Touring Boston on our own

[e050377]

I tried searching but came up with nothing.

 

Can anyone recommend a company that provides tours. We'd like to customize what we do to minimize walking. Thanks.

[ChBoxers800]

I tried searching but came up with nothing.

 

Can anyone recommend a company that provides tours. We'd like to customize what we do to minimize walking. Thanks.

 

Boston has a hop on hop off trolley that goes all over the city. It's reasonably priced and you can get to all of the stuff you want to see by using it.

[e050377]

Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can find more info online about it.

[NancyIL]

I second the suggestion of seeing the city by hop-on/hop-off trolley. There are several trolley companies to choose from in Boston.

[alphakitty]

Yes, the trolleys are a great way to see the city and get some history too. :)

 

There are a few to choose from...they are all good. I'd use the maps provided by the tour company to choose which one I wanted by the routes and stops they make.

 

http://www.cityviewtrolleys.com/

 

http://www.bostonsupertrolleytours.com/STT/Home

 

http://www.trolleytours.com/boston/

 

http://www.beantowntrolley.com/tours/beantown.html

[cmmarch]

I tried searching but came up with nothing.

 

Can anyone recommend a company that provides tours. We'd like to customize what we do to minimize walking. Thanks.

 

 

Freedom Trail used to be a walking tour of historic sites in Boston. Maybe if you check w/them they'd have good suggestions or Boston Chamber of Commerce. Also try Boston Duck Tours - busses in duck motif which I think give narrated tours around the city....they always look crowded! It is a great city w/a lot to see. Public transporation is easy to navigate too! Can even get you over to Cambridge - Harvard Square/MIT etc...

New Liberty hotel near Mass General Hospital is pretty cool. Just renovated into a boutique hotel but was the old Charles St. Jail (originally built in the 1800's I think(??).........if you are near there it is worth checking it out....some of the history of the original structure has been maintained and noted on wall plaques......bar "Alibi" keeping w/the theme too! If you love art the MFA(Museum of Fine Arts) is a must.

Have fun..........wish I still lived there!:)

[Elcruzer]

Yes, the trolleys are a great way to see the city and get some history too. :)

 

There are a few to choose from...they are all good. I'd use the maps provided by the tour company to choose which one I wanted by the routes and stops they make.

 

http://www.cityviewtrolleys.com/

 

http://www.bostonsupertrolleytours.com/STT/Home

 

http://www.trolleytours.com/boston/

 

http://www.beantowntrolley.com/tours/beantown.html

Thanks for the links. Has anyone taken any of these tours and recommends one above the others? Are there stops near the pier?

Would also like to visit DGD at Boston Univ. How easy is it to get there from pier or is taxi advisable?

[Cotton Ginny]

Eleanor,

 

You're best bet to get to BU is to hop on the green line MBTA. Cab should be $30 or more each way from the pier and car travel is challenging here with all of our construction. Don't be afraid of our public transportation. BU is also quite close to Fenway Park if that interests you.

 

As a local, I haven't done any of the land based tours, but can recommend the Duck Tours and a swan boat ride in the Boston Common.

 

Enjoy Boston and get away from the touristy Fanueil Hall and you'll do just fine.

 

Jeri

[Elcruzer]

Thanks Jeri for info. Is MBTA subway or bus and is stop close to pier? We were in Boston several years ago and did the Ducks Tour and enjoyed it. Also Fanueill Hall. This time would like to visit DGD at BU for whatever time she has and see what she wants to do.

[Cotton Ginny]

Sorry for the delayed response. MBTA is our whole transit system - buses and subway. To BU, you'd take a green line subway. It's an easy ride. You may need to take a cab from the pier to a subway station, but that should be short money. I'm not familiar with the pier area in Boston.

[fozzy]

Hi,

 

I think the easiest way to get to the green line from the pier would be to take a taxi to Park Street. There are 5 green line trains that split off at Copley Square so make sure you get on the right one. It's either "B" or "D". The signs are really easy to read. You'll have no problem getting off at BU. However, BU has an open and large campus. Make sure you ask you're DGD what station to get off on. Even locals take the Duck Tours. It'll be a tour that shows the sites and takes you on the Charles River. The trolley is also a decent option.

[Elcruzer]

Thanks for all your help. How far is BU from pier, would taxi all the way be very expensive?

[Orsino]

The cheapest way to get to BU would be to take the Silver Line (there is a stop close to the cruise terminal) to South Station, transfer to the Red Line and take that to Park Street, where you would transfer to the Green Line (B train) to BU.

 

That's quite a few transfers, but it will only cost you 2 dollars, and time. If you need speed, take a taxi.

The cost of the taxi would be about 25 dollars (I think).

[CruisnGram]

For those wanting to experience Boston on your own, you should check out the GoBoston Card. You can get a one day card for about $50 and it will get you free admission to many, many attractions. You will have to pick carefully tho as there's no way you can fit even 1/10 of them in in one day. We used one 2 years ago on our NE road trip and the card is truly what it advertises itself to be. Trolly tours, harbor cruise, whale watching, Duck Tour, Aquarium.......plus about 100 more are all included in this card.

 

Also, it expands beyone Boston and does include Newport RI for those who's ships go there. Mansion tours, train ride, harbor cruise and vineyard tour are offered in Newport. Of course, you will have to buy a two day card in order to use it in Newport also.

 

If interested, go to www.gobostoncard.com

[Two if by Sea]

That is indeed a neat-looking card. The catch, as CruisnGram points out, is that although you're entitled to visit 70 different attractions for the $55 cost, you'll maybe squeeze in 5 or 6 in one port day if you hustle, especially if you pick any of the longer things like visiting the Aquarium (easily a 2-hour stop) or the Museum of Science (you could spend a half-day right there). Even things like Duck Tours are going to take an hour and a half. And a whale watch tour is 4 hours.

 

It still looks worth it, though -- even if you only manage 4 attractions at $20 each, you've saved money. And it gives you flexibility.

 

But I don't see how it works with tours that require advance reservations. The Duck Tours, for instance, fill up sometimes days or even a week in advance for popular times and days.

 

(Okay, I see how they manage that -- they charge $5 extra for an advance booking on the Duck Tours. You should definitely do that if you want to take the tour.)