easily drive and park at Oak Grove (end of Orange Line) or Wonderland (Blue line) but during the week many of the lots fill up with commuter cars early.

I fully understand your desire to have your car when travelling w/ a toddler. Nothing like putting your parenting skills on display while your kid melts down on public transportation because they want the RED sippy cup and you had the nerve to bring the yellow one!!

Wonderland can be tricky to find, but it rarely fills up because the dog track also lets commuters park there for a fee. Also, Wellington on the orange line has a significant amount of parking, but I%26#39;m not sure if it fills up regularly. That would be 128S to Rte 1S to Rte 16W to Wellington.

I would just take the T from Rockport to North Station in Boston, eliminating all potential hassles. Parking at any of the other lots can be a crapshoot during the week, have done that wild goose chase several times. Your toddler will probably love riding the train, plus you can sit back and enjoy the trip with them.

Now, on the weekend, I%26#39;d drive into the city. Parking isn%26#39;t bad, and you won%26#39;t have to adhere to a particular schedule.

BTW don%26#39;t forget to visit the New England Aquarium, Science Museum, and Duck Boats!

Thanks, everyone. Thursday is the day we%26#39;re coming in (sounds like it will be the coolest, weather-wise) so we%26#39;re opting for the train. Hadn%26#39;t considered the fact that the commuter lots fill up early (you see how small-town we are!). Appreciate the heads-up and, as always, great advice!

If you have time try to get over to the Swan Boats -- in the Public Garden -- great fun for kids!