Trip to Boston. Suggestions, please!

Hello,

My wife has a series of meetings in Boston the last week of May and

she is taking me with her. Neither one of us has been to Boston

before. I can�t stay the whole week so I will have late Sunday

night through Wednesday night to do some sight-seeing and picture

taking. My question is...what are some must see and things to do

for a photographer? Any cool camera shops to visit? Any nature hot

spots to see? I have read and printed up Phillip G�s article and

I am looking for some different opinions. We do like to visit the

historic places. Also, I am going to bring two Nikon F2�s along

with 24 2.8, 35 1.4, 55 macro, and 85 1.8 lenses. My wife will have

her FM2n with a 50-135. Should I bring a 20 or maybe something

longer than the 135? Thanks

 

Wayne

My suggestion would be to walk the freedom trail (a bright red line that leads you past the historic sights). Plenty of photo ops along there.

Louisburg Square for sure and Beacon Hill as well. You will not need all that equipment-travel lighter. cb

P.S. that suggestion for the Freedom Trail is a very good one.

Freedom Trail, USS Constitution, side trip to Battle Road National Park in Lexington & Concord, side trip to Salem (via ferry), side trip to Hingham (via ferry). Travel light. Enjoy.

Bromfield St. used to have the most camera stores but one by one they are folding.

Visit Harvard Square and the University. The T gets you there easily. You'll do lots of walking, travel light is a good tip.

Thanks for the replys. I will leave the 55 macro at home and just take the 24, 35 and 85 along with my wifes zoom. I will check into the Freedom Trail and all the other sites and set our itinerary. Thanks again...

 

Wayne

There are also ferries to Provinctown. They give you several hours in Provincetown to rent bikes or walk around the area. An all day trip.

If you have time, get a "City Pass." Freedom Trail is a must! You can get around on the subways really easy and it is a really good walking city as well. Walking the streets of Beacon Hill (street) and shopping the back bay are fun as well. I was opposite of you with me being in the meetings and my wife along for the ride for five days. She got the City Pass and really enjoyed all the sites. In the late evening and night we ventured out to Harvard, the north side (little italy), and Fanniel Hall. Cheers was ok to see, but not that big of a deal. Boston Commons and Public Garden are nice as well. Boston is a great town, have fun!

The Harbor Walk is nice. Walk through the Common and Public Garden. Ride the swan boats. Eat at Legal Seafood. Stroll through the North End. Walk about Harvard Square and Harvard Yard. Have a cocktail at The Red House restaraunt in Harvard Square (try to snag a seat by the fireplace).

Boston is fun and photogenic. There are plenty of Churches to look at surrounded by skyscrapers. Boston commons, Freedom trail, cemetaries, USS Constitution, Bunker hill....all the historic stuff you learned about will be right at your fingertips. Go over to Harvard law to meet rude people, the MIT museum to see Doc Edgerton's strobe photography, the T (subway) has some interesting shots. Be aware that if you're next to a large building and try to photograph it, many times a security dude will come out and demand that you can't take photos of their building for "security reasons". Just stay across the street and shoot away, let them get run over trying to accost you. Your equipment list sounds good. Skip Salem - it's a total tourist trap, lame beyond comparison. For only three days you'll have more than enough to do to keep your shutter going. Stop by the Prudential center shopping mall and pick up a T pass, too. Makes like much easier to ride around on the subway. They also have the standard tourist maps.

E. Phillip Levine on Drydock Ave in the South Boston Industrial Park is really good photo shop. Check theri website.

 

Harvard University has many beautiful old buildings. People in Harvard Sq are nicer that the self absorbed folks at MIT (Sorry Phil<grin>) . From Harvard Square walk down Brattle Street. Many old beautiful homes from before the revolution. Longfellows house is national park. You will walk past a new vacant lot on your right. The former home of the late Dr Edwin Land (Poloroid) burned down a few weeks ago.

On left is Elmwood Ave. Last house on right is home of Harvard President, Former home of Elbridge Gerry, Mass Governor, then Vice President of US. Gerry's redistricting of districts in Mass was origin of "Gerrymander" Same home was also home of Lt. Gov. Sir Thomas Oliver. In 1774 a mob assembled outside his home and threw rocks until he reesigned and fled to Quebec,

Another nice place to visit is the Adams house in Quincy, just south of Boston. Home of 2 presidents.

 

MIT should have good exhibit of high speed phoyo's by Doc Edgerton. Dead now but really nice man. He lived in same apt building when I was in high school and college. Several times chatting in elevator or lobby he gave me photo's. I think they went out when my mom died. Wish I still had them.

by the way, Cambridge website is www.cambridgema.gov they have historical info and maps to download

I want to thank everyone who has responded. All the tips and suggestions have been very helpful! I have a lot of info to go on and now it is time to make plans.

 

Wayne

Wayne,

 

All of th responses you have been getting are good - you might also want to check the coastal shots - drive north on route 1 - plenty of light houses and scenic spots to shoot - Gloucester is a must