“Must-do” suggestions for a Boston first timer

bbiggs
bbiggs Posts: 6,965
in All Encompassing Trip
Hey, All,

First time in Boston this weekend. Can you give a few “must-do” suggestions for my wife and I to do on the off day Monday? Thanks! 
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Comments

  • YourDirtisMyfood
    YourDirtisMyfood Boston Posts: 4,668
    If you're staying in town, Fanueil Hall and The Aquarium are fun stuff.  If you love craft beer, Trillium in Canton, MA (check if they are open).  If you are into PJ history, the Xfinity Center (Home of the Experiment from 2003) is 20 minutes from Canton, MA.  If you want to see history, Freedom Trail is very popular.  The North End is also fun.  Lots to do.
  • bbiggs
    bbiggs Posts: 6,965
    ^ Great!  I’m staying in Copley Square. I figure I can do breweries and that kind of stuff on show days, so I’m looking for the more “touristy” stuff on Monday. Thanks for the suggestions. 
  • Foriginal Sin
    Foriginal Sin Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,876
    Tell everybody how great all your sports teams are compared to theirs, say ‘wicked awesome,’
    drink Budweiser and randomly punch people for no reason. You’ll fit right in
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  • pjl44
    pjl44 Posts: 10,581
    bbiggs said:
    ^ Great!  I’m staying in Copley Square. I figure I can do breweries and that kind of stuff on show days, so I’m looking for the more “touristy” stuff on Monday. Thanks for the suggestions. 
    As far as touristy stuff goes, I unapologetically love the duck boat tours. You get some history and a ride on the Charles.
  • YourDirtisMyfood
    YourDirtisMyfood Boston Posts: 4,668
    Foriginal Sin said:
    Tell everybody how great all your sports teams are compared to theirs, say ‘wicked awesome,’
    drink Budweiser and randomly punch people for no reason. You’ll fit right in
    dankind?  
  • ed243421
    ed243421 Posts: 7,742
    That’s him!

    he just punched me last week
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  • droptheleash9
    droptheleash9 Posts: 1,468
    Foriginal Sin said:
    Tell everybody how great all your sports teams are compared to theirs, say ‘wicked awesome,’
    drink Budweiser and randomly punch people for no reason. You’ll fit right in
    Nah that’s not Boston. That’s Philly.
  • Jadler
    Jadler Posts: 777
    If it’s a nice day follow the harbor walk all the way from the seaport district to the north end or visa versa. Great views of the city, Boston harbor, and you can walk off all the pastries and pizza that you’ll have no doubt consumed. :) Fenway does offer tours for a very reasonable price if you are into baseball history. Make sure you stroll through Boston Common and Boston Public Gardens. Each area of town can be pretty unique. Happy to recommend some good eats/ drink spots if interested! 
  • Goneshootin
    Goneshootin Posts: 14
    Others mentioned fanueil hall and boston common (which are close to one another, downtown is easily walkable)
    Walking around Newbury Street (right near your hotel) at night, theres a few places to grab a drink around there.
    North End for good italian food. Theres a nice seafood place called Atlantic Fish on boylston street, also near your hotel. 
    Boston Beer Works (try the blueberry beer, sounds weird but trust me its worth a try) before the show. 
    If you are taking the T to Fenway note that the stop to get off is Kenmore. There is another stop called Fenway which is NOT the closest stop to Fenway Park. 
    Enjoy!
  • bbiggs
    bbiggs Posts: 6,965
    Thanks everyone! Great tips. Keep ‘em coming! 
  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,881
    Get wicked drunk and puke your ass on the row in front of you
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  • PJWGIII
    PJWGIII Chicago, IL Posts: 811
    edited August 2018
    I have two words:

    MIKE’S. PASTRY.

    Line is decievingly long. It moves very quickly. Get some canoli on the North End after dinner!

    I loved all the touristy stuff when I went (Freedom Trail, Boston Tea Party Museum, Duck Tours, Union Oyster House, Cheers, etc.) but I also recommend that if you want some cool shoes you stop at the Converse Headquarters or the one in the Back Bay neighborhood to heavily customize your very own chucks (Maybe make them PJ-related?).

    The only other thing to say is go to Fenway and enjoy that atmosphere, but your already going to do that! So jealous, enjoy the shows!


