Boston Things to Do Tips by moiraistyx

If you happen to be in Boston during the summer and have nothing to do on an early Friday evening, take a walk to the Hatch Shell for Free Friday Flicks. The movies aren't new releases, but most are family friendly. Grab a blanket and some munchies and find a spot on the grass. Get there early, since it gets very crowded, especially if its a Disney movie playing. If my memory serves me right, no alcohol allowed.

Leave a Comment

Phone: (617) 626-4970
Address: Storrow Drive, Boston, MA
Directions: Heading North on 93:
Take Storrow Drive (exit 26).
Heading South on 93:
Take Storrow Drive (exit 26A).
Using Public Transportation:
Take Red Line to Charles (Street)/MGH station or the Green line to Arlington sta
Website: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/hatch_events.htm

The Museum of Science is the result of 6 men getting togher and forming the Boston Society of Natural History. Together the managed to collect enough material to open a temporary museum in 1864. It was known as the New England Museum of Natural History and it was located at the corner of Berkeley and Boylston Streets in Boston's Back Bay. Today we know the museum as the Museum of Science. Construction of the current building began in 1949, with the first wing opening just two years later in 1951. Several additons have been added through out the years. The result is a museum with 400 interactive exhibits and more than 1.6 million visitors each year.

The museum has changed a lot since I first discovered it back in 1990, but it has definately gotten better. I last came here in January of 2006 with SES and Patrick. I wanted to see the Star Wars exhibit, which was very cool. Patrick was over joyed with the dozens of hands on exhibits and the dinosaur exhibit. When you go, catch the electricity show. it can be very load and scarey for the young ones and the weak of heart. We also saw the planetarium show when we were there, although I have to admit all three of us fell asleep. I've been to the IMAX theater in the past but skipped it this time due to the 3 hour drive we were facing.

If you go to lots of museums in your travels, you should look into the membership packages. The membership here is good at over 200 museums nation wide, so its well worth the investment.

The exhibit halls are open every day 9 AM to 5 PM except on Fridays when it closes at 9 PM.

Prices start at $16 for and adult for just the exhibit halls and $13 for children. The IMAX, Planertarium, Laser Show and Butterfly Garden are all extra. There are packages that offer a small savings over purchasing individuals tickets for each.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 617-723-2500
Address: Science Park
Directions: Please see website.
Website: www.mos.org

A huge misconception about the Boston Public Garden is that it and the Boston Common are part of the same entity, when in fact they are not. The garden came about in 1837 as a result of the swampy area being filled in. The garden is oranmental in design with many different varieties of flowers, trees and other plants. One of the favorite attractions in the garden is the swan boats which have been cruising the garden's pond for more than 120 years.

When I was working as a nanny is Boston's historic district, I used to bring the children here just about every day. We would bring picnic lunches and play games, read stories and walk around the park checking out the plants for hours at a time. One of Stephanie's favorite things was to take a ride on the swan boats. We always made sure to bring extra bread and crackers to feed the ducks and the swans. Be careful when walking close the the pond, there's poop every where. I have two favorite times of year to visit the public garden, Fall because of the beautiful foliage and Spring because of the spring blooms. I used to also come here often on my days off to do some homework in peace. Afterwards I would take a stroll down Charles street and grab a bite to eat and do some shopping in one of its many ecletic shops.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 617-635-4505
Directions: On Boylston between Arlington and Charles Street
Website: http://www.friendsofthepublicgarden.org/

Just kidding, well sort of. Panes of glass once fell from the tower, but nobody got hurt. It took engineers years to fix the problem. This is a beautiful building and definately worth a picture of two.

One can't walk through Copley Square without noticing The John Hancock Tower. I believe its the tallest building in New England. From just about everywhere in Boston you can see one view or another of this glorious building. I took this pic of the building back in 1995, during the summer. My friend Tim had been taking me around Boston showing me some sites I missed during my 4 year stay. After posing for a few shots for Tim I looked up and saw the view and just had to snap a pic or 2. One of my favorite pics of the Tower is one my Christian Science Center. The day I took the main pic, Tim and I went to the top of the building. The view was amazing. I was sad to learn that in 2001 they closed the observation deck. To get a great view of Boston from above, try the Prudential building. The tower is made up of over 10,000 glass panels and was designed by the infamous I.M. Pei with construction finishing in 1975 and opening in 1976.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 617-572-6420
Address: 200 Clarendon Street
Directions: Take any subway to Copley Square and walk up the stairs, you'll see it.

