2,768 [-K-] Lord_Zath Supertest Coordinator, Alpha Tester, WoWS Community Contributors, Wiki Editor 6,632 posts 29,082 battles Report post #1 Posted October 11, 2016 Hey guys it looks like I'll be in Boston over an upcoming weekend. I'd love to hear from anyone who has visited Boston or lives in Boston - what do you recommend? I'm a naval history geek, so the USS Constitution is a given. What else should I check out? Is public transportation good? I don't know that I'll have access to a rental car and I usually prefer to stay away from taxis. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
227 devastator5000 Members 1,719 posts 4,106 battles Report post #2 Posted October 11, 2016 The USS Constitution is fun, be warned she is under renovations when I went a month ago, but till worth the visit also another free ship in the same yard is the Cassin Young on of the few remaining fletchers left in the world. There is also the freedom trail which takes you around historical parts of town and important sites, like faneuil hall/quincy market (which I highley reccomend for lunch on a walking day) The T is a great subway transit system It is smaller then say new yorks but It gets you around, and most everything else can be seen by walking Taxis and cars are almost not needed in most of town. When I'm in Boston I tend to walk and take the subway to cover some of the longer distances 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2,768 [-K-] Lord_Zath Supertest Coordinator, Alpha Tester, WoWS Community Contributors, Wiki Editor 6,632 posts 29,082 battles Report post #3 Posted October 11, 2016 Thanks for the help! I'm aware the Constitution is under construction. Any suggestions on time of day to see her? Good to know about the Fletcher class DD. I'm excited to see her! Freedom trail - do you recommend I get a guided tour or just do it on my own? Good to know about the subway thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1,122 Battleship_DukeofYork Members 1,650 posts 1,608 battles Report post #4 Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) The public transportation is excellent - Boston has a superb heavy/light rail combination in the T, and anywhere the rails don't go, the buses do. Here's a "hit list" of things I would see other than the USS Constitution: Fenway Park - the oldest venue in professional baseball. The tour is worthy of your time. USS Cassin Young - one of only three Fletcher class destroyers still existent. It's located in the drydock right next to the Constitution - very hard to miss. The Freedom Trail - if you're at all a fan of the American Revolution, this walk hits all the highlights within town (just do it yourself - no need for a guide). Boston Common - the oldest public green space in a major American city. Museum of Science - a slightly-better-than-average major metropolitan science museum. I might also consider a boating tour of Boston Harbor - New England's coastline is extremely attractive. Slightly (re: less than one hour) outside of town: Lexington Battlefield - Where America began. USS Salem - Only heavy cruiser left in the world. Mayflower II - a fairly accurate replica of the original ship. USS Massachusetts - Very nice Indiana-class BB (and some other stuff; a Russian frigate, a submarine, and I believe a Gearing?) in Fall River. Plymouth Plantation - a working recreation of the first settlement in Massachusetts. Worth the entry fee. If you like Chinese food at all, one of New England's most iconic restaurants is the Kowloon. Highly recommended (especially the boneless pork spareribs). Edited October 11, 2016 by Battleship_DukeofYork 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
924 [TSF_1] pewpewpew42 Members 3,301 posts 7,816 battles Report post #5 Posted October 11, 2016 The T is either great or a mess. Just stay away during winters, and you'll be ok. Personally, I recommend any of the museums around. If you have kids with you, the Museum of Science is one I've enjoyed since I was a kid If you want a historical tour without a hassle, there are any number of "Duck tours" around. Plenty of ships, etc in Boston Harbor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
348 [5IN] bassmasta76 Members 2,109 posts 10,709 battles Report post #6 Posted October 11, 2016 Massachussetts was a South Dakota class BB... I was in Boston last year. Saw the Constitution... was excited, but with the construction it was just meh. The Cassin Young was better. I think you can get a below decks tour if you arrange it in advance... at least thats what one of their volunteers told me. Enjoy.. Fletchers are awesome B Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
