<p>I am in Boston for Memorial Day Weekend (until around 10:00 pm on Sunday). Does anyone have some interesting ideas on what to do? I have been to a lot of places already, but I wouldn’t mind visiting some of the same places again. I am also interested in tours (Duck tours, history tours, etc., but, again, I have done those before, so I am looking for something like that but a little different). Any ideas?</p>
<p>We went to Boston many times before finally making it to the JFK Library and Museum; I highly recommend it. Not on most short lists of Things To Do in Boston but well worth a visit, especially if you have an interest in history.</p>
<p>There’s the Museum of Science at North Station (where you go for the duck tours too).</p>
<p>You can look out over Boston and the suburbs from the top of the Prudential building.</p>
<p>For shopping or browsing, there are the shops at the Prudential and also at Copley Place.</p>
<p>There the reflecting pool and maparium at the Christian Science Church.</p>
<p>There’s the Swan Boat ride in the gardens - not sure if they’re running yet.</p>
<p>If you like italian food you could go to the North End.</p>
<p>There’s the tour of the USS Constitution.</p>
<p>Shopping on Newbury Street.</p>
<p>BC, on your list, my absolute fave is the maparium. (It’s an inside out glass globe with a walkway through it. From the late 30’s, if I remember. Very weird. Inside the CSC admin building next to the Mother Church.)</p>
<p>As for museums, the MFA has a nice show about Veronese, Titian and Tintoretto and if you haven’t been to the Gardner you should.</p>
<p>Little bits and pieces:</p>
<p>-Go into the old part of the Boston Public Library. The murals are great and the courtyard is beautiful. Get some coffee or something and sit near the fountain. Must see the Make Way for Ducklings statue, ideally when it’s crawling with toddlers. Remember: Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack & Quack. </p>
<p>-If it’s open, JFK’s house - around the corner from my house, sort of - is worth seeing. The house they grew up in after that is down the block, the nice red one on the corner. If you go to the Library, take the boat. </p>
<p>-One of my favorite places in the city is Post Office Square Park, which has a truly great fountain by Howard Ben Tr</p>
<p>If you want to go for a walk or run, the area along the Charles near the Esplanade is nice. The Hatch Shell has concerts in the summer though it’s too early for that this year. There may be a boat rental if you want to go on the Charles. There may be sail boats that you can watch from the banks too.</p>
<p>-newbury st. is always nice though probably absurdly crowded memorial day weekend
-harvard square could be good too, plenty of ice cream places and shopping
-i definitely second the gardner museum - its less popular than some but well worth a visit, as its beautiful
-U.S.S. Constitution (or did that close?)</p>
<p>I had a look on the USS Constition’s website and there’s no indication that it closed.</p>
<p>Forgot the Arnold Arboretum.</p>
<p>My recent college grad son and I both loved the Aquarium. He’s sorry he didn’t visit while he was in school in Boston.</p>
<p>If they are running whale watches, that’s worth a look.</p>
<p>Try Dim Sum on the weekend in China Town.</p>
<p>Consider taking in a movie at the Coolidge Corner Cinema. There is a great Turkish restaurant (“Family Restaurant”) within walking distance.</p>
<p>Also worth it to check out the North End. Make sure you go to Mike’s pastry shop (great cannoli).</p>
<p>If you’re walking around the Government Center area, you may see these white boxes that people carry around. They have blue lettering and are tied with string. Those are Mike’s Pastries boxes. The bakery is usually mobbed - just remember, unless you’re after Gelato, move to the back of the store to get service.</p>
<p>Did you do the Freedom Trail? I assume you have visited Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. In Boston Commons, take a look at the statue commemorating the Mass 54th Regiment. go down the wharf and enjoy a cooling breeze. I also strongly recommend Arnold Arboretum on a hot day like today and tomorrow.
Have you visited the Harvard Museum of Natural History? Or the MIT Museum? If you are in the MIT area, take a look at the Stata Building built by Frank Gehry. At Harvard, you might take a look at the dorms in Harvard Yard. I believe Hollis was used to house colonial troops. Washington is supposed to have gathered troops on Cambridge Commons. Brattle Street was nicknamed Tory Row because loyalists and British generals lived in houses along that street (which also includes Longfellow House).</p>