Anyone been to Boston?

[Andylion]

We are considering a mini trip to Boston in May, and don't know which neighbourhood to stay in. We want museums, art galleries, maybe a park for a nice walk.

I am looking at booking sites and waiting to hear back from a friend of a friend who has been there, but i thought I would see if any MNetters had been recently.

Also, any general Boston -related tips?

Travelling from Canada. We may be too late to find anything good.😮

We stayed this Summer in the Courtyard by Marriot Downtown. Nothing special but we had no issues at all.

Boston is very walkable, we didn't use any public transport at all but did a Bus tour and used it as a way to go to the USS Constitution and back, the only attraction we didn't want to walk to.

Boston Common is a beautiful park.

I'd stay around Boston Common or Beacon Hill - it's then easily walkable to the North End, the Waterfront, the Back Bay etc. You can easily take the T as well for places that are not quite as walkable, like Cambridge if you want to visit Harvard, MIT, Fenway Park for a baseball game, the Back Bay for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the MFA, etc.

Thanks. I knew about Beacon Hill but not about Boston Common.

We stayed in a quirky little hotel near Harvard. I made a pilgrimage to Louisa May Alcotts house, visited the square where the statue of Robert Gould Shaw is, had a day trip to Salem, did the Freedom trail, Boston Common and a warship plus the fine art museum. We have relatives there so did spend a few nights having long dinners. We then went off to Cape Cod whale watching which was one of the best days of my entire life.

i stayed in the seaport area as it was a lot cheaer, but it was walkable or there was a bus you could get into south station where you could get the T

Just checked it was called Irving House in Cambridge, it was about 12 years ago.

Stay somewhere that is close to a Green Line T stop (the underground equivalent)

Then go to see the ducklings in the Public Garden, take a Duck Tour, visit the MFA and the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Do the Freedom Trail and eat at Legal Sea Foods. A morning poking around Harvard in Cambridge (they have some great museums) and the Science Museum is fun if you are that way inclined. The Prudential Center has so e fun shopping and Newbury Street has some fancy shopping. Check the dates for games at The Garden and Fenway Park if you like sports. Bring comfy shoes and check the weather forecast as it varies enormously depending on the time of year

I stayed at the Omni Parker House a few years ago. It was a good location and good price wise too. I'd stay there again.

We stayed at the IHG Downtown Boston. We used public transport and walked places.
I loved it, we went to Harvard, Fenway Park, watched a Patriots game, went whalewatching and visited Salem.
Felt incredibly safe (we've also visited San Francisco and that was scary).
Would definitely go back - you must visit a Tatte Bakery, it's a small chain who do the most amazing pastries and brunches.

Dozens of times
If you want museums and galleries then go to Washington- amazing options but for an all round trip then Boston is fun.

Boston is full of Canadians- are you driving down- if so stop in Maine for seafood. I would avoid legal seafoods- it was bought by a chain and is pretty poor now.

MIT museum is fun if you have children. Duck tours are good (but used to be better before all the H&S stuff came in!).

Glad to see they still do the Duck tours I went to Boston in 1997 and did a Duck tour it was fab.

Thanks for the ideas.

Head down to cape cod on the ferry from Boston to Provincetown. It's absolutely gorgeous and quirky. You can rent bikes to get around.

Boston is OK but not my favourite place.

Not a huge amount to do there IMO.

Everyone seems to have missed out the Cheers bar. Maybe it shut down or something.

I think some of the smaller places around Cape Cod are nicer.

As someone else said if you are into museums then Washington is a better bet or New York.

I certainly wouldn't go to Boston for a week. Maybe a long weekend.

I liked Boston, didn't blow my mind but totally nice. Stayed with friends so no hotel ideas, sorry.
I enjoyed our day trip to Salem more than I thought I would, ferry there and train back.

We stayed in the intercontinental. Nice hotel with big rooms but a little away from some of the main stuff.

I stayed downtown in canopy by hilton. Very walkable to everywhere. We even walked to harvard via fenway Park! Got the tube back.

We downloaded an audio walking tour of the freedom trail then did that under our own steam. It was a lovely way to see the city. There are loads of amazing restaurants and I loved lobster rolls even if they are £££££££ for a brit.

Thanks everyone. Hotel booked!

Where are you staying?

We’re staying in Boston Common.