Best of Boston by Marlene Alderman
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86199 AALL boston insert 6/17/04 10:15 AM Page 1 Best of Boston by Marlene Alderman Visit the Boston Local Arrangements Committee’s Web site at www.aallnet. org/events/local04/ for additional and updated information about visiting Boston. Massachusetts uses 10-digit dialing, which means you must dial the area code even for local calls. All phone numbers are in the 617 area code, unless otherwise stated. Conference Hotels For the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, take any Shuttle Van Services Green Line train (B, C, D, or E) west- Sheraton Boston Hotel bound, exit at the Arlington station, and Back Bay Coach (headquarters hotel) walk a short distance on Arlington Street 746-9909 39 Dalton Street, 236-2000 to the hotel. 888/222-5229 www.backbaycoach.com Boston Marriott Copley Place For the Sheraton Boston Hotel and Marriott 110 Huntington Avenue, 236-5800 Copley Place Hotel, take an “E” Green J.C. Transportation Inc. Line train west and exit at the Prudential 781/598-3433 Boston Park Plaza Hotel Station. For the Sheraton, walk two 800/517-2281 64 Arlington Street, 426-2000 blocks northwest on Belvidere Street, www.jctransportationshuttle.com turn right on Dalton Street, and walk Coming into Boston a short distance to the hotel. For the Logan/Boston Hotel Shuttle Marriott, walk one block northeast on 561-9500 Travel by Air Huntington Avenue. 877/315-4700 Boston’s Logan Airport is located across the harbor from downtown Boston. If you prefer an air-conditioned walk to Travel by Car A taxi, shuttle, or subway ride to the the Sheraton or Marriott hotels—and a conference hotels should take less than sneak peek at shopping—when you exit Avoid driving, if at all possible. Boston is 45 minutes, depending on traffic. at the Prudential Station, walk through known as the walking city for two good the shopping malls to the hotel. reasons: parking is expensive and driving Ground Transportation is a challenge. Streets are confusing, and from Logan Airport helpful signs are rare. Most street parking www.massport.com/logan/getti.html Travel by Rail or Bus is reserved for residents with stickers. Amtrak If you must drive, see the Parking Guide Taxis Intercity trains arrive at South Station. on the Local Arrangements Web site for Taxi stands are located outside each From the station, take the MBTA Red parking options near the conference terminal. In addition to the base Line train inbound to Park hotels and the Hynes Convention Center. fare, expect surcharges for airport Street Station and transfer to Or consider parking at a suburban sub- and tunnel tolls totaling the Green Line west- way station or one of the Park & Ride $6. The current cost bound and follow lots, and take the T or a bus into Boston. of a taxi, including fees, the Public from Logan Airport to Transportation the Sheraton Boston directions to Headquarters Hotel the conference Important Numbers is approximately $24. hotels. The fare is $1.25. Taxis Emergencies: Police/Fire/EMS, 911 Public are also avail- Police (non-emergencies), 343-4200 Transportation able outside Poison Control Center, Massachusetts Bay the station. 800/222-1222 Transportation Rape Crisis Line, 800/841-8371 Authority (MBTA Intercity Alcohol and Drug Hotline, or the “T”) Buses 800/452-9300 www.mbta.com Buses arrive at Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the South Station 426-9444 The cost of a one-way Transportation ride from the airport Center, behind the rail Medical Attention is $1.25. station. Follow the signs from the bus station to South Station. Inn-House Doctor From an airport terminal, take the free From South Station you can take the 24-hour medical hotel visits Massport shuttle bus (#22 or #33) to the MBTA Red Line inbound to Park Street and dental service airport subway station on the Blue Line Station and transfer to the Green Line 859-1776 of the MBTA. Take an inbound Blue Line westbound, then follow the Public train to the Government Center Station, Transportation directions to the Tufts-New England Medical Center and go up the stairs or escalator to the conference hotels. The fare is $1.25. 