Jump to content

Menu

3 Hours to Spend in Boston near the Children's Hospital


KellyGirl
 Share

Recommended Posts

Some of you may remember that I posted in January looking for schooling advise for my middle kids when my oldest son was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Our family has adjusted to the "new normal" of life with cancer and I'm not worried about their educations anymore. However, treatment for ds has not gone the way they thought it would. He didn't respond to the chemo that 92% of patients are cured by, and so after 5 rounds (and 3 different regiments) we are going to Boston - most likely for surgery. We made the drive out a few weeks ago to meet the oncologist and will be headed back for appointments on Tuesday with pre-op and the surgeon. We are hoping to drive into Boston Monday night and stay at the Ronald McDonald house. Then we should have free time from noon to 3 PM. We will obviously have to eat during that time (Because who is hungrier than a teenage boy? A teenage boy on appetite stimulants), but I would also like to find something fun to do. I won't have the younger kids with me, and ds has been in pretty good shape lately, so he can do lots of walking. So if we have 3 hours to eat and blow off steam near the Children's Hospital, what should we do?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyway...

 

Boston is a small city and it's easy to get from one place to another. The Freedom Trail is neat and allows you to see a lot of cool history in a short amount of time. I really wish I had done a duck boat tour when I lived in the area. There's a nice restaurant called Legal Seafood, which is where all the locals told us to go, and it's right next to the aquarium and habor (and pretty close to the Freedom Trail too). There are also a bazillion little Italian restaurants in that northern area of the city. I never went to one because of gluten, but it looked like a fun thing to do. If your kids are into ancient Egypt/Greece, or any other art, the Museum of Fine Arts has a huge collection, but you'd probably want to reserve a couple of days for this, not just three hours.

 

Good luck with everything!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know that many Boston museums offer a discount with your Children's Hospital patient card. They used to give out a list of local attractions at check-in along with restaurant recommendations, etc. Maybe they have it on the website as well?

 

For just a few hours, Faneuil hall is a nice break with the waterfront and the aquarium across the street. Maybe an IMAX movie at the aquarium (separate tickets) if you don't have enough time to do the aquarium itself. And honestly, it's a great aquarium, but it's slightly geared toward the younger set. http://www.neaq.org/index.php

The Boston Museum of Science http://www.mos.org/ is a great spot, as is the Harvard Museums http://www.boston-to...rd-museums.html

Old North Church is interesting if your ds in interested in history, and the State House offers free tours or self guided tours as well.

 

Wishing for a successful visit for your ds!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, I just remembered that the aquarium is under renovation right now. Most of the penguins are gone, and the big tank is empty. You can still see the harbor seals outside (for free) if you want to take a walk by though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If your son loves to eat, head over to the North End and get Italian food. So many wonderful restaurants! Some of this area is along the Freedom Trail, just look for the red line painted on the sidewalks and you are on the trail. :)

 

Hope you find answers from the doctors there and some help for your son!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry about the title! Thanks to the Mods for fixing it...I was posting quickly between tending and refereeing kids, and I do have a lot on my mind these days. While the tragedy in Boston is very much on my mind, I did not step back and look at my title in that light.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I'd love to do the freedom trail or Faneuil Hall, but wasn't sure how far they are from the hospital. When we went for our initial appointment a few weeks ago we drove into the hospital and drove home. On and off the highway with no diversions. So I don't really have a feel for the city yet. And it's good to know that we can get discounts with our patient card! I will have to check into that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is DS a baseball fan? Maybe he'd enjoy a tour of Fenway Park. It's not far from Children's Hospital.

 

I think if you're OK with taking a taxi you could do the North End - maybe just limit it to lunch and Paul Revere's house. If you're looking for oodles of cheap eats that appeal to a teen boy, try the Galleria Umberto on Hanover Street. Long lines of locals and delicious, cheap fare. You can get takeout and walk to the Kennedy Greenway for a picnic.

 

If you want to walk or take the T, you're better off staying in the Longwood area. The Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts are both very close and both have excellent new expansions/galleries to enjoy. Of course, art may not be too exciting for a 13 yo boy. They do have a great mummy exhibit at the MFA.

 

I hope you find a good resolution at Children's and that your son makes a full recovery.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is DS a baseball fan? Maybe he'd enjoy a tour of Fenway Park. It's not far from Children's Hospital.

 

I think if you're OK with taking a taxi you could do the North End - maybe just limit it to lunch and Paul Revere's house. If you're looking for oodles of cheap eats that appeal to a teen boy, try the Galleria Umberto on Hanover Street. Long lines of locals and delicious, cheap fare. You can get takeout and walk to the Kennedy Greenway for a picnic.

