new england aquarium

We will be in Boston 8/9 on Carib Princess from 10 am - 7 pm. Some of us want to walk the Freedom Trail and some want to do the New England aquarium. What is the best way for us all to get to these places and back???

There will be shuttles for $5 or so outside the terminal that will take you to the market. Aquarium is across the street and if I remember part of the trail is the market.

How many people are you exactly? If you are 4 people, then cab is a reasonable option. Here's one suggestion.

1) Take the Silver Line at Black Falcon to South Station and transfer to the Red Line (direction Alewife) two stops to Park St. ($2/pp) The Freedom Trail starts at Boston Common and wanders through local streets. Follow the Freedom Trail to Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market - it should be lunch time so you can check out the restaurants and food court.

2) At this point you might want to part ways. IMO there is nothing unique about the aquarium unless you've never been to one - I'd continue on the Freedom Trail into the North End (Italian restaurants, Old North Church and Paul Revere House) or take the water taxi from Long Wharf ($1.70) over to the Constitution.

3) Cab is probably the best way back to the ship. However, if you feel like doing some walking, you can do the riverwalk along the harbor for a while and then catch a cab or the Silver Line SL2 from South Station.

I've just hit the highlights - if you need more details, please ask.

Thanks! Not sure at this time how many of us will go. I'm not particularly interested in the Freedom Trail but DH is. Some of our group are planning are going to the Union Oyster Bar (?) not sure if that's the correct name. We may meet up with them there if we can find it!

You'll be fine with the Freedom Trail as long as you can get DH to limit it and not walk all the way to Charlestown. The Freedom Trail is not a trail - it's a directed walk through downtown Boston - the route makes sure you go by all the historical points of interest but you also go by the downtown stores. By starting at Park St, you can see a bit of the Boston Common and go to the visitor center to get your walking map. As you go along you can stop wherever you like or just keep going. Once you get to the Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall area, you may find you just want to stay there and poke in the shops. The Union Oyster House is close by as is the Aquarium. If DH wants to continue the trail to the North End, he could do that. If you want to go over to the Constitution, there is a MBTA water ferry that goes from Long Wharf for $1.70 each way (IMO much better than walking over there). I'm sure you could find a place for everyone to meet up at Quincy Market - the rotunda is popular for that.