Parking at a ';T'; station

Hi there,

My husband and I are taking our 2- and 3-year-olds to Boston this summer (probably in June). I%26#39;ve done some research online and I think we%26#39;re going to stay at the Best Western in Woburn. We%26#39;ll be driving in from Montreal, so we%26#39;ll have a car, but we won%26#39;t be driving into Boston each day (thanks to those who answered my previous question :)

Although the hotel has a complimentary shuttle to the train station, I%26#39;ve heard that the T is more convenient and affordable.

Here%26#39;s my question: which ';T'; station should we drive to/park at? When they say the parking rate is $3.50 (on the MBTA site), is that for the whole day? And if there are, say, 800 spaces available, is there a chance that there might not be any spaces left by the time we get there? Our kids wake up early, so chances are we%26#39;ll be there at least by 9am.

One other thing: if we%26#39;re taking the T twice a day for 5 days, is it worth it to buy the weekly charlie pass?

Thanks,

Julia

Parking at a ';T'; station

The 3.50 is a daily rate.

The lots near me on the South Shore fill up by 7:30-8am with commuters%26#39; cars. I don%26#39;t know about the ones near your hotel. If you drive to the nearest T station, you could very well find a full lot at 9am.

If you%26#39;re taking the T downtown and then walking around, then it might be cheaper and easier to take the commuter rail and enjoy the convenience of the free hotel shuttle (and save the 3.50/day), but if you%26#39;re goign to be taking the T all day during the day to save on walking, (like from the waterfront to the back bay to Cambridge, etc.) then the unlimited ride option is better.

The commuter rail has its benefits: it%26#39;s faster than the T and has more comfortable seats.

Parking at a ';T'; station

Yes, it is true that these lots are generally filled with commuters on the weekdays by 7:30 a.m (and sometimes earlier!) If your stay includes the weekend, you can be assured parking but I%26#39;m not certain I%26#39;d chance it on a weekday. If you do try it, Wellington Station in Medford has the largest lot and would be very easy to get to (straight down Rt. 93 South) from your hotel. Did you look at Amerisuites in Medford? They have a shuttle to Wellington. If you stayed there, you%26#39;d be in a town with the T as opposed to the commuter rail.

Hi, me again!

Forgot to mention that we may decide to take the stroller with us on our day trips to Boston. Will this be a problem? Are the trains/buses really packed with commuters?

Another option is to take the Woburn-Boston express bus into town.

Julia

With regards to the stroller - yes, you can easily wheel a stroller onto the subway trains (the platform is level with the trains) but again, the trains are packed with commuters during rush hour and it may be too crowded to comfortably do so.

I%26#39;m not certain I know what you mean by express bus, but if you%26#39;re referring to the MBTA bus, I could be wrong but I believe the bus picks up in Woburn Square which is not near your hotel. Also, I don%26#39;t think I would take the bus with a two and three year old - too many stops, potential for carsickness and some of the bus drivers drive too fast for my taste.

When my kids were that age, they really liked the commuter rail. The train ride itself was an adventure to them, never mind the museums. It may cost more than the T but I think it%26#39;s more comfortable and cleaner.

I would suggest you do the following - Saturdays and Sunday, drive to Wellington and take the T. Weekdays take the commuter rail. If your plans include the Museum of Science, you could drive that day - they have a parking garage. Check out their website at www.mos.org.

About the T pass, I assume you will be taking the subway in Boston. A pass won%26#39;t work on the commuter rail from Woburn (only monthly commuter passes are issued). For travel on the subway, the pass is a great deal. A single cash fare is $2.00, so five round trips would be $20 and the pass is only $15 so you%26#39;re ahead already. With the pass, you%26#39;ll have unlimited travel and you%26#39;ll discover that the being able to hop on and off the subway is a real convenience in Boston. You%26#39;ll each need a pass. The kids are free. People use strollers on the T all the time. On older green line cars you%26#39;ll have to get it up three steps, but it%26#39;s not a problem, especially with two people.

