Orangepants

Planning a weekend trip to Boston in mid September. We haven't been before so want to do the normal girl's weekend kind of things - bit of sight seeing, wine, bit more sight seeing, wine and then dinner. Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon.

There's an Arts festival on that weekend, the Phantom Gourmet Food festival and the Autumnal Equinox. Where would be a good area to stay and what are the Must see's and Do's. A Harbour cruise? A city tour? Trip out of town to see the fall leaves?

Thanks for any ideas.

N1cky

We stayed here on our trip to Boston, if you've not stayed with Kimpton before, they are a really fantastic boutique chain, they are all beautifully decorated, and they all host a free evening wine hour which is nice when you get back from sight seeing and want to chill a bit before dinner.

This one is right across from Boston Common, and we found it a great base for sightseeing, and a safe place to walk out from for dinner on a night.

https://www.kimptonhotels.com/stay/n...o-hotel-boston

Our trip was as a family, so our requirements were different to yours. We did a few self guided walking tours though, and I think the Freedom Trail is a must for everyone, but make sure you do it with a tour book, or an official tour otherwise you'll have no idea what you're looking at.

Orangepants

We must have the same taste - that one is on my short list - the Onyx. Thanks

Pulaski

HH's sofa?

Sue

Nope, we don't want no sofas!

Bob

http://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-5.../#post11296757

This lists quite a lot of things to do in and around.

You can get a Charlie card in advance, will help with the T.

You can get tourist discount cards, which is worth doing.

If you want to do the autumn leaf peeping, it's probably going to be a bit to early...and you'll want a rental, but head to western MA, around Northampton area would be beautiful...it's a lovely area, but that would be a day trip really, so might not be worth it.

Thing to watch out for in Boston with the hotels, the cost of parking, can be anything up to $60 a day depending on location and how nice the parking is.

Duck Tour is pretty decent to get around and see the common. Fanual Hall is fun to putter through but better off eating else where, plenty of nice places to eat, but Cheers is crap.

Dinner at the Prudential Center is worth a shot, nice views and not to formal and reasonably priced....and the whole Copley Plaza area might be another nice base to stay at too, much cheaper than downtown, plenty of places to eat/drink/shop and only a few mins away on the T.

MIT is worth a visit if you're into architecture, Harvard uni has nice grounds if your into green stuff and if you're into stars, the roof top jobby is worth a punt at BU - Public Open Night at the Observatory » Astronomy | Boston University

If you're into sports, Fenway is a classic spot for a game, but it's expensive. TD Garden for the other sports, but not such a cool venue.

Quite a few breweries if that's your thing, Sam Adams in JP for lunch.

Haymarket - https://bostonpublicmarket.org/ not as cool since they moved indoors, but it's the best market around, fab to get some great cheese and cold cuts and have a picnic on the Boston Common....they're all close enough that it's a 10 min walk or so.

tonrob

I've spent many, many, many weekends in Boston over the years.

Personally I like the Intercontinental (on the waterfront) and the W (Chinatown and Theatre District), both on the basis of handy locations and being nice, modern, upscale properties.

phodg

Take a look at Trip Advisor - I've never had a bad hotel recommendation from there and I use them all the time ...

Boston Hotels: Compare 77 Hotels in Boston with 67,961 Reviews | TripAdvisor

Chapmandan

Second vote for a duck tour. Great fun.

If you have your walking feet on, the freedom trail is a nice way to see the city just by following the red brick line. Maybe take the lift to top of the Prudential Tower too?

Hotel wise i can only speak for 2. One being the renaissance which was pleasant but a bit out of things. Second is the Marriott Long Wharf which is nice enough and at the bottom of Fanueil Hall and in reach of the North End by foot. You can also get a water taxi from the airport which is a nice novelty factor.

HTH

Orangepants

Thanks so much for the ideas. There is so much to do..