Visiting from Minnesota! Suggestions?

AxelisMyHomeboy · Post by **AxelisMyHomeboy** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:36 pm

Hello there! I was excited to learn this year that Anime Boston falls on the time that I'll be doing college visits over spring break, so here I am all the way from Minnesota to attend. XD I'm excited to go to another con outside of Anime Detour back in MN (which is peanuts in attendance compared to this con. o_o;; ).

I was just wondering what's around the hotel to see, like restaurants, etc. I've never been to Boston before, and I don't want my poor dad to have to sit in the hotel room the entire time I'm down at the con. XD Any suggestions?

Echan · Post by **Echan** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:22 pm

If the weather's holding up, it's a nice walk from the convention center down Newbury street to the Common/Public Garden, at which point you can pick up the freedom trail and walk around to historic sites in Boston.
If you want a tour without the walking, there are trolley, bus, and amphibious vehicle tours as well.
There are theaters (movie and otherwise) and art museums (Museum of Fine Arts and the Institute of Contemporary Art) all accessible by T. You can take a tour of the state house. Even the Boston Public Library is cool to look around in.
You can take the T to a rock climbing gym in Everett if you want to get out of the city for a few hours.
There are plenty of restaurants around, if you want more specific suggestions I'm sure others on the forum can help with that. There's good ice cream around too, JP Licks on Newbury st is 5 minutes from AB, Toscanini's is across the river between Kendall and Central, and I believe there's still an Emac&Bolio's on Newbury st a few blocks down.

Fetch · Post by **Fetch** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:05 pm

The Museum of Science is a good place, as is the New England Aquarium.

A good restaurant is Fire + Ice. It's an all-you-can-eat place. You pick out ingredients from their large selection, and they cook it up for you on a huge circular griddle. There is one about a 15 minute walk from the Hynes.

Fanuel Hall and Quincy Market is a good place if you like shopping and food. Huge food court. One warning: never enough seats there. But that's part of the fun.

Cowboy · Post by **Cowboy** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:04 am

[quote]I don't want my poor dad to have to sit in the hotel room the entire time I'm down at the con.[/quote]

Don't worry there is a TON to do in Boston. He should not be bored.

AxelisMyHomeboy · Post by **AxelisMyHomeboy** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:09 pm

I should hope not! But I just want to be able to give him options if the need arises. XP

Thanks for the suggestions so far, everybody! They all sound really interesting!

Phantom 1 · Post by **Phantom 1** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:28 pm

Will the Red Sox season start by AB10? Because he can always catch a game at Fenway or go to one of the thousands of bars around Boston that show it. Seriously, you guys need a little variety in your sports, at least New York has options...

uh sorry, going off topic.

Although I would recommend if the Yankees are playing the Red Sox, bring a helmet because when those two teams get together something's guaranteed to fly and it may not be the ball.

Post by Vu » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:51 pm

The season will have started by Anime Boston 2010. They will be away games. Unfortunately, the only home game is on Sunday, April 4th, 2010, at 8:00 PM, after Anime Boston 2010 has ended.

He could check out the Fenway Bleacher Bar, if he'd like. There is also the Public Garden and Boston Common. Depending on the weather, the Garden should be blooming with flowers. It's a nice place to walk through with an extravagant view.

Echan · Post by **Echan** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:11 pm

If he's a baseball fan, Fenway will probably be open for tours.

AxelisMyHomeboy · Post by **AxelisMyHomeboy** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:14 pm

Awesomesauce! I'll totally suggest Fenway! =3

DocWatson · Post by **DocWatson** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:17 pm

The Bruins are playing at home on Thursday 1 April, and the Celtics the same on Friday 2 and Sunday 4 April. The Patriots will of course be in their off season, and the New England Revolution has yet to announce the 2010 season, but will presumably be playing somewhere that Saturdayâ€”though they're based in Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, something of a trek from downtown Boston.

aryXbea · Post by **aryXbea** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:16 am

Don't forget that at the Museum of Science there is the Harry Potter exhibit. And the MOS is cool in general!

If you go with other people, Chinatown is a great (and cheap) getting lunch or just take a walk. Some restaurants are even open for Breakfast and close at 2AM or 4AM!

I also suggest the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. It's really awesome if your dad likes artwork.

danim · Post by **danim** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 12:09 pm

[quote=aryXbea]Don't forget that at the Museum of Science there is the Harry Potter exhibit. And the MOS is cool in general!
[/quote]
I believe the harry potter exhibit will be gone by February 21st. It's temporary.

Might I suggest a duck tour? After showing you main sites in Boston you get to drive around the harbor ^_^ The one I went on was so much fun! XD

Post by **Rappak** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:23 am

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions- ... setts.html

http://www.bostonusa.com/

Those two sites have a very comprehensive list of things to do in Boston.

