NCEP. Boston itinerary question

[jordancatalano4ever]

Updated to add where we stayed and what we did.
Stayed at The Colonnade. It was nice. Nothing remarkable. If I were going back I would choose a hotel directly on Boylston or in the seaport area.
Day 1. We did the Freedom Trail. That was an interesting day. We started late and so we ended up hustling through in about 2 hours. Don’t recommend doing that. I also found it interesting because we went on a Saturday and it was really busy and we had a hard time being observant of the history with so much modern hustle and bustle surrounding us. Had oysters and chowder at Union House. Then we had dinner at Atlantic Fish co. My gah. So so so good. Favorite meal. I wish I had two stomachs to eat more.
Day 2. Started with Fenway park tour. Highly recommend. It really was interesting getting to see all the vantage points and learn the history. We had lovely weather so it was just a great experience all around. Followed up with fine art museum. Again highly recommend. We really enjoyed exploring the galleries. I loved the European and American gallery spaces in particular. We were going to go the the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum after but we were both hungry. Caught an Uber back to Fenway and ate at Eventide. Fantastic meal. We split both cold lobster roll and hot brown butter lobster rolls. So good. Especially the brown butter. My favorite lobster roll of the trip. Caught the last game of the season. Sox won in the last inning. Such a good time. I loved Fenway. It’s a gorgeous park. It’s a shame all ball parks aren’t like Fenway. My only regret of the trip came after the game. I wanted to stay in the area and my husband started walking back to the hotel. It took us almost an hour and by the time we got back I was just over doing anything else. I wish we had stayed and ate and drank in the area around the park. We ended up eating terrible bar food near our hotel. Sad.
Day 3. We started the morning at the aquarium. Had lunch at James hook. They had the best chowder and a very fine lobster roll. It was loaded with good quality lobster. We were supposed to go on a whale watch but they cancelled due to rough seas so we ubered to Harvard. Did the tour and museums. Finished the night in the north end. We had mikes pastry and the yummy cannolis killed my appetite. So good but so rich. We had drinks and apps at Strega. It was good. Nothing spectacular though.
Day 4. We had our last day. Just walked around and had lunch in the north end. We had Carmelina’s. My gnocchi was spectacular. My husbands crazy Alfredo was good but nothing we couldn’t get at home.
It was and amazing trip and such a beautiful city. Hope this helps anyone else who may plan a trip in the future. We look forward to going back.

[winecat]

Clear Flour Bakery in Brookline. Delicious and CEP related because it is right around the corner from JFK’s birthplace.

[starlily]

Sweet Cheeks BBQ is near Fenway Park and is delicious, if you want to eat before or after the game.

My favorite lobster roll was from Neptune's, but it's a long wait unless you go just before opening or at an off time.

I really appreciated visiting the JFK museum and library. The way it's laid out is very well done.

[imimahoney]

I would skip Giacomos. The lines are stupid long and while the food is fine, it really isn't the best there is for italian food.

Cambridge is lovely and Harvard Square is fun. I'd head there and just roam around.

If you love seafood hit up Legal. Their seaport location has a fun rooftop deck. It's a Boston staple.

Also, Lolita (tapas and all around awesome food and drink) has a new Fort Point location which is near where you are.

[rondonalddo]

Institute of Contemporary Art! If you want to see their Kusama show, check their website to see if tickets are gone for your dates and when the next set of tickets get released.

[mbcdefg]

I like James Hook for lobster rolls. It’s a shack on the side of the road, no real seating - we usually eat in the car or at their picnic table if the weather is nice enough.

If you can do the guided tour of Fenway at some point it’s really neat. Even my Yankees fan husband loved it.

[msmerymac]

Yeah, JFK museum is good. When will you be there? If it's in the next 6 weeks, you can take the train up to Salem and visit the witch museum and see everything they have out for Halloween.

[goldengirlz]

Row 34 is really good for seafood

[shopgirl07]

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Bell in Hand but I would never think of eating there. It was always a drinking and dancing place for me.

By Fenway, you could do dinner at Island Creek Oyster Bar. Or any of Tiffani Faison’s restaurants. There’s also a new Time Out Market nearby that would be fun to wander.

