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“Must-do” suggestions for a Boston first timer

bbiggsbbiggs Posts: 6,930
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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    YourDirtisMyfoodYourDirtisMyfood Boston Posts: 4,438
    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.
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    bbiggsbbiggs Posts: 6,930
    ^ 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. 
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    Foriginal SinForiginal Sin Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,747
    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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    pjl44pjl44 Posts: 8,056
    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.
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    YourDirtisMyfoodYourDirtisMyfood Boston Posts: 4,438
    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?  
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    ed243421ed243421 Posts: 7,631
    That’s him!

    he just punched me last week
    The whole world will be different soon... - EV
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    AUGUSTA 9-26-96
    MANSFIELD 9-15-98
    BOSTON 9-29-04
    BOSTON 5-25-06
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    droptheleash9droptheleash9 Posts: 1,336
    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.
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    JadlerJadler Posts: 705
    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! 
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    GoneshootinGoneshootin 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!
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    bbiggsbbiggs Posts: 6,930
    Thanks everyone! Great tips. Keep ‘em coming! 
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    F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 30,617
    Get wicked drunk and puke your ass on the row in front of you
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    PJWGIIIPJWGIII Chicago, IL Posts: 806
    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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    EV:
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    RoleModelsinBlood31RoleModelsinBlood31 Austin TX Posts: 6,140
    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.
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    HollisBrownHollisBrown Posts: 4,312
    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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    RatherStarvedRatherStarved Posts: 4,178
    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.
    PJ: 2013: London (ON); Buffalo; 2014: Cincinnati; 2016: Sunrise, Miami, Toronto 1-2, Wrigley 2; 2018: London (UK) 1, Milan, Padova, Sea 2, Wrigley 1-2, Fenway 1-2; 2021: SHN, Ohana, Ohana Encore 1-2; 2022: LA 1-2, Phx, Oak 1-2, Fresno, Copenhagen, Hyde Park 1-2; Quebec, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto; MSG, Camden, Nashville, Louisville, St. Louis, OKC; 2023: St. Paul 1-2, Chicago 1-2; Fort Worth 2; Austin 1-2
     
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    Gutted:  London 2 2018, Sacramento 2022, Noblesville 2023
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    TaftTaft Posts: 453
    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. 
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    bbiggsbbiggs Posts: 6,930
    ^ Thank you! Stupid question, but I assume the Freedom Trail is a relatively easy walk that gym shoes would suffice for? No hiking boots? 
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    curmudgeonesscurmudgeoness Brigadoon, foodie capital Posts: 3,226
    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.
    All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it.
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    PianoManKDPianoManKD 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!
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    JadlerJadler Posts: 705
    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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    curmudgeonesscurmudgeoness Brigadoon, foodie capital Posts: 3,226
    In general, what to recommend depends on where your interests lie. If you have a car and like history, you could drive out to Lexington and Concord.

    If you like art museums, there's the MFA and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (site of one of the most famous art heists in history). If you like science museums, there's the Museum of Science, the Harvard Museum of Natural History (which is, in itself, like a trip back in time -- old building, heavy smell of formaldehyde, plus the famous glass flower exhibit), and museums at MIT.

    Faneuil Hall is basically a food court swarming with tourists.

    The nice thing about Boston is that it's easy to get around on foot or on the T, so you can see a lot, and without using a car.
    All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it.
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    bbiggsbbiggs Posts: 6,930
    All great stuff! Another dumb question regarding the Fenway tour. I’m a huge baseball fan (and baseball history) so I’d love to tour the ballpark and ideally get a picture on the field by the Green Monster. I’m not sure if the tours normally allow field access, but being the day between shows, I’d assume that won’t happen, or if it does, my thought of grabbing a green monster picture likely isn’t happening. Thoughts? 
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    CantKeepmedownCantKeepmedown Portland, Maine Posts: 2,896
    Taft said:
    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. 
    I think the beer garden in the North End is closed on Monday and Tuesday.  There is the other brewery on Congress St, but no pours/samples.  Just cans to go. 
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    bbiggsbbiggs Posts: 6,930
    ^ That sucks! Was looking forward to the beer garden. Looks like Canton or nothing. 
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    dankinddankind I am not your foot. Posts: 20,827
    ed243421 said:
    That’s him!

    he just punched me last week
    Turkey slapped, you mean?
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    ed243421ed243421 Posts: 7,631
     =) 
    The whole world will be different soon... - EV
    RED ROCKS 6-19-95
    AUGUSTA 9-26-96
    MANSFIELD 9-15-98
    BOSTON 9-29-04
    BOSTON 5-25-06
    MANSFIELD 6-30-08
    EV SOLO BOSTON 8-01-08
    BOSTON 5-17-10
    EV SOLO BOSTON 6-16-11
    PJ20 9-3-11
    PJ20 9-4-11
    WRIGLEY 7-19-13
    WORCESTER 10-15-13
    WORCESTER 10-16-13
    HARTFORD 10-25-13









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    TaftTaft Posts: 453
    CantKeepmedown said:
    Taft said:
    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. 
    I think the beer garden in the North End is closed on Monday and Tuesday.  There is the other brewery on Congress St, but no pours/samples.  Just cans to go. 
    True. You could go Sunday, but realizing OP is asking about Monday only. I still wouldn’t go all the way to Canton. Go to a place like Row 34 or Worden Hall and get Trillium on tap. Great food too, especially the seafood at R34
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    NB283405NB283405 Posts: 74
    bbiggs said:
    All great stuff! Another dumb question regarding the Fenway tour. I’m a huge baseball fan (and baseball history) so I’d love to tour the ballpark and ideally get a picture on the field by the Green Monster. I’m not sure if the tours normally allow field access, but being the day between shows, I’d assume that won’t happen, or if it does, my thought of grabbing a green monster picture likely isn’t happening. Thoughts? 
    No, you don't get access to the field or the dugouts in the basic tour.  There's a "Day Game Premium Tour" that offers access to the warning track for photos, but I'm assuming it isn't available with the concert setup.  It's been a few years since I took the tour, but I remember going in the visitor's locker room and press box.
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    ed243421ed243421 Posts: 7,631
    egg dankind’s house
    The whole world will be different soon... - EV
    RED ROCKS 6-19-95
    AUGUSTA 9-26-96
    MANSFIELD 9-15-98
    BOSTON 9-29-04
    BOSTON 5-25-06
    MANSFIELD 6-30-08
    EV SOLO BOSTON 8-01-08
    BOSTON 5-17-10
    EV SOLO BOSTON 6-16-11
    PJ20 9-3-11
    PJ20 9-4-11
    WRIGLEY 7-19-13
    WORCESTER 10-15-13
    WORCESTER 10-16-13
    HARTFORD 10-25-13









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