Hi, I am looking for a bit of advice on how to go about a smoothly planned couple of days of touring Boston in early August. I will arrive at Wompatuck State Park on a Sunday, spend the night then head to Boston early on Monday. I%26#39;m heading up to Acadia for 9 nights after that.
It will be me,my wife and my 10 year old son.
The Freedom Trail is a must. Boston Museum of Fine Art, Duck Tour, New England Aquarium, Tall Ship Cruise, Bean town Trolley Tour all sound like they can%26#39;t be missed.
My biggest concern is once I arrive to the big city, where would be a good place to park in order to accomplish these things(a couple of each, each day).
Is it possible to take the train from somewhere in or near Wompatuck to Boston?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Including Must do places, things. Itineraries, parking, subways etc......Thanks in advance Angelo CIAO!
I'm camping at Wompatuck, then touring Beantown 2 days...
Buckeye, huh? Pizzaman. Makes me hungry for a Tommy%26#39;s pepperoni pizza.
Okay, from Wompatuck, you%26#39;ll want to take the Greenbush commuter rail into the city. Nantasket Junction is marginally closer to the park, but the next station over, West Hingham costs less, and is probably no more than 2 miles from the park. Parking requires $2 paid in bills or coins (but no dollar coins fit) at the station and there%26#39;s always plenty of parking.
Train schedule is here: http://mbta.com
For a 10-year-old boy, I%26#39;d swap out the MFA for the Museum of Science. Don%26#39;t know if you%26#39;ve been to COSI in Columbus -- I think this is better.
The USS Constitution is also a great stop for a boy.
You should also take the commuter boat in one day. You%26#39;ll find it too at the MBTA site. It%26#39;s a bit more expensive than the train, but it%26#39;s a great sightseeing trip coming into Boston Harbor.
In Hingham, you can walk World End and Turkey Hill if you want a nature day. And Nantasket Beach (nearby, in Hull) is a pretty good beach (could be very busy) if you want to stay in the area one of your days.
I'm camping at Wompatuck, then touring Beantown 2 days...
I like the idea of taking the commuter ferry boat into Rowes Wharf from the Hingham Ferry Terminal. The ferry terminal is located about 2 miles from Wompatuck on Lincoln Street (route 3A). Parking at the ferry terminal is $2 and the cost of the boat is $12 roundtrip per person. The boat will drop you off at Rowes Wharf which is about a 3 block walk to the Aquarium and Fanueil Hall/Quincy Market.
I also suggest swapping out the Aquarium for the Museum of Science. The MOS is one of the best around, and your son will love the place. I would spend a couple of hours at Fanueil Hall area in the morning, then either walk or take the subway over to the MOS for the rest of the day. The walk will take around 20 minutes from the Fanueil Hall area.
Day 2 could be spent by taking a Fenway Park morning tour followed by the Freedom Trail walk. You can get to Fenway by taking the green line outbound subway from State Street or Gov%26#39;t Center T stop to Kenmore stop. Take green line inbound to Arlington T stop which will drop you off right at the Boston Public Garden. Take a nice stroll through there. It%26#39;s a beautiful park. Walk up Boylston Street a short distance to the Boston Common. Go to the Freedom Trail visitors center there and start your Freedom Trail walk.
Since you will go past Fanueil Hall on the Freedom Trail tour, you could skip that on day 1 and head right over to the MOS. You can take the Duck Tour from there and return to spend the rest of the day at the museum.
Wow! What great info, exactly what I am looking for.I never knew about the commuter boat, sounds perfect. My wife is very interested in the Art Museum because she is an art historian, but I will look deeper into skipping the Aquarium and going to the science center.
Is the Aquarium really not so special? We have a science center here in Cleveland( sorry about that Sox fans I am season ticket holder for the Tribe...grumble ---grumble ) but was kind of interested in the Aquarium. But if someone can convince me otherwise I will surely listen.
Thanks a bunch, but if the free advice stops coming I%26#39;ll understand...since I%26#39;m a Tribe fan. Angelo
ps My son had this awesome sign he made when the Yanks came in town- ';BUZZ OFF YANKS!'; get it. He also put this huge bug on his cap and taunted the whole Yanks team. Maybe that will get me some ';extra special info';
PM -- great kid -- anyone who doesn%26#39;t like the Yankees is a friend of ours!
