Boston Stopover

Boston Stopover Information

2008-08-15T19:34:00.005Z

Welcome to the Boston Stopover! I originally wrote this blog for some friends who were visiting America for the first time. I actually 'forced' them to go to Florida, from the UK, via Boston. I did so because I believe the people of Boston, combined with all the beautiful sites, make it one of the greatest cities in America!

The blog is a bit abstract and I do apologise. As you will see, there are still a few 'first person' references still and I'll eventually get around to correcting that.

But the substance is still valid and if I do say so myself, among the best of the best!

I've been absolutely amazed by the number of 'hits' that have come to this small blog, especially when it was originally associated with my private diary, Big World Small Boat and the blogs on Anglican Prayers and the Children of Moldova and Romania. I never imagined anyone would find interest in it, except for my friends.

Feel free to visit and do come back some time! But most of all, enjoy your stopover in beautiful Boston!

Fr. Bill+

Big World Small Boat

The Best Waitress In The World

Meet Me At The Plaza!

A Guide to Tipping in New York City

So What Would You Do?

2008-08-12T23:00:00.000Z

OK, perhaps I’m slightly eccentric. But crikey, who isn’t?

What can someone do with a minimum of time in Boston? Well, PLENTY!

I’ve done this so many times that I feel as if I’ve worn some footpaths down with my own heels.

Here are some travel tips for passengers travelling from Europe to points inside the states.

Did you know that when travelling on a ‘published’ airfare, whether it’s a super-duper non-refundable, non-exchangeable, non-endorsable, non-edible airline ticket that you can actually stop over at your first point of entry for up to twenty-three hours and fifty-nine minutes?

So how does that work? Let’s say you wish to fly from London to hmmn…say Orlando, but you want to make your trip a bit more pleasurable.

Instead of booking your flight direct from London to Orlando, you book your flight from London to Boston, perhaps on the early evening flight on American, then the following day you carry on from Boston to Orlando. It’s as simple as that. However, there are rules to which you must adhere.

You must travel on the same airline throughout your journey. (there are higher fares that do allow you to interline…but why, unless you’re a frequent flier junky).

Your first port of entry, in this case being beautiful Boston, will permit you to arrive in a airport that is friendly and easy to clear customs. You can walk straight out to a taxi afterwards, or alternatively you can use the Boston underground to take an extremely quick and easy journey into town. My personal recommendation is to take a taxi to town and take the Underground back.

Set aside the argument that it will be late at night on your body’s internal clock when you arrive in Boston. Certainly you will have had a bit of sleep on the flight and besides, this is a marvellous way to quickly adjust yourself to your new time zone.

Hotels are plentiful and relatively inexpensive in Boston. I have my favourites ranging from deluxe down to economy. But the ultimate goal is convenience. So my preference is always to be near the Boston Common.

Once I check in to my hotel I head off for a late evening dinner. Top of my list in going to Boston is Legal Seafoods or Durgin Park. However, there are plenty of other options.

After dinner, I generally hit the sack. However, I’ve found some lovely live music entertainment in hotels like the Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Hyatt or Parker House. It makes a lovely compliment to a wonderful dinner.

Your internal clock is going to make you wake up around 5am. Don’t fight it. Just before 7 in the morning is a wonderful time to walk through the Common, down to the Swan Boats, Jemima Puddle Duck and all the magnificent gardens.

I typically have breakfast at the Four Seasons, overlooking the park. The prices are reasonable and it’s a lovely start to the day to begin your breakfast with fine china and silver service. The views overlooking the park towards Beacon Hill are magnificent. However, some of my friends grab a cup of coffee from the hotel and ‘walk with it.’

After breakfast I more or less follow the Freedom Trail up Beacon Hill to School Street, past the Parker House, and down to Haymarket Square; Brief shopping for the kids and plenty of historical sites.

My walk back is either over Beacon Hill or down Washington Street. Depending on what I’ve carried with me on the trip, I either take a taxi back to Logan Airport or the Underground. In the Summertime I occasionally take the water taxi to Logan. If you’re travelling with children or are a hopeless romantic, this is another experience that can make your stopover that much more enjoyable.

Having done this brief stopover I consistently find that I’m more refreshed and ready to face the day much better at my ultimate destination. And no doubt, the memory of my Lobster dinner has left me feeling exceedingly content!

The people of Boston are friendly and helpful and I find their accents fascinating. I can honestly say I’ve never had a bad encounter with anyone in Boston.

Oh, and if you’re considering presenting a ‘gift’ to someone at your final destination, why not pick up several live Main lobsters from the kiosk at Logan Airport? Your friends will love you for it!

Bon Voyage!

Here are some simple links to help you plan your trip.

Check Airport And Flight Delays

Check The Weather In
BOSTON

Hotel Booking Engines

Four Seasons Ritz Carlton Hyatt Radisson

Other Tools

Boston Visitors Bureau

Maps and Driving Directions

Arriving Logan Airport

2008-08-11T05:54:00.000Z

Welcome to Boston!

