<p>We went to see the Adams family houses in Quincy. Fascinating, and the park rangers were so knowledeable. </p>
<p>Probably won’t make it there this time, but we’ll be able to make to the Quincy Market since we’ll be staying downtown for a couple of days.</p>
<p>Has anyone stayed at the Days Inn Boston? I was wondering what the public transport was like there to BC and Boston itself. </p>
<p>I hope your trip went well! (or is going well)</p>
<p>Can anyone comment on the handicap accessability in Boston? We are going in May for just a couple of days. Thanks.</p>
<p>sid19,</p>
<p>The Days Inn Boston, if I have the right one, is about 2-3 miles from Boston College through the Brighton neighborhoods. Unfortunately it is not on the T-line if it is the Days Inn I am thinking of on Soldiers Field road close to the International House of Pancakes. It is appoximately 1/2 way between BC and Harvard. If you have a car it is very centrally located about equidistant from BC, BU and Harvard with Northeastern, MIT and Tufts not too much farther away.</p>
<p>Yeah, that Days Inn is not really accessable to any public transportation. I’ve tried to get close to there and it doesn’t really work.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for that information! No wonder it seemed such a bargain. What would you suggest as a budget hotel close to BC or accessable to BC? Its so hard doing this over the internet and not knowing the areas.</p>
<p>sid19,</p>
<p>I would suggest the Holiday Inn in Newton. It is right next to the Riverside T station (D line). Take that to Longwood and then it is about a 1/2 mile walk to BC through a nice Chestnut Hill neighborhood. From BC you can take the BC line (C) in to BU if you are so inclined. Then at the Kenmore station you can get back out to the D line pretty easily.</p>
<p>For more on the public transportation system do a search for the MBTA. It give you a pretty good overview of how the system is set up. It is pretty much spoke on a bicycle wheel with the center being around Park Square in Boston where a number of the lines cross over.</p>
<p>Good luck with your trip.</p>
<p>Also, if you stay at any of the big hotels in Boston near the common or Copley square, you can get to BC with public transportation. It’s just that particular stretch of road where the Days Inn is that is kind of out of the loop.</p>
<p>We stayed downtown for a couple of days (got a good deal through priceline) and unfortunately ran out of time to visit Boston College, but it looks like one of the subway lines goes right there. We took the subway quite a bit–it is very easy. Our hotel was about a 10 min. walk to the subway. Actually, probably anywhere you stay downtown is a 10 min. walk (or less) to a subway station. </p>
<p>Anyway, we had a great time! I want to go back. There was not enough time to do everything we wanted. We went to church on Easter Sun. at Trinity Church. That was a great experience. Then we ended up, of all things, driving to Brown on Mon. with my cousin. On Tues., we went to our hotel downtown and then took the subway to Tufts, Harvard and MIT. We didn’t spend much time at Tufts because my daughter really wanted to go on the Harvard tour, but we walked around the area. We ate lunch near Harvard and took the historical tour. MIT–well, we were running our of time by then, so we walked over to the MIT museum and spent an hour there. That was well worth it–my daughter loved it, esp. the art exhibit with the walking artichoke leaf and the walking chicken bone. We ate at Giacomo’s in the North End that night–excellent! On Wed. we took the train to Wellesley–spent the afternoon there, then came back, walked through China Town and had supper at Pho Pasteur (also very good). Thurs. we did the Duck Tour and then walked around the North End again (had to at least see Paul Revere’s house!), and then, sadly, we had to come home Thurs night :(.</p>
<p>Have a look at the Ramada Inn in Cambridge. It’s within walking distance (15-20 minute walk) of both Harvard and MIT, if you’re interested in them, but also just a 10-minute walk across the BU Bridge to the Green Line, which will take you to BC, or downtown, if you wish to go. The rooms are enormous, very comfortable, they allow pets, and it’s right next to a Trader Joe’s. It gives pretty good access to just about everywhere, at a good price.</p>
<p>Mstee:</p>
<p>I’m glad you got to see and do all this! And the weather cooperated, too!
But you’ll have to come back. There are more schools to be seen, right?</p>
<p>Yes, the weather was fantastic! And many of the trees were flowering, which made everything even more beautiful. And thanks, Marite, for the tip about the MIT museum. My daughter loved it! Yes, we need to go back–so much more to see and do!</p>
<p>megasmom:</p>
<p>I’ve just realized no one answered your query about accessibility. It varies somewhat. Boston is full of old buildings and not all have been retrofitted for accessibility, but a goodly number have. There are many brick sidewalks which can be a bit of a challenge for someone in a wheelchair or on crutches. There are plenty of cabs that accommodate wheelchairs; the T (subway) has elevators for the handicapped to use instead of escalators or stairs. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Yes, thanks, this is a help. We are used to dealing with old buildings and stairs. We had problems in England and Mexico so its nice to know ahead of time what we are facing. Fortunately, my daughter has a new medical stroller that can be folded and she is light enough to be carried up stairs if needed. Thanks for replying.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone! </p>
<p>Megasmom, when i was looking up hotels i noticed that many did say they had wheelchair accessable rooms. I tried to find the pages that said it and unforunately i cant. I am pretty sure that the details of rooms would be listed under facilities on their own websites though. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>I can’t confirm or deny anything really because I’m not handicapped so I haven’t experienced it. I did read a column in the Globe a few weeks ago berating the handicapped facilities with public transport. Apparently (if I’m remember this right), technically everything’s in place, but actually it doesn’t all work out always. So you should be able to get onto subways (try to avoid buses) but be prepared for their wheelchair elevators to occasionally be out of order kind of stuff. Really not okay, but they are working to fix it. Good luck.</p>
<p>sid19:</p>
<p>The hotel shouldn’t be a problem. We’ll probably stay near the airport where the flight crews stay. (My husband works for the airlines) We usually spend all of our daylight hours wandering and just want a clean, dry, safe room to crash in. </p>
<p>eireann:</p>
<p>We had some problems in Washington D. C. when the elevators in the subway required attendants. They closed the elevators when it was lunchtime!</p>
<p>Nice story:</p>
<p>While there was little to no accessability in Mexico, the people there were always friendly to my daughter and offering to help. We didn’t have to ask, they just jumped in and helped do whatever was needed. :)</p>
<p>We just got back as well</p>
<p>WE LOVED Boston…the weather was great, we saw BC, BU, Emerson, and NU…D love Emerson (programs) and BU and NU. BC was very nice, but was so similar to her highschool, she wants something different</p>
<p>The duck boat tour was great, QUincy Market (do not confuse with Quincy Center- which is a different T stop)</p>
<p>We did a day trip to Salem, small town, and neat. The train there was cheap and quick.</p>
<p>We walked and did the T everywhere.</p>
<p>Later< i will give a better discription of the schools- from our west coast view!!</p>
<p>BTW Jetblue was a great way to fly- simple and cheap</p>
<p>We are going to be doing a Boston area college trip this summer. I’d love to read a trip report if you do one :)</p>
<p>Citygirlsmom, what does your daughter want to study?</p>