This is our second visit and this time we'd really like to get out of the city centre by metro or train so we can experience perhaps a bit of Massachusetts life. .. any suggestions? When visiting NY a few years back I got on a train up the Hudson River line and had a great day out.. anything similar maybe?
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mpjjpm t1_iuhhs00 wrote
MBTA sells an unlimited use commuter rail weekend pass for $10. I think it’s only available through the MBTA commuter rail app, but well worth the download.
loranlily t1_iuhhwbx wrote
My thought was, Christmas is on a weekend this year, as is New Year, so places are likely to be closed etc. That’s why I didn’t mention the $10 pass.
aray25 t1_iuhi4fz wrote
I've purchased it both onboard and for the ticket counter at South Station. Granted, this was pre-pandemic, so maybe the rules have changed.
pkcommando t1_iuhq639 wrote
They're still sold in-person at both South Station and North Station.
Edit: bought at both locations in the last 30 days.
man2010 t1_iuhxc1e wrote
You can buy it anywhere, and if you get a paper ticket the conductors don't always check it or punch it which means you can use it again
simolaw OP t1_iuhf1f1 wrote
That's exactly the sort of advice I was hoping for...is Salem connected to the Witch trials? Thanks for your help!
loranlily t1_iuhfbkn wrote
Yes, Salem is where they took place. It’s an absolute tourist nightmare this time of year, but you’ll be fine in December. The Peabody Essex museum is really interesting too. Salem is $16 return from North Station.
itsonlyastrongbuzz t1_iuhn8ou wrote
It’s exactly that Salem.
Salem has long been “the witch city” and leaned heavily towards the Witch Trials, but in recent years has really redefined itself as a beautiful and historic quaint New England waterfront town with some really great restaurants.
You can still get your witch fix at the various museums or stroll the old cemeteries, etc but the Peabody Essex museum is really beautiful and well worth a morning.
Also recommend Ledger and Settler for dinner.
bbqturtle t1_iuhf9vy wrote
Yes it is
benck202 t1_iuhh3or wrote
This is the best advice.
Peeeculiar t1_iuhhdzx wrote
The Amtrak Downeaster runs from Boston to southern Maine (Portland and beyond).
The Old Port (Portland) there can be pretty fun - good food and excellent beer. Freeport, ME has a bunch of outlet (shops) and gets Christmas-y enough.
If you happen to have car access, Portsmouth, NH has a similar central area and gets festive for Christmas.
Sonicjm t1_iuhk190 wrote
Kennebunk does the Christmas Stroll. Looks like it’s before your trip, but the town will still be decorated and have cheery ambience later in the month: https://christmasprelude.com/
simolaw OP t1_iuhhipv wrote
That sounds like a good trip...thank you 😊
singalong37 t1_iuhjrvx wrote
Newburyport is a scenic historic port city, small and pleasant for walking around. Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is similar and a little bigger, has a good restaurant scene but no rail stop; easier to take the bus from South Station bus terminal in Boston.
Salem has similar attractions to Newburyport and Portsmouth but also the very good Peabody Essex museum, good to have at hand if the weather makes walking around unpleasant.
Concord is small, historic, upscale. People usually drive because the sights are scattered but it's certainly possible to visit on the train from North Station.
Lowell, one of the many early 19th C industrial cities around New England that took off in similar fashion to Manchester, harnessing water power for textile mills, is the only one that's easy to visit. Lowell has a national heritage site that explains the industrial revolution from a social and technological viewpoint. Some nice walks and restaurants in Lowell too.
Portland, Maine is a long train ride from Boston North Station. Good destination for shops, strolling and dining but too far for a day trip.
Worcester is a good sized city at the end of one of the commuter rail lines but not a good candidate for walking around. There's nothing else really worthy of a stop on the way to Worcester either. Providence, in the state of Rhode Island, about the same distance as Worcester but much easier to visit on foot with plenty to do and see and a good dining scene.
None of these trips have scenery along the way to compare with the Hudson Line out of Grand Central, where you travel right along the beautiful Hudson River, but plenty of nice destinations.
simolaw OP t1_iuhk5pm wrote
Really helpful guidance... many thanks 🙏
milesmaven16 t1_iuhlxqg wrote
The Rockport commuter rail, which stops in Manchester and Gloucester, passes some scenic spots. Hopefully it will be totally back on line by the time you get here. They're doing work on it until Dec 18th. (You can still use it as transportation, but you currently have to transfer to a bus part way.)
Cape Ann Transit Authority has some additional bus service around the Gloucester and Rockport area, which could be helpful in winter.
simolaw OP t1_iuhmmyn wrote
Thank you!
Useful_Mine_4420 t1_iuhhwbz wrote
Take the commuter rail to Salem or Manchester by the Sea. Cute New England towns and very walkable from the train stations. No car needed!
simolaw OP t1_iuhotjb wrote
Again that's good helpful info!
michael_scarn_21 t1_iuhnhyu wrote
Bear in mind that New England is much more seasonal than the UK and many things will be closed as it isn't summer. The "season" for everything being open is very much May to Sept here so while people recommending places like Rockport is nice, there won't be much open.