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  • RoleModelsinBlood31
    RoleModelsinBlood31 Austin TX Posts: 6,244
    droptheleash9 said:
    Foriginal Sin said:
    Tell everybody how great all your sports teams are compared to theirs, say ‘wicked awesome,’
    drink Budweiser and randomly punch people for no reason. You’ll fit right in
    Nah that’s not Boston. That’s Philly.
    Beantown’s the only place I’ve lived where I saw dudes punch women in the face- and I saw it two different times in 8 years.  Once in the middle of the street while I was waiting at a light on nye and the other in broad daylight in Allston.  Crazy ass chowdah heads ovah there.
    I'm like an opening band for your mom.
  • HollisBrown
    HollisBrown Posts: 4,325
    Jadler said:
    If it’s a nice day follow the harbor walk all the way from the seaport district to the north end or visa versa. Great views of the city, Boston harbor, and you can walk off all the pastries and pizza that you’ll have no doubt consumed. :) Fenway does offer tours for a very reasonable price if you are into baseball history. Make sure you stroll through Boston Common and Boston Public Gardens. Each area of town can be pretty unique. Happy to recommend some good eats/ drink spots if interested! 
    Looking for local breakfast spots, not hoyty toyty. I’m from Jersey and we have some great diners. Italian in Little Italy, not too pricey. And spits to grab a quick bite on the way to the show.(walking from the T to stadium, I forget the station. Coming from Boston garden.
    Thanks
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  • RatherStarved
    RatherStarved Posts: 5,810
    Jadler said:
    If it’s a nice day follow the harbor walk all the way from the seaport district to the north end or visa versa. Great views of the city, Boston harbor, and you can walk off all the pastries and pizza that you’ll have no doubt consumed. :) Fenway does offer tours for a very reasonable price if you are into baseball history. Make sure you stroll through Boston Common and Boston Public Gardens. Each area of town can be pretty unique. Happy to recommend some good eats/ drink spots if interested! 
    Um I'm pretty sure there won't be Fenway tours available on Monday.
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  • Taft
    Taft Posts: 457
    YourDirtisMyfood said:
    If you're staying in town, Fanueil Hall and The Aquarium are fun stuff.  If you love craft beer, Trillium in Canton, MA (check if they are open).  If you are into PJ history, the Xfinity Center (Home of the Experiment from 2003) is 20 minutes from Canton, MA.  If you want to see history, Freedom Trail is very popular.  The North End is also fun.  Lots to do.
    Trillium has a beer garden right across from the Aquarium and near the North End, do not go to Canton. 

    Agree with others who say the Freedom Trail, and you can self guide with your phone. Also agree that while they are super touristy, duck boat tour is a good way to see the city. 

    Other than that, walk the Common, go to Castle Island to see Fort Independence. Do the Harbor walk.  If you go to Faniuel Hall, do NOT eat there. Modern Pastry>Mike’s Pastry with shorter lines. 
  • bbiggs
    bbiggs Posts: 6,965
    ^ Thank you! Stupid question, but I assume the Freedom Trail is a relatively easy walk that gym shoes would suffice for? No hiking boots? 
  • curmudgeoness
    curmudgeoness Brigadoon, foodie capital Posts: 4,130
    bbiggs said:
    ^ Thank you! Stupid question, but I assume the Freedom Trail is a relatively easy walk that gym shoes would suffice for? No hiking boots? 

    Yes. It's all urban now.
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  • PianoManKD
    PianoManKD Posts: 125
    Foriginal Sin said:
    Tell everybody how great all your sports teams are compared to theirs, say ‘wicked awesome,’
    drink Budweiser and randomly punch people for no reason. You’ll fit right in
    As a lifelong Yankees fan living in the Boston area (well Cape Cod actually), I can assure you that people don't walk around drinking Budweiser randomly punching people for no reason. In fact, the East Coast craft brewery boom is huge out here and it's become part of society out here. But you keep believing what you read on the Onion and living your life that way. 

    To the OP - I echo Mike's Pastry for something sweet! Also check out the Union Oyster House area for some great bars with great beer selection (other than Bud) and some good food. So much to do in Boston! Have fun!
  • Jadler
    Jadler Posts: 777
    kst said:
    Jadler said:
    If it’s a nice day follow the harbor walk all the way from the seaport district to the north end or visa versa. Great views of the city, Boston harbor, and you can walk off all the pastries and pizza that you’ll have no doubt consumed. :) Fenway does offer tours for a very reasonable price if you are into baseball history. Make sure you stroll through Boston Common and Boston Public Gardens. Each area of town can be pretty unique. Happy to recommend some good eats/ drink spots if interested! 
    Um I'm pretty sure there won't be Fenway tours available on Monday.


    Ohhh didn't even think of that! I just checked and it looks like they do still offer them on Monday but just in the AM:

    https://www.mlb.com/redsox/ballpark/tours

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