 

If you want to walk or take the T, you're better off staying in the Longwood area. The Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts are both very close and both have excellent new expansions/galleries to enjoy. Of course, art may not be too exciting for a 13 yo boy. They do have a great mummy exhibit at the MFA.

 

I hope you find a good resolution at Children's and that your son makes a full recovery.

 

Very helpful, thanks trinchick! DS is not much of a baseball fan (he lives for football) but I was hoping there would be a game Monday night, because it IS Fenway Park. So maybe a tour would still be alright...Are you implying that a taxi is a faster way to get around than taking the T? I would have guessed the opposite.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Very helpful, thanks trinchick! DS is not much of a baseball fan (he lives for football) but I was hoping there would be a game Monday night, because it IS Fenway Park. So maybe a tour would still be alright...Are you implying that a taxi is a faster way to get around than taking the T? I would have guessed the opposite.

 

Sad, but I think true. Google Maps gives 31 minutes to the North End via the T (and you don't even have to change lines!), and 12 minutes by car/taxi. However, taxis in Boston are unbelievably expensive compared to any other city I've ever been in. For example, a taxi fare calculator I found estimated that a one-way trip from Children's to the North End, a distance of just over 4 miles, would be $18.57(!!) The waterfront, Fanueil Hall and the science museum are a similar distance.

 

I might also suggest staying in the Longway/Fenway area for just 3 hours. If you want to go farther afield, a taxi would cost a lot, but not eat up about 1/3 of your time commuting.

 

The Fine Arts Museum and Isabella Stewart Gardener are both easy walking distance, and Fenway park is less than a mile away.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is no Red Sox game on Monday. I would just go to Faneuil Hall and eat and walk around there. 3 hours is not a whole lot of time. I would not do anything that requires a huge admission fee, such as the aquarium. You would buy your tickets, look around quickly, and then it's time to go. You need to take into account commuting time between places as there is a lot of traffic in Boston.

 

I wish you and your son well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think Matroyshka gave you the best advice. The T is very slow and the time between trains can be long. Traffic can also be crazy and getting to the science museum or aquarium will take longer than it looks on a map.

 

Even if your son isn't a baseball fan, Fenway is such an interesting place. Our first time, the family spent more time touring the park than watching the game (too cold). The Museum of Fine Arts is also a good visit.

 

I hope the visit to the hospital goes well. We had to spend some time there and the people were fantastic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

T is much faster than driving (ETA: depending on where you are going/coming from). Boston traffic is horrible. I don't think 3 hours is enough to get you from CH to the North End and back, or do the Freedom Trail. Science Museum is even further. From the medical area (which is technically in Brookline), you could take the Green Line (can't think of the name of the closet stop in the area, I'll check), and get off near the Beacon Hill area, to the Park St stop. There are no transfers. When you get off at Park St., you will be near The Common, and The Public Gardens, where you could ride the Swan Boats and see the bronze mallard family from Make Way For Ducklings. Little children love this; they can climb and sit on them. The Swan Boats know no age limit. :)

 

 

EDT: The nearest station to Children's is Longwood. That's on the Green Line. If you take Longwood to get to Public Gardens, ride it all the way to Park St. If you want to go elsewhere, you can transfer there. The Park St stop is also closest to Faneuil Hall. Walk through Government Center, climb down some steps (ok a lot of steps) and there you are. :) The food hall is special. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

T is much faster than driving.

 

 

I wouldn't agree at all, especially if you're talking the green line. I used to work near the Science Museum, and had a coworker who took the T from Brookline, green line all the way - 45 min to an hour. It's well under half that time in a car, even with traffic. I live waaay outside the city now, about 6 times as far away in miles, and can get to the Science Museum in a car in 45 min to an hour.

 

Now, if you have to park, that can add a ton of time or $ (on-street parking is scarce, the garages are outrageous. Maybe that's how the taxis can get away with charging so much...)

 

The red line can get you places much faster, but unfortunately goes nowhere near Children's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wouldn't agree at all, especially if you're talking the green line. I used to work near the Science Museum, and had a coworker who took the T from Brookline, green line all the way - 45 min to an hour. It's well under half that time in a car, even with traffic. I live waaay outside the city now, about 6 times as far away in miles, and can get to the Science Museum in a car in 45 min to an hour.

