What's so popular about Boston?

Seem to be a lot of people here who love going over to Boston, but why? Great shopping? Cape Cod (is that nearby)?

Places like NYC have well known attractions but I can't really say I know of really anywhere in Boston that would attract visitors...

It's really hard to single out one thing but I've never felt more at home in a city.

The hotels are somewhat on the expensive side but there's loads of things to do, and the shopping is great !

Also has alot to do with cheap flights, and the fact it's accessible from the UK in around 7 hours.

I've not been in years but i'm sure it's tax free shopping which is heaven sent if you're British as you don't have to put up with not knowing the real price of anything as they add that stupid sales tax on every where else.

But yes, the shopping is good, the history is so-so and it's a short flight!

[mitchja]

Boston is usually 'slightly' cheaper to fly to than NYC. The hotels are also not as expensive either. Although Boston hotels are now catching on!!

Boston is much calmer and seems to go at a slower pace than NYC. Yes it's got the city centre with the usual shops, high rise buildings etc as with any big US city, but it's also got calmer greener areas with plenty of histoty and culture.

I really do like Boston but I also like New York as well but for different reasons. They are just different.

Regards

Shopping, some good seafood restauarants, Harvard, Cape Cod , great scenery especially in Autumn, a very "european feel", some history!!

If you haven't been - try it!!

Hi,

Boston for me has the following options;

(1) Excellent public transport
(2) The downtown core is very walkable
(3) Boston common being in the center of the town
(4) The old cobbled streets of Beacon Hill with the historic houses
(5) The italian feel of the North end
(6) Beautiful harbour area looking towards the airport
(7) Most of the major sights are close to one another
(8) Good shopping
(9) More relaxed than NYC.
(10) Excellent museums around the Harvard university area
(11) Shortish flight time from the UK

Regards

TBS

Originally posted by MarkJ
Shopping, some good seafood restauarants, Harvard, Cape Cod , great scenery especially in Autumn, a very "european feel", some history!!

If you haven't been - try it!!

Mark has summed it up for me. Although I have not seen it in Autumn (or "fall" as they say!), the european feel, and the history help make the place.

Plus, Bostonians are, from my experience, very plesant people [y]

Some lobster and clam chowder are a must whilst you are there!

Originally posted by xenole
Seem to be a lot of people here who love going over to Boston, but why? Great shopping? Cape Cod (is that nearby)?

Places like NYC have well known attractions but I can't really say I know of really anywhere in Boston that would attract visitors...

Having 'done' Boston for the first time last month, I have to report that it is a fabulous city. The people are friendly, it is clean, easy to navigate on foot (didn't need or want a car there), steeped in history and can claim a lot of 'firsts' (eg first public library, first public park, oldest still working restaurant in the US - the list goes on forever.)[^]

Go there, and whatever else you do, have the baked scrod at Legal Seafoods [y]

Originally posted by Treelo
[Go there, and whatever else you do, have the baked scrod at Legal Seafoods [y]

This is a MUST DO!!!![y]

[mcmbenjamin]

Durgin Park. Need I say more? About 20 minutes from the airport...

Oysters and lobsters:D

It's a great base from which to explore the rest of New England or to start off from. It's within a driveable distance of skiing areas in New Hampshire, Cape Cod. However, it's also a great city itself with a mix of new and old and has a lot more historical culture that is apparent in NY. In fact, it's historical influences and events seem to be woven into life in the place[8D]

VS.

Sorry, but I'm in the anti Boston camp.
A group of us have coined the phrase Boston Schmoston.

I appreciate that everybody seems to love the place but went there about 6 years ago (granted in the middle of the big dig) after visiting NY, Toronto and Provincetown beforehand.

I just felt it nothing more to offer after those places.
Maybe one day I'll reasses it - I did with Las Vegas.

Dean

Why?
Bit of culture.
Great shopping.
Fantastic coastline (and other places of interest like Salem )nearby which is accessable by a great train service.
Seafood to die for.
What's there to not like!?

I know its the city thats impossible to hate but itjust didn't click.
Granted it was a base to explore Cape Cod which I thought was great (and home to my first ever lobster straight out of the pot experience [:p])

Dean

Originally posted by DragonLady
(and other places of interest like Salem )nearby which is accessable by a great train service.

Salem ...don't do it unless you have a perverse masochistic sence of humour. Now I could offend someone here. Who thinks that taking an old church filling with mannequins constructed of stuffed sacks and dress in jumble sale cast offs, dimming the lights and adding a dodgy narative makes a acceptable tourist atraction?

Well I've obviosly don't understand someone on Tripadvisor gave it five stars and I don't think they were being ironic and the Withch museaum I beleive has been going for years.

I by the way have been twice so obviously have perverse masochistic sence of humour


Boston I think the COWS, Cheesecake Factory, good architecture(Trinity Church), Duck Tours may not have been mentioned and if they have the deserve a second mention.

Oh yes an there are Irish pubs, Irish gift shops, irish baseball memorabillia and more Iriah themed pubs

I've done the Salem thing too - was a bit if a weird "museum", to say the least!

Prudential tower in Boston is also worth a visit.

Oh yes an there are Irish pubs, Irish gift shops, irish baseball memorabillia and more Iriah themed pubs

Is it just me, or are the "irish" pubs in Boston nothing like irish bars whatsoever!?

Originally posted by Richard28
I've done the Salem thing too - was a bit if a weird "museum", to say the least!

Salem didn't do it for me either. The 'museum' and I use the term loosely was nothing like I expected and the whole ethos of the place seemed to one of making a fast buck off the tourists. There are lots more interesting things to do in Boston itself. Someone earlier - I'm too lazy to look - suggested the Duck Tour. It is a MUST. The present Mrs Treelo was 'lucky' enough to be selected by the tour guide to drive the craft on the Charles River. She doesn't even drive the car at home, but she managed well enough

Beef sandwiches at Quincy Market - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.[y] And the lobster special at the Oyster House isn't too shabby either.

Yeah, Duck tours can be quite good[8D]

VS

We just had all the locals shouting "Quack Quack" at us as we went past.

Which we promptly decided to ourselves once we were on foot again

cheers!

Dean