Boston For Dummies, 3rd edition (Dummies Travel)

Boston For Dummies, 3rd Edition......Page 5
About the Author......Page 7
Contents at a Glance......Page 9
Maps at a Glance......Page 11
Table of Contents......Page 13
About This Book......Page 21
Conventions Used in This Book......Page 22
Foolish Assumptions......Page 23
How This Book Is Organized......Page 24
Icons Used in This Book......Page 25
Where to Go from Here......Page 26
Part I: Introducing Boston......Page 27
The Best Travel Experiences......Page 29
The Best Hotels......Page 30
The Best Restaurants......Page 31
The Best Stores......Page 32
The Best Experiences for Kids......Page 33
The Best Walks......Page 34
History 101: The Main Events......Page 36
Building Blocks: Local Architecture......Page 40
Taste of Boston: Local Cuisine......Page 42
Word to the Wise: The Local Lingo......Page 43
Background Check: Recommended Books and Movies......Page 44
Revealing the Secrets of the Seasons......Page 47
Perusing a Calendar of Events......Page 50
Part II: Planning Your Trip to Boston......Page 55
Planning Your Budget......Page 57
Cutting Costs — But Not the Fun......Page 61
Handling Money......Page 64
Dealing with a Lost or Stolen Wallet......Page 65
Flying to Boston......Page 67
Driving to Boston......Page 71
Choosing a Package Tour......Page 72
Joining an Escorted Tour......Page 73
Traveling with the Brood: Advice for Families......Page 76
Making Age Work for You: Tips for Seniors......Page 79
Accessing Boston: Advice for Travelers with Disabilities......Page 80
Following the Rainbow: Resources for Gay and Lesbian Travelers......Page 83
Renting a Car — Or Not......Page 85
Playing It Safe with Travel and Medical Insurance......Page 87
Staying Healthy When You Travel......Page 88
Staying Connected by Cellphone or E-Mail......Page 89
Keeping Up with Airline Security Measures......Page 92
Part III: Settling Into Boston......Page 95
Making Your Way to Your Hotel......Page 97
Figuring Out the Neighborhoods......Page 100
Finding Information After You Arrive......Page 106
Getting Around Boston......Page 107
Getting to Know Your Options......Page 114
Finding the Best Room at the Best Rate......Page 115
Boston’s Best Hotels......Page 119
Runner-Up Hotels......Page 135
Getting the Dish on the Local Scene......Page 139
Trimming the Fat from Your Budget......Page 141
Boston’s Best Restaurants......Page 142
Dining and Snacking on the Go......Page 159
Part IV: Exploring Boston......Page 167
The Top Attractions......Page 169
The Freedom Trail......Page 180
Finding More Cool Things to See and Do......Page 188
Seeing Boston by Guided Tour......Page 198
Checking Out the Big Names......Page 204
Discovering the Best Shopping Neighborhoods......Page 208
Index of Stores by Merchandise......Page 215
Boston in One Day......Page 217
Boston in Three Days......Page 218
Boston in Five Days......Page 223
Boston with Kids......Page 224
Boston for Art Lovers......Page 225
Boston for Sports Fans......Page 228
Boston for Day-Tripping Historians......Page 229
General Pointers......Page 231
Lexington and Concord......Page 233
Salem and Marblehead......Page 240
Gloucester and Rockport......Page 246
Plymouth......Page 251
Part V: Living It Up after Dark: Boston Nightlife......Page 257
Getting the Inside Scoop......Page 259
Finding Out What’s Playing and Getting Tickets......Page 260
Raising the Curtain on the Performing Arts......Page 262
The Basics......Page 270
Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Neighborhood Bars......Page 271
My Goodness, My Guinness: Irish Bars......Page 272
Shaken, Not Stirred: Boston’s Best Lounges......Page 273
Shaking Your Groove Thing: The Best Dance Clubs......Page 274
Focusing On the Music: The Best Jazz, Folk, and Blues Clubs......Page 275
Laughing the Night Away: Comedy Clubs......Page 276
Stepping Out: Gay and Lesbian Scene......Page 277
Part VI: The Part of Tens......Page 279
Keep Moving......Page 281
Watch What You Say about Baseball......Page 282
Save the “I Pahked My Cah” Jokes......Page 283
Music Indoors......Page 284
Museums......Page 285
Hydrotherapy......Page 286
Find a Secret (Indoor) Garden......Page 288
Feel the Wind in Your Hair......Page 289
Get Out of Town......Page 290
Fast Facts:......Page 291
Toll-Free Numbers and Web Sites......Page 294
Where to Get More Information......Page 297
Index......Page 299