 

Now, if you have to park, that can add a ton of time or $ (on-street parking is scarce, the garages are outrageous. Maybe that's how the taxis can get away with charging so much...)

 

The red line can get you places much faster, but unfortunately goes nowhere near Children's.

 

 

 

SM is very far out, I am not surprised it took her that long. I would not recommend the SM from that area by T with the time constraint. You would have to transfer etc. The stretch from Longwood to Park is very reliable and safe.

 

ETA: The Ronald McDonald house is in Brookline, and not far from Longwood.

 

However, you have a car. I missed that part first reading. Sorry. You can drive from Brookline to the SM quicker than if you took the train. I would say 45 min, tops, unless the traffic is insane. The traffic near the SM is terrible, and a little dicey, especially if getting out of the parking garage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

SM is very far out, I am not surprised it took her that long. I would not recommend the SM from Children's.

 

 

 

Well, it's only two stops farther than the waterfront and the North End that others were suggesting...

 

The Public Garden, though, I agree would be more doable. Big part of that is a bunch of the green line trains make you switch downtown to go outbound again, and you avoid that if you get off at Park. I'm not sure a 13yo boy is going to get that excited about the ducklings, but wandering around Beacon Hill and the State House could be fun. There are a couple of Freedom Trail stops near there, but you'd still have to be careful to pace yourself to get back on time and not go too far (it's not a circle; you'd have to backtrack).

 

The restaurants around there are pretty pricey... another idea, which would be tight, but maybe get off at Gov't Center (Fanueil Hall), have lunch first, then follow the Freedom Trail from there back to Park and if then you'd know if you had enough time to try out the Swan Boats too (that would involve more walking, waiting in line to get on, riding them, and getting back on the T at the Arlington stop).

 

I still think one of the museums and/or Fenway would be easier, but it depends what he's interested in seeing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, it's only two stops farther than the waterfront and the North End that others were suggesting...

 

The Public Garden, though, I agree would be more doable. Big part of that is a bunch of the green line trains make you switch downtown to go outbound again, and you avoid that if you get off at Park. I'm not sure a 13yo boy is going to get that excited about the ducklings, but wandering around Beacon Hill and the State House could be fun. There are a couple of Freedom Trail stops near there, but you'd still have to be careful to pace yourself to get back on time and not go too far (it's not a circle; you'd have to backtrack).

 

The restaurants around there are pretty pricey... another idea, which would be tight, but maybe get off at Gov't Center (Fanueil Hall), have lunch first, then follow the Freedom Trail from there back to Park and if then you'd know if you had enough time to try out the Swan Boats too (that would involve more walking, waiting in line to get on, riding them, and getting back on the T at the Arlington stop).

 

I still think one of the museums and/or Fenway would be easier, but it depends what he's interested in seeing.

 

 

I was thinking of the transfer they would have to make for SM. That adds time. I agree that North End and Waterfront is too far given the time constraint. Getting off at Park puts one close to lots of interesting areas, with no need to transfer.

 

lol Agree with bolded. I am multitasking here, and I thought the little ones were going along again as well. lol I should just start over. Except my T station info is correct, so I will leave it. lol Good idea about the Arlington stop if they walk in that direction.

 

OP, some time- saving ideas: Call a cab from RMH (ask them how far in advance of leaving you should call) to take you to Longwood, in case your dc would like the experience of riding the T, and take a cab to back Children's when you're done sight-seeing. If you drive, you could park in The Commons underground lot. Don't try to look for street parking. The lot is centrally located.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Bostonians!!!!! I will have to read through the thread a few times and talk it over with ds. I hate not having a plan in place several days ahead of time. But you guys have done a great job giving me a feel for the city and some reasonable options. I will probably also talk it over with the Ronald McDonald House people when we check in tomorrow. I've wanted to do a vacation in Boston for several years, so I'm excited that the oldest and I will get to spend at least a little time there. I may come back for more advise if someone decides to drive my other kids out for a visit after the surgery next week.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are several restaurants inside the museum itself, so you won't need to leave.

 

:iagree: There are three restaurants. There's a really expensive one upstairs, a cafe on the main level, and downstairs (a bit hidden away, but the stairs are near the cafe, or you can take the elevator next to it) is a cafeteria, which is by far the least expensive option. You can guess where we always eat. :) You can also bring your food from the cafeteria outside to eat in the courtyard if the weather is nice.

 

Don't forget to check out the ancient Egyptian exhibits (there are 2) while you are there. They are our favorite!

 

 

:iagree: with this too. And if he likes samurais, there is an extensive permanent collection of Asian art as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...