Getting around Boston
July 22, 2009 6:09 AM Subscribe
Going to Boston for business. Never been there.
Looking around - it looks like a sub line runs from the airport to right outside my hotel. Can someone more familiar with Boston confirm this (and what the name of the line is, the stop I need to get off, and any other tips)? My hotel is the Seaport (1 Seaport Ln Boston, MA 02210).
And while I am at it - going to be there for a few days. What should I see or do? Thanks!
Looking around - it looks like a sub line runs from the airport to right outside my hotel. Can someone more familiar with Boston confirm this (and what the name of the line is, the stop I need to get off, and any other tips)? My hotel is the Seaport (1 Seaport Ln Boston, MA 02210).
And while I am at it - going to be there for a few days. What should I see or do? Thanks!
Best answer: Yup, the Silver Line will take you right there. Get off at the World Trade Center stop. Just make sure not to get on the shuttle bus by mistake (that will take you to the Blue Line) - the Silver Line is actually a bus.
What do you like to do? You're within walking distance to most of the tourist stuff, and Boston's a very compact city. Eat at the Barking Crab while you're there - walk towards the city and it'll be on your right, looks like a big tent and it's right next to the Courthouse.
posted by backseatpilot at 6:21 AM on July 22, 2009
What do you like to do? You're within walking distance to most of the tourist stuff, and Boston's a very compact city. Eat at the Barking Crab while you're there - walk towards the city and it'll be on your right, looks like a big tent and it's right next to the Courthouse.
posted by backseatpilot at 6:21 AM on July 22, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks! I would love to find some cool book stores. Tech guy by trade. Like history stuff as well. Thinking of hitting up the Freedom Trail.
posted by jaythebull at 6:24 AM on July 22, 2009
posted by jaythebull at 6:24 AM on July 22, 2009
Yes, the Silver Line leaves from Logan and should drop you off pretty close to your hotel (I believe you want the World Trade Center stop). Logan airport (like all of Boston) can be confusing if you don't know it well; don't be afraid to ask for directions. The MBTA trip planner can help you figure out how to get just about anywhere in the city.
The Silver Line meets up with the Red Line at South Station. From there, you can get off at Park Street, which is the stop for Boston Commons, which is a gorgeous park surrounded by various historical and cultural things. You can also get off the Red Line at Charles/MGH, which is right on the Charles River-- nice for a walk. Over the river on the Red Line is Cambridge; Harvard Square is a pretty famous destination. Lots of little shops, good restaurants, and people-watching.
If you take the Red Line to Park Street and then switch to the Green E-Line outbound train, you can get off at the Prudential stop for easy access to the downtown sort of stuff-- Copley Square, the skyscrapers, Newbury Street (shopping, restaurants, beautiful people). Further down is the Museum of Fine Arts stop. The Museum of Fine Arts is obviously there, and a block away is the wonderful Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Both have occasional nighttime events with cocktails, which attract young-ish intellectual professionals.
If you want to stay close to your hotel, the ICA Boston is right down the street.
posted by oinopaponton at 6:24 AM on July 22, 2009
The Silver Line meets up with the Red Line at South Station. From there, you can get off at Park Street, which is the stop for Boston Commons, which is a gorgeous park surrounded by various historical and cultural things. You can also get off the Red Line at Charles/MGH, which is right on the Charles River-- nice for a walk. Over the river on the Red Line is Cambridge; Harvard Square is a pretty famous destination. Lots of little shops, good restaurants, and people-watching.
If you take the Red Line to Park Street and then switch to the Green E-Line outbound train, you can get off at the Prudential stop for easy access to the downtown sort of stuff-- Copley Square, the skyscrapers, Newbury Street (shopping, restaurants, beautiful people). Further down is the Museum of Fine Arts stop. The Museum of Fine Arts is obviously there, and a block away is the wonderful Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Both have occasional nighttime events with cocktails, which attract young-ish intellectual professionals.
If you want to stay close to your hotel, the ICA Boston is right down the street.
posted by oinopaponton at 6:24 AM on July 22, 2009
You'll want the World Trade Center stop on the silver line, according to the hotel's website.