227 devastator5000 Members 1,719 posts 4,106 battles Report post #7 Posted October 11, 2016 USS Massachusetts - Very nice Indiana-class BB (and some other stuff; a Russian frigate, a submarine, and I believe a Gearing?) in Fall River. Fall River is quite a bit away from Boston at least an hour from boston. Also its a South Dakota Class battleship Freedom trail - do you recommend I get a guided tour or just do it on my own? There is no "official" Guided tour but there are some tours out there, if you wanted to take one I recommened Boston by Foot http://www.bostonbyfoot.org/tours/Road_Revolution. They also have many more tours that are quite fun if you are pressed for stuff to do. (Which you shouldn't) But the freedom trail is set up so you do not need a tour to follow it and understand most of the sites. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1,122 Battleship_DukeofYork Members 1,650 posts 1,608 battles Report post #8 Posted October 11, 2016 Fall River is quite a bit away from Boston at least an hour from boston. Also its a South Dakota Class battleship There is no "official" Guided tour but there are some tours out there, if you wanted to take one I recommened Boston by Foot http://www.bostonbyfoot.org/tours/Road_Revolution. They also have many more tours that are quite fun if you are pressed for stuff to do. (Which you shouldn't) But the freedom trail is set up so you do not need a tour to follow it and understand most of the sites. Picky picky. IMO, if you skip the Massachusetts because of a slight bit of extra travel time, why bother with anything? It's the most minor of hassles getting there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
227 devastator5000 Members 1,719 posts 4,106 battles Report post #9 Posted October 11, 2016 Picky picky. IMO, if you skip the Massachusetts because of a slight bit of extra travel time, why bother with anything? It's the most minor of hassles getting there. Yeah it is only an hour away, but that's not the most important part Fall River with its 4 ships and PT boats is most definitely a day trip, and if this is his first time to Boston there is so much to do in city Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2,768 [-K-] Lord_Zath Supertest Coordinator, Alpha Tester, WoWS Community Contributors, Wiki Editor 6,632 posts 29,082 battles Report post #10 Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) Thanks for the responses it really helps! I'll either be by myself or with my wife. She's not HUGE into ships, but together, we've visited Belfast, Missouri, Arizona, Bowfin, DeWalt, and Iowa. I've also visited Wisconsin. A chance to see a battleship is really cool... The Salem would be nice, too, and she's closer to Boston. I'm only there for a weekend so I don't really anticipate getting a rental car, but maybe that's the way to go? As stated, naval history is a must. I love Revolutionary War history as well. Revolutionary naval history = nerdgasm. I'm also a teacher (US History, Geography, Economics), so I'm always looking for stuff to enhance my trade Edited October 11, 2016 by Lord_Zath Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1,122 Battleship_DukeofYork Members 1,650 posts 1,608 battles Report post #11 Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) Thanks for the responses it really helps! I'll either be by myself or with my wife. She's not HUGE into ships, but together, we've visited Belfast, Missouri, Arizona, Bowfin, DeWalt, and Iowa. I've also visited Wisconsin. A chance to see a battleship is really cool... The Salem would be nice, too, and she's closer to Boston. I'm only there for a weekend so I don't really anticipate getting a rental car, but maybe that's the way to go? As stated, naval history is a must. I love Revolutionary War history as well. Revolutionary naval history = nerdgasm. I'm also a teacher (US History, Geography, Economics), so I'm always looking for stuff to enhance my trade I'd just rent a car, but that's me. I've done the Massacusetts and the associated other ships there in Fall River in a 3-hour afternoon before, so I don't think it's all all-day event by any means - you could probably combine that with the Salem on a single 6-7 hour day just fine (they're all south of town, so it's in the same direction). The Cassin Young is neat, but ultimately a destroyer is a destroyer... and the Constitution shouldn't take you more than (at max) an hour to walk through - it's really not that big. If you had to choose between Young/Conny and Massachusetts/Salem, I would take the latter every time. Battleship/Heavy cruiser > wooden wall/destroyer (plus the Gearing at Massachusetts just about makes up for the loss of the Fletcher). Edited October 11, 2016 by Battleship_DukeofYork Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
39,481 [HINON] Lert Alpha Tester 27,858 posts 27,302 battles Report post #12 Posted October 11, 2016 Join the railroad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1,605 [HINON] Nuk_ Beta Testers 3,931 posts 8,150 battles Report post #13 Posted October 11, 2016 I highly suggest taking the extra time to drive out to Fall River and visiting Battleship Cove. That alone is worth an entire trip to the region IMO. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2,768 [-K-] Lord_Zath Supertest Coordinator, Alpha Tester, WoWS Community Contributors, Wiki Editor 6,632 posts 29,082 battles Report post #14 Posted October 11, 2016 Join the railroad. Wood, please! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
168 MikeyBugs95 Beta Testers 804 posts 696 battles Report post #15 Posted October 11, 2016 I know it's quite a ways off of the path you're taking but if in Salem, the ghost tours are pretty interesting. Whether or not you believe in ghosts or the supernatural (I personally do not but when in Rome...) the tour was pretty enjoyable. You learn a good amount about Salem and Massachusetts that you can't off of plaques and guides and you get a good bit of exercise in as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