The commuter rail station in Woburn (Anderson) has a huge parking lot. Depending on how often the hotel shuttle runs you may , for convenience, want to consider driving to the station yourself.

I agree with KDDM about the Sat/Sunday scheduling. Great idea.

The stroller on the T is do-able but not fun (not all stations have elevators and of those that do, I can%26#39;t think of one that doesn%26#39;t smell funky. Some are so bad you hold your breath the whole ride. If you%26#39;re in good shape, you can carry your stuff up and down stairs. Be careful on escelators....

Strollers and crowds are do-able. If you have a little one who%26#39;s walking, they%26#39;re more in danger of getting a briefcase to the nose during rush hour. If you can keep %26#39;em both in a stroller, that%26#39;s your best bet. On the trains, people will get out of the way. It%26#39;s not impossible.

Hi,

Are strollers do-able on the commuter trains too? Is there room? We do have a small tandem stroller for when the little ones tire (which they do so often!).

I know the boys will LOVE the train...they%26#39;re big fans of Thomas the Tank Engine, and basically anything on wheels. So we%26#39;ll definately do that at least once or twice.

One poster mentioned taking the car when we go to the Museum of Science. The website mentioned that the garage can fill up quite fast during the summer vacation months. I like the idea of driving into Boston and paying for parking for the day, but I think that%26#39;s probably chancing it.

I%26#39;m really getting psyched for this trip! My husband thinks I%26#39;m crazy for doing all this research (he%26#39;s a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kinda guy), but I like to be prepared for anything ;)

If you%26#39;re coming on a weekend, Parking Garages are much reduced in cost - averaging $10 to 15 a day - cheap by Boston Standards. International Place is actually only $7 and is 5 minutes from Quincy Market. 93 South to Government Center Exit. Left at the top and follow along the surface road until you see the big arch of Rowes Wharf on the left. International Place will be on the right almost directly across from the arch.

I would call the Museum of Science from your hotel when you arrive to see if they can give you an idea on when parking fills up there. Friends from out of the country visited us in November and had no problem getting a space when they went mid-morning. However, that was November and I guess it could be busier in June.

I usually take the commuter rail from the Reading station and, at this station, there is an elevated/handicapped ramp where you could push a stroller on. I%26#39;m having problems remembering what the Woburn station looks like. This is a newer station and I%26#39;m guessing they have something similar. In any case, you can fold the stroller and carry it up the stairs (they are steep stairs - your kids will probably need help). It sounds difficult but there are only a couple stairs and I%26#39;ve always found the conductors to be more than willing to assist those who need help. Once on the train, you should have enough room to stow it until you arrive.

Lexington Visit

I%26#39;m coming end of June and was wondering if it%26#39;s worth the drive to Lexington to see the Minuteman National Park. I%26#39;ll be coming in from NH, so I%26#39;ll pass on my way into Boston. I%26#39;m already booked in a hotel in Boston for the night I plan to drive through. I have my husband and 11 year old son. If you do think it%26#39;s worth stopping and seeing, how long can I estimate seeing the touristy sites?

Lexington Visit

I guess it depends on how important it is to you. If you%26#39;re into the history, then it%26#39;s an important, exciting place. If you%26#39;re not that into history and if you%26#39;ll be tired from the drive then maybe not...

Lexington Visit

The Park Service has refurbished Minuteman Park recently tomake it more enjoayble. Also in the area The Battle Green in Lexington and the North Bridge in Concord.All very close together and 10Mi.from Boston.I think they are a must if visiting the area.Will take the better part of a day.

I think you and especially your son will enjoy visiting the parks. Begin at the Lexington part of the Minuteman park, on Route 2A in lexington. There is a visitor%26#39;s center that shows a short introductory movie that will help to explain the timeline of the Battle. There is a nice walking/biking path as part of that park, too, for some exercise if the weather is cooperative. Also along the path there are sometimes guides dressed as in 1776 to explain one of the houses along the route. Look for the sheep or cattle or whatever they have keeping the grass short this year!

