Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
18-hole Donald Ross design. It's 5,305 yards from the blue tees, par is 70, and greens
fees are $30 on weekdays, $37 on weekends.
Within the city limits is the legendary 6,009-yard
William J. Devine Golf Course,
in Franklin Park, Dorchester (
&
617/265-4084
). As a Harvard student, Bobby Jones
sharpened his game on the 18-hole, par-70 course, which is managed by the city parks
department. Greens fees are $39 on weekdays, $48 on weekends.
Less challenging but with more of a neighborhood feel is the 9-hole, par-35
Fresh
Pond Golf Course,
691 Huron Ave., Cambridge (
&
617/349-6282;
www.fresh
pondgolf.com). The 3,161-yard layout adjoins the Fresh Pond Reservoir, and there's
water on four holes. It charges $22, or $32 to go around twice, on weekdays; $26 and
$38, respectively, on weekends.
GYMS
If your hotel doesn't have a health club, your best bet is to ask the concierge or front
desk staff to recommend one nearby; you may receive a pass good for free or dis-
counted admission. Guests at the
Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common,
have the use of
the over-the-top facilities at the 100,000-square-foot Sports Club/LA, which is other-
wise closed to nonmembers. Other hotels with good health clubs (see chapter 5)
include the
Boston Harbor Hotel,
the
Charles Hotel,
the
Four Seasons Hotel,
the
Hilton Boston Logan Airport,
the
InterContinental Boston,
and the
Royal Son-
esta Hotel.
The “Y” (www.ymcaboston.org) offers the best combination of facilities and value.
The
Wang YMCA of Chinatown,
8 Oak St. W., off Washington St. (
&
617/426-
2237
), is convenient to downtown; the
Central Branch YMCA,
316 Huntington
Ave. (
&
617/536-7800
), is near Symphony Hall. A 1-day pass costs $10 ($5 if you
belong to the Y at home) and includes the use of the pool, gym, weight room, and fit-
ness center.
Fitcorp
(
&
617/375-5600;
www.fitcorp.com) charges $20 for a guest
pass and offers well-equipped facilities but no pool. It has a dozen area branches,
including 1 Beacon St., near Government Center (
&
617/248-9797
); 125 Summer
St., in the Financial District (
&
617/261-4855
); and 197 Clarendon St. (
&
617/
933-5090
) and 800 Boylston St., in the Prudential Center (
&
617/262-2050
), both
in the Back Bay. A day pass costs $20 at women-only, no-pool
Healthworks
(www.
healthworksfitness.com), which has well-equipped facilities in the Back Bay at 441
Stuart St. (
&
617/859-7700
) and in Cambridge at the Porter Square Shopping Cen-
ter, 35 White St. (
&
617/497-4454
).
HIKING
For information about hiking in state parks and forests, visit
www.massparks.org
.
The
Boston Harbor Islands
offer great hiking; circling the largest island, Peddocks,
takes half a day. See the box, “A Vacation in the Islands,” p. 183.
ICE SKATING & IN-LINE SKATING
The outdoor ice-skating season runs from mid-November to mid-March, weather
permitting. Check ahead for open hours and closures for private events.
The rink at the Boston Common
Frog Pond
(
&
617/635-2120;
www.cityof
boston.gov/parks) is an extremely popular cold-weather destination. It's an open sur-
face with an ice-making system and a clubhouse. Admission is $4 for adults and free
for children under 14; skate rental costs $8 for adults, $5 for kids. The rink gets unbe-
lievably crowded on weekend afternoons, so try to go in the morning or on a weekday.
