Boston hop on hop off bus stops?

[RCIfan1912]

We are looking at excursions in Boston when we cruise there in October. The hop on hope off bus looks like it might be a good option. Does anyone know all the stops? The website wasn't the easiest to navigate. Any other suggestions about Boston are welcome, thanks. 

[PatsFanBrian]

Never took that one, but looking at the stops, you’re hitting most of the highlights.  The USS Constitution is a good stop as is Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market Place.  Cheers is highly overrated and nothing like the bar in the famous show.  Boston Common is nice along with the Boston Gardens across the street.  If the Swan Boats are still out, you can jump on one of those.  The Boston Common is next to Beacon Hill which is a nice area.

Another option is a Duck Tour, you’ll get the land and sea highlights of Boston. The drivers make the ride fun, you hit the highlights, but no stopping.

Boston is a great city to walk.  You can do the Freedom Trail which only requires a map and some walking stamina.  And you can then walk to the Common/Gardens and walk around, won’t cost anything but the ride to get there.

The North End has amazing Italian cuisine and the Revere house.  Charlestown has Old Ironsides and Bunker Hill.

[RCIfan1912]

On 2/24/2023 at 7:57 PM, PatsFanBrian said:

Never took that one, but looking at the stops, you’re hitting most of the highlights.  The USS Constitution is a good stop as is Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market Place.  Cheers is highly overrated and nothing like the bar in the famous show.  Boston Common is nice along with the Boston Gardens across the street.  If the Swan Boats are still out, you can jump on one of those.  The Boston Common is next to Beacon Hill which is a nice area.

Another option is a Duck Tour, you’ll get the land and sea highlights of Boston. The drivers make the ride fun, you hit the highlights, but no stopping.

Boston is a great city to walk.  You can do the Freedom Trail which only requires a map and some walking stamina.  And you can then walk to the Common/Gardens and walk around, won’t cost anything but the ride to get there.

The North End has amazing Italian cuisine and the Revere house.  Charlestown has Old Ironsides and Bunker Hill.

Thanks for the help and info. I think we are gonna do the hop on hop off bus because it goes to the Aquarium. Its an excellent aquarium, we were there a few years back. Some good options though so maybe we change our minds. 

[teddy]

Boston is walk-able and safe unless you really try to find problem areas. The subway system is pretty easy to navigate if walking isn't your thing, and cabs/ride share are available.  I've never ridden any of the tourist buses/trolleys/duck boats, but they are ubiquitous, especially in the Aquarium area.

Something to be aware of is that it can get quite cold and windy, especially in the Seaport area if the weather isn't great.  The buildings create mini wind tunnels.

When in October will you be there?

[teddy]

On 2/24/2023 at 7:57 PM, PatsFanBrian said:

Cheers is highly overrated and nothing like the bar in the famous show.

For sure.  My ex-wife and I were all excited to have a drink there in the early 90s when I got out of the service.  It was quite the disappointment.

[RCIfan1912]

37 minutes ago, teddy said:

Boston is walk-able and safe unless you really try to find problem areas. The subway system is pretty easy to navigate if walking isn't your thing, and cabs/ride share are available.  I've never ridden any of the tourist buses/trolleys/duck boats, but they are ubiquitous, especially in the Aquarium area.

Something to be aware of is that it can get quite cold and windy, especially in the Seaport area if the weather isn't great.  The buildings create mini wind tunnels.

When in October will you be there?

October 19th is the cruise, we'll be in Boston on the 21st. 

[teddy]

Bummer.  We are flying out of Boston for our Italy cruise on the 18th. 

[RCIfan1912]

29 minutes ago, teddy said:

Bummer.  We are flying out of Boston for our Italy cruise on the 18th. 

Italy cruise! Wow! Royal Caribbean? What cruise? 

[teddy]

15 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

Italy cruise! Wow! Royal Caribbean? What cruise? 

Yea, on Explorer.

 

I was thinking of popping down to Boston to meet for a drink or something if the dates worked out, but it would be hard to do from over there.

[Woody14]

I took the hop on with Old Town Trolley in November - it was a great tour.   If you just sit on the bus and take the whole route it is about 1 1/2 - 2 hours (depending on traffic) There was a couple of other hop on companies but this one seemed to be way more frequent.    

It is funny about Cheers in that after the cheers stop they tell you the story that while the outside was used for filming cheers the bar inside was not that was a studio set in LA.  They now have a replica bar built on the second floor.    There were a few disappointed people getting back on the bus.