Boston DUers, I want your opinions

[yvr girl]

Please rate the following attractions in your fair city. Give each of them a 'MUST SEE' or an 'OK' or a 'MISS'

I'm in Boston a bit longer than most of the other DUers who are descending upon you, but still, my time is limited.

(These attraction are part of the City Pass - I want to know if it's worthwhile.)

If you are so inclined, let me know how long I would need to do justice to each venue. (For reference, I spent 6 hours in the Met in NYC and felt rushed - and overwhelmed.)

• Museum of Science
• New England Aquarium
• Skywalk Observatory
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
• Harvard Museum of Natural History
• John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

[meegbear]

1. My thoughts

• Museum of Science - Great. Good exhibits. (1/2 day)
• New England Aquarium - A bit slow, but OK. (1/2 day)
• Skywalk Observatory - Good to check out if you have time (1 hour)
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - Excellent! (up to 1 day)
• Harvard Museum of Natural History - Never been.
• John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum - Excellent! (1/2 day)

[maveric]

20. Hanover St. in the North End. Great restaurants and bars.

[Redstone]

2. Don't miss the Duck Tour (if they run this early in the year).

and the Glass Flower museum at Harvard.

Redstone

[yvr girl]

3. You are the third person to mention the Duck Tour to me

Do they really drive around town in those vehicles and then plunge into the water?

Is the Glass Flower Museum self-explanatory? Flowers made of glass.

[mark414]

4. we've got those duck vehicles in wisconsin too

this place called the wisconsin dells, about 45 minutes north of madison

http://www.wisconsinducktours.com/

[ET Awful]

5. Yes they do, and I highly recommend the tour, it's lots of fun, besides

when else would you be able to quack at people and NOT get funny looks :).

The Science Museum is very fun, and you can definitely lose yourself in it for half a day (it's fun to make it an afternoon, then wrap up the visit by seeing whatever Imax film they have playing).

[Redstone]

6. Yes, they do. And they hire the drivers for comedic

ability as well as driving.

The glass flower museum is indeed what it sounds like. My favorite "Hidden Boston" attraction. Though it may be better known now than when I stumbled across it thirty years ago.

More info: http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/exhibitions/glass.html

Redstone

[yvr girl]

7. More opinions required

[GalleryGod]

8. YVR ! You MUST see the JFK Museum!

Gracious sakes it was designed by I.M. Pei !!!!:bounce: :patriot: :woohoo:

[YankeyMCC]

9. Alrighty

MfA - must see
Aquarium - OK
Skywalk Ob - OK
MoS - Maybe a must see, a Strong OK and it depends on what is showing on their IMAX
JFK Museum - must see - although it's been years since I've been so I may be over estimating
Harvard Museum - Never been actually...I should go. :)

Must see's
Freedom Trail
Duck Tour
North End - Just pick a restaurant at random you'll be happy :)
Harbour Tour
Fenway Park

[yvr girl]

13. I just included items on the City Pass

I want to know if I should get it (I got one for New York when I was there, and it was great.) They're only worth it if you see enough of the attractions.

MFA - sounds like it would be good - totally up my alley.

Aquarium - Could be fun, but we have a great aquarium in Vancouver that I haven't been to since I was 17.

Skywalk - I am assuming this is something like going up in the Empire State Building - you get a great view of the city (provided Boston isn't quite as smoggy as NYC)

MoS - This is one I needed opinions on

JFK Library - I want to see this

Harvard Museum - I enjoyed the Museum of Natural History in New York

[Ravenseye]

18. Lived there for 7 years

I'd avoid the Museum of Science. If you've seen one you've seen them all and it usually is packed with hundreds of screaming kids. If you have kids who are bored or don't normally have access to one, it's great. If you have been in one before and you want a feel for the city give it a pass.

MFA. If you like art they'll often have some great exhibits. Not the best art museum i've ever been in, but if thats something you dig you'll get a kick out of it. AGain like the MoS it's not 'Boston', but if you like art you'll see a number of works there in person that you obviously can't do anywhere else.

Aquarium. I was excited to go. I have a friend who works there. I hated it. There are a couple of neat shows with animals, but in general it's just a big fish tank with diaoramas around it. If you like aquariums go. Otherwise skip it. If you're into animals I'd recomend a harbor tour (harbor seals often can be spotted) or a whale watch (if it's the right time of year).

Skywalk. It's the kind of thing I'd do, for maybe a half hour if it's a nice day. A view. Done. Cya.

JFK Library. Definately recomended if you like history, or JFK. I'd say it's the best museum in the city.

If you want to see Boston and it's a nice day I'd recomend taking some time and walking the Freedom Trail (red lines on the ground in the city) and taking in some of the city that way as well as it's history. Eating at Quincy Market by Fanueil Hall. Checking out the history with the USS Constitution at one end of the Freedom Trail, or the Boston Tea Party boat....kinda cheesy but can be fun.

If I had to blind recomend someone to do something in Boston besides those museums, or the things that are generic to all cities...I'd probably say that if it's a nice day, you can get a boat to the harbor islands and walk around on them. That's nice if you like being outdoors. If you like shopping, I'd go to the top of Newbury street and walk down one way, then back up. That'll take awhile. Maybe go to Harvard Square if you like watching people and just walk around and window shop, and people watch of course.

