Boston Tourist Trap Tips by Cabana_Boy

The Cheers Bar. Okay, folks it was just a television show. And although it was a good show at first, it became very monotous and was probably on a few years too long.

Besides the inside of the real Cheers Bar here in Boston looks nothing like the television version. Surprised? Don't be and don't bother...there will probably be a long line of tourists trying to get in anyway.

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Alternative: Go to a real Boston Pub, head around the corner to Charles Street and go to the Beacon Hill Pub...

Quincy Market, located in the heart of downtown Boston directly behind Faneul Hall. Unfortunately, the area has been totally overrun with national chain retailers (i.e. stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, The GAP, etc).

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At Least Do This: Despite the commercialism, the area is definitely worth walking through as it does have historical significance. And, if you really want to buy something, go into Faneul Hall to the Brearley Collection and buy an old photograph of Boston.
Alternative: There are a few bars and restaurants in the Quincy Market area also, so, head to one of those grab a drink and bite to eat.

I will never figure out why people bother standing in line to ride in the Swan Boats on the pond in the Boston Public Garden... You can walk around the pond in about five minutes, so, it's not like you're really "touring" a large body of water...

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Alternative: If you want to really do something touristy in a boat, go on the slightly more obnoxious Duck Tours of Boston...see my next tourist trap tip.

This really isn't a "trap" so to speak, but a very touristy thing to do. The Ducks are actually half truck, half boat vehicles used during World War II for allied invasions over beaches. This multi-purpose vehicle has been adapted to the tourism industry in a number of cities in the U.S. where streets and waterways are used for the tour route. In Boston, the long trucks are a bit much in the narrow, traffic jammed streets and I have no idea how the tour operators remain clam when driving...

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At Least Do This: If you like city tours and have never been to Boston, visitors should actually do this tour. It's about 90 minutes long covers most of the major sights in downtown Boston covering all the "firsts" Boston is famous for. After bouncing around the city, the Duck Tour will then pull around to a boat launch near Charlestown and actually enter into the Charles River. Passing through the locks near the Museum of Science, the Duck Tour will continue along the Boston side of the Charles River passing under the Longfellow Bridge before returning to the streets.