# what to do in Boston? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 25, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020 "2014-07-25T13:26:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/1 "2014-07-25T13:26:32Z")
So I’m in Boston for a few days, and was wondering what cool things you guys would recommend for a family to do outside of the usual tourist attractions? We’ll of course be going to see the Freedom Trail, etc. but I’m curious what other stuff there is to do while we’re here that we may miss otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/2 "2014-07-25T14:54:19Z")
Whale watching. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/3 "2014-07-25T15:52:56Z")
Sam Adams tour. Free. With samples at the end. Change shirt, repeat. [Hayden Planetarium Laser Floyd](http://www.mos.org/planetarium/laser-floyd-dark-side) show. “There will be no eating, drinking, or smoking OF ANYTHING in the auditorium. I smelled some of you people as you came in here, so yes, the last part needed to be said.” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/4 "2014-07-25T15:57:29Z")
Depends on what you consider “usual tourist attractions”. There’s lots of unusual and not-well-publicized stuff in Boston, besides the big historical stuff, major museums, and the Freedom Trail. – The Black Heritage Trail – a sort of “black history” counterpart to the Freedom Trail [http://www.afroammuseum.org/trail.htm](http://www.afroammuseum.org/trail.htm) –Ghost Tours – there are several “ghost tours” in Boston (and several in nearby Salem, of course). At its best, a Ghost Tour is a sneaky way of telling people unusual and interesting history –The Christian Science Mother Church – Okay, maybe religion and Church Architecture isn’t your thing, but the Mapparium is cool – it’s a giant (greater than 30 foot diameter) inside-out stained glass globe that you walk through. > **[Mapparium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapparium)** > > The Mapparium is a three-story-tall globe made of stained glass that is viewed from a 30-foot-long (9.1 m) bridge through its interior. As of August 2021, it is part of the "How Do You See the World?" exhibit of the Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts. > Built in 1935 and based upon Rand McNally political maps published the previous year, the Mapparium shows the political world as it was at that time, including such long-disused labels as Italian East Africa and Siam, as... –Commonwealth Ave. and Newbury Street in Back Bay – the former has a pedestrian parkway down the middle, with statues of Samuel Eliot Morison, Leif Ericson (!), and others. The latter has expensive, ritzy shops and weird little boutique stores (including the original Newbury Comics. And The Condom Store). Worth ba day’s stroll. –The Boston Public Library – the original McKay building that fronts onto Copley Square has all sorts of art painted on the walls and stored inside it – there’s a series about the hunting of the Holy Grail, painted hhomages to the muses and modern equivalents – including the goddess of electricity. There are miniature diorama reconstructions of famous paintings, a bunch of marble statues, and three exhibition halls, including the Map Room. There’s also a Central Courtyard where you can rest ort have lunch while you contemplate the scandalous Frederick MacMonnies statue of a drunken naked Bacchante dancing while holding a bunch of grapes and a baby Dionysus (there’s a another copy in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in the Fenway). This one shocked the public when unveiled in the 19th century – not only was she Naked! She was Drunk! And, this being Boston, it was shocking that she was Dancingh! –There’s a lot to see in Cambridghe, as well, what with MIT and itys museums, and Harvard it ITS museums, and the still-intriguing mess that is Harvard Square (although, to give the detractors its due, it IS becoming too corporate homogenized, and most of the book stores are gone) –I’d also like to put in a plug for the North Shore. Salem is infinitely interesting. It’s got the Peabody-Essex Museum. If you ignore the witch stuff (you can’t, but you should try to see the other stuff), the city would much rather you recall its literary and trading past. There are Nathaniel Hawthorne statues and things around (the House of the Seven Gables), and there’s the Frienbdship sailing ship, the reconstructed shipping warehouse and store, and the plethora of historiuc hoiuses – In Saugus, we’ve got a working reconstruction of the 17th century Iron Mill, along with a small museum housing the artifacts found on site. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/5 "2014-07-25T16:01:27Z")
Newbury St. also has small nice art galleries. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/6 "2014-07-25T16:43:00Z")
I was going to say MIT and Hahvahd. I don’t know if the hack exhibit is permanent in the MIT museum. Walk around campus to see some of the bizarre architecture. If you like sf, go to the fourth floor of the MIT student center and look in on the MITSFS library, one of the larger collections around, now jammed into two rooms. Not always open. Boston is a great walking city, so enjoy yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/7 "2014-07-25T17:48:14Z")
No one has mentioned the Duck Tours yet. It’s definitely as touristy as you can get, but you really see a lot of the city in a short ride and it’s quite entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/8 "2014-07-25T18:01:39Z")
If you want to get out of the city for a day, and you have a car, take a day trip to Newport, RI. Lots of history, some great restaurants, and the mansions are really cool to tour. Or, if you want to hang out at the beach, try Gloucester, MA or thereabouts (up north). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/9 "2014-07-25T18:03:32Z")
Point of info first: Does “family” mean easily amused little children, or sullen teens? ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/10 "2014-07-25T18:03:48Z")
I recommend [Plimoth Plantation](http://www.plimoth.org/). It’s about an hour drive southeast. It’s a “living village” of a 17th century village representative of how the early settlers lived, along with an Indian village nearby. ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/11 "2014-07-25T18:14:00Z")