[mrspez07]

I love the John Adams and John Quincy Adams historic sites in Quincy (red line, quick trip). I also enjoyed the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in the back bay.

www.nps.gov/adam/index.htm
www.gardnermuseum.org/

[MixedBerryJam]

Harvard's Nat History Museum is one of my favorite spots in New England. My husband wanted to get married there. If you go to Cambridge for a day (which I strongly recommend) do not miss HMNH and be sure to see the glass flowers. There's also the Peabody (connected, but it might have a separate entrance fee) if you like ethnology and anthropology. And the Fogg, a short walk away, for art.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

Sept 18, 2019 9:10:07 GMT -5 shopgirl07 said:

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Bell in Hand but I would never think of eating there. It was always a drinking and dancing place for me.

By Fenway, you could do dinner at Island Creek Oyster Bar. Or any of Tiffani Faison’s restaurants. There’s also a new Time Out Market nearby that would be fun to wander.

You can get a Craigie Burger there which, if it's close even half as good as the ones at his actual restaurant, are amaaaazing.

I'd also skip Bell in Hand for dinner.  Grab a drink for sure, but find somewhere else to eat.

The JFK Library is interesting and really well done. The Edward Kennedy Institute is also over there - I've not been, but I've heard the replica of the Senate chamber is cool. If it's nice out, I'd take an Uber/Lyft from there over to Castle Island in South Boston - it's got great views, you can explore Fort Independence, and have Sully's (a delicious hot dog/burger/clams/etc food shack) for lunch while you watch the boats and the planes. It's one of my favorite spots in the city.

Otherwise, I'd probably just wander around the city on Day 3 and see what you feel like. Walk up Newbury Street, stop by Copley/Prudential, maybe hit up the Christian Science Center to see the Mapparium or go to the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum.  You could also walk around Beacon Hill, maybe take the Black Heritage Trail Tour. Walk along the greenway and hit up the open market if it's a weekend. (Or go to the South End open market and eat at either Picco or the Salty Pig.) If you like beer, there are a few beer gardens around (Trillium on the Greenway is great).  Find the Cookie Monstah truck while you're out and about (usually either at Park Street or the Greenway) - their website has the schedule.

[fryjack2]

For sea food try- Row 34 ( in fort point), Island Creek or Eastern Standard ( in Kenmore down the black from Fenway) Saltie Girl, or Eventide oysters in Fenway or Hourly in Harvard square. There are actually a ton of restaurants in Fenway now. Tiger Mama is really good, but not sea food. Saltie Girl in Back Bay is so so good and is sea food. I eat there at least once a month. Time out is a great way to try a bunch of places at once- go for lunch before the MFA and then for dinner pre or post the game Try Anoushella there. It is middle eastern and amazing.

I don't know if I'd dedicate a whole day to Harvard and MIT. You can walk around Harvard yards for an hour or so and then go eat at one of the delicious restaurants in Cambridge.

Where are you staying? That will help determine recs

As for Castl Island, the number 9 bus goes from Copley Square all the way to Castle Island so you can save yourself a ton of money if you take it. Traffic has gotten insane in Southie though and it takes basically the one street that leads into southie, so avoid at rush hour. If you do go to South Boston/Fort Point, see the above restaurant recs. Babbo is good pizza, the Martin Richards playground is pretty cool to see by the Children's museum. Flour bakery is there ( along with 2 back bay locations snd cambridge )and is a must for baked goods or lunch-I love the greek chicken salad and the curry tuna salad. Blue Dragon and Oak and Rowan are really good restaurants there. As is Fat Baby-sushi. Douzo in the Back Bay is really good sushi. O Ya near South Station is insane sushi but also super pricey.

Have a great stay!

[LoveTrains]

Sept 18, 2019 9:10:07 GMT -5 shopgirl07 said:

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Bell in Hand but I would never think of eating there. It was always a drinking and dancing place for me.

By Fenway, you could do dinner at Island Creek Oyster Bar. Or any of Tiffani Faison’s restaurants. There’s also a new Time Out Market nearby that would be fun to wander.