750 Washington Street, 636-5000 Green Line. www.nemc.org 86199 AALL boston insert 6/17/04 10:15 AM Page 2 Getting Around Boston Back Bay and downtown are relatively safe. People will be out and about on Public Transportation Boylston and Newbury Streets well into Massachusetts Bay Transportation the evening. Nonetheless, like most big Authority cities, visitors should know where they www.mbta.com are going and how to get there and take precautions, such as not traveling alone The MBTA, or “T” as known to at night. the locals, provides a good sub- way and bus network. Fares are Driving—Don’t! $1.25 for subway and $.90 for buses. A car is unnecessary. Our convention Visitor passes are available for one day site is located in the heart of Boston’s ($7.50), three days ($18), and seven days beautiful Back Bay, adjacent to wonderful ($35). The T has a helpful trip planner on restaurants, shops, and many attractions. its Web site. Walking Boston is a city for walking. Streets in Tourist Information There are four main subway lines: Red, Back Bay, the conference location, are in a Orange, Green, and Blue. “Inbound” grid pattern, unlike parts of downtown Greater Boston Convention and trains go toward Park Street Station in Boston where streets seemingly run in all Visitors Bureau the center of the city, where Red, Orange, directions. Within Back Bay, the north- www.bostonusa.com and Green Lines intersect. “Outbound” south streets are in alphabetical order 2 Copley Place, Suite 105 trains go away from Park Street. (from east to west) from Arlington 888/733-2678 Street—bordering the Public Garden— Taking the T from the through Hereford Street—one block east Stop in at the Visitor Information Centers Convention Center of Massachusetts Avenue. at Prudential Center (Center Court) near For Red, Orange, Blue, and Green Lines the convention center or at Boston inbound: follow signs from the convention The east-west streets include Boylston Common for information, including center to the Prudential Center Station. Street, which borders the convention maps, brochures, visitor MBTA passes, Take an inbound train to Park Street center on the north; Newbury Street, sightseeing tours, and coupons for where you can connect to the Red and which is lined with art galleries, various attractions. Orange Lines. Continue to Government cafes/restaurants, and stores; and Center for the Blue Line connection. Commonwealth Avenue, which features Massachusetts Visitors Information a tree-lined promenade from the Public www.mass-vacation.com For Green Line E trains outbound: take Garden to Massachusetts Avenue and is an outbound train from the Prudential considered one of the most beautiful Center Station. Sightseeing and streets in the country. Boat Tours To Kenmore Station and B, C, and D Walk north from the convention center BeantownTrolley/Gray Line/ Lines outbound: walk to Massachusetts through a wealthy neighborhood of Brush Hill Tours Avenue (left as you exit the convention Victorian townhouses and brownstone 781/986-6100, 800/343-1328 center along Boylston). Take a right at residences, take a pedestrian overpass www.brushhilltours.com Massachusetts Avenue and walk about over Storrow Drive to the Charles River 50 feet until you see the entrance to the Esplanade, and walk along the Charles Boston Duck Tours Hynes Convention Center Station (on River, with Cambridge on the far shore. Prudential Center, 267-3825 the corner of Or walk east on Commonwealth Avenue, www.BostonDuckTours.com Massachusetts cross Arlington Street, and wander Avenue and through the Public Garden— Boston Harbor Cruises Newbury Street). America’s oldest botanical 1 Long Wharf, 227-4321 Take the appropri- garden—where you can take www.bostonharborcruises.com ate outbound train. a ride on a pedal-powered swan boat. Continue east Boston Steamship Company Taxis to the Boston Common, 60 Rowes Wharf, 542-8000 Taxis may be Boston’s oldest park, and www.bostonsteamship.com flagged street-side at the Visitor Center on and are found Tremont Street near the Discover Boston Trolley Tours waiting outside Park Street subway station 84A Atlantic Avenue, Commercial Wharf, most hotels down- is the start of the Freedom 742-2194, 742-1440 town. Meter rates Trail, a self-guided three- www.discoverbostontours.com are $1.75 for the first mile walking tour of Boston’s 1/8th of a mile and historic sites. Massachusetts Bay Lines $.30 for each additional 60 Rowes Wharf, 542-8000 1/8th of a mile. To be safe, cross streets using the www.massbaylines.com crosswalks when the traffic light or Boston Licensed Taxi Companies include: walk signal allows. Cars are required by Old Town Trolley Tours of Boston Boston Cab 536-5010 law to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks Central Wharf and Milk Street, Checker Cab 536-7000 when there is no traffic light, but don’t 800/868-7482 City Cab 536-5100 rely on it. www.historictours.com ITOA 825-4000 Metro Cab 782-5500 Town Taxi 536-5000 86199 AALL boston insert 6/17/04 10:15 AM Page 3 Shopping and Services Dry Cleaner Candela Day Spa and Salon Elite One Hour Cleaning 28 Arlington Street, 426-6999 Sales Tax 297 Huntington Avenue, 536-2086 Massachusetts has no sales tax on clothes Movies or shoes under $175 or on groceries, beer, Shoe Repair AMC Fenway 13 wine, or liquor. Otherwise, the sales tax is Instant Shoe Repair 401 Park Drive, 424-6266 5 percent on almost all items, restaurant 219 Newbury Street, 437-1137 meals, and take-out food.