<p>I am going to be in Boston for Parents’ Weekend in a couple of weeks and would appreciate any tips for dining and sightseeing. Will be coming in a couple of days beforehand but it leaves only two days to take in the “Boston experience”. </p>
<p>So what are the “must-dos”? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, Sam Adams Brewery tour…we did the “Boston by Bicycle” tour a year ago (electric bikes) and other than nearly running over several people who had no idea what a klutz I was (and how long it had been since I was on a bike), it was a lot of fun. There was a “guide” who told you what you were driving by and seeing, and you got to see a lot more than if you were just walking around. My family enjoys the Aquarium.</p>
<p>Being from Boston, there’s a few things I’d highly recommend! I’d definitely try to stop by Fan Hall and Quincy Market. Anywhere around the North End you’re bound to find a good place to eat and also be sure to stop by Mike’s Pastries while you’re there! Otherwise there are obviously many famous historic sights to stop by: my favorites being Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution. Otherwise, its always fun to stop by the aquarium and go on a Duck Tour out of the Museum of Science!</p>
<p>Legal Sea Food!</p>
<p>No Name Restaurant on Fish Pier</p>
<p>The walking tours “red line” and “blue line” (are these still around? actually drawn out on the sidewalk) take you by all the sights you need to see if you’re interested in history.</p>
<p>Boston is a great walking city. I would add Beacon Hill to this list. It is an historic residential area, and very “Boston”. I find it interesting to wander through. Charles Street that goes along the bottom of the hill has some nice shops and it takes your right to the Public Garden. Harvard Square is another interesting place with shops, restaurants, street performers… It is very easy to get to on the Red Line. (Or are you already at Harvard visiting?)</p>
<p>Do you like museums (I personally prefer museums to tours of stuff). There is a nice modern art museum on the waterfront (the ICA) and also some fun restaurants near the waterfront not to far from there. The Museum of Fine Arts (near Northeastern Univ) has a lot of famous American art and is generally a very good art museum. If you want to venture a little further out, the deCordova Museum in Lincoln has a wonderful sculpture park.</p>
<p>gouf78 are you thinking of the Freedom Trail? Yes, it is still there. That reminds me of another thing – the old cemeteries. There are a lot of famous people buried at the one on Tremont St. near the Park St. T station.</p>
<p>Yep! The Freedom trail. The first time I was in Boston we were at a Burger King looking across the street at the cemetery of Ben Franklin. i couldn’t get over that.
Boston is totally unique and so much fun (as well as SO historical).</p>
<p>I’d go with walking at least some of the Freedom Trail. The Common and the Garden are also must sees, with the Make Way for Ducklings statues, the Civil War frieze depicting the troops from the black regiment of the movie Glory (and a good poem by Robert Lowell), swan boats (probably not out at this time of year?) and so on. Beacon Hill in general, Louisburg Sq in particular, Back Bay in general, Newberry St for shopping and eating. Old North Church and Hanover St, the main drag of the North End, where you can pop into a cafe for coffee and gelato. For art, the MFA is great, the Gardner is unique, and the museum at Harvard that I’m blanking on the name of is also very good.</p>
<p>The No Name is an institution. (I actually worked in a fish factory on that pier. 
)</p>
<p>For most of this, I’d plan on parking the car somewhere central, like under the Common, and walking/riding the T.</p>
<p>The Isabella Stewart Gardner museum is a Boston classic. An astonishing collection of old masters in an Old Boston mansion. Full of art and history.</p>
<p>Consolation, we cross posted. The Fogg at Harvard is unfortunately still closed for renovation.</p>
<p>Plan on taking public transportation or walking–do NOT plan on driving. There are no real driving rules in Boston, anything goes–like turning right from the far left lane across 5 lanes of traffic. :D.</p>
<p>We like the Duck tours—since that is about all we got to do when we were stuck in Boston traffic, pretty much for 4 days, during our visit to Boston a few years ago…</p>
<p>We at at some place along the water that has 100’s of photos of famous people that have eaten at the restaurant. The food was pretty good, the view was great, can’t remember the name of the place for the life of me :D</p>
<p>Freedom Trail, Isabelle Stewart Gardener Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Harvard campus (well other tourists seem to think it’s a must see!). And of course you need to see the Make Way for Ducklings statue! You can see Le Corbusier’s only building in America on campus. The ICA is in a spectacular building on the water and is just one floor so if you don’t have a lot of time and like modern art it’s fun. The walk around the waterfront in front of the ICA has maps showing how most of the land in that area was stolen from the harbor. You can get lobster rolls near the ICA at James Hook & Company. Their building burned down, but they still have a trailer. For a fun historical experience, go to the Union Oyster House, almost 200 years old and splurge on some oysters. Durgin Park with famously surley waiters is another classic place to eat - very traditional Yankee food.</p>
<p>You can go to the top of the Prudential building for a 360 degree look at the city from 50 stories high.</p>
<p>There are Boston Harbor tours (boat rides).</p>
<p>The Maparium at the Christian Science Monitor.</p>
<p>We loved the JFKennedy Museum. Easy to reach via public transportation and a free shuttle bus.</p>
<p>Hungary Mother Restaurant for dinner; Flour for breakfast or lunch.</p>
<p>Second recommendation to take a walk through Beacon Hill. It’s like being transported to old parts of London… or Copehagen… It’s just magical.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I disagree. If you buy the collision damage waiver, driving here is fine as long as you don’t signal your intentions and tip off the opposition.</p>
<p>Sunday on the way into Boston on 93 South, I was in the right lane, SUV in the second lane, SUV wanted to exit so started driving into my lane. I swerved partially into the breakdown lane and the SUV moved back to the second lane and then slowed down and exited behind me.</p>
<p>Last week, I was in the left lane going straight. Car in the middle lane next to me started driving into my lane to make a left turn from the middle lane. Came pretty close to me and I hit the brakes as did the other person. I had a rental car with 4,000 miles. Just what I needed. People don’t pay attention in Boston.</p>
<p>For any sports fan the tour of Fenway is a must</p>