Boston, Cheap!

Heres a guide to some of the great things you can do in Boston for little or no money at all. On your next vacation to the States dont spend a bomb on sightseeing. There are numerous things you can do, and see, for free or for a very nominal price. Heres a guide to some of the great things you can do in Boston for little or no money at all. In this articleFreedom TrailParkMuseumsMoviesCollegesTravelWhen to visit Freedom Trail The Freedom Trail starts at the Boston Common, located downtown. Visit the tourist information center for literature about the trail or simply refer to some Boston travel guides. You could take a guided tour if you like, but it is not really required since the trail is clearly marked as a red line all along the road. You simply walk along this line, which will lead you to all the important historic monuments and destinations in Boston. You will encounter hoards of tourists on the way. The guide books and literature will give you a little more background information about the monuments, and you will know what to look for. After all, you dont want to pass a monument without realizing it, do you? The trail is a three-mile walk, and should take you around three hours to complete. If you or the kids get tired, you can simply stop at any point and walk back or take the T from the nearest station. Remember that the trail is not circular, so it does not lead you back to where it started. Wear keds, a cap and sunglasses, and carry some water. Park All through the summer, Commonwealth Shakespeare, a theatre company, holds Shakespeare plays in the Boston Common Park, which are open for free to the general public. This year they will be showing Much Ado About Nothing. Those who are interested can take their own blankets and picnic basket, and reserve a seat a couple of hours before the show. The Boston Common Park holds free musical concerts throughout the summer as well. Art lovers will love the numerous museums in Boston. However, visiting them can be expensive and admission tickets range from 5 to 10 dollars a person. However, there are ways of getting around this. Museums The Fogg Art Museum in Boston is located at Harvard. Admission ordinarily is 5 dollars a person, but if you reach before noon you can enter for free, and can stay until 5 in the evening, which is, of course, more time than you need. The museum is worth a visit, and houses sculptures and paintings by Picasso, Monet, Manet, Van Gogh and Paul Gaugin, amongst others. The Museum of Fine Arts, which is the largest and most spectacular museum of Boston, is free to the public one day of the week, usually on Wednesdays. You should call to conform, and visit on that day. Movies If you believe that a trip to any city is incomplete without a visit to a cinema, go for a matinee show. Movies in America are expensive, and the price of each ticket is around 7 dollars. Most cinemas however charge half-price if you go for a matinee show. So, instead of leaving the house bright and early for a shopping expedition, begin your day with a movie and end it with more money to shop! Colleges The two monoliths, MIT and Harvard, are located in Boston. The universities offer free guided tours around the huge grounds. Call for timings, and make sure you take your kids with you. They will definitely be inspired. Travel Commuting in Boston is easy. Most places have a T-stop, which is the local train/tram service. The same train runs through stations and t-stops, over and under the ground. A ticket is 1.25 dollars per person, irrespective of where you want to get off. If you need to change lines, try and change lines at the station and not at a T-stop on the road. If you change the line from a T-stop on the road, you will need to buy another ticket for the next T. Always carry a road and train map with you to help you navigate. When to visit: Visit in the summer. Boston gets unbearably cold in the winter.

Here's a guide to some of the great things you can do in Boston for little or no money at all.

On your next vacation to the States don't spend a bomb on sightseeing. There are numerous things you can do, and see, for free or for a very nominal price. Here's a guide to some of the great things you can do in Boston for little or no money at all.

Freedom Trail

The Freedom Trail starts at the Boston Common, located downtown. Visit the tourist information center for literature about the trail or simply refer to some Boston travel guides. You could take a guided tour if you like, but it is not really required since the trail is clearly marked as a red line all along the road. You simply walk along this line, which will lead you to all the important historic monuments and destinations in Boston. You will encounter hoards of tourists on the way. The guide books and literature will give you a little more background information about the monuments, and you will know what to look for. After all, you don't want to pass a monument without realizing it, do you? The trail is a three-mile walk, and should take you around three hours to complete. If you or the kids get tired, you can simply stop at any point and walk back or take the T from the nearest station. Remember that the trail is not circular, so it does not lead you back to where it started. Wear keds, a cap and sunglasses, and carry some water.

Park

All through the summer, Commonwealth Shakespeare, a theatre company, holds Shakespeare plays in the Boston Common Park, which are open for free to the general public. This year they will be showing Much Ado About Nothing. Those who are interested can take their own blankets and picnic basket, and reserve a seat a couple of hours before the show. The Boston Common Park holds free musical concerts throughout the summer as well. Art lovers will love the numerous museums in Boston. However, visiting them can be expensive and admission tickets range from 5 to 10 dollars a person. However, there are ways of getting around this.

Museums

The Fogg Art Museum in Boston is located at Harvard. Admission ordinarily is 5 dollars a person, but if you reach before noon you can enter for free, and can stay until 5 in the evening, which is, of course, more time than you need. The museum is worth a visit, and houses sculptures and paintings by Picasso, Monet, Manet, Van Gogh and Paul Gaugin, amongst others. The Museum of Fine Arts, which is the largest and most spectacular museum of Boston, is free to the public one day of the week, usually on Wednesdays. You should call to conform, and visit on that day.

Movies

If you believe that a trip to any city is incomplete without a visit to a cinema, go for a matinee show. Movies in America are expensive, and the price of each ticket is around 7 dollars. Most cinemas however charge half-price if you go for a matinee show. So, instead of leaving the house bright and early for a shopping expedition, begin your day with a movie and end it with more money to shop!

Colleges

The two monoliths, MIT and Harvard, are located in Boston. The universities offer free guided tours around the huge grounds. Call for timings, and make sure you take your kids with you. They will definitely be inspired.

Travel

Commuting in Boston is easy. Most places have a T-stop, which is the local train/tram service. The same train runs through stations and t-stops, over and under the ground. A ticket is 1.25 dollars per person, irrespective of where you want to get off. If you need to change lines, try and change lines at the station and not at a T-stop on the road. If you change the line from a T-stop on the road, you will need to buy another ticket for the next T. Always carry a road and train map with you to help you navigate.

When to visit:

Visit in the summer. Boston gets unbearably cold in the winter.