48 Hours in Boston - what to see?

[baxb]

I'm heading over to Boston on Friday with a few collegues & we have Friday afternoon until Sunday PM staying in Central Boston to sightsee, before heading out to Marlborough for a week of work. None of us have been before so open to recommendations, I'll have walk along the Freedom Trail to see see what's about. I loved the Intrepid in NYC when i went last year so anything like that around? I see there is a Boston Tea Party ship/museum is it worth a look?

Thanks!

[alscar]

Not been for a few years but a trolley bus tour is worthwhile - various routes.
The aquarium is ok.
Whale watching trip - not sure if time of year dependent.
Walking around easy enough - the Italian quarter is good to eat in.

[Hedgeman]

I'm quite a regular visitor to Boston, typically 4 times or so a year. It's a very walkable city, and a great place to wander around.

The Freedom Trail is well worth doing, and if you take the time to properly explore each of the 15 or so waypoints, it can easily take a day, and takes in a lot of historical sites. One of the stops is the USS Constitution, but it's a world away from the Intrepid.

The tea party museum is decent enough fun, not sure I'd do if with only 48 hours though. A bit more of a thing to do with kids IMO. Museum of glass flowers at Harvard and museum iof fine art are both excellent, but again 48 hours is a squeeze.

Quincy market is touristy, but a nice place to wander. Mike's pastries in North End if you want one of the famous Canollis. Seaport area is a mini docklands, all new glass and steel, boutiques and conversions. Plenty of very good breweries such as Trillium, Harpoon, so you are in for a treat if you like your IPA. If you like baseball. You can do tours of Fenway Park.

If you are flying in and landing in the afternoon, I'd relax the rest of the day - wander around the bay/harbour area, Quincy Market, couple of beers, Italian in North end. Full day walking the Freedom Trail on Saturday, and Sunday take an uber to Harvard for a wander around there and Cambridge.

PM me if you have any specific questions.

[baxb]

Cheers both. Hedgeman - that itinerary seems like a plan, looks like its barely above freezing for the couple of days we are there so diving in & out of bulidings will work. The science museum isn't far from our hotel (The Boxer) so if the snow does hit on Sunday may start there & then head for the brewaries!!

[djc206]

The subway goes to Harvard, we used that because Uber is actually quite pricey in Boston.

We did a Harvard tour, the tour shop is next to the subway station. It was pretty informative and the tour guides are current students so you can ask any question and get a proper honest answer.

We did the “politically incorrect north end food tour” (or something like that) with Tony, quite interesting and the food stops were superb. He’s a character, typically abrasive Italian American Bostonian but very funny.

[Steve Campbell]

I had a day spare after a works conference and went Whale Watching. Great day with Hump backs coming right alongside the boat and also breaching in the distance. That was in Sept though so not sure whether whale migration at this time of year is around Boston area.

[Spevs]

A Duck Boat tour is quite a lot of fun, although probably better in the summer when we were there. Freedom Trail is a good walk too.

[Puggit]

Spevs said:

A Duck Boat tour is quite a lot of fun, although probably better in the summer when we were there. Freedom Trail is a good walk too.

Agree on the Duck tour - you see so much of the city.

[baxb]

Thanks all, agree that the duck tour sounds good fun, but weather isn't looking great. According to BBC Dry & bright on Sat but -2 to -6 & wet/snow on Sunday & +4 to -4. We'll stick to dry land i think!

Thanks for the foodie tour tip, i'll have a look at that.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Cadwell is only 40 mins or so away.

[baxb]

Tribal Chestnut said:

Cadwell is only 40 mins or so away.

Perfect! i'm staying in Boston enroute to Cadwell for a TD in July