I used to go to the bell in hand to get super drunk and dance in my 20s. I would not suggest eating there.

[tiki]

If you'll be near MIT/Harvard, get your lobster "rolls" (aka mounds of lobster on wonderbread) from Alive and Kicking Lobsters.

[jordancatalano4ever]

Sept 18, 2019 19:52:01 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

For sea food try- Row 34 ( in fort point), Island Creek or Eastern Standard ( in Kenmore down the black from Fenway) Saltie Girl, or Eventide oysters in Fenway or Hourly in Harvard square. There are actually a ton of restaurants in Fenway now. Tiger Mama is really good, but not sea food. Saltie Girl in Back Bay is so so good and is sea food. I eat there at least once a month. Time out is a great way to try a bunch of places at once- go for lunch before the MFA and then for dinner pre or post the game Try Anoushella there. It is middle eastern and amazing.

I don't know if I'd dedicate a whole day to Harvard and MIT. You can walk around Harvard yards for an hour or so and then go eat at one of the delicious restaurants in Cambridge.

Where are you staying? That will help determine recs

As for Castl Island, the number 9 bus goes from Copley Square all the way to Castle Island so you can save yourself a ton of money if you take it. Traffic has gotten insane in Southie though and it takes basically the one street that leads into southie, so avoid at rush hour. If you do go to South Boston/Fort Point, see the above restaurant recs. Babbo is good pizza, the Martin Richards playground is pretty cool to see by the Children's museum. Flour bakery is there ( along with 2 back bay locations snd cambridge )and is a must for baked goods or lunch-I love the greek chicken salad and the curry tuna salad. Blue Dragon and Oak and Rowan are really good restaurants there. As is Fat Baby-sushi. Douzo in the Back Bay is really good sushi. O Ya near South Station is insane sushi but also super pricey.

Have a great stay!

We’re staying in back bay near the prudential building. I had bell in hand on my list cause one of hubbys coworkers said it was good. Maybe he recommended it for a night out. I just saw that it was in the north end so I included it.

[centralsquare]

I love the Gardner museum, as someone mentioned above.

Oleana in Cambridge was one of our favorites.

[fryjack2]

Hawthorne is a nicer bar in the Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore. Next door to Island Creek. You can go there post game. Eastern Standard is also a popular pre and post game bar restaurant down the hill from Fenway in Kenmore.

I don't think you will be too tired as I don't see what is tiring about the museum and a game?

There are much better places to eat in the North End than Giacomo's. Pretty much any where up there. Ha. Bell in Hand is more of a 20 something Saturday night college crowd if that's what you are looking for. Its super close to Quincy Market and across the street from The Boston Market that is fun to walk in and grab a snack or drink.

If its nice out and you don't mind walking (Boston is a walking town) walk from your hotel down Newbury or the Comm Ave Mall ( the greenway between the 2 sides of Commonwealth Ave) to Arlington. Walk through the Public Gardens and turn left and walk up Charles Street. Turn left up the bridge and walk along the Charles River to the Esplanade and back over to the Back Bay, or all the way down to the MAss Ave bridge and then you are a short walk to Kenmore or the Prudential.

[msmerymac]

Copley Square is technically the neighborhood you'll be in. It's nice! The Boston Public Library and Newbury St. are lovely. My FIL used to work on Newbury St.

Any brewery interest? Harpoon and Trillium are pretty close to each other. They're both by the Seaport, and it's a kind of a PITA to take public transit there. You can either walk from South Station or the Faneuil Hall area (probably 1+ miles though) or just take an Uber. The contemporary art museum is right there too. James Hook & Co and The Barking Crab are pretty well-known seafood shacks in that area where you can get your lobster roll on. No Name seafood is fairly inexpensive for what it is. I also like the Legal Test Kitchen that's pretty close to Harpoon.

[fryjack2]

I should add that Charles Street is in Beacon Hill. Grab a pizza at Figs and some ice cream at JPLicks. You get to see a bit of Newbury street, the Gardens, Beacon Hill, and the Charles River on that walk. If the sailboats are out or duck boats, it’s super pretty.


The courtyard in the Public Library is so pretty. And they serve high tea