From there you can go to the Battle Green in Lexington center and don%26#39;t miss the Concord part of the parks. In Concord you approach the North Bridge (off Monument Street from Concord Center) and can see what the British saw as they approached. I believe they also have a movie, and there are often costumed Minutemen around. It%26#39;s a nice place to rest overlooking the river. You can park at the North Bridge and it is a nice walk into town from there as well.

While in Concord there are several other sites you won%26#39;t want to miss! Orchard House--the home of the Alcotts (Bronson Alcott, friend of Emerson and Henry David Thoreau and others; and his daughter who wrote Little Women, etc.) ; Homes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne and others. Many famous philosophers met here. Also in Concord is Walden Pond where Thoreau spent a year in the woods.

In addition, Concord center is a cute area to walk around and see old buildings and some neat shops. You could eat at Helen%26#39;s a small local place or the Milldam restaurant down a little alley on the other side of the street and overlooking the Milldam brook. Also the Colonial Inn has good meals, with outside porch dining where you can people watch.

It%26#39;s a great place for a restful, historical, pretty visit and I hope you%26#39;ll enjoy MY town. Wishing you good weather, too.

Restaurant advice

I am a BIG seafood fanatic, but seeing as my husband is a vegetarian (no meat, poultry or fish), I don%26#39;t get to partake very often. While in Boston, I intend to have lobster and clam chowder every single day!!!

Can anyone suggest a restaurant in downtown Boston where my husband, two kids and I can all have a meal?

Restaurant advice

Hi,

One suggestion would be the Food Court at Quincy Market. You can get your lobster and clam chowder and your husband can get a nice vegetarian meal from the Indian place there, or one of the other stalls. Everybody can have what he/she wants. If you do that, get the clam chowder from the Boston Chowda Co., which is the best.

Restaurant advice

We will definitely stop at Quincy Market more than once! Thanks for the tip. How about for suppers? Do the ';family friendly'; seafood restaurants generally have fare for vegetarians? Sometimes they don%26#39;t like it when you ask for something off the menu (ex: pasta with veggies).

The North End is the Italian area of Boston. Most restaurants wll have seafood as well as ';normal'; Italian fare. It%26#39;s only a 10 minute walk from Quincy Market.

Lots of people are vegetarians around here. It shouldn%26#39;t be a big problem.

My husband and I really enjoyed our experience with Legal Seafood last week. We ate at the location on Long Wharf, but I know there%26#39;s another location in the city. Maybe someone else could speak to that.

Legal Seafood has great fish, but it doesn%26#39;t have much to offer if you don%26#39;t east seafood. Even my favorite Chart House has either fish, shellfish, or beef, for the most part. In addition to the North End for Italian (and fish, too), you can go to a place like Joe%26#39;s on the Waterfront, where they have a pretty big menu offering.

Hi,

A good choice for you would be to head to Chinatown and go to one of the Chinese seafood restaurants there. Jumbo Seafood on Hudson St., Grand Chow Chow on Essex St. are the nicest two, and have excellent food.

If you don%26#39;t mind a more ';grungy'; atmosphere, the best food is at Peach Farm restaurant, on Tyler St.

The advantage of going to Chinatown is that they all have great, fresh seafood and wonderful lobster, while your husband can get one of the many vegetarian entrees, such as sauteed garlic spinach, or one of the tofu dishes.

If your husband can make a meal of appetizer, salad and veggie sides, you might want to try the lobsters at Jasper White%26#39;s Summer Shack. There is one in Boston not too far from Copley Square.

www.shackfoods.com/Locations_Boston_Menu.asp

Driving from Logan to the Hyannis???

I will be flying into Logan on 6/30/2007,how long should it take on a sat. in June? Is 3a a scenic drive? And how much longer is it to drive 3 compared to 3a?

Driving from Logan to the Hyannis???

saturday is the beginning of the vacation week (if one is staying a whole week or a few days) so you might hit some traffic, especially if it is in the morning, so be prepared. i would plan on an hour and a half, at least.

from logan i would go 93S to route 3S.

