Traveling to Boston

 

Transportation in Boston

The best airport to fly into will be Boston Logan Airport (BOS).
You don’t need to rent a car if you don’t want to.  The hotels and all event locations are available by T (MBTA) or within easy walking distance of each other.  T passes are available to buy at all T locations including the airport.

 

Things to do in Boston

Historical Boston:

  • The Freedom Trail is a ~2.5 mile brick path winding its way from Boston Common to the State House, through the North End (Boston’s Little Italy), past Paul Revere’s House and finally over to Bunker Hill (though many people call off the walking once they’ve found the cannoli in the North End). Take the T to Park Street off the red line and you’re there.
  • Boston Common. It’s a park. Nice spot for a picnic and there’s a wading pond (Frog Pond) for kiddies. When you get off the T at Park Street, you’ll already there.
  • The Public Garden. Across the street from the Common, the Garden offers manicured greens, swan boats, the Make Way for Ducklings statue and a monument to Ether (as far as we know the only monument to a chemical compound). Closest T access is the Arlington stop off the green line (from Harvard take the red line to Park Street and transfer to any of the green line trains heading toward Copley).
  • Boston Public Library. It was the first public library in the country. In addition to a canonical reading room, the BPL boasts murals done by John Singer Sargent. (700 Boylston St, Boston). Take the green line to Copley Station, BPL is directly across the street.
  • Harvard Yard. Through the iron gates across from the T in Harvard, you’ll enter Harvard Yard. There you’ll find the statue of John Harvard (aka, the statue of three lies), the dorms for every freshman in the Harvard class, and an assortment of chairs to soak in the graduer. Tours are offered starting at the T.
  • Concord and Lexington. If you have a car, a quick trip out to the towns of Concord and Lexington is well worth the trip. There’s Walden Pond, Louisa May Alcott’s house, the Battle Green in Lexington, the Old North Bridge where the ‘shot heard round the world’ was shot. There’s also a nice trolley tour around the area if you’re keen.

 

Museums:

  • MIT Museum. Laura’s personal favorite. The beautiful wire machines are well worth the visit. Take the red line to Central Square, walk south on Mass Ave toward Pearl St, museum is half a mile down on the left (265 Mass Ave, Cambridge)
  • Harvard Museum of Natural History. Yes, there are dinosaurs, but more importantly, there are glass flowers. Incredibly detailed, scientific models of flowers each made by hand.
  • Boston Tea Party Museum opened in June. If you go, let us know what you think. Also, you should stop at James Hook for one of the best lobster rolls in Boston (JH is another block north of the BTPM on Atlantic Ave at the corner with Seaport Blvd). Take the red line to South Station, walk North on Atlantic Ave, take a right on congress street, midway over the channel is the floating museum.

Of course, there’s the ICA, the MFA, the Isabella Stewart Gardner museums if you’re into art.

 

Coffee:

  • If you’re staying in Harvard Square, check out Crema Cafe (27 Brattle St). They serve locally roasted coffee from George Howell and make one of the best lattes in Boston. They also serve pastries and sandwiches if you’re feeling peckish.
  • Staying in Kendall? You’ve got two solid options: Voltage and Area Four. Voltage also serves locally roasted coffee from Barismo. They’re Beyond the Sea latte (with salt and caramel) is other worldly. Voltage is located at 295 Third St. From the Marriott, exit onto broadway, go right. Take your first left onto Third. Voltage will be on your left. Note: they are closed on Sundays. Area Four serves more traditional coffee beverages, and also has a full restaurant attached if you’re hungry. Area Four is located at 500 Tech Square (which is off of Main St, don’t let the address throw you). From the Marriott, exit onto Main St. Take a right. Cross Ames, Gallileo Way and the train tracks. Area Four will be on your right.

 

Food in Harvard Square:

  • For a quick bite, stop into Otto’s for a slice of pizza to go. 1432 Mass Ave (note: it’s all take out).
  • For outdoor dining, check out the roof deck at Daedalus. 45.5 Mount Auburn St.
  • For gastro pub, Russell House Tavern. 14 JFK St.
  • For 100% vegetarian, Veggie Planet. 47 Palmer St.
  • Local Ice Cream: JP Licks. 1312 Mass Ave.
  • Local froyo: Berryline. 3 Arrow St.

 

Recreate Paul and Laura’s first date:

  • Stop for vodka sodas at Grafton St cause you’re too nervous to make it to dinner without a drink first. 1230 Mass Ave.
  • Take a cab to Tu Y Yo on the Powderhouse Rotary for some delicious Mexican food and some spicy beer. Bonus if you talk too much cause you’re still nervous. (You can also, take the T to Davis, walk out College Ave to the rotary [about 10 minutes], make the sharpest left you can onto Broadway, Tu Y Yo is on the left.) 858 Broadway, Somerville.
  • Walk back into Davis Square for drinks at Orleans cause it is the closest bar to Tu Y Yo (and it was literally 7 degrees fahrenheit). 65 Holland St, Somerville.

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