Boston Area
Compact, walkable, historic and clean, Boston blends old-world charm and modern convenience better than many American cities. Disastrous 'urban renewal' in the 1950s provoked such a furious backlash that Boston now has some of the best preserved historic buildings and neighborhoods in the country. In some cases, preservation has crossed the line into Disneyfication: the North End is as neat and tidy as Frontierland, and Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a combo theme park and shopping mall unto itself. But the varnish doesn't stay on too long: with over 50 colleges and universities in the area, Boston's cultural juices are always flowing.
Some of the Destination Facts are: Area is 48.4 SQ miles (46 SQ KM); Population 600,000; Elevation: 10ft (3m)'; State Massachusetts; Time Zone Eastern Time (GMT/UTC minus 5 hours); and Telephone area code: 617 & 781.
Boston is on a small peninsula in the middle of Massachusetts' Atlantic Coast, a little over 200 miles (320 km) northeast of New York City. Most of the city's sights are contained in less than 5 square miles (8 sq km). Cambridge (home of Harvard and MIT) is a short drive or subway ride north across the Charles River. The North End, occupying the northeastern tip of the peninsula, is the historic city center. The North End and the eastern waterfront are separated from the rest of the city by the Central Expressway (I-93). Just south of the expressway are Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Government Center. The Financial District is a few blocks further south, Beacon Hill directly west, Boston Common (the city's main park) and Chinatown to the southwest. The Backbay, South End and Fenway are further to the southwest. Anyone in reasonable shape could walk from the North End to the Fenway - allowing for wandering, eating and shopping - in half a day or less.
Given the extremes of New England weather - hot, humid summers (June to August) and chilly, wet winters (November to February) - the best times to visit Boston are late spring (April to May) and early fall (September to October). Bear in mind that thousands of college students start their school year in late August and early September - and there are over 50 college campuses in the greater Boston area.
Boston is storied for its role in the American revolution. But there is far more to Boston than just Revolutionary history. From museums to pro sports, from fresh seafood to Italian cuisine, Boston has somethig for everyone. It's also a great place to start your exploration of New England.
As one of America's oldest cities (founded in 1630), Boston remains one of its most European in feel. Like many European cities, Boston is best explored on foot. Exploring the Freedom Trail (which links key historic sites downtown by way of a red line painted on the sidewalk), the Public Garden, the book shops and other stores of Harvard Square is exiting. In fact, driving is NOT recommended - as drivers and roads are insane, and the local public-transit system offers convenient and safe access to major tourist attractions Boston has a
number of "trolleys" (buses made to look like trolleys) that can be a fun way to get around the city. Typically, the trolleys do a circle around key tourist sites in Boston (a couple also go out to Cambridge); Buying a day pass that lets you get off and on as often as you like (around $20).
Everything you've heard about Boston drivers is true - angry and hostile. Roads aren't much better - while it's not really true that the local road were laid out by wandering cows 375 years ago, it will seem that way. Parking in downtown Boston is VERY expensive and limited, especially on weekdays. On weekends, some garages (for example, the Government Center Garage near Quincy Market and the North End) now offer discounts.
So unless you want to see sights outside the city (such as Concord), leave your car in the hotel garage and take the subway or a tourist "trolley." If you do drive, SmarTraveler has real-time traffic reports. Do not rely on online mapping services for directions to specific points in the Boston area. They don't do well with our funny road system; better to ask your concierge for directions.
Boston has an extensive subway and bus system that can get you to almost every tourist location relatively quickly and safely (although be aware that trains and buses will be crowded during rush hour). Locals call the subway "the T" - you can find the stops by looking for large black T's in circles.
The T's Boston Visitor Pass give you unlimited subway access for $7.50 a day; $18 for three days or $35 for a week. The MBTA Web site can tell you how to get to key attractions by subway; another site can give you an idea of how long it will take to get from A to B.
One drawback of the local subway, at least for bar-hoppers, is its hours: The last trains leave downtown around 12:30 a.m. (even though bars in Boston can stay open until 2). The MBTA's commuter rail can get you to more remote tourist attractions, such as Concord, Rockport and even Providence, R.I. However, on some lines, schedules are particularly geared to getting commuters to and from Boston area (i.e., trains out of Boston will be far between in the morning and trains to Boston will be infrequent in the afternoon), so plan accordingly. Getting here is easy - Boston area is linked to the rest of the world by numerous airlines, bus companies, Amtrak and interstate highways.
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