Driving from Logan to the Hyannis???

An hour and a half is the absolute minimum. More like two hours with no traffic. Driving time, by the way, is very dependent on when you plan on leaving Hyannis. 3A is the scenic but much longer route.

IMHO there is nada to really see on 3 A..

Need your suggestion for a summer day cruise on the Atlantic

My boss just put me in charge of setting up a ';day on the water'; for a group of 12 teachers who will be in town in August. I am looking on the internet, but coming up with bewildering choices. Has anyone out there ever ';wowed'; your out of town guests with a day cruise locally. I know that there are lots of little cruises that run near the Aquarium, but I am not sure how to find them on the internet. thanks a million!

Need your suggestion for a summer day cruise on the Atlantic

Hi,

http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/

www.spiritcitycruises.com/bo/index.jsp鈥?/a>

www.odysseycruises.com/boston/index.cfm

The Boston Harbor Cruises offers short ';lunch hour'; cruises, sundown cruises, and other longer excursions. The Odessey and Spirit of Boston are best known for their dinner/cruise trips.

Another option would be a day on the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. You could have a lunch catered and bring it along with you and picnic on the islands. At that time of year, it would be perfect, with the nice ocean breezes and the beautiful views of Boston. Your easiest options would be George%26#39;s Island, or Spectacle Island, both of which are the most developed, have public restrooms, etc., and picnic grounds:

http://www.bostonislands.org/

Need your suggestion for a summer day cruise on the Atlantic

Or you could combine one of those harbor cruises with a custom walking tour of the Harbor and Downtown with a bent towards the history aspects. Try Boston CityWalks at 866-WE-WALKS if that interests you.

AlanM

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Where to Park (Cheaply!) in Boston?

Coming to Boston for a Sunday-Monday-Tuesday event in mid-July. The hotel where we are staying (Hilton, in Back Bay) is rumored to charge something like $44/night for parking -- even for guests!

Anyone know of a better deal? (For parking only; I don%26#39;t want to change hotels.)

Where to Park (Cheaply!) in Boston?

Monday and Tuesday you%26#39;re going to have a hard time finding park for under $40 a day, especially in Back Bay. Parking in Boston is ridiculously expensive.

On Sunday, most of the garages in the city charge a reduced rate anywhere from $10-15.

Where to Park (Cheaply!) in Boston?

Firstly, there is no such thing as cheap parking in Boston. Doesn%26#39;t exist. And secondly, if it does, I certainly wouldn%26#39;t leave my car there!

That said, are you driving to Boston? Is having the car needful for the event? If the answer to these questions are no, then skip it. it%26#39;s wasted money for no reason. Boston is compact enough - at least the areas where you%26#39;ll be - that having a car is more of a hindrance than a help. There is a parking garage behind Symphony Hall on Westland Ave if I recall, and the Danker and Donohue garage at the bottom of Newbury might work. If nothing else perhaps you can take advantage of weekend rates for part of the stay.

Hi,

You might find it a bit cheaper to park at the Boston Common Garage, which I believe is $25/day during the week.

you might also want to check out the garage at post office square, http://www.posquare.com/. probably a 15 min walk to the hilton though. it%26#39;s a very nice underground lot.

Post Office Square is no where near the Hilton and not much cheaper either.

I agree w/ Alan. Not the best spot for someone staying in the Back Bay, but that parking area would be good for people headed to Faneuil Hall, which is just a few blocks away.

First, the Hilton Back Bay is a disgusting hotel. LEAVE THAT one. Second driving in Boston is a hassle. So just take the MBTA.

I live right next to the Hilton and highly recommend the small outdoor lot right there on the corner of Belvidere and Dalton. I%26#39;m not quite sure what the daily rate is, but I think it%26#39;s much less than the garages. And nights I%26#39;ve seen it $5 after 5pm (it goes up for nights that have Sox games). You may very well be able to talk to the guy and work a deal!

