Theater trip to Boston--any other ideas?

[cycart]

We are 3 women in our 40's travelling from ME to Boston for the day. We're taking the train and arriving mid morning and the only plan is to see Blue Man Group at 4 at the Charles Playhouse and leaving immediately after. We would like to go to a nice restaurant for lunch and anything else we could fit in, obviously, within walking distance or via public transportation. Any ideas?

Is there public transport from North Station to the Theater District or will we have to take a cab?

I am originally from MA but we always drove directly from home to wherever we were going. My friends are from NYC so they are leaving it up to me to plan since it is my "turf" The first thing I came up with was Quincy Market but is that anywhere near the Theater District?

[Dave M]

From North Station, go outside (to the left after you exit the train track area) and walk about 40 yards to the "T" station. Take the Orange Line to the New England Medical Center station. Double-click on the map at the link and you'll see how close (about two blocks) the station is to the Charles Street Playhouse (on Warrenton Street).

For another activity, consider taking a Duck Tour, but get your tickets online in advance to avoid a sellout for the time you want. The same Orange Line will take you one station beyond the N.E. Medical Center to Back Bay station, about a ten minute walk from where the Duck Tours start at Prudential Center.

Or take the Green Line outbound from North Station one stop to Science Park station. Then you can combine a visit to the adjacent Museum of Science with a Duck Tour, which also has departures from the museum. Check out show times for the IMAX Mugar Omni Theater (in the museum), which has some great 50-minute documentaries.

For Quincy Market, you can get off the Orange Line at the Haymarket stop or walk there from North Station in about 10-12 minutes. That wouldn't be my first choice for an activity on a single day in Boston, but it could serve as a time-filler.

One other possibility is to walk much of the Freedom Trail, which, except for Bunker Hill, you can easily do in a couple of hours.

[falmouth3]

I agree with the suggestions from Dave. Do you already have your tickets to Blue Man Group? If not, you can get 1/2 price tickets for the day of the show right at Quincy Market, at the BosTix kiosk. I don't think I've seen a day when Blue Man Group is NOT offered for 1/2 price there. Tickets are 1/2 price plus a small handling fee, and you need cash - no checks or credit cards are accepted.

Seeing as you're coming from Maine, you're probably not looking for seafood. We don't eat in many "nice" restaurants, so I can't give you any good recommendations. There are a few sit down places surrounding Quincy market. There is a PF Changs very close to the theater where BMG is. You're also only a few blocks from Chinatown.

You may want to check out the Phantom Gourmet website for some ideas. http://www.phantomgourmet.com/

BTW, we walk everywhere in Boston. If you ladies are up for walking, you can walk from North Station to Quincy market and then to the theater district. If you have to catch a train back, though, you'll probably want to take the T back to North Station.

Have fun!

Sue

[cycart]

Originally Posted by Dave M

For another activity, consider taking a Duck Tour, but get your tickets online in advance to avoid a sellout for the time you want. The same Orange Line will take you one station beyond the N.E. Medical Center to Back Bay station, about a ten minute walk from where the Duck Tours start at Prudential Center.

One other possibility is to walk much of the Freedom Trail, which, except for Bunker Hill, you can easily do in a couple of hours.

Thanks for the T info. We did the Freedom Trail and Museum of Science last year for a fifth grade field trip so I think we'll forgo that one. I have to say that I've never done the Duck Tours so we may consider that.

Originally Posted by falmouth3

I agree with the suggestions from Dave. Do you already have your tickets to Blue Man Group? If not, you can get 1/2 price tickets for the day of the show right at Quincy Market, at the BosTix kiosk. I don't think I've seen a day when Blue Man Group is NOT offered for 1/2 price there. Tickets are 1/2 price plus a small handling fee, and you need cash - no checks or credit cards are accepted.

Seeing as you're coming from Maine, you're probably not looking for seafood. We don't eat in many "nice" restaurants, so I can't give you any good recommendations. There are a few sit down places surrounding Quincy market. There is a PF Changs very close to the theater where BMG is. You're also only a few blocks from Chinatown.

You may want to check out the Phantom Gourmet website for some ideas. http://www.phantomgourmet.com/

We have FREE tix (my friend knows them). I don't eat seafood and the only "Chinese" food I eat are chicken fingers and wings . I forgot about Phantom Gourmet...I'll check him out. Thanks!

[Davey54321]

We stayed at the Custom House awhile (several years actually) back and this was within an easy walk of Quincy Market and the Pier where the whale watching boats launched from. I'm not sure when you are visiting Boston (we were there in the Fall) or when these trips typically take place, but I can tell you that the whales were very active when were there and it was a great experience...

[grest]

You all are making me homesick. One of our favorite day trips, or overnight trips for that matter, was to take the train into Boston for a play...we always liked to wander around Quincy Market too, or see a ball game, whether Celtics or Sox, or walk through Boston Common...geesh I miss it! Oh, and the science museum, always our daughter's favorite. The art museum is nice too. Or Chinatown which is adjacent to the theater district...and so much more!

Connie

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

I would love to visit Boston sometime. Getting Custom House as a non-Marriott owner, how difficult is that? We have Southwest tickets right now, would a few days, like a weekend there and a couple days flying be worth the trip?
Thanks,
Liz
PS, this is coming from Southern California

[falmouth3]

You will certainly lose a full day traveling East. But on your return, depending on flights, you could still have the morning and some of the afternoon here and still get home at a reasonable hour.

I think Boston is a fantastic city to visit and I'd highly recommend a trip here. The weather is also starting to turn nice.

Sue