For your wife -- send her to the MFA on her own -- she%26#39;ll need more time than any 10-year-old will give her. If he%26#39;s interested, Fenway Park is near the MFA... but I%26#39;d be more inclined to do the Science Museum. The Aquarium is good -- but great? Hmm.
A whale watch might be a good choice too. Take dramamine. You can get boats in lots of places. Plymouth -- easily reached from Hingham, and the Aquarium offers a boat too. All boats go to the same place -- Stellwagen Bank... and on a good day, it%26#39;s a really awesome experience.
Your wife may also enjoy the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum... smaller -- in an amazing building. She can see the details online, I%26#39;m sure. This museum can be done in a couple hours. The MFA will keep her busy all day.
I have mixed feelings about the Aquarium. I think they charge a LOT for what it is, but that said, it%26#39;s nice enough, especially if you%26#39;ve never been. (Those of us who have are the biggest grumblers b/c so little has changed over the years.) Other Aquariums in other cities are, I think, more impressive---I was in Philly and visited the aquarium right over the bridge into Jersey and was astounded at how much better it was. Oh well.
If your wife is an art historian, be sure to tell her about the Isabella Stuart Gardiner museum and encourage her to tour the old courtyard of the Boston Public Library as well as visit the MFA.
The commuter boat in is a great idea, at least for one trip into the city. If the weather is nice, it%26#39;s a good take, if only for the gorgeous approach as you head into port--the skylne is amazing. Lousy weather, forget it, take the train. Something about the smell of deisel and the up and down of the boat...yuck.
Your son should like the Duck tour. That%26#39;s perfect for his age range. They let my cousin%26#39;s 7 year old drive the boat--she loved it.
Oh! One more thing...
A boat ride to George%26#39;s Island is great. Half hour on the boat. You get dropped off at a harbor island with an old Civil War era fort on it... hiking paths... old chambers to explore... it ...adventurous kids love it.
http://www.bostonislands.org/isle_georges.asp
You%26#39;d probably choose between this and whale watching. They%26#39;re different propositions. The ww is a long time on the boat whereas the George%26#39;s Island trip is a half hour each way, if that. WW, you see whales (you hope) George%26#39;s Island is differeent... there%26#39;s a field where you can pack a picnic lunch and sit and enjoy .. throw a frisbee or ball if you bring one...hiking paths, views of the ocean...dank spooky tunnels to explore...
While the MFA is not especially geared for kids, they DO have special kids%26#39; activities. Their website would tell you more about that... If he%26#39;s not that into it, the MFA isn%26#39;t too far from Fenway (few stops on the T). Maybe you and your son could do a Fenway Park tour while she is soaking up the aht... Just a thought... of course, he may find parts of the MFA interesting. And she%26#39;s probably a great teacher and knows how to make it interesting for him.
FWIW ... my son, 11yo, actually likes the MFA, especially the Egyptian Funereal stuff ...
Just read the earlier posts. If you go, Nantasket beach has arcades......and a beach... is usually terrifically crowded but fun nonetheless. If you get there early, you can find parking ... great hotdog stand...best hot dogs, onion rings, cheeseburgers... incredible...it%26#39;s the one on the side of the ocean. Unbelievably good.
Thanks to all again! I was not aware that Fenway was close to MFA. We were hoping to take a tour of the ballpark or possibly snag some tickets for the game. Prices are nutty! You can get a nice bleacher seat here in Cleveland for $7, to any game you want to by walking up to the ticket window and trading in a Pepsi can.That is why so many Red Sox fans come to Cleveland to watch a game. The last series the Sox were here 30% of the fans were Red Sox folks. Maybe a bunch of front runners?
We are planning a whale watch tour but probably not until we get up to Acadia later in the week.
Should I give the Aquarium a try even though hometowners are not so thrilled with it?
We have had the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here for 10 years now and I still have not gone--I%26#39;m guessing it is overrated (same situation with your Aquarium?)
Thanks again, Angelo. maybe I%26#39;ll jump on the Sox band wagon since the Tribe has won 1 game in the last 11. :(
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