Trip to Boston. What to see?

Hi All,

I'm planning a trip to Boston, Massachusetts, sometime this summer. Any
recommendations on what to see, photographically?

Jim Kramer

 

The Aquarium, Arboretum, Constitution (the ship) and the Commons/Public
Gardens would be my list. I lived in Boston for several years but they've
ripped most of what I know down to put up a big city skyline. I assume
Cambridge (where I actually spent most of my time) is still a more
interesting town -- MIT at one end of Mass Ave and Harvard at the other make
it sort of the ultimate college town with blue collar (In my day) Central
Square in between. The last time I was there (1980) Cambridge still looked
like it did when I lived there in the 60s --- only I can across one of those
mirrors at a doorway and saw that everything still looked the same,
including all the students, but there was this fat old man looking back at
me -- who let him in?
The best time to be in the Boston area is before July or after August -
the city tends toward the HUMID during the summer Not too hot but with 99%
humidity one tends to sweat rather profusely even at only 85 degrees. Of
course this might be an improvement over your neck of the woods in summer.

 

Getting into a taxi, Jim asked the cab driver, "Do you know where
I can get scrod around here?" "Sure," said the cabdriver. "I know
a few places... but I can tell you it's not often I hear someone
use the third-person pluperfect indicative anymore!"

 

Oh Boy, even the taxi drivers have PhD's! I knew that advanced degree would
pay off someday for someone.

No cabs, lots of walking, staying pretty much in the center of downtown.

Jim

 

Walk the Freedom Trail, and you'll see tons of great stuff. Also, most of
what Tony said still goes. For the best views of the city, take a boat tour
from the Galleria Mall in Cambridge:

http://charlesriverboat.com/

The best time of day is late afternon, since the city will catch the late
afternoon light. Nice, slow ride up and down the Charles River. They start
near the Museum of Science, and turn around right near Harvard. A good take.
Just remember: don't quack at the "ducks." It only encourages them.

 

Whatever you do, avoid the Convention!

Traffic is going to be 'unique', with a closing down of major routes, so a
large
part of the working population won't be there, as they can't get there (or
more
to the point, can't get home, as the closings are set to occur at 4pm each
day);
since businesses will not have a smooth delivery system for those days, it
is
apt to get a bit weird.

Scott

 

When is it?

 

When will you be in the area? Currently, the main photographic
attraction is the picket line at the Fleet Center. In a few weeks,
it will be the hopelessly snarled surface streets and ghostly
empty freeways.

There are some nice photographic opportunities along the Freedom Trail
and the Boston Public Garden. The new Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill
Bridge is a new favorite, offering all sorts of fun geometric shots.
There are also some interesting shots to be had from the Duck tours
or Harbor Cruises.

You can also go on a whale watch and get the same boring shots that
everyone else gets. But on the right day, it's a great way to cool
off.

There are many visually interesting Churches, including the Old North
Church, the Old South Church, the Old (sorta) West Church, the Trinity
Church, and the First Church of Christ, Scientist (aka the Mother
Church). On a sunny day, the New John Hancock Building offers some
nice reflection shots, and the windows hardly ever fall out anymore.

Since there's no Old East Church, you can amuse yourself by asking
passers-by for directions to it. The directions you receive will be
no more or no less accurate than for any real destination.

There's even a photo tour company, which for $25 will take you on
one of three different walking tours "with a photographic edge."
I haven't heard anything pro or con about them, though. See:
http://www.photowalks.com/indexFlash.htm

I trust I don't have to give you the "Boston is a big city and don't
do stupid stuff" lecture. My wife works on Beacon Hill, and you'd be
amazed at the number of people who back right onto Beacon Street while
trying to get a picture of the State House. Most escape injury.

 

Bowzre choreographed a chorus line of high-kicking electrons to spell
out:

It's a pretty nice walk along the river from Boston U up to the
Science Museum and across to the Galleria, too.

