Boston, you Are the Only, Only, Only

Boston is, in my humble opinion, the best place on earth. I have spent my whole life visiting places around Boston, and I still have a huge list of places I want to go "some day." The first "good" field trip I ever went on included shopping at Quincy Market, performing a reenactment of the meeting leading to the Boston Tea Party in the South Meeting House, and a trip to the Tea Party Ship itself, where we actually got to throw the tea overboard. There are also great opportunities for relaxation in Boston, including the Esplanade by the Charles River, Boston Common, and The Public Gardens, where the famous swan boats are located in the summer. Of course, we are all quite proud of our Red Sox and Fenway Park, one of the country's oldest ball parks. Landsdowne Street, right next to Fenway, has some great clubs, as well.

Museums abound in every corner of the city. The Museum of Fine Arts has an outstanding permanent collection and great special exhibits, while the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum hosts an eclectic mix of paintings and furniture meticulously arranged in a high society mansion. More scientific minds will enjoy the Museum of Science, or the New England Aquarium. I have been known to drag my friends over to see the seals, which are just outside the main entrance of the aquarium, and are therefore, always free!

Quick Tips:

I recommend visting Boston in late spring or early fall, when there aren't as many tourists and the weather is more pleasant.

Best Way To Get Around:

Parking is a disaster in most neighborhoods in Boston, and the roads are poorly marked. There are several one-way roads, and the drivers are well known as being some of the rudest in the world. There are two good ways to get around Boston: one is walking and the other is the T, an extensive system of trains, buses, subway, and even boats in metro Boston and surrounding communities. Walking through Boston is quite easy, as it is compact, and most of the major attractions can be found by following the Freedom Trail, a big red line painted on the sidewalk.

However, for greater distances, the T is extremely convenient, especially if you have a map or help from someone in your hotel. The T's website also has a feature called Trip Planning that will give you directions between any street addresses, stations, landmarks, or intersections within walking distance of the T. Depending on the time of day (trains come more often at rush hour and less often late at night), the T comes every 5-20 minutes, starting at approximately 5:30am and running until 12:30 a.m. After 12:30, it is usually very easy to find a cab, although this varies by location.

The T operates on a system of Charlie Cards and Charlie Tickets, which can be used for both subway and bus fare. T passengers can add any amount to both Charlie Cards and Charlie Tickets, and the appropriate fare will be deducted for each swipe of the card or ticket. Using a Charlie Card is cheaper and will cost you .70 per subway trip or .25 per bus trip. However, the catch is, you must go to one of the main ticket offices, located in subway stations such as Bay Back, Downtown Crossing, South Station, or Government Center to obtain one of these plastic cards. These ticket counters have limited hours of operation, usually 9-6 on the weekdays. A comprehensive list of stations and hours can be found on the MBTA website. The alternative to a Charlie Card is the Charlie Ticket. These are paper tickets which can be purchased from the automated machines at most MBTA stations (with the exception of above ground Green Line Trains, which accept cash). Paying with cash or Charlie Ticket costs .00 per subway trip or .50 per bus trip.

If you stay outside of Boston, many towns have commuter rail trains that leave about every hour. Most of these trains run from about 6 in the morning until 10 or 11 at night. One-way or round trip tickets may be purchased on the train and range in price from .25 to .00 each way. From South Station, you also can take buses or trains to major New England cities, as well as New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

The absolute greatest advantage of this hotel is its location. It is attached to the Hynes Convention Center and the Prudential Center, which includes access to many tourist information kiosks, restaurants, and shopping. In fact, I stayed here because I wanted to have a five minute ride back from a bachelorette party instead of taking the usual 25 minutes (didn't hurt that I didn't have to clean my house for overnight guests!). Guests at this hotel are within walking distance of two T stops, and for those who prefer not to brave the public transportation, taxi cabs are lined up around the corner. The bell person gives a whistle, and the next cab pulls right up. This system is ingenious because the cab service is readily available, but they are out of sight for hotel guests. The lobby is very large and decorated in an Art Deco style.

