Need to show some people around Boston - Please help!

Hello,

I have some family visiting from out of the country, and I would like to take them to Boston and show them around. The problem is - I don%26#39;t know it very well myself. Could anyone please give me suggestions about where we could go to just walk around? We are just going for the day (I live in Connecticut).

Also, can anyone recommend a place to park the car so we could take the T to get around in the city?

Thank you!

Need to show some people around Boston - Please help!

Are you coming to Boston on a weekend or weekday? If you are here on the weekend, I would just skip the T and park at the Boston Common Garage. It is only $11.00 all day on weekends. Since, you mention you will have a family, it would be the most economical way to go. For a one day visit, I would recommend walking the Freedom Trail. Make sure to take a walk through the Public Garden. If you have time, try to ride the Swan Boats and walk down Newbury Street. What age group and what are their interests? I would try to do a Boston Duck Tour ride. It is popular with both adults and children.

bostoncitylinks.com/boston_commongarage.html

Need to show some people around Boston - Please help!

Thanks for that advice - we are planning the trip for tomorrow (wednesday). Is the common garage still a good place to park or is there something better for the weekdays?

My brother and I are taking our cousin and his wife - both in their 20%26#39;s.

I would park over by the waterfront area (by the Federal Court House/Boston%26#39;s World Trade Center/Barking Crab Restaurant) where you%26#39;ll be able to park for about $11 a day, and walk a few blocks into the downtown area. There are a bunch of lots over there.

I would definitely walk along the freedom trail and explore some of the surrounding areas, as well as the back bay (newbury street and boylston street, copley square) and maybe even the south end.

I like these sites:

www.nextstopboston.com

http://www.bostonusa.com

http://www.bostoncitytourist.com/

You can find cheap parking down along the S. Boston waterfront, but it is a bit of a hike to get into the areas you want to go. Since you%26#39;ll be doing a lot of walking, I suggest paying the extra money and park at the Boston Common garage. That will put you right in the middle of the city. It%26#39;s $22 to park for 10 hours, so consider it for conveinence. You do need to get into the city early no matter where you park, because they fill up fast on weekdays.

http://www.mccahome.com/bcg.html

My suggested itinerary would be to park the car and walk west across Charles Street to the Public Garden. Take a stroll through there and leave by walking across Arlington Street onto the Commonwealth Avenue mall. It%26#39;s not a shopping mall, but a parkway with beautful brownstone homes on either side. It%26#39;s very pretty. Walk up Comm Ave a short ways to either Clarendon or Dartmouth streets and take a left. Walk over to Trinity Church at Copley Square. The church is on Clarendon near Boylston. After the church, back track up Boylston, past the Public Garden and to the Boston Common. You%26#39;ll find a Freedom Trail visitor center there. You can get a map or not get a map. Follow the red line from there and your on your way to all the Freedom Trail sites. A good place to stop off, rest and people watch would be at Fanueil Hall and the marketplace there. Grab some lunch or continue on into the North End where you can find excellent italian restaurants to get lunch. There are also excellent pastry shops and coffee cafes too. Follow the trail into Charlestown and finish up at the Constitution and Bunker Hill Monument. After leaveing there, follow the trail back into Boston. After crossing the bridge, take a right onto Causeway Street. As hort walk and you%26#39;ll be at North Station. Take a green line inbound train to Boylston stop which will bring you back to where your car is. If you still have time and want more exploring, walk down Boylston Street to Charles St.(where your car is parked) and follow Charles up into Beacon Hill. Beacon Hill is another beautiful neighborhood to check out. You can easily walk over to the Esplanade Park from there. That is a very beautiful walk along the Charles River. Try not to plan your trip back to CT at rush hour. It%26#39;s best to leave the city after 6:30 to avoid sitting in a lot of traffic. Have fun in the city.

People who enjoy museum culture might like the unique Gardner Museum, an Italian palace built around a courtyard with lush central garden, holding the collection of art patron Isabella Stuart Gardner.

http://www.gardnermuseum.org/

I tried to post this earlier but either TA or my computer has been acting a bit strange...

The weekday rates are much higher at the Boston Common Garage -$8 for the first hour, $22 for 10 hours and $27 Max fro 24 hours.

The Boston Common Garage location is the most convenient to the Freedom Trail. If you want a cheaper rate, you will have to do more walking then park by the Barking Crab as recommended by the previous poster. If you start the Freedom trail from Bunker Hill or the USS Constitution, you can get discounted validated parking at Nautica Parking Garage but remember you will have to walk back to your car after finishing the trail in Downtown Boston.

I think you would enjoy a Boston Duck Tour ride, you can buy tickets online. It starts at the Museum of Science or the Prudential Center. Maybe you all can go to the Blue Man Group in the evening. Have Fun!