You can take the ferry from downtown Boston (Long Wharf, I believe) to one of the [Harbor Islands](http://www.bostonharborislands.org/). It’s a quick ferry ride. Fort Warren is on Georges Island. I haven’t been to Spectacle Island but it says it has swimming beaches and hiking trails with nice views. Depends on the age of the kids, but the [Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum](http://www.gardnermuseum.org/home) is amazing. If you have young kids, [Frog Pond](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frog_Pond_at_Boston_Common.jpg) in the Common is great on a hot day, but be prepared for the kids to be soaking wet. While you’re on the Freedom Trail, take a short detour to Mike’s Pastry in the North End. Best cannoli in Boston. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/12 "2014-07-25T19:06:34Z")
I travel to Boston all the time for work (just got back yesterday) and have been told I’ve seen more of Boston than people who have lived there their whole lives. 😃 Whale watching is hit or miss, try to go after a storm blows thru and you might get a good trip I saw about 20 whales on a trip last summer, pretty cool. Check out a ball game at [Fenway Park](http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2012/06/boston_fenway_park_red_sox_gam.html) even if you can’t stand the Red Sox. The place itself is awesome on game day. Hike the [Freedom Trail](http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/). Do not go to Cheers but do check out the Boston Commons and Beacon Hill area. Many high end shops and specialty shops. Go into a real Boston bar and have a drink or hang out a coffee shop. [Take the family rowing](https://www.communityrowing.org/). 😃 Plimonth Plantation is a good day trip. So if Salem if your interest leans towards 17th century witches and culture. Check out [Walden Pond](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walden), Thoreau thought it was pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/13 "2014-07-25T19:38:55Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > No one has mentioned the Duck Tours yet. It’s definitely as touristy as you can get, but you really see a lot of the city in a short ride and it’s quite entertaining. I was in the city earlier this week and was gonna take a Duck Tour, but the tickets were sold out about two hours in advance, and I had someplace to be before then. So if you want to do this, **batsto** , plan for it and get tickets early in the day. > [@Wednesday\_Evening](#): > > While you’re on the Freedom Trail, take a short detour to Mike’s Pastry in the North End. Best cannoli in Boston. Modern Pastry is good, too, and less crowded. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/14 "2014-07-25T21:09:15Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I travel to Boston all the time for work (just got back yesterday) and have been told I’ve seen more of Boston than people who have lived there their whole lives. 😃 > > Whale watching is hit or miss, try to go after a storm blows thru and you might get a good trip I saw about 20 whales on a trip last summer, pretty cool. > > Check out a ball game at [Fenway Park](http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2012/06/boston_fenway_park_red_sox_gam.html) even if you can’t stand the Red Sox. The place itself is awesome on game day. > > Hike the [Freedom Trail](http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/). > > Do not go to Cheers but do check out the Boston Commons and Beacon Hill area. Many high end shops and specialty shops. Go into a real Boston bar and have a drink or hang out a coffee shop. > > [Take the family rowing](https://www.communityrowing.org/). 😃 > > Plimonth Plantation is a good day trip. So if Salem if your interest leans towards 17th century witches and culture. > > Check out [Walden Pond](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walden), Thoreau thought it was pretty cool. DON’T try to see Walden Pond on a summer day. It’s open for swimming, and the lot fills up fast. If you can’t get there Early in the morning, content yopurself with the other sites in Concord – the Concord Museum, the Bridge, and the Alcott House. (Unfortunately, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Place in Concord is currently under renovation) Which brings up another idea – see the Battle Road sites along Lexington and Concord. There are various visitors’ centers, original and reconstructed buildings, the Spot Where Paul Revere was Taken, and so forth. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/15 "2014-07-25T22:14:12Z")
Thanks for all the ideas. We’ve been out on the Freedom trail all day. We did hit Newbury comics. I’ve got a 10 and 16 year old with me, and we’re looking to plan tomorrow’s outing ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/16 "2014-07-25T22:17:54Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I travel to Boston all the time for work (just got back yesterday) and have been told I’ve seen more of Boston than people who have lived there their whole lives. 😃 > > \ > > check out the Boston Commons But not often enough to get the name right. It’s Boston Common. No “s”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/17 "2014-07-25T23:12:36Z")
\*\*what to do in Boston? \*\* Get scrod. What’s the matter? Never heard the future pluperfect tense used before? ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/18 "2014-07-26T00:39:45Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Point of info first: Does “family” mean easily amused little children, or sullen teens? Oddly my teen is not sullen at all. Glad to do anything with the family. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/19 "2014-07-28T17:22:48Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Modern Pastry is good, too, and less crowded. Modern is better, IMO. I also like Caffe Vittoria - much better atmosphere. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020/20 "2014-07-28T19:50:20Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > But not often enough to get the name right. It’s Boston Common. No “s”. 😉 :smack: I forgot, it’s R’s that they seem to not be able to pronounce whenever they choose not to. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-boston/694020.md?page=2)