 

End of July. Quite frankly the very idea of holding a convention in
downtown Boston strikes me as the height of folly. The city was not designed
for such things and the "Big Dig" from everything I've herad, has just made
matters much worse. If you will be at an intown Hotel you will be trapped in
the area except by foot --- foot is the second best mode of transportation
in the Boston Metro area. Bike is better, motorcycle is third (if they are
legal again Mopeds and Motorscooters are between motorcycle and foot. The
public transportation system comes in a distant fourth and car is about on a
par with harnessing giant snails.
This should be about 40 years out of date but according to friends still
trapped there, it isn't - that's the sad part.

 

For those of you not in the U.S., we're talking about the Democratic
National Convention. The main business of the convention is to
nominate and promote the major opposition candidate running against
President Bush.

The "Big Dig" hasn't done much either way in this regard. What's
made it _much_ worse is that this is the first major political
convention post 9/11. The convention venue is right next to the Big
Dig, but it was right next to the old road as well. During the
evenings of the convention, the various security types have imposed
draconian restrictions on all nearby roads.

Here's a link to the official convention site. WARNING: strong
political content:
http://www.2004dnc.com/

In downtown Boston and the Back Bay, there's some amount of truth in
this. Boston is an old city, so road layout is reminiscent of sothern
European cities. So are the driving habits. Unless you have
experience bicycling in congested urban areas, stick to the bicycle
and running paths along the Charles River. I can't really talk about
mopeds and motorcycles, as it's been many years since I've ridden
either one. But the same warning about riding in congested areas
applies.

Except at rush hours, the biggest problem with using a car is parking.
In some areas of town, people gladly pay $25 parking tickets, as it
would have cost them more to park in a lot. If you wish to get out
to Lexington, Concord, or one of the 'burbs, I suggest renting a
car for the day from your hotel.

The subway system (aka the T) works well for getting around these
areas, as does walking. The upside is that Boston is a fairly compact
city.

 

The Beantown Pub on Tremont St. It may not seem, at first, the most
photogenic but after a few pints everything starts to look good. The
waitresses are very attractive, and the food is good. If you can
catch a game at Fenway do it. It is a great old school ball park.
Street life in general in Boston is interesting. As far as I'm
concerned, the whole city is quite photogenic. Its the only town I'd
leave my native Baltimore area for.

Michael

 

The big dig has improved traffic in Boston to a great degree. The problem
with the convention is that they're closing the roads they just spend $15B
to install. This is total insanity! Why bother closing the roads? Does that
mean terrorists can't get into the city? Hardly. Thousands of backroads,
etc, ensure that nothing is secure. But the new tunnel, when fully
functional, is a huge improvement over the old elevated artery.

One sample of the insanity/stupidity of the Boston convention planners is Rt
93, a major acces highway. It's being closed down from a point about 10
miles north of the city all the way through the city. Why? Can't figure this
out for the life of me since there's lots of people who need that road for
travel north of the city, and won't be going anywhere near the convention.

I'll be in Kahlifonia that week.

 

<< I'm planning a trip to Boston, Massachusetts, sometime this summer. Any
recommendations on what to see, photographically? >><BR><BR>


Jim,

Boston is a great area for history and thus lots to photograph. Most people
start out on the Freedom Trail that runs from the "Statehouse" (aka the Mass.
capital building) to the Bunker Hill Monument on Breed's Hill. It takes you
past the oldest house in Boston (Paul Revere's in the North End) and on to the
Old North Church and the Constitution and then to the hill. Many wonderful old
streets are found in Boston. Outside a little is Concord and the Old North
Bridge off Monument Street. A visit to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (on Bedford
Street) is also in order,--current residence to Louisa May Alcott, Henry David
Thoreau, Emmerson, etc. Lots of historical celebrities. Lexington (nearby) is
also the home to several historic things like Hancock's home and the Minuteman
Statue. Salem is also not a bad place to check out,--just up 95 a little bit.
Of course there is the House of the Seven Gables, the Witch Museum, etc. A
great tourist town is further north,--Rockpoint. I lived in Concord for
several years and found the history fascinating,--but the crowds a bit over the
top.

Dan Lindsay
Santa Barbara