As for things to do, that depends on what you enjoy. Like American history? You've got the Freedom Trail. Like science? Go to the Museum of Science, it's awesome. Like art? Go to the MFA, which is also awesome. Just scratching the surface here.
posted by cerebus19 at 6:25 AM on July 22, 2009
As for things to do, that depends on what you enjoy. Like American history? You've got the Freedom Trail. Like science? Go to the Museum of Science, it's awesome. Like art? Go to the MFA, which is also awesome. Just scratching the surface here.
posted by cerebus19 at 6:25 AM on July 22, 2009
If you want bookstores, Harvard Square is the place to go. Harvard Bookstore is a favorite, but Schoenhof's Foreign Books is fun, too. There's a little poetry store whose name I can't remember, and a travel bookstore as well. Plus the Coop (Harvard's large bookstore) and a cute kids' bookstore.
posted by oinopaponton at 6:27 AM on July 22, 2009
posted by oinopaponton at 6:27 AM on July 22, 2009
Book stores, well:
Brattle Book Shop (Downtown Crossing)
Pandemonium Books (mostly sci-fi, Central Square, Cambridge)
Rodney's (Central Square)
Plenty of others, too. If you go to Central, you can stop at the MIT Museum and have a drink at the Miracle of Science.
posted by backseatpilot at 6:30 AM on July 22, 2009
Brattle Book Shop (Downtown Crossing)
Pandemonium Books (mostly sci-fi, Central Square, Cambridge)
Rodney's (Central Square)
Plenty of others, too. If you go to Central, you can stop at the MIT Museum and have a drink at the Miracle of Science.
posted by backseatpilot at 6:30 AM on July 22, 2009
MIT Museum
Harvard Bookstore - a short walk from Harvard Station. Harvard Square really isn't as interesting as it used to in years past, but it's cute.
Porter Square Books - right off Porter Square on the Red Line.
I'll also put in a shoutout for Davis Square (also on the Red Line) which has all sorts of restaurants (tibetan, crepes, hot dogs, italian, sushi, upscale bar food, burritos, burritos and burritos) and a second run theatre.
posted by canine epigram at 6:34 AM on July 22, 2009
Harvard Bookstore - a short walk from Harvard Station. Harvard Square really isn't as interesting as it used to in years past, but it's cute.
Porter Square Books - right off Porter Square on the Red Line.
I'll also put in a shoutout for Davis Square (also on the Red Line) which has all sorts of restaurants (tibetan, crepes, hot dogs, italian, sushi, upscale bar food, burritos, burritos and burritos) and a second run theatre.
posted by canine epigram at 6:34 AM on July 22, 2009
Tech guy by trade.
I loved visiting MIT, and as a tech guy, you probably would too.
posted by kidbritish at 6:41 AM on July 22, 2009
I loved visiting MIT, and as a tech guy, you probably would too.
posted by kidbritish at 6:41 AM on July 22, 2009
The Boston Museum of Science is fun. Make sure you check out the mechanism boards in the basement of the main area and the HUGE Van de Graaf generator with the indoor lightning shows.
2nding the MIT Museum and Miracle of Science. The collection of kinetic sculptures at the museum is not-to-be-missed.
If you interested in going elsewhere at MIT, check out:
Barker Library (as a note, all MIT libraries are open to the public, though they may ask you to sign in)
Infinite Corridor which usually has displays of some current projects
Otherwise, wondering the halls is fun. Right now they aren't very busy since it is summer break, so you won't see the buzz the campus normally has.
posted by chiefthe at 7:07 AM on July 22, 2009
2nding the MIT Museum and Miracle of Science. The collection of kinetic sculptures at the museum is not-to-be-missed.
If you interested in going elsewhere at MIT, check out:
Barker Library (as a note, all MIT libraries are open to the public, though they may ask you to sign in)
Infinite Corridor which usually has displays of some current projects
Otherwise, wondering the halls is fun. Right now they aren't very busy since it is summer break, so you won't see the buzz the campus normally has.
posted by chiefthe at 7:07 AM on July 22, 2009
I just made my first two trips to Boston a few months ago and I really enjoyed the Freedom Trail. If you enjoy history there is a lot of it to see and read about. The trail will also take you through the Italian neighborhood of Boston where you will pass several bakeries and lots of restaurants. The restaurants on the main street (Hanover) can be very crowded but there are places on the side streets that are easier to get into.
posted by mmascolino at 8:10 AM on July 22, 2009
posted by mmascolino at 8:10 AM on July 22, 2009
I just got back from a weekend in Boston, my first trip there, staying a block from your hotel. As several people have mentioned, you're very close to the Silver Line, which is very convenient, but you can also get around on foot quite easily from there. Boston is very pedestrian-friendly.
I took the Boston City View bike tour with these guys, which was very good if you're into that sort of thing. It covered a fair bit of ground at a fairly leisurely pace, and the guides were great. I'd recommend it for a first-timer interested in Boston history.
posted by ocha-no-mizu at 8:37 AM on July 22, 2009
I took the Boston City View bike tour with these guys, which was very good if you're into that sort of thing. It covered a fair bit of ground at a fairly leisurely pace, and the guides were great. I'd recommend it for a first-timer interested in Boston history.
posted by ocha-no-mizu at 8:37 AM on July 22, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for your help. It's going to be a great trip!
posted by jaythebull at 9:59 AM on July 22, 2009
posted by jaythebull at 9:59 AM on July 22, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ootsocsid at 6:21 AM on July 22, 2009