You will first clear U.S. Immigrations. Easy Peasey, Lemon Squeezy! Afterwards, take the escalator downstairs to claim your baggage. Hold on to the white declaration slip you will have presented to the US Customs officer. You will need to present it as you leave the custom's hall.

There is one more chance of your bags being scanned for the purpose of looking for agricultural goods. It is illegal to import any fruit or veg or meat products, along with a long list of other items into the US. In other words, they're just making one final check. You might also see some cute little beagles running about. They're doing a job too, checking for no no's.

This trip is a 'quickie' stopover, so my recommendations are based upon my tried and true experience of hundreds of one night stops where I arrive Boston around 2000hrs and depart the following day between 1000 and 1700.

As you come out of the customs hall, go straight across the hallway and follow the signs to Taxis.

Outside, go to the second curb where you will find taxis continually arriving and departing. American's aren't particularly good about queueing, but in Boston the concept seems to work rather well.

Tell your driver where you wish to go. They use a meter for the fare and will not cheat you. But I always have a look a the taxi number and taxi name, which is posted inside the vehicle, just in case I leave something behind. In any event, the driver will provide you with a electronically printed receipt for the amount you pay. It contains all details about the trip and driver.

All trips from Logan have a USD$6.00 MassPort and Mass Turnpike fee and all trips to Logan have a USD$2.25 fee. The total fare from Logan to the Hyatt will run approximately $30. (give or take a fiver). It is appropriate to tip taxi drivers. 5 bucks ought to do it, unless you have a particularly friendly one.

The oldest cab company in Boston is Chequer Cab. Their telephone number is 617 536 7000.

You CAN book your taxi back to Logan in advance if you wish.

Alternatively, you might consider taking a water taxi from downtown Boston back to Logan. It's fun and easy to do, provided the weather is right. Keep in mind that when the boat arrives at Logan, it will be necessary to take a bus to the American Airlines Terminal.

Or, you could take the Tube, called the MBTA from near your hotel to Logan.

Boston is five hours behind London.

Walkabout Boston - Your Morning Quickie!

2008-08-10T11:33:00.004Z

Freedom Trail

A Morning Walk Through Boston

Good morning Boston!

If you're following my '23 hour' stopover, I realise we have a limited time. So I thought we’d do a ‘quickie’ to some of the more interesting sights. Boston has so much to offer, but I also realise that at certain times of year it can be colder than Prince Charles!

Ask your Concierge at the hotel for a walking map of Boston. Even the most basic hotels have complimentary copies. By the way, if you want to amuse yourself a bit – hang around and listen to some of the guests try to pronounce the word ‘Concierge.’ (ok, so I have a cruel streak.) Alternatively, here's a free map of the Freedom Trail you may download.

Ask someone to point you towards Tremont Street. The Freedom Trail tour actually begins at State Street, but I’m going to make this the ‘quickie’ version.

On Tremont you'll find two red bricks imbedded in the pavement. This will be your guide. As long as you head 'slightly uphill, with the park on your left, you'll be headed in the right direction to get to Haymarket.

You’ll see ahead the white spires of the Park Street Church. This church stands on ‘Brimstone Corner,’ named in reference to the animated and heated sermons that were preached here and due to the gunpowder that was stored in the Church’s basement during the war of 1812. It’s referred to as the Westminster Abbey of Boston. Park Street was built in 1809 as a Congregational church, as a response to Unitarians who were gaining control over many of the Puritan (Puritan Quaker) churches.

Adjacent to the church is the Granary Cemetery. This cemetery is among the most notable in America. At rest are John Hancock, whose signature is on America’s Declaration of Independence, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and entire families who were victims of the Boston Massacre and fire and plague. Also, look for the grave of Elizabeth Vergoose- buried in 1690, believed to be the prolific storyteller later immortalised as ‘Mother Goose.’

In 1760, no one could ever have imagined New England breaking away from Great Britain. However unrest mounted and moved to war as Britain imposed more and more taxes and restrictions on the New World.

As you step out of the cemetery, turn left and immediately cross the road. You’re at the famous Parker House Hotel. This was America’s first hostelry. I recommend rather than turning the corner there at School Street, that you enter the hotel on the Tremont side, cross through the hotel (in a reversed ‘L’ shape) and exit the hotel on School Street. This is also an excellent opportunity for you to ‘rest’ for a moment.

Remember, American’s don’t have bladders or bowels. They just become tired and need to rest. The ‘Restrooms’ are downstairs, just before you turn to exit onto School Street; you’ll find the steps leading downstairs just to your right before you exit the door to School Street. Happy resting!

Head down the street (School) and turn left at the bottom of the road. Turn right on Court Street and then (2 blocks) left on Congress Street. If you continue on down, half a block, you will come upon Haymarket Square, Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. Breakfast! You’ll find a range of small shops selling anything from croissant and tea to pizza.

Now, if you've started your day early I highly recommend a visit to the New England Aquarium. It's located next to the Marriott Harbour Wharf and is skipping distance from Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market. The aquarium opens at 0900.

Quincy Market is a wonderful place to explore on your own and perhaps try some of the local food items on offer.