This is a neat little tidbit of information. Elizabeth Vergoose, who is believed to be "Mother" Goose is buried here somewhere in the cemetary. There is a headstone, but no one is really positive if she's buried there or somewhere else in the cemetary.

Leave a Comment

Address: 33 Beacon Street

Paul Revere was a talented silversmith and member of the Revolutionary movement in Massachusetts, his attempts to warn prominent Massachusetts patriot members Samuel Adams and John Hancock, as well as the Lexington countryside of the impending approach of British Regular troops on April 18, 1775 was popularized by poet William Wadsworth Longfellow's highly fictionalized poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere".

My family and I happened to stumbled upon this grave and the "Mother" Goose grave while out celebrating my college graduation.

Leave a Comment

Address: 33 Beacon St

Once I came here, I didn't want to leave. This place is beautiful. My friend, Tim, and I came here a few times during my last summer here. It was because of Tim that I was able to enjoy so many of Boston's fabulous attractions from a different point of view. The reflecting pool is defianately a must see.

You don't have to be a member of the church to enjoy a tour of this phenomenol complex. The Christian Science Center of Boston is the Christian Science world headquarters. The complex in located on 14-acres between Boston's Back Bay and South End neighborhoods. Buildongs to see include the Mother Church, the 28-story church administration building, and the Sunday School building. The complex also houses the offices of Monitor Radio and The Christian Science Monitor (on-line at http://www.csmonitor.com). These news services are international in scope and have won many media awards.

Leave a Comment

Phone: (617) 450-3793
Address: 175 Huntington Ave. (at Mass Ave), Boston, MA
Website: http://www.tfccs.com/bostonactivities/tfccs.jhtml

One great thing about Boston is that it's colleges are very easy to find. My alma mater, Boston University, was right on Commonwealth Ave. It is a street with a weird set up. It starts off heading in one direction then curves off into another then crosses over Beacon Street and goes back in the direciton it started.

You can find all sorts of shops and nice eateries along Commonwealth Ave. It is also very easy to get from point A to point B because the B line runs up it.

Get off at Kenmore Square and stop into the BU bookstore. Here you can buy just about any kind of Boston University souvenire you could want.

Leave a Comment

During the time that I lived in Boston I visited the aquarium on several occasions, mostly at night. My friend Tim and I loved to come here to watch the seals late at night after going out with friends. There are of course dozens of other sea creatures to oogle at, but for me I will always remember the seals. When I moved to Wisconsin Tim gave me a stuffed seal as a remembrance of our evenings by the seals.

My very first trip here was back in 1991 when I came to Boston with the music department of my high school. This was one of the touristy spots they dragged us to. We all had a great time of course.

General admission is $17.95 for an adult and $9.95 for children 3-11.

The aquarium also offers whale watch tours for $26.25 for children under 11 and $32.55 for adults.

Don't miss the IMAX show while you are here. Prices start at $7.95 for children 3-11 and $9.95 for adults.

The New England Aquarium is one of the destinations you can use the city pass for. For more information see http://www.citypass.com/city/boston.html?mv_source=nea.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 617-973-5200
Address: Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
Directions: See Website
Website: http://www.neaq.org

One of the most beautiful areas in and around Boston is the 17-mile stretch of land along the banks of the Charles River known as the Charles River Basin. About 3 miles (from the Museum of Science to the BU Bridge) of this land is paved and has come to be known by most locals as the Esplanade. The great thing about the Esplanade is that you can walk it, run it, bike it, or skate it. I spent many an evening taking romantic walks along the river on the Esplanade.

The Esplanade has a long and complex history. The story of it's conception and creation is fascinating. It started out as mud flats and was tranformed into a world-famous riverside park. The parkland was delveloped in stages, over several decades, at great cost and with great effort. In 1890 Charles Eliot came up with the idea of creating this beautiful Bostonian treasure.

The Esplanade has
6 miles of walkways and bike paths
5 miles of riverbank
3 granite landings
6 boating docks
3 boathouses
1 performance facility (Hatch Shell)
3 playgrounds and 1 wading pool
3 softball fields
3 tennis courts
2 concession stands
3 restroom buildings
5 footbridges over the lagoon
9 pedestrian bridges over Storrow Drive
10 memorials and statues
266 park benches
1800+ trees

Leave a Comment

Phone: (617) 626-4970
Address: Storrow Drive, Boston, MA
Directions: Heading North on 93:Take Storrow Drive (exit 26).
Heading South on 93:Take Storrow Drive (exit 26A).
Using Public Transportation:
Take Red Line to Charles (Street)/MGH station or the Green line to Arlington station
Website: Website: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/hatch_events.htm