where to stay in boston given these parameters

[Anonymous]

Very helpful, thank you! Teen is almost 16, and we are both much more interested in history than shopping, so this might make the decision easier to stay downtown since it’s a little closer to Tufts and has more of what I suspect we’ll want to do.

Thank you to everyone for your help. There are lot of knowledgeable Boston dcum-ers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very helpful, thank you! Teen is almost 16, and we are both much more interested in history than shopping, so this might make the decision easier to stay downtown since it’s a little closer to Tufts and has more of what I suspect we’ll want to do.

Thank you to everyone for your help. There are lot of knowledgeable Boston dcum-ers.

This guy is a great Youtuber, this video will be a great intro of local history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA63zaIXCZw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very helpful, thank you! Teen is almost 16, and we are both much more interested in history than shopping, so this might make the decision easier to stay downtown since it’s a little closer to Tufts and has more of what I suspect we’ll want to do.

Thank you to everyone for your help. There are lot of knowledgeable Boston dcum-ers.

We also enjoy the Boston Duck Tours. Especially if you haven’t been there.

[Anonymous]

Lived in Boston for years and grew up outside of it. The actual downtown Boston is very small compared to other cities. It really doesn't make a difference if you stay in Copley or North End because you will easily be able to go anywhere. I've walked from North End to Copley endless times. It's not like it's going to take you 30 min to get from the Commons to the North End.

Given that there are multiple graduations that weekend , your priority should just be finding some place and book it. Avoid the Seaport, not great if you're relying on the T.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lived in Boston for years and grew up outside of it. The actual downtown Boston is very small compared to other cities. It really doesn't make a difference if you stay in Copley or North End because you will easily be able to go anywhere. I've walked from North End to Copley endless times. It's not like it's going to take you 30 min to get from the Commons to the North End.

Given that there are multiple graduations that weekend , your priority should just be finding some place and book it. Avoid the Seaport, not great if you're relying on the T.

+1
Everything in that area is pretty compact. We walked from the wharf to the public gardens and back with little kids, no problem.

Unless you’re frequently going to be bouncing back and forth between Tufts and require a stop back at your hotel each time, you’re probably overthinking it.

I will support your decision to stay closer to North End. It fits the experience it sound like you’re looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at hotels in the Prudential center or close to that area.

You will have a plethora of choices, depending on your budget and need for comfort.

Hi - This is what my sister suggested, and maybe I am overthinking it, but it looks like a much longer trip on the green line “T” (subway) from the Prudential area to Tufts vs from North End area. It would be nice to be near the park/commons (which I think is near the Prudential Center?).

Thanks, from OP

I would stay near Copley T not Prudential. And the time difference between there and Government Center or near North End is minimal.

Agreed, Copley probably the best overall option, plenty of hotels within a block of the station. Hotels around Arlington and Boylston stations are also a good option, but Copley has the most places to eat/shop within a few blocks.

Staying at say the Canopy by Hilton downtown (near Haymarket station) looks like it would save about 10 minutes travel time to Tufts versus the Lenox Hotel next to Copley Station.

As if the North End and Faneuil Hall don't have restaurants and shopping

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you stay in the North End, you're going to be adding extra time to get to other areas of Boston like Copley/The Commons, etc. There is only so much to do in the North End area. So the extra 20 min to Tufts evens out with the extra time you'll spend going from your hotel to other parts of Boston.

We go to Boston a ton and DH and I lived there for years. We pretty much always stay in the Copley area so we can walk to everything.

Forgot to add, I think your best bet since you seem so unsure is to figure out exactly what you want to do in Boston. If most of your interests are in the Copley area, it makes no sense to stay somewhere else. Whereas if you want to do the Museum of Science, Aquarium, North End , Faneuil Hall, it makes less sense to stay in Copley.

Op here. Great point. That said, what do you suggest first timers (mom and teen) put on our to-do list in Boston - what are the to-do’s around Copley, for example? We’ll be looking into this ourselves, too, of course, but not sure we’ll be sorted before making a hotel reservation (my sister keeps on me to do this soon, as there are a lot of graduations around the same weekends in Boston).

