Places to visit Boston, MA (Cambridge, Salem: hotels, home, dorms)

[gvpersonal]

Hi ,

We are going for 4 days vacation(july 4) on coming week end. We would like to know the best places to visit in Boston.

Also wanted to know place to stay to cover all the places.

I would be thankful for your answer.

Thanks
Gokul

[phoenixmike11]

Boston is a great city to visit with loads of history-If you like baseball make sure you visit Fenway park-if not for a game at least take a tour of the stadium.

Boston travel guide - Wikitravel

[Sayid Linus]

Granary Burial Ground, Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, Musuem of Fine Arts, ..........endless list really.
Or just walk around various parts of the city and check out local pubs/restaurants.

[bostonguy1960]

Boston Harborfest is probably already ongoing, culminating on July 4. They'll even have a chowderfest one day. Many hotels and the visitor center on Boston Common likely have the thick pamphlet detailing all the activities, some for children. There really is a lot which locals never hear about during this event. Too bad, but it's spread out over more than a week. Most just know about July 4th's concert and fireworks. One has to do some research. Not talking about you, but the locals. Some local people have no time or interest in research -- they just want every event to tap them on the shoulder. Then they complain it's a boring city!

Take a harbor cruise from the Aquarium area out to George's Island, or a sunset cruise...maybe an inner harbor cruise to see Old Ironsides in Charlestown. You'll find brochures for all these cruises and more across from Legal Seafoods near the Aquarium. The Boston Harbor Islands now has a lovely info booth just opened on the Rose Kennedy Greenway near the Aquarium. Check the Boston Harbor Islands web site. The Boston Common has a good info booth also.

You can take a ferry to Salem, or a longer and more $$$ boat to Provincetown on Cape Cod. Don't forget the Whale Watch tour, all out of the Aquarium area. I still wish to try the Codzilla action-packed boat ride in the Harbor, with a speeding boat ride and blaring music splashing along waves.

You can take a train up to Ipswich in 45 minutes and go to the lovely Crane Beach, a lovely North Shore ocean beach. They have a free shuttle once your train arrives. Weekends only, I think.

Take a boat ride up the Charles River on the Charles Riverboat company tour. They must have a website; I have a brochure. Did this tour years ago and loved it. They even have an architecture tour as well as a sunset tour.

Try the Boston tv and movie tour, or of course the duck boats. Advance purchase for the latter is advised. Boston by Foot has tours as well. Not free, but probably worth it.

Go to the top of the Prudential tower after your Fenway tour. You'll be able to see where you were as well as the sailboats on the Charles and MIT's campus. Walk around Harvard Yard, where you'll find dorms, classrooms and the library -- a classic campus aura. Soak in the bustle of adjacent Harvard Square. Stroll Porter Square in Cambridge from their subway stop. Not historic but pleasant with small shops and restaurants. Brattle Street in Cambridge is historic and home to the Longfellow House, a memorable walk.

Simply walk across the BU bridge, the Mass.. Ave. bridge (aka Harvard bridge?), or the Longfellow bridge for an especially lovely view. The Longfellow links to Beacon Hill for your charming walk on gas lanterned streets. Don't just take a tour on the trolley, but WALK the hills and gently glance into the windows while admiring their flower boxes. Finish with local ice cream at JP Licks on Charles St., named after the Jamaica Plain neighborhood where it started years ago. Paramount restaurant on Charles St. seems wildly popular for weekend breakfast.

Of course, you'll find your way to the North End, near Faneuil Hall and the Aquarium. Everybody winds up at Mike's Pastry there after an Italian meal.

Just walk the Charles River Esplanade and see where The Pops reform on July 4! Then see the sailboats up close. You might even capture a glorious sunset there as I and other strangers did last summer.

Yes, we have museums. Or, catch a street performer in front of Faneuil Hall. Walk Commonwealth Ave. after you glide on the swan boats in the Public Garden; Comm. Ave. is almost a mile of gorgeous brownstones. Again, walk it, don't simply whiz by on a trolley. Marlborough Street nearby has gas lanterns & brick sidewalks...perhaps my favorite street in town.

Castle Island in South Boston makes for a lovely afternoon stroll next to the Harbor. Not many tourists, but many locals. You'll get to see parts of Southie as you get to Castle Isle. It's a nice two-mile walk to the JFK Library if you like to walk.

See the newly refurbished Boston Tea Party site, near the Children's Museum. Apparently, the Tea Party is not officially on the Freedom Trail, so once you finish the Trail, you may wish to include the Tea Party.

Newbury Street is surely cliche but a must for tourists and people watching. I still love it though some call it snobby.

That's likely more than enough for now...at least I hope so!

[gvpersonal]

Thank you so much to all. It is more than enough for 3 days.

[MikePRU]

If you're also looking for a place to stay, I would definitely recommend many of the hotels in the Copley Square area. Copley Square gives you such great access to the rest of the city. If you want a really nice hotel, I strongly recommend the Fairmont Copley. It's a beautiful old hotel meant to mimic the style of a classic Beacon Hill mansion.