Portland Maine, Providence, Rhode island and Salem are all good train trips from Boston and have plenty to do. FYI the trains are very slow here so expect it to take longer than driving; Portland is a 2.5 hour train trip for less than 100 miles. You could also get a bus to Portsmouth, NH which is one of my favourite places to go albeit not on a train line.
Expect cold weather although honestly December temps are often similar to the UK. Jan through March is when it gets very cold here.
simolaw OP t1_iuhp2kf wrote
I think we're good with things not being as open as it would be say in the summer, we're just keen to soak up the more local atmosphere and spend time in coffee shops and eat in local restaurants...
rcl20 t1_iuhr50p wrote
Mass MOCA and PEM.Lowell Quilt Museum. All the Harvard museums are free on Sundays. And Cambridge is fun to visit. Art, music, maker spaces, Indian street food, many other yummy options everywhere in Inman Square.
Due-Designer4078 t1_iuhhqtl wrote
Bostonian here: That's a lovely time of the year to visit. Downtown Crossing will be decorated and you may still be able to get tickets to a Nutcracker performance. With some luck you may even see some snow. Happy Christmas!
simolaw OP t1_iuhidq8 wrote
Really hoping for some snow...we hardly ever get snow over here in the UK these days unless you live in Scotland! Have a good Christmas too!
kissmekate48 t1_iuhhqz5 wrote
It pains me to say this, but it’s going to be difficult to get around to places outside the city without a car. Cape Ann (already mentioned) is a great idea. The train goes to Concord, charming, some nice walks too. You can take the train to Providence, but that’s another city. You can take a ferry to Provincetown for the day, but ideally you’d get out to the dunes too. Are you up for driving day trips? I’d add Oqunquit, Maine and the Marginal Way. I think the train goes to Newport, RI, actually. Lots of the mansions decorate for Christmas.
You probably know this, but it could be bitterly cold, or it could sunny and balmy. This year is leaning toward warm, A good bit of October has been in the 60s, but it could also start snowing next week.
simolaw OP t1_iuhi2cl wrote
We're really hoping not to have to hire a car as using a train is part of the experience not just the destination, your idea of Concord sounds good as I think it's gonna be quite historic I guess?
kissmekate48 t1_iuhxy4l wrote
Indeed, since it's where we started throwing off the yoke of our British oppressors. ;-) Actually, if you walk Battle Road (which is a lovely path through woods and open land past some preserved colonial homes) there are little Union Jacks marking the spots where British soldiers fell.
The Colonial Inn on the roundabout in Concord center has a nice historic feel (haven't been in ages to speak about the food). There are other decent restaurants in town. The train station is a block or two from the actual center. There's a good coffee shop (aside from Nero) called Haute Coffee on a back street. On the way to Battle Road is First Parish (pretty sure Emerson and Thoreau went there), the Concord Museum, one of Hawthorne's homes, and the Alcott home (associated with Little Women). If you don't feel like the full Battle Road walk (it's a mile or so to the start, and then ~11 miles, I think?), you can also walk up to Old North Bridge, very pretty, site of another battle. There are some other trails that lead to Great Meadow. If it's cold, you'll want places to duck into and warm up. For the Christmas break, the visitor's center at Old North Bridge might be open.
kissmekate48 t1_iuhy3mo wrote
I just remembered that there's a new British import shop in Concord center, you can have a chuckle at that. Although they do stock Branston's beans.
simolaw OP t1_iuhzofr wrote
I was amazed that British Baked Beans are almost unheard of in the US, despite the most iconic Baked Bean brand being made by Heinz! Baked beans on hot buttered (preferably sourdough) toast...yum 😋
simolaw OP t1_iuhz9lb wrote
That's really really helpful, thank you...yep you guys have done OK since we let you go....🤣😎
kissmekate48 t1_iuhzn3s wrote
lol, I am ready to be repatriated any time, even with Brexit! My forbearers were loyalists who fled then slunk back a few generations later. Shhhh!
simolaw OP t1_iui001j wrote
Let's ignore the British trait of shooting ourselves in both feet by making idiotic choices like Brexit..at least Liz Truss has been given the order of the boot!
simolaw OP t1_iui059w wrote
Always happy to welcome our ex colonial brothers and sisters here in the old country!
simolaw OP t1_iuhi8gw wrote
Also hoping that it is really cold rather than just just like a UK winter day which is quite miserable if it's rainy! We're coming ready for it to be properly cold and even snowy!
kissmekate48 t1_iuhypoc wrote
Fingers crossed for you then! We like to have a white Christmas too. On a good cold snowy dry day it feels great to be outside. A warmer, windy, damp day can feel far worse. The solution is a few thin but warm layers, a waterproof shell (you already have those), a scarf, good socks, good gloves or even better, mittens, and a good hat. With that, you can practically live outdoors.
simolaw OP t1_iuhyxr7 wrote
Absolutely right!