Actually, the North End is a quick walk to the Common and all of the Freedom Trail anyway. Copley a little farther.
How old is the teen? What are his/her/their interests? How many days/hours of touristing time will you have? The area maybe 1/2 mile around Copley is about shopping/strolling on Newbury Street, seeing the beautiful homes on Comm Ave, enjoying the Common and Public Garden, and going up to the Esplanade along the river for longer walks.

If staying downtown, you have more historic sites like the Freedom Trail stops, Fanieul Hall, Paul Revere's House, Old North Church, etc. The Aquarium is nearby also.

All of these places are generally within 10 minutes of each other on the T also, so you can see both "sides" easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lived in Boston for years and grew up outside of it. The actual downtown Boston is very small compared to other cities. It really doesn't make a difference if you stay in Copley or North End because you will easily be able to go anywhere. I've walked from North End to Copley endless times. It's not like it's going to take you 30 min to get from the Commons to the North End.

Given that there are multiple graduations that weekend , your priority should just be finding some place and book it. Avoid the Seaport, not great if you're relying on the T.

Excellent advice. Graduation weekends in Boston are crazy! Like you, I've walked from the North End to Copley and Kenmore Square, probably faster than the T.

Do a duck tour and check out the Boston Tea Party museum--it is much better than it looks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lived in Boston for years and grew up outside of it. The actual downtown Boston is very small compared to other cities. It really doesn't make a difference if you stay in Copley or North End because you will easily be able to go anywhere. I've walked from North End to Copley endless times. It's not like it's going to take you 30 min to get from the Commons to the North End.

Given that there are multiple graduations that weekend , your priority should just be finding some place and book it. Avoid the Seaport, not great if you're relying on the T.

Agree with all of this. Seaport might look attractive due to the lower hotel prices, but the lack of access to transit isn’t worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lived in Boston for years and grew up outside of it. The actual downtown Boston is very small compared to other cities. It really doesn't make a difference if you stay in Copley or North End because you will easily be able to go anywhere. I've walked from North End to Copley endless times. It's not like it's going to take you 30 min to get from the Commons to the North End.

Given that there are multiple graduations that weekend , your priority should just be finding some place and book it. Avoid the Seaport, not great if you're relying on the T.

Agree with all of this. Seaport might look attractive due to the lower hotel prices, but the lack of access to transit isn’t worth it.

I sort of agree. I work in the seaport and commute occasionally on the ferry that leaves from long wharf. It’s about a 15 minute walk. Right along the water and beautiful on nice days. Windy and cold on others.

I’d split the difference and stay at the Marriott king wharf or somewhere near there. As others have pointed out, you can walk from there to Copley. It’s a bit of a distance, but it’s through the heart of the downtown area.

I played tourist with the kids one day and did an on-off bus to see all the sights. We did the freedom trail and had an amazing free tour at the old state house.

Dinner in the north end, another day for a late lunch at the Union Oyster house (so much history in that old building). Cambridge is great for walking around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lived in Boston for years and grew up outside of it. The actual downtown Boston is very small compared to other cities. It really doesn't make a difference if you stay in Copley or North End because you will easily be able to go anywhere. I've walked from North End to Copley endless times. It's not like it's going to take you 30 min to get from the Commons to the North End.

Given that there are multiple graduations that weekend , your priority should just be finding some place and book it. Avoid the Seaport, not great if you're relying on the T.

Agree with all of this. Seaport might look attractive due to the lower hotel prices, but the lack of access to transit isn’t worth it.

I sort of agree. I work in the seaport and commute occasionally on the ferry that leaves from long wharf. It’s about a 15 minute walk. Right along the water and beautiful on nice days. Windy and cold on others.

I’d split the difference and stay at the Marriott king wharf or somewhere near there. As others have pointed out, you can walk from there to Copley. It’s a bit of a distance, but it’s through the heart of the downtown area.

I played tourist with the kids one day and did an on-off bus to see all the sights. We did the freedom trail and had an amazing free tour at the old state house.

Dinner in the north end, another day for a late lunch at the Union Oyster house (so much history in that old building). Cambridge is great for walking around.

Marriott long wharf