Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
visitors as they enter. The focal point of the aquarium is the four-story, 200,000-gal-
lon
Giant Ocean Tank.
A four-story spiral ramp encircles the tank, which contains a
replica of a Caribbean coral reef and an assortment of sea creatures that seem to coex-
ist amazingly well. Part of the reason for the peace might be that scuba divers feed the
sharks twice a day. The two-floor
Amazing Jellies
exhibit is home to hundreds of eye-
catching jellyfish. At the
Edge of the Sea
exhibit, visitors can touch the sea stars, sea
urchins, and horseshoe crabs in the tide pool. The
Medical Center
is especially
involving: It's a working veterinary hospital. Other exhibits show off tropical sea crea-
tures (including clownfish—you know, Nemo), freshwater specimens, denizens of the
Amazon, marine life in the Gulf of Maine, and the ecology of Boston Harbor.
The
Simons IMAX Theatre
, which has its own building, hours, and admis-
sion fees, is worth planning for, too. Its 85-foot-by-65-foot screen shows 3-D films
with digital sound that concentrate on the natural world. It's an impressive experience.
The
aquarium turns 40
in 2009; the big day is June 29, but check ahead all year
for special exhibits, events, and activities.
I suggest starting your day here because you'll want to spend at least half a day, and
huge afternoon crowds can make getting around painfully slow. Discounts are available
when you combine a visit to the aquarium with an IMAX film or a
whale watch
(p. 178). Also consider investing in a Boston CityPass or Go Boston card (see the “Let's
Make a Deal” box on p. 142); either one allows you to skip the ticket line, which can
be uncomfortably long, and may represent a savings on the steep admission charge.
Central Wharf (off State St. and Atlantic Ave.).
&
617/973-5200.
www.newenglandaquarium.org. Admission $19
adults, $11 children 3-11. Free for children under 3 and for those visiting only the outdoor exhibits, cafe, and gift
shop. July-Labor Day Mon-Thurs 9am-6pm, Fri-Sun and holidays 9am-7pm; day after Labor Day-June Mon-Fri
9am-5pm, Sat-Sun and holidays 9am-6pm. Simons IMAX Theatre:
&
866/815-4629
or 617/973-5206. Tickets $10
adults, $8 children 3-11. Thurs-Sat 10am-8pm; Sun-Mon 10am-6pm. Closed Dec 25 and until noon Jan 1. T: Blue
Line to Aquarium.
2 The Freedom Trail
A line of red paint or red brick on the sidewalk, the 2
1
⁄
2
-mile
Freedom Trail
links 16 historic sites, many of them associated with the Revolution and the early days
of the United States. The route cuts across downtown, passing through the busy shop-
ping area around Downtown Crossing, the Financial District, and the North End, on
the way to Charlestown. Markers identify the stops, and plaques point the way from
one to the next.
This section lists the stops on the trail in the customary order, from Boston Com-
mon to the Bunker Hill Monument. It's important to remember that this is the
sug-
gested
route, and nobody's checking up on you. You don't have to visit every stop or
even go in order—you can skip around, start in Charlestown and work backward, visit
different sights on different days, or even (horrors!) omit some sights. Here's a sugges-
tion: If you find yourself sighing and saying “should” a lot, take a break.
A hard-core history fiend who peers at every artifact and reads every plaque can eas-
ily spend 4 hours along the trail. A family with restless children will probably appre-
ciate the enforced efficiency of a free 90-minute ranger-led tour.
The excursions, from the
Boston National Historical Park Visitor Center,
15
State St. (
&
617/242-5642;
www.nps.gov/bost), cover the “heart” of the trail, from
the Old South Meeting House to the Old North Church. From April through mid-
June, they begin weekends at 10 and 11am and 2pm, weekdays at 2pm only. From
mid-June through September, starting times are daily at 10 and 11am and 2pm. The
