I'm going to Boston for the first time July 4th- July 9th.

Cool things to do? Best restaurants? Excellent hotels?

I'm looking over reviews of certain places online but would love suggestions. Thanks!

4/2/2012 11:49:00 AM

Stand on the bridge for the fireworks....best view evar! Especially the reflection of fireworks on the buildings

fenway for a game

Quincy Market

Whale watching



[Edited on April 2, 2012 at 12:19 PM. Reason : too many !!!]

4/2/2012 12:16:48 PM

Where are you staying in Boston?

I am going up there mid-June. Trying to figure out where to stay to be in a nice area but not get butt raped by hotel rates.

4/2/2012 12:46:52 PM

Millennium Bostonian Hotel is excellent and the location is pretty great for all the touristy things (right across the street from Fanieul Hall). We got a great deal the time we stayed there but the next time we were up, the rates were outrageous. If you can get a decent rate, its second to none.

The Westin Boston Waterfront was pretty good as well. Not too much to do in the immediated vicinity but the walk into downtown wasn't bad and there was public transport access just across the street. The harpoon brewery was a very short walk away.

The Sam Adams brewery tour was worth going to if youre into beer.

4/2/2012 1:31:31 PM

I just got back from Boston - had an awesome time. we stayed at the Liberty, which was an AWESOME hotel. I think it's usually pretty pricey, but if that's not an issue I'd definitely recommend it. it used to be a prison and they converted it into an upscale, trendy boutique-like hotel (although it is a starwood property). At night the whole lobby (and all 5 floors of the catwalk) turn into a bar/club.

http://www.libertyhotel.com/

we went on the USS constitution which was really cool. walking around back bay was neat, the north end for BOMB italian food, and mike's pastry for the best cannolis EVAR.

http://www.mikespastry.com/

although probably my favourite part of the trip was the "make way for ducklings" statue in boston public gardens.

4/2/2012 6:35:49 PM

Sam adams brewery tour. Go to the bar they recommend to get your free sam adams glass. Order the clam chowder that comes in the bread bowl. It is absolutely amazing.

Also go to a bruins game, they're fun.

We also did the fenway tour and even though I'm not into baseball, it was very interesting.

Another was checking out the cemeteries downtown, it was neat seeing sam adams' grave.

[Edited on April 2, 2012 at 8:02 PM. Reason : G]

4/2/2012 7:58:16 PM

#1. Go to Fenway if you can. There's just something about being in that stadium.

#2. Eat a lobstah roll

#3. If you have access to a car, scoot over to Salem.

#4. Obligatory "Freedom trail". It does take you all over Boston, so it's not half bad.

Hotel rates are rough during the weekdays..a little less brutal on the weekends, but can still be rough without having some rewards points or something.

If you plan to stay within Boston, you can get to most anything worthwhile through the T-line. Plan your hotel to be close to it. I went cheap and had to walk fifteen minutes from the nearest stop to get to mine..not a big deal since it was in Cambridge and I felt safe walking around, but when you've walked the Freedom Trail and your dogs are aching, you'll be glad that you're closer.

4/2/2012 8:00:17 PM

Harpoon Brewery Tour with the 20 minute all you can drink open bar at the end. I think it is $10 to take the tour.

4/2/2012 9:01:03 PM

I love Boston!!

4/2/2012 11:30:59 PM

^great contribution

4/2/2012 11:59:41 PM

You guys are amazing! Keep 'em coming!

I love that duck picture!

Thanks so much for the hotel recommendations as well. I'm looking in to all those mentioned.

Right, we got an excellent deal on the round trip flights so we can splurge a bit on the crazy holiday hotel rates.

I'm been looking at the following restaurants - has anyone been to any of these?

Atlantic Fish
Myers & Chang for lunch
Smith & Wollensky
Tresca
Oceanaire Seafood Room

4/3/2012 9:34:30 AM

Fenway's a good time

Make sure to bring a sweater, even in June

4/3/2012 10:28:38 AM

Quote :

"Oceanaire Seafood Room"

that's the only one I've heard of, and it's a chain. I try to avoid chains at all costs, EXCEPT ruth's chris/mortons.

