Science Museum area

Hi All, Looking at some self-catering options and there is one ';across the street'; from Museum of Science (Luxridge condos). How is this for pedestrian-friendly, i.e. walk to restaurants, grocery, taking the T home late at night, etc. Is it a ';scenic'; area or neighborhood type location? We%26#39;re looking also at Davis Square area in Somerville. Any thoughts on one versus the other? Thanks so much!

Science Museum area

It sounds like it%26#39;s the very fancy condos that also face the elevated T green line trolley and the highway, near the Galleria Shopping Mall and the river and lots of high tech offices, one hotel --not a very neighborhood-y or pedestrian-friendly (more geared to cars %26amp; the mall) place, although safe to walk home from the green line T-stop at Lechmere. You would need a car to get to the grocery store. It%26#39;s a long walk. Restaurants mostly in the mall, but a few (like Helmand) surrounding.

Davis is much more pedestrian friendly, neighborhood-feeling, lots to do--see a recent post--and convenient to the red line T.

Science Museum area

It%26#39;s not too bad - much nicer area just in the past few years. I used to work in the area and have walked around it quite a bit. I%26#39;m not sure what you mean by ';self-catering'; - you mean there is a condo for rent in that building? It%26#39;s pretty nice.

The Museuom of Science area is right across the river from Boston and is safe enough, but it is not as neighborhood-like or pedestrian friendly as Davis Square. The CambridgeSide Galleria mall is really the dominant feature there.

I would lean toward the Davis Square area. It%26#39;s a bustling square with bars and restaurants in it. There%26#39;s also a theatre that shows movies and live concerts. There are a lot of college students around as Tufts, Harvard, Leslie College are nearby.

A Red Line T stop is right there. You can be in downtown Boston in about 15 or 20 minutes. Plus, you are only a couple of stops away from Harvard Square.

There are drugstores, a convenience store there and a small market (McKinnons) that sells meat, deli items and some vegetables, but not much else. There is a liquor store there, too. A supermarket is one stop away at Porter Square. You could probably walk to it if you didn%26#39;t have to carry back a lot.

I think I would personally be more excited about staying near the Science Museum because it%26#39;s more centrally located (you can literally walk across the river to Boston) BUT:

1.) I don%26#39;t know exactly where you would buy groceries (the nearest supermarket I can think of is the Star Market behind Medford Street in Somerville, I know it well, but it%26#39;s a little far to walk with groceries...).

2.) the area is a little sketchy - maybe not all that safe at night.

Still, for a vacation, I think I would go with the location.

Thanks, all, for your helpful comments. Thomas114, yes, there are some condos available for rental in those buildings. We kind of had an idea from google maps, photos, etc. that the area might not have a ';neighborhood'; feel to it, and we would like to go out, take a run in the park, walk to a restaurant, etc. Now, we%26#39;ve had a third option come up, which is near Newbury and Darmouth, certainly less spacious interior, but sounds like the neighborhood feel and proximity we are looking for. I hope to see all three of these areas in our travels. I%26#39;m so grateful for your input.

Go with Newbury and Dartmouth. It%26#39;s a no brainer as far as location goes.

Newbury and Dartmouth should be awesome.

I dont%26#39; think of that area as dangerous as much as it is busy and lonely at night... a steady stream of tourists/visitors walks from the T stop to the Science Museum and back... the rest of the area is pretty lonely in terms of people walking around... lots of cars going by...train going by overhead...busy noisy, trucks. etc.

Your choices should be 1. Newbury, 2. Davis, 3. Museum of Science. Newbury St. is in the middle of everything, Davis Sq. is a neat place and easy to get to but a bit out of the way, and the Museum of Science area is safe but bleak -- you%26#39;re between a busy 6-8 lane highway and a railroad yard.

Thanks to all for your input! We have chosen to stay at the Newbury condo, and hope to do a side trip or two to Davis Square for music/movie, restaurants, etc. Can%26#39;t wait to visit Boston and also our 5-day trip to P-town prior. Best regards from Texas!