Boston question

[Miss Caphat]

I'm going to Boston in a couple of weeks - staying in Back Bay then Harbour. First visit but will keep an eye out for this mystery area!

Uh yeah, no, if you're staying in the Back Bay and then the harbor (not quite sure what that means but I'm assuming somewhere equally upscale and centrally located, near the harbor) I highly doubt you'd be travelling to or through any of the suspected neighborhoods. They're not tourist areas and Boston is pretty huge. Also if you did, you'd realize what I mean about so many places looking exactly as BigMoaner described. Sorry

Hope you have a great trip though! You're lucky that we're having an exceptionally warm winter. This time of year we're usually still covered in snow and freezing.

 

[skyscraper101]

I looked out this morning and the sun was gone

 

[catinthehat]

Uh yeah, no, if you're staying in the Back Bay and then the harbor (not quite sure what that means but I'm assuming somewhere equally upscale and centrally located, near the harbor) I highly doubt you'd be travelling to or through any of the suspected neighborhoods. They're not tourist areas and Boston is pretty huge. Also if you did, you'd realize what I mean about so many places looking exactly as BigMoaner described. Sorry

Hope you have a great trip though! You're lucky that we're having an exceptionally warm winter. This time of year we're usually still covered in snow and freezing.

Thank for that - glad to hear about the weather. Hotel is near airport and I assumed it was a harbour as it mentioned a water bus. My preference would be not up market and tourist but I am traveling with a sensitive soul who will cry if she cant plug in her hair straight things. Any must see things or must do things ?

 

[Miss Caphat]

Thank for that - glad to hear about the weather. Hotel is near airport and I assumed it was a harbour as it mentioned a water bus. My preference would be not up market and tourist but I am traveling with a sensitive soul who will cry if she cant plug in her hair straight things. Any must see things or must do things ?

water bus? they probably mean a ferry from the airport/ hotel to the waterfront which will be fun...it's a pretty ride

I didn't mean to sound like I was scoffing at your choices of places to stay...they sound great! Back Bay will be great and there's lots in walking distance.
It's just that logistically, if you're staying in town, you probably won't travel through most of those areas we mentioned because they're mostly not on the way to anywhere you'd be going*...which is why a lot of them have stayed working class while the rest of Boston gets sky-high rents and gentrification. With the exception of Jamaica Plain, and certainly Cambridge & Somerville, which do have a lot more going on for visitors...I highly recommend all 3 of those areas, and they do have a lot to do.


*for example, having lived in and around Boston for most of my life, I have never been to South Boston myself...there just never has been a reason...it's mostly residential afaik.

 

[spanglechick]

Thank for that - glad to hear about the weather. Hotel is near airport and I assumed it was a harbour as it mentioned a water bus. My preference would be not up market and tourist but I am traveling with a sensitive soul who will cry if she cant plug in her hair straight things. Any must see things or must do things ?

Has the baseball season started? If so, go see a Red Sox game. Just for the completely different atmosphere to uk sporting events.

The aquarium is good if it rains. Or if it doesn't and you like penguins. They have three types! And a gigantic turtle.

Walk the freedom trail. (Edit: every time you see a reference to Faneuil (so?) Hall, pronounce it as "Fanny". It's the gift the keeps giving, in puerile comedy terms).

Eat lobster roll; Boston cream pies; Boston baked beans; chowder.

 

[catinthehat]

Has the baseball season started? If so, go see a Red Sox game. Just for the completely different atmosphere to uk sporting events.

The aquarium is good if it rains. Or if it doesn't and you like penguins. They have three types! And a gigantic turtle.

Walk the freedom trail. (Edit: every time you see a reference to Faneuil (so?) Hall, pronounce it as "Fanny". It's the gift the keeps giving, in puerile comedy terms).

Eat lobster roll; Boston cream pies; Boston baked beans; chowder.

All the above makes me think you must know me very well! Thanks Spanglechick.

 

[Miss Caphat]

catinthehat there are also a few longish threads in this forum about things to do in and around Boston. I would link to them but I'm on my phone. Baseball season starts in April in Boston - April 11 this year

 

[catinthehat]

Thanks Miss Caphat - a good set of info - I had not really thought about the literary connections and now I am a lot more looking forward to it. Little Women ahhh.

 

[catinthehat]

I can report that enjoyed Boston a lot more than I enjoyed New York. The Fine Arts Museum and the Contemporary Media Center were worth the trip alone. We went to see the Boston Symphony which was an experience. Followed a lot of the suggestions from here so thanks to all those who made them. Overall happy to be back in Iceland though.

 

[Casually Red]

I am mid thirties now but when i was 15 I stayed with a mates Aunt in Boston for four weeks. It was the trip of a life time. We also spent time in Washington, but I have fondest memories of Boston.

I wonder if you can help...i have tried many times to work out where we stayed. It was a slightly run down area, with nearly all wooden houses, our one had three floors I think. Nice little houses, tightly packed but not really terraces, but as i say run down, i remember them saying it was quite crime heavy. It was a VERY working class neighborhood, I stayed with an Irish-American family, but it was also quite a black neighbourhood also. It was around the corner of a school. One night, we hung out with the local teens at a disused bit of railway. Got drunk. Had a great time. There was a video shop at the corner of the road (probably long gone).

I know that's hardly anything to go on, but can anyone help with what possible areas that could be, back in 1997? I'd love to see the area on google maps and perhaps even locate the house we stayed in.

Thanks

I've a few relatives out there.

Any of this look familiar ?