4/3/2012 12:40:44 PM

The old north church had an interesting tour where you get to go up in the bell tower and down in the crypt.

The paul revere house was also pretty cool.


The folks at the nine zero hotel were super awesome. Also a bit pricey, but the location was perfect for walking around town.

Cafe Vanille was a great place to grab breakfast - excellent coffee and pastries.

4/3/2012 3:57:36 PM

Call people out for quoting Gordon Wood about mercantilism in the southern colonies without having read Vickers' stance on inherited wealth.

4/3/2012 4:06:11 PM

Page 98, right?

4/3/2012 5:54:59 PM

^^haha that was posted in another thread. love that movie.

4/4/2012 12:39:11 AM

definitely recommend the fenway tour, it's great if you are even remotely interested in baseball and/or history. afterwards, get lunch at the beerworks outside the stadium. it's a regional chain i guess (there's one at the airport) but it's really good. in june they have a watermelon beer.

4/4/2012 1:19:42 AM

http://tridentbookscafe.com/

Best breakfast in Boston. It's on Newbury which is the up scale shopping area.

4/4/2012 10:39:08 AM

Parish's Cafe. It's near the public gardens. The restaurant has only sandwiches, but they got a chef from all the best restaurants in town to submit sandwiches. The Royal Regis is the tits.

4/5/2012 8:32:18 AM

^^ That's awesome. We're actually going to stay on Newbury street at a guest house. It's only .2 miles away.

^ Thanks! That is only .8 miles away.

4/5/2012 3:01:24 PM

Any additional suggestions? I am going to do a lot of the things already mentioned in this thread.

5/25/2012 12:12:39 PM

Bump

Looks like I'll be staying at http://www.colonnadehotel.com/ from June 27-July1

Here's what a friend sent me.

The first day there I'd purchase either a duck tour or bus tour in the
morning. I have never done the duck tour but heard they're cool. I
did the bus tour my first time there and it was good to get a general
overview of where everything is up front. You can get on and off the
buses all day.

I'd try to stay somewhere downtown near Boston Common or Faneuil Hall.
Everything is walkable. There are a ton of bars around Faneuil
Hall/Quincy Market. If you have to ride the T to get back to your
hotel at night the trains stop running around 1 AM.

I would walk the freedom trail at least from Boston Common to Faneuil
hall. It's a line painted on the ground with a bunch of landmarks and
graveyards along the way.
http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/maps/pdfs/boston-nps-map.pdf

The Beantown Pub is on the trail. You can drink inside looking at Sam
Adams' grave across the street.

If you want to pretend to be romantic, there is a pond with famous
swan boats in Boston Common:
http://www.swanboats.com/about

If the Red Sox are in town it can be fun to hang out near Fenway even
if you don't go to the game. The Cask 'n Flagon is across the street.

5/30/2012 11:16:42 AM

check out http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/boston/

i just did 2 tours through them in Philly and they were awesome. guides were very knowledgeable and kept it fun and interesting. and best of all it is free; tips are encouraged though.

5/30/2012 12:05:58 PM

go to Cheers!

5/30/2012 5:36:23 PM

bump.

Going in July for 3 nights. Tickets on the green monster for a Yankees game and a day in Salem is what we got planned so far. What is the one thing we need to see or the one place we definitely should eat at?

I found booked an Airbnb in the South End for $87/night to keep our costs down so I hope it turns out okay as I've never used Airbnb before. 80+ reviews say it's a great location though so I'm optimistic.

[Edited on May 13, 2013 at 11:01 AM. Reason : .]

5/13/2013 10:59:38 AM

5/16/2013 9:32:54 AM

I was a very big fan of Atlantic Fish and Legal Test Kitchen.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the duck tour and Sam Adams Brewery

5/17/2013 6:53:16 PM

thanks!

5/20/2013 8:18:07 AM