While I waited for my friends in the lobby, I heard the concierge give some great advice. We checked in easily at the electronic kiosk because there was somewhat of a line to speak to an actual person. Even though there are about twenty five floors in the hotel, the elevator came quickly every time. I reserved one of the cheapest rooms in the hotel (which was actually one of the cheapest rooms I could find in Boston, in June, a week ahead of time), which meant we ended up on the fifth floor without much of a view. I would imagine, however, that rooms higher in the towers have great views of the city or the hotel pool, which consisted of a large indoor and outdoor pool, with plenty of lounge chairs for sunbathing. I was actually surprised at how peaceful the pool appeared, right in the middle of the busy city!

All the windows are tinted on the outside, for extra privacy. The room itself was in great condition, with two double beds and plenty of space for four people to move around comfortably. It was very clean and decorated simply in beige and dark blue, with the signature ultra cushy Sheraton beds. They were very cozy to crash into after our bachelorette adventures. While the hotel was absolutely perfect for our needs, there were a few small issues which might bother some more discerning travelers. The television didn't have the greatest reception and we could occasionally hear other guests through the walls during the day. Our particular room did not have any extras, like a refrigerator or microwave, but I believe that some of the fancier rooms do.

The other small issue with the hotel is that since it is a metal building, there is essentially no cell phone reception inside, especially not on the fifth floor. I circumvented this problem by going near the window or outside to make any calls. Overall, though, these were minor issues, and if you are in Boston, you shouldn't be spending much time in your room anyway!

As a graduate student in Boston, I am able to go to the MFA for free at any time. I try to take advantage of this perk at least three or four times a year. I love art museums, and I find they are best enjoyed in increments of 2 to 3 hours. After that, I get tired from all the thinking and standing, but it's a good kind of tired. Despite the number of times I have been to the MFA, I still haven't seen all there is to see. I don't even think I have been in all the rooms. The museum continually has fabulous temporary exhibits, which is where you will see most of the contemporary art. Some of these exhibits are included in admission, while others require an additional fee, sometimes as much as $20. Regular admission is $17.50 as of January 2008. Students, seniors, and youth aged 7-17 can receive discounts. On non-school days, admission for youth is free.

Some highlights of the permanent collection include ancient Egyptian art, Japanese art, and several pieces from Boston's colonial era. Most visitors to the museum seem to particularly enjoy the Impressionist room, which is perhaps what the museum is best known for. However, the museum seems to have at least a few pieces from nearly every major period in art. Some of my personal favorite pieces include Childe Hassam's Boston Common at Twilight, Degas' Dancer sculpture, the Paul Revere silver, everything by Renoir, and the Islamic pottery. As a huge fan of Catalunya in Spain, I also have a special place in my heart for the Catalonian chapel.

Logistically speaking, the collection is situated over two impressive floors, in a neoclassical building with lots of stonework. Several sculptures are also located outside the two main entrances to the museum, and in the summer, visitors can access exterior gardens. There is also a cafe in the museum, though I have never eaten there. There are free coat checks at either entrance where you can store all bags and coats (but not suitcases) while you explore the museum. I have brought my infant son to the museum a few times, and getting around with a stroller or wheelchair is very easy. The staff is very helpful with holding doors, and there is even a room set aside for nursing! However, unless your child is very young and will be asleep most of the time, I wouldn't really recommend taking babies there. The ceilings are high and will amplify any screaming the child decides to do. However, for older kids, the museum has designed educational materials to help them get the most out of the experience.

There is parking for a fee, but I highly recommend taking the E branch of the green line, which has a stop directly outside the museum. (Conveniently, the stop is called Museum of Fine Arts). You can also take the orange line to Ruggles and walk for five minutes. It can be tricky to find if you go that route, but there should be plenty of people at Northeastern University's campus to point you in the right direction.

Overall, if you are at all interested in art, you absolutely cannot miss the MFA while you are visiting Boston. It has one of the largest and most impressive collections in the country.