<p>If you do have to drive into Boston, be aware that no one stops on the red. It is just a caution to speed up to get through the light. At the same time, you cannot gun the engine once the light changes to green as you will hit those running the red. As others have mentioned above, be aware of other drivers who may decide to turn left from three lanes over on the right. </p>
<p>Many great suggestions offered above. Boston is the perfect city for the DUCK tours. Isabella Stewart Gardner museum is lovely. You can take an MBTA ferry from Long Wharf to the Charlestown Navy Yard. <a href=“Ferry | Schedules & Maps | MBTA”>www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/boats/lines/…</a> You don’t really see all that much but it is nice to be out on the water.</p>
<p>Slightly off the beaten track, but fairly close to the Prudential Center if you should go to the top for the city views, is the Mapparium. marybakereddylibrary.org/exhibits/mapparium.</p>
<p>As others have mentioned, the city is very walkable from the North End to Faneuil Hall to Beacon Hill and the Public Gardens and then to Back Bay, Pru Center, etc. There is no need to take the T within town although it would be useful for traveling over to Cambridge. Boston is a very compact city but do pay attention when crossing the street as the drivers are unique! (Disclosure: I lived there many years ago and drove my car to work every day so I was one of those clogging up the streets.) Enjoy!</p>
<p>A few that have not been mentioned yet - Harvard square at night when the street performers are out, Walk along the Charles and watch the rowers, the Christian Science center right next to the Mappapurium (sp?). Back Bay (walk down Newbury Street - like Beacon Hill but more stores). South end if you are into little funky little chef owned restaurants, North end if you are into authentic Italian. Chinatown for DimSum brunch or Shabu Shabu. Fenway is definitely experience (unfortunately the Sox won’t be playing this October) but if you are into music Symphony Hall is spectacular and Berklee often has tremendous Jazz, as do some of the Cambridge venues. The T is easy so heed the warnings and stay off the roads!</p>
<p>On seafood, I would not recommend No Name. Read some reviews. It is not that good. Union Oyster House is interesting to look at and be inside of (very, very old!), but so-so for food. Durgin Park – sort of same category. I would not waste a dinner meal at any of these 3, but if they serve lunch, they may make for interesting lunch spots. You would do much better at Legal’s for dinner – better food, better service. But I like 1012mom’s suggestions for food even better.</p>
<p>(My favorite street to walk down in the Back Bay – if you want residential not shopping – is Marlborough.)</p>
<p>I have to agree with LBowie about restaurants: the No Name is an institution, but it has never been known for sophisticated cuisine. And I haven’t been there since the 70s, so I don’t even known if it still does well what it used to do well, which was enormous platters of very fresh, simple stuff.</p>
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<p>Could this be Jimmy’s Harborside? Is it still there? I’ve never eaten there, but it sounds like that kind of place.</p>
<p>Union Oyster House has good clam chowder (in my opinion) but I would not spend my time or money on a meal there. If you stroll down Charles St., there used to be a great Thai restaurant called the King and I. Very tasty.</p>
<p>Boston Public garden is very nice and so are the swan boat rides. </p>
<p>Agree…if the Boston Symphony is playing and you like orchestral music…a trip to Symphony Hall is worth it!</p>
<p>Quincy Market is lots of fun…isn’t it on the freedom trail?</p>
<p>Check out the Chowhound Boston board. Lots of recommendations for tourists. </p>
<p>As for tourism, totally depends on your interests. Museums? Lots. Odd museums? Depending on the day there are some house museums, for example, that show 19thC upscale life. History? Freedom trail is called that for a reason.</p>
<p>No Name’s used to be quite the experience. It was BYOB. People would stand in a long line to get in. With beer coolers. You went there to be abused by the wait staff. Then, in the mid to late 1980s, I think, they expanded and remodeled and it got boring. The fun was gone and all that was left was mediocre food and service.</p>
<p>Lots of things to see. It depends upon your interests. Take a tour of Harvard. MIT has a quirky museum of science-oriented stuff which is pretty interesting. MFA/Gardner. The new Institute of Contemporary Arts (the building may be more exciting than the art). Walk around Harvard Square or Back Bay. Lexington Green, Old North Bridge in Concord, Orchard House or Walden Pond if you head out there. Boston Common/Frog Pond. Walk along the Charles in Cambridge or by the Esplanade. The North End. I’m personally not crazy about Faneuil Hall, but lots of folks go there. The Emerald Necklace, a linear series of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.</p>
<p>Lots of decent to good restaurants. None great. I agree with LBowie re No Name. Legal is better, although it was much better before it became a chain.</p>
<p>I wish I’d seen this thread before I took my parents, sister, niece, and nephews there this summer. We ate at the Union Oyster House. We were there from 5:45 until almost 9 pm, and we didn’t even order drinks or dessert. The noise level was unbelievable, too. And later that night, my sister got sick, we think from the scallops.</p>
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<p>And it helps if you have a big Tahoe with Maine license plates. The locals figure you’re nuts and don’t bother you much. I actually enjoy driving in Boston now - it’s great sport.</p>
<p>Al Dente in the North End is our favorite place. Union Oyster House is an old but historic tourist trap.