That said, I personally like to just walk around the freedom trail every once in a while. I usually don't make it all the way as i get distracted by something and then end up doing that.

AxelisMyHomeboy · Post by **AxelisMyHomeboy** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:09 pm

Oh my gosh! Duck tours! 8D Those are so fun. XD I'll totally look in to those!

MomoMiraculous · Post by **MomoMiraculous** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:30 am

lol last year when we were standing outside in the pre-reg badge pick up line on Thursday, the duck tour buses kept passing by and some of them were giving funny looks. Probably wondering why there was a line of people, some of which were dressed in costume with odd colored wigs. My group just waved like morons so I doubt that helped.

Edit: Aw you're doing a cosplay of Kirara cute!

Post by **MerchMaven** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:51 pm

[quote=MarmaladeChainsaw84]lol last year when we were standing outside in the pre-reg badge pick up line on Thursday, the duck tour buses kept passing by and some of them were giving funny looks. Probably wondering why there was a line of people, some of which were dressed in costume with odd colored wigs. My group just waved like morons so I doubt that helped.

[/quote]

In 04, when the dealer's room was in a different building than the rest of the con, and only a limited number of people were allowed in at a time, I think the line of cosplayers were actually added to the Duck Tours schedule.

"And on our right, some of Boston's more colorful residents!"

MomoMiraculous · Post by **MomoMiraculous** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:16 am

lol I can see the tour guides saying that actually. That's hilarious.

AxelisMyHomeboy · Post by **AxelisMyHomeboy** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:10 pm

That's so amazing. XD

zerosama · Post by **zerosama** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:23 pm

Theres a bunch of stuff to do in Boston!
I'll just list a few things that are all MBTA-accessible.

Galleria mall
Museum of Science
the shops on Newbury st
and the Prudential mall where the con is held at is very nice as well!

Phantom 1 · Post by **Phantom 1** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:49 am

When I went to college in Milton, one of the things I loved doing when I went to Boston was go to the Hoyts Theatre across from Boston Commons. It was huge, three stories I think. I remember that was where I first saw Spirited Away (had the theatre all to myself. :content: ) Anywho, even if you don't go see a movie there it's definitely worth it just walking in. It's beautiful.

aryXbea · Post by **aryXbea** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:15 am

[quote=Phantom 1]When I went to college in Milton, one of the things I loved doing when I went to Boston was go to the Hoyts Theatre across from Boston Commons. It was huge, three stories I think. I remember that was where I first saw Spirited Away (had the theatre all to myself. :content: ) Anywho, even if you don't go see a movie there it's definitely worth it just walking in. It's beautiful.[/quote]

Actually I think it's now the Loews... I literally live a 1 min walk from it! It's a great theater. Watch out for midnight showings, Emerson invades.

This is important about the T- It closes at like 12:30-1 depending on the train. Also, rides are $2. Don't buy a $5 Charlie ticket, you just wasted one dollar (you can't refill a charlie ticket). Do an even amount.

Hotchkiss · Post by **Hotchkiss** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:41 pm

[quote=SciFiGrl47][quote=MarmaladeChainsaw84]lol last year when we were standing outside in the pre-reg badge pick up line on Thursday, the duck tour buses kept passing by and some of them were giving funny looks. Probably wondering why there was a line of people, some of which were dressed in costume with odd colored wigs. My group just waved like morons so I doubt that helped.

[/quote]

In 04, when the dealer's room was in a different building than the rest of the con, and only a limited number of people were allowed in at a time, I think the line of cosplayers were actually added to the Duck Tours schedule.

"And on our right, some of Boston's more colorful residents!"

[/quote]

If you "quack" at people on duck-tours, they all will quack back. I used to do it all the time as a little kid.

Fetch · Post by **Fetch** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:59 pm

[quote=aryXbea][quote=Phantom 1]When I went to college in Milton, one of the things I loved doing when I went to Boston was go to the Hoyts Theatre across from Boston Commons. It was huge, three stories I think. I remember that was where I first saw Spirited Away (had the theatre all to myself. :content: ) Anywho, even if you don't go see a movie there it's definitely worth it just walking in. It's beautiful.[/quote]

Actually I think it's now the Loews... I literally live a 1 min walk from it! It's a great theater. Watch out for midnight showings, Emerson invades.

This is important about the T- It closes at like 12:30-1 depending on the train. Also, rides are $2. Don't buy a $5 Charlie ticket, you just wasted one dollar (you can't refill a charlie ticket). Do an even amount.[/quote]

That is the Loews Boston Common. very nice movie theater.

You can buy Charlie Tickets for $2, $4, etc, but it would be better to get a Charlie Card so you save some money (1.7 compared with 2) and are able to go from subway to bus (or vice versa) without paying extra. Oh, and money put on a Charlie Card is good for 18 months, so even if you only come to Boston once a year, you can put some extra on it so when you come back next year you can get right on the T without bothering with the machine.