Speaking of parking in Boston — is the 75 State Street Garage a relativelyy safe place to leave your vehicle from approx. 10 am to 10 pm on a Sunday? Is this the closest parking area to Faneuil Hall?

75 State Street is safe and close, but you%26#39;ll save a few dollars on Sundays by parking at International Place and taking the 5 or 10 minute walk.

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Science or Children's museum?

We%26#39;re planning our trip to Boston, and I%26#39;m trying to fit in as much as possible into our 4-day stay. We%26#39;re going to go to the aquarium, take a ferry to Georges Island, and spend some time strolling around the Boston Commons, Public gardens and Faneuil Hall.

We%26#39;re taking our 2 and 3-and-a-half year old boys, and i%26#39;d like to go to both museums, but i think we may be overextending ourselves in the time frame we have. (I%26#39;d also like to fit in a trip to the model train store, but we%26#39;ll see how it goes.)

Which museum do you think the kids would enjoy more? I%26#39;m guessing that we (as adults) would find the MOS more interesting?

Also, we%26#39;re arriving on a Friday afternoon (we%26#39;re staying in Woburn and taking the train into Boston) and leaving on a Tuesday afternoon. Can anyone suggest which sight might be better to see on the weekend and which on a weekday?

Thanks!

Julia

Science or Children's museum?

The Children%26#39;s Museum is defintely the choice for you and your family. visit bostonkids.org. The Museum of Science is fun but geared towards kids a bit older than yours.

Both places will be less crowded on weekdays than on weekends.

Science or Children's museum?

I agree. The children%26#39;s museum is MUCH better for kids that age.

Agree with previous posters. Save the Science Museum for when the kids are older.

Everyone is right on this one Childrens Museum.

Thanks for your tips. I thought that the kids would enjoy the butterflies, lightening and dinosaurs at the MOS, but the Children%26#39;s must have much more for them at this age.

So, if we%26#39;re going to go to the children%26#39;s museum, aquarium and harbour islands on the sat, sun and mon, which should we see on what days?

The MOS lightning might actually have been too scary for them--it%26#39;s a big dark ampitheatre and there%26#39;s real lightning and loud noises.

Go to the Harbor Islands on the day with the best weater.

:-)

Agree completely with Coco on the lightning being frightening for kits that age... some adults are pretty freaked out by it. It%26#39;s loud very bright, and unnerving. With kids that age -- Children%26#39;s Museum is great -- you may also want to consider the Aquarium... those were my boys favorites.

Julia, just saw your note about the harbor islands -- I%26#39;d skip them for little kids. If you want a harbor boat ride, you can go on the mbta service from Long Wharf (next to Aquarium) to Quincy -- stay on the boat and return, I think they only charge a one-way fare which is $6 for adults, free for the kids. Schedules are on MBTA.com (.org?). You can bring a lunch and sit on open decks on nice days.

Loon Mountain....what about George%26#39;s Island. Pack a picnic and it%26#39;s a lot of fun...not too much boat either, like 20mins each way. Nice fields and places to throw rocks into the water and little trails and places to explore... George%26#39;s Island is a lot of fun for kids of all ages, as they say. Older kids like exploring the forts and climbing the hills. Littler kids can enjoy throwing stones into the water, watching other harbor boats go by, and playing games with mom and dad on the lawn.... then you wait for the boat to come back and get you....it%26#39;s way cool.

The T boats are smelly and full of commuters too. The boat to George%26#39;s Island is typically full of kids (fun atmosphere) and not that much more expensive.

Just be careful on any boat, just before they leave port, they blow the horn and you don%26#39;t want to be sitting on deck next to the horn thing with your 2-year old as it%26#39;s going off. It%26#39;s a very loud, sometimes startling noise. Ask a crew member where it is (it%26#39;s usually up front as I remember) and be aware that when the pull in the ropes, it%26#39;s about to happen. Not terrible, but if you%26#39;re 2 it can be startling.