<p>Trying to fit in all the college visits…how long would it take to drive from Providence to Norton (Wheaton) with current conditions (not sure if the Boston mess is affecting surrounding areas) midday and how long to drive from Norton to Logan Airport?</p>
<p>You should be able to get from Providence to Norton in about 1/2 hour. That drive is not really affected by the Boston stuff. As to getting from Norton to Logan…I’m just not sure about that. I am a Pike person and I know there is a shorter way than that.</p>
<p>Norton is only 15 miles from Providence. The traffic in Boston should not affect Norton at all. If you are includingWheaton on your agenda, it is best to use the Providence airport, visit Wheaton then drive up to BC in Newton. I would personally not drive in Boston not just because of traffic but also because it’s so hard to find parking around college campuses.
BU, BC, Emerson are all on the Green Line. And while Tufts is on the Red Line, it is not that far from Park Street.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help! DD is flying into Philly and out of Logan. Boston area schools she’s decided to visit are BU (decided not to visit BC), Wheaton, Emmanuel and Providence. She’s also looking at schools in PA and upstate NY. I’m trying to help her arrange the Boston visits in a sequence that makes sense and also works with their available tour and interview times. </p>
<p>Will BU’s tour tend to be a big group, and I’m guessing Providence, Emmanuel and Wheaton could only be a handful of kids?</p>
<p>I suspect you are right about the size of the tours. Your D might consider using public transport all the way. There are some good directions on the Wheaton website. Just tell her to travel ligt.</p>
<p>I have gone on several tours at Providence over the last several years and have always been surprised by the numbers that show up for the info/tour sessions. It is a pretty popular regional school, for good reason. Younger daughter was going there up until the eleventh hour.</p>
<p>Given our tight summer schedule, we hope to visit 4 Boston schools in two days: Day 1: Tufts, Boston College; Day 2: Northeastern & Boston University. </p>
<p>Given the crazy traffic situation, we hope to rely on the “T”. Is the timing even possible with mass transit? (Morning schedules will end about noon or 12:30. Afternoon schedules typically start around 1:30 or 2).</p>
<p>Are there “day” passes for the T , or do you pay as you go? Is it wise to buy some type of combination pass, and are they even available? </p>
<p>Is the “T” safe and reliable? Can a young female future college student unfamiliar with Boston, manage on their own if necessary?</p>
<p>The T is safe and pretty reliable. There are occasional breakdowns, and recently, the Big Dig mess has put a strain on the service. It is fairly easy to navigate as well as long as one remembers that Park Street is the hub of the system. Any train going to Park Street, from whatever direction is inbound; any train going away from Park St. in any direction is outbound (so if you go from Alewife to South Station on the Red Line you can be both inbound and outboud as Park St, is on the way). The other thing to watch out for is that the Green Line has many branches. You need to make sure you are on the right one.</p>
<p>My H uses the T to go to work. It saves not only the headache of driving in traffic but finding parking which is near impossible, especially in Boston.</p>
<p>My DH also rides the T everyday, and does say that the cars are more crowded than usual, but it is also tourist season. They are not always airconditioned either, so the ride is often a bit…uncomfortable, but better than the alternative of driving in, for sure.</p>
<p>I think it is very safe and pretty reliable. There are occasional breakdowns, but no worse than any othe major urban public transportation system.</p>
<p>We leave for the Boston area a week from today.</p>
<p>Here’s the plan, what do you think of it?</p>
<p>Overnight in Worcester for college tour (WPI) Thursday morning. Go from WPI into downtown Boston to drop cello at Reunings for much-needed “tune up.” Drive out to Arlington to stay with friends. Drive back downtown next day for tour of Northeastern and (hopefully) pick up cello. Sound doable? (Ha - we probably won’t take the T with the cello and husband who is a very persistent driver.)</p>
<p>Reuning is VERY near a T stop, only about two blocks. Good place and great service. We bought our D’s violin there a few years back. Daytime parking near Reuning is a bit of a challenge. Someone may need to stay with the car. </p>
<p>Just remember, your trip downtown (to Reuning) will be a challenge unless you do it midday. The Pike will be very congested. You really should consider the Green Line in. Park in Newton Center or Brookline.</p>
<p>I think the T is safe, too. But do keep a close eye on purses, wallets, etc. I had mine picked (a long time ago) by a group of kids who jostled me. Now that was a learning experience!</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion of the Providence airport. Unfortunately, coming from the West Coast, the airline schedules and number of plane changes can be challenging to get to any airport other than Logan. Southwest has a good flight from the Bay Area to Providence, but coming back is a long haul involving at least two stops. Still, worth considering. If anyone knows of anything other than Southwest that is affordable, please post!</p>
<p>newmassdad:
As I recall the parking around Reuning seemed to be some kind of permit only? Are there any public lots/garages that you can think of? Thanks!</p>
<p>Since it seems that most of you either live in Boston or fly to Boston, this may be of interest (even though I realize the topic is sort of how to avoid Logan)</p>
<p>Fares from $9 (Detroit)-$99 (LA) on Spirit Air. Either way/each way</p>
<p><a href=“http://airfare.travelzoo.com/north-american-airfare/249495[/url]”>http://airfare.travelzoo.com/north-american-airfare/249495</a></p>
<p>weenie, there are meters on the street in front of Reuning, but finding one open is hit and miss. Your best bet is to call them. I think there is a commercial lot just around the corner, on Dartmouth, but if they have a deal with some lot operator, you should take advantage of it.</p>
<p>Thank you newmassdad!</p>
<p>Weenie:</p>
<p>For the sake of comparison, T fare (within Boston) is $1.25 one way. It may cost more to go to BC, I’m not sure. Parking lot fees run to over $10 per hour. If there are several of you traveling, plus cello, it makes sense to drive in and pay the parking lot fee.</p>
<p>marite:</p>
<p>See, you think just like my husband. :)</p>
<p>I especially love the fact that we are running errands on “vacation” (albeit a modest vacation)! Is there no end to ERRANDS??? 
</p>
<p>Anyone driven to Logan from points west recently??</p>
<p>We will need to pick up DD Saturday evening, so any advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>My inclination is to take the Mass Pike to the end and follow the detour signs (this for a flight arriving around 7pm Saturday).</p>
<p>There is a great airport in Manchester NH that is an option instead of Logan… Southwest flies in and out, along with other airlines…Portland ME now has JetBlue in and out of NYC and Wash…it is a lovely 2 hr drive from Portland to downtown Boston…there is also an airport in Hartford…which is a better option if visiting Amherst and Williams etc…</p>
<p>I got stuck 2 Sun nites ago coming out of Logan…took an hour in a bus to go less than a mile…whole bus trip normally takes 2 hrs… so unless someone is using the T or very patient…stay away from Logan…</p>