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AutoModerator t1_iuhdedb wrote
Your post appears to be one of a number of commonly asked questions about the port city of Boston. Please check the sidebar for visitor information. Ah Hi! Ive always wanted to respond to one of these, but I normally reach the post a few hours too late. I'll do my best to give you some good recommendations. So first things first, Boston is VERY walkable and easy to get around, especially if you take the T (what we call our subway). People on this subreddit love to shit on the T (and everything else honestly, very pessimistic group of people), but in actuality its great, especially by American standards. I would consider getting a day pass so you can ride it as much as you want, but I am not sure how much they cost/if it would be worth your while (a single ride is around $2.75 I believe?? Not really sure). With that being said, I would say one of the first places you should check out is the North End. It is a very Italian American neighborhood, and has a pretty strong European-esque feel to it. There are great Italian restaurants and shops everywhere. The touristy thing to do is to go to Mikes Pastry's for cannolis, but I (and I think most locals would agree) recommend Bovas instead. The whole neighborhood is super compact and dense, and it will be mad easy for you guys to walk around and check it out. Nearby the North End is Faniuel Hall/Quincy Market, which is probably the epicenter of Bostons historical/tourist scene. The food there might be a bit overpriced/overhyped, but I personally have to recommend the Boston Chipyard. Its a stand within Quincy Market that sells fresh, mini cookies. Ive been living here for five years (and visiting my entire life) and I STILL always go there whenever I am feeling sad and need a pick me up/just craving a cookie. I love it and its absolutely delicious. Id also suggest just strolling around Beacon Hill and the Back Bay neighborhood (particularly Commonwealth Avenue). The architecture there is beautiful, and both are very serene and picturesque, and really just great places to walk around and soak in the ambiance. Both neighborhoods have plenty of bars/restaurants/shops, so youll have plenty of other things to do besides walk around. They are super close to one another, and very conveniently located right in the heart of the city. Also gotta check out the Esplanade, its a cool park right along the Charles River, its super pretty and relaxing, and also right next to Back Bay/Beacon Hill, so really convenient to get to. One of my favorite places in the city. In terms of less touristy things to do, Id suggest going to the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. Its basically one giant park/tree zoo, and its filled with really beautiful trees and plants, and is just a lovely place to walk around. This is definitely one of the cooler places in Boston, and definitely not something that the average tourist does. Its right at the end of the Orange Line (Forrest Hills), so while it is kinda far out compared to the other places I have mentioned, it really is not that hard/complicated to get to. Great place to just vibe out and relax, and its one of my favorite places in the whole city. Obviously Boston/New England is known for its seafood, and it really is tremendous. There is a lot of debate about which place has the best clam chowder/lobster roll, and it ultimately comes down to preference, but I always recommend to visitors the Barking Crab. It is located right on the water in Bostons Seaport neighborhood, so again, very centrally located. I think the food there is delicious, and I think it offers the best ambience/overall dining experience. It does a good job of kinda replicating the traditional New England seafood shack, while still being more of a legit restaurant. Again, some people may shit on me for that answer, but at the end of the day, if you go, youre gonna have a good time/delicious meal. Other quintessential Boston things are the Freedom trail, Duck Boat Tour, harbor walk, and visiting Fenway (which it seems like you are already doing, although i highly recommend going to a game if you can, not sure if the Sox are in town this weekend). Cambridge is located right across the Charles River from Boston, and while it technically is its own city, it feels like it might as well be an extension of Boston. Both Central and Harvard squares are a lot of fun, with plenty of cool restaurants and stores to check out. One last non-touristy thing I recommend is visiting East Boston, or Eastie. Its really easy to get to on the Blue Line, and is just a really underrated neighborhood as a whole, and definitely is not the type of place a tourist would usually go to. It has some beautiful parks right on the water that have great views, as well as many really good Latin food spots. There is the ICA watershed, which is a really cool contemporary art museum located right in the Boston Shipyard. Also, there is an Australian meatpie place right there called KO Pies that my friends and I always go to when we are in the area. For all I know, it might not even hold a candle compared to the meatpie places you have back home, but the people working there will definitely get a kick out of serving a fellow Aussie. All in all, Boston is an incredible place with a unique sense of charm and distinct identity, and it takes a lot of pride in itself, which I love. It does a great job of blending the big city/small town feels, and in my opinion, is the best city on the East Coast. Please feel free to message me if you want any more specific recommendations. Enjoy your visit!!
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loranlily t1_iuheb9n wrote
I’d suggest taking the commuter rail up to Newburyport, Rockport or Gloucester. It’s $24 each for a return ticket from North Station.(Gloucester is $2 cheaper).
Salem is pretty and interesting too. That’s a shorter trip, but you might have done that last time.