I’d start out with a good tour to get an overview of the city and then go back to the places of greatest interest to you.
For walking tours, consider Boston By Foot tours: [Boston</a> By Foot Unsupported Browser](<a href=“http://www.bostonbyfoot.org/]Boston”>http://www.bostonbyfoot.org/)
Duck Tours are fun especially if you have kids but the bus tours, such as Old Town Trolley are more comprehensive. There is also a new duck tour company called Super Duck Tours.</p>
<p>I used to be afraid of driving in Boston. But after my trip to Boston last month, it seems that Bostonian drivers are friendlier to other drivers on the road than Californian drivers. Boston drivers yielded to me when I wanted to changed lane or stopped to let me go when I got stuck in the middle of the street. Californian drivers have no courtesy. They just zip at constant speed of 75 to 85 mph. And you can easily get killed by uninsured motorists in California.</p>
<p>The only downside of driving in Boston is the parking fee. Expect to pay $20-$25 or more per parking. Parking during the weekend is cheaper.</p>
<p>Lots of great suggestions here. Would also add the Boston Harbor Islands – [Boston</a> Harbor Islands |](<a href=“http://www.bostonharborislands.org/]Boston”>http://www.bostonharborislands.org/) . Ferry is located to left of Aquarium. Reasonably priced. Fantastic view of the Boston skyline on way out. We like Georges Island with Fort Adams. I think they only run til the first weekend in October. Enjoy your visit!</p>
<p>When I visited D early last December, we took one of those sight-seeing bus tours where you can hop on and hop off as much as you want. The ticket was good for several days, so I used it more than once, but the extended days offer may depend on what time of year it is.</p>
<p>Our family has visited Boston twice in the last five years.</p>
<p>No need to rent a car. The transit is inexpensive and goes everywhere. It is easy to figure out and safe.</p>
<p>The Freedom Trail is mandatory.</p>
<p>We really enjoyed the Segway Tour, because it was a really different experience. You spend a half hour tooling around a parking lot to get a feel for the machines, and then do a 1 1/2 tour with a guide. The guide jabbers nonstop, pointing historic and other sites. It was great fun.</p>
<p>I also really enjoyed the Adams historical site in Quincey. It is also easily accessible by transit. You need at least 1/2 day, including the transit to do this site. But I think its my favorite historical site of all time.</p>
<p>We also enjoyed Fenway Park, and timed our trip to watch our home town club (MN Twins) defeat the Red Sox in two straight games.</p>
<p>We just went to Boston in August on a short vacation/college visit trip. The boys loved it.</p>
<p>One thing I can absolutely recommend is Upper Deck Trolley tours. It is not the same as Old Trolley tours with wooden benches which is actively promoted by hotels. In the Upper deck tours you sit high up in a comfortable seats, the water Duck tour is included, ticket is good for 2 days and they have a loop to Cambridge. All the trolley companies have the same route in the center of the city and you can buy a ticket on board. The guides were wonderful and they helped us locate my son’s cell phone he left on one of the buses. The first day we basically rode for a couple of hours to get the lay of the land. Next day you can go back to interesting spots, whatever it might be for your family. We got off at Cambridge square and did a tour of Harvard. Oh, the Upper deck tours ticket included a few freebies, and we chose the MIT museum. It was fun, but hard to find. The boys and my husband went to Fenway park for a game and it was a highlight. </p>
<p>Google for parking coupons, we paid much less that 40$/day quoted by the hotel. Also having an iPad in hand helped, as we can instantly see restaurant reviews on Tripadvisor.</p>