Now, a quick Return option:

Go back to the Parker House, but instead of turning left from School Street onto Tremont, continue on up School, which becomes Beacon Street. This is the beginning of Beacon Hill. You’ll bear to the left and follow Beacon Street down hill. (The park will be on your left).

Just past Charles Street you will come upon the Cheers (yawn) pub. Do the tourist thing and have someone take your photo from outside. Don’t even bother going in. There is nothing inside that looks like the set on the show and the prices are outrageous. Yet it's still a draw for baby boomers who still haven’t been able to move on from that era in the late 70’s.

Continue down Beacon to Arlington, which is the corner of the park. Turn left, proceed along Arlington. About 500 meters along you will see another entrance to the Boston Common. If you enter there, you may cut straight across the park which will take you back to Tremont Street. If you continue to slightly bear to the right as you go through the park, you’ll more or less end up at Boylston Street. By taking this route you will be able to see the famous Swan Boats and the Puddle Ducks from Beatrix Potter.

I promise not to judge you if you fail to dine at Legal Seafood. But I will tell you, if you have to find an option for eating, the other place I would insist upon is Durgin Park at Haymarket. OH NO! Here he comes with the food nonsense again!

I have two words to say to you: Prime Rib! It doesn’t really matter where you are in America, I beg you to at least once order a Prime Rib dinner! But if you’re at Durgin Park, then you also have to order onion rings, baked beans, and a Yankee pot roast! This is one of my son's favourite restaurants. He loves the poem printed on the menu ‘About a Boy.’ It reminds him of himself, he says.

If you’re ‘thinking’ about eating an early lunch, the place to go is Durgin Park. It’s upstairs on the second floor. (first floor to us). You’ll be seated with everyone else and that’s part of the enjoyment. Typical drink is iced tea….so get used to it!

Climb up the stairs and let one of the staff seat you. Please, please keep in mind that the young girls who work there rely upon gratuities for their income. In other words, if you don't tip - then they don't eat! (and you can't be British here -15% is the minimum!

Begin your tour of the Freedom Trail at Boston Common; land purchased in 1634 as a militia "training field" and for the "feeding of Cattle." During the battle of Bunker Hill the British embarked for Charlestown from the Common. Artist Gilbert Stuart is buried in the Central Burying Ground.

From The Common:

Faneuil Hall

This old market building, first built in 1742, sits at the site of the old town dock. Town meetings, held here between 1764 and 1774, heard Samuel Adams and others lead cries of protest against the imposition of taxes on the colonies. The building was enlarged in 1806. Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and Lucy Stone brought their struggles for freedom here in the 19th century. Market stalls on the first floor service shoppers much as they did in Paul Revere's day.

America's Oldest Restaurant

2008-08-09T19:39:00.000Z

A visit to Boston is not complete without a visit to the Union Oyster House, America’s oldest restaurant.

Since 1826 the Union Oyster House has been serving a range of meals from Oysters (of course) when they ‘R’ in season, to Lobster. My favourites are the chowders and mussels.

Located on the Freedom Trail just a block away from Faneuil Hall, it’s a perfect stop for weary legs.

Take it from a good food junkie, it’s fantastic!

Welcome to Legal Seafoods!

2008-08-08T19:19:00.001Z

I'm a creature of habit, mostly because my habits are centred around good food! But I typically take an afternoon flight from Heathrow to Boston, which allows me to arrive Boston in the early evening. That way, after I check into my hotel, I can walk just a few steps to my favourite restaurant.

The Legal Seafoods Restaurant always represents part of my Boston stopover. Legal began in the early 60's when people dined outside next to the wharf where fresh seafood came directly off the boats. Today you still can't get fresher fish. Legal Seafood's landmark restaurant is less than a mile from the wharf and still features the freshest seafood available.

Particular to this journey is one of their signature dishes; fresh lobster stuffed with crabmeat!

Legal's name is famous throughout America and few restaurants can match this quality.

Legal takes dinner orders until 2300hrs. And if you're a connoisseur of wines, the flagship restaurant boasts a cellar of over 11,000 bottles!

The restaurant is located either behind the Four Seasons Hotel, or in front of the Radisson Hotel, or just across from the Boston Park Plaza Hotel (formerly the historically opulent Sheraton Boston)

Legal Seafood Restaurant
26 Park Place, Boston, MA 02116
Tel: 617 426 4444

After dinner I recommend a slow walk back to your hotel by way of the Four Seasons hotel, which you will find if you turn left as you come out the restaurant door. It's a lovely place for after dinner cocktails. .

Walking Map

And just a brief postscript ... I'm delighted to report that there's now a Legal Seafoods Restaurant in Downtown Atlanta! Hmmmm Lobster!

Bye Bye Boston! Going Back To Logan Airport

2008-08-07T11:54:00.002Z

Travelling VIA the MBTA (called The ‘T’) from the Hyatt to Logan Airport:
Taking the 'T' is easy from the Hyatt Regency Boston. Take the Silver Line and you'll be at Logan in less than 25 minutes!
The fare is $1.25 each for the entire journey.
And best of all - NO tipping!
A Guide to Tipping in New York City

Music is the Gift of God!