At the top of Newbury street is Mass Ave. Walk across the Charles. My favorite view of Boston is from the other end of the Bridge looking across the river towards the city.

[yvr girl]

23. I love museums and art galleries but I also want to see Boston

I only have so much time. The thought of throngs of screaming children in the MoS scares me. We have a science museum here anyway.

I want to do the Freedom Trail and see some of the historic sights.

Thanks for the tips.

[Ravenseye]

24. Yeah I think Freedom Trail

if you have to do one thing, and you haven't done it, and it's a nice enough day...it's a great walk through town, will take awhile...tons of stores and people, and history, and museums, and restaurants, etc...

[Zuni]

29. If you like aquariums, come to Baltimore, maryland

we have one of the finest aquariums in the world. It is the US National Aquarium and it is fantastic

[barackmyworld]

10. I am in the Harvard Nat. History building right now

for earth science class. I have seen some of it, and it's interesting but not things that you can't see somewhere else (pretty minerals, etc). On weekday during the daytime there are ALWAYS groups of young kids on field trips, so you might have to jump over them.

[Tracer]

11. Meegbear's review was right on target.

The JFK exhibit at the Presidential Library is terrific - as are the views of Boston Harbor through the walls of glass.

I've not been to the Harvard Museum of Natural History since I was a child - but I still remember the amazing assortment of treasures on display. Back then, the building was "unimproved", meaning creaky wood floors, dim rooms, dusty cabinets etc - but I loved it because of that, not in spite of it. It was like a huge Grandma's Attic to explore.

The Museum of Fine Arts is so big you will get lost in it. Right now there is a special exhibition of Ralph Lauren's exotic cars. I suppose that some of them (the Bugatti) could qualify as "art".

[WilliamPitt]

12. My rankings

#1-#52: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum (i.e. a must-see)

and then...

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
New England Aquarium
Skywalk Observatory (the one in the Hancock is closed, but there is one in the Prudential)
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Museum of Science (neat place, 400,000 screaming kids inside tho)

And you forgot Fenway Park.

[yvr girl]

16. Fenway...

a museum of sorts...historical tours...

It's on the list.

[graywarrior]

14. I used to be a trolley tour driver/narrator and yes I am crazy

Don't forget Quincy Market, Fanueil Hall and Harvard Square (even tho that's in Cambridge)

[WindRavenX]

15. Boston Commons and Newbury Street

Kinda like the Central Park and 5th Ave. of Boston. Right now, with Spring, it's simply too fab to miss out on the chance for a picnic in the Commons! :hi:

[Kat45]

22. And next to the Common is the Public Gardens.

Very nice. And you can ride on the Swan Boats, a well-known Boston attraction. :-)

[Justice]

17. My List

Part of the Freedom Trail - cuz it is pretty cool. Go to Granary graveyard on Tremont. See graves of patriots.

Go on a tour of Fenway - it is like $10 - no reservations for small groups, very cool, particularly if you cannot get a ticket to the game.

JFK - a half day.

•

[maveric]

19. Peabody Museum is great. Is that the same as Harvard Museum of Natural...

History? I remember having a school field trip to the Peabody and was facinated by the Egyptology section.

[sir_captain]

21. If you're going to go into Harvard Square, add the Fogg

(Harvard's fine arts museum) to your list, along with its companion, the Arthur Sackler gallery. It's not large, but quite good and well worth your time.

[edbermac]

25. 10 years ago, I'd recommend the Combat Zone...

But it has slowly disappeared...damn Puritanical attitudes...

:cry:

[phusion]

26. Not on your list...

But I spent a week there for work and found some cool stuff.

The subway is great I would recommend it. Driving in Boston SUCKS.

Check out the North End for some great Italian food and general atmosphere...

Go to Cambridge and check out the campus and Harvard square, etc. There are some good bars in that area, too.

Spend some time in the Commons just chilling. :)

Have fun!

[phusion]

28. People's Republik

I almost forget to mention the People's Republik bar in Cambridge...Just for the decor. Weird place...

Oh, and if you like beer try Harpoon IPA!

[Zuni]

27. Well, if you want to get technical

The JFK museum is in the city of Brookline, just across the Boston limits and Harvard is in Cambridge, across the river from Boston

[yvr girl]

31. Considering I live about 3000 miles away

It's all in the same hood to me.

[ElaineinIN]

30. Isabella Stewart Gardner (sp?) Museum

Was always one of my favorites (went to school and law school at BU!)

She collected not only paintings, etc. but also architectural art (for lack of a better term) which was incorporated into the museumm itself--doors, wrought iron work, scones, arches etc. Its got a great courtyard too... a wonderful place, not too big. Also, when I went a long time ago, they had had some art stolen, so it was kind of creepy to see the empty frames, which they had kept on the wall (Rembrandt as I recall but I could be wrong.)

[Lavender Brown]

33. That's what I was thinking to suggest

And if your name is Isabella, you're admitted free! :)

[yvr girl]

32. .