I have a three hour lay over in Boston in May. Is there anywhere fun I can go to close to Logan airport?

Question

I have never been to Boston, and I think I would like to use this time to check it out.

Answer 1

I would not risk trying to see anything like astrowulf's suggestions in 3 hours - 3 days, perhaps! - nor Mike R's to walk the North End
(you'll get captivated and it is at least a 5-10 minute walk from the nearest Blue Line station - the subway to Airport Station). You'll need to allow a half hour to bus from the airport to the Blue Line and train it to Aquarium (which also serves Fanueil Hall) and you have to allow at least 1 1/4 hours for your return (including security check-ins). So 3 hours gives you about enough time to get to Fanueil Hall, take a picture, have a quck cup of chowder at one of the fast food stalls and then get back to your outbound flight.

I give you this alternative suggestion: The airport is located in East Boston, which used to be the 2nd major Italian area (after the North End) but is now more of a polyglot (Italian, Hispanic, Vietnamese and WASP Yuppie). Parts of it (conveniently near the airport) also have residential streets of 1800s Boston brick architecture. And there are a couple of lovely harborfront parks overlooking the skyline across the water. In 3 hours you can take the free rental car van to the central rental car facility and walk from there into the attractive residential area, meander to Maverick Square where one of the parks is, then stroll around there and down Meridian Street, perhaps stopping for a QUICK bite or an espresso at one of the many delicious Italian or Salvadorean or Brazilian bakeries, tacquerias, pupuserias or buffets. Either take the Blue Line train one stop from Maverick to Airport or (to save the fare) if you are close enough walk to the [secret to most] rear neighborhood entrance to Airport Station and take the free bus back to your terminal.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, even though the airport is very close to downtown, there's not a lot that you can get to and do in three hours. You could see the aquarium, or the North End maybe though. Those are both in the part of downtown closest to the airport. The North End is an old historic neighborhood, and was the main Italian section of the city. The restaurants there are phenomenal. (Unfortunately, though, they're mostly not the kinds of places you'd go for a quick meal). Although, there are Italian bakeries there that are some of the best in the country. Like Mike's Pastry. So you could walk around the North End for an hour maybe, and go to Mike's Pastry and get a box of cannoli and other stuff to bring back.

Answer 3

You can look around Government Center, Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall, and the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park (by the Boston Harbor) for a little bit. They are all in very close walking vicinity of one another. These are some of my most favorite places to be in Boston and I live about 45 minutes south of the city, within the same state. All these locations can be easily and quickly reached by taking the Boston subway, in particular one subway line called the "Blue Line." The Blue Line has an Logan Airport subway station stop, in which it only costs a few dollars to ride on and you'll be able to reach those wonderful tourist destinations within a half-hour. First, make sure to take the Massport Shuttle bus to the airport's subway station, then take the Blue Line subway service heading inbound, to the Government Center subway station. Don't worry about time, because it takes generally around an hour or so for quick tourist's view of those tourist sites mentioned and they are worth visiting, especially if you're a first-time tourist to Boston. The sites you'll see (by walking distance) in that particular area (as I've mentioned around Government Center to the Aquarium) is parts of downtown Boston, Boston City Hall municipal building, the Holocaust Memorial [outdoors], Faneuil Hall, a premium shopping (outdoor) mall, a beautiful waterfront park by the harbor, the uniquely-shaped Marriott Long Wharf hotel, Boston Harbor, and the New England Aquarium. Also, you might be able to see (from a distance) Boston's TD Banknorth Garden and the newly-created Bunker Hill Bridge. To get back to the airport, just make sure to take the Blue Line subway train (outbound) from the New England Aquarium (Blue Line) subway station (which is where you'll probably end up being near) back to the Airport subway station, then take the Massport Shuttle bus directly back to the airport. Allow yourself about an hour and a half of travel time to and from the airport when visiting downtown Boston. Also, forgot to mention, don't worry about safety because those areas are generally safe and tourist-populated areas. Do have fun and enjoy because Boston has a lot to offer with a lot of friendly people that generally is always willing to help you out!

Answer 4

Not on 3 hours. Sorry. THe way it's setup you would be pressed to get anywhere cool and do anything in that time. Especially with traffice in boston in the summertime. It sucks anyway in winter. If you must though catch a cab to Quincy Market. It's an old market place with shops and stuff and it's not too far. I still think you'll be cutting it close.

Answer 5

Contact the tourist office in Boston. There is tons to do there. They'll give you a programme. It's a fairly small city and you can see a lot of it but a three hour stopover is not long enough.

Answer 6

dunkin' donuts