Boston's public transport makes getting around easy
Q. My husband would like to visit the John Adams National Historical Park near Boston. He said he would drive, but I was interested in finding out how convenient it would be to stay in Boston and use public transportation. Any ideas?
A. I interpret your letter to mean that your husband would drive, but you are open to flying to Boston and using public transportation to get around, including going to John Adams Historical Park in Quincy, Mass., just a few miles out of Boston.
If Boston's Logan International Airport is your destination, and if you're interested in a budget airline, Jet Blue (jetblue.com) has attractive fares from Chicago.
However, if driving is your husband's option, you could still stay in Boston, park your car in the hotel garage and use the excellent public transportation. Located just minutes from downtown Boston, Quincy is easily accessible by the city's subway or by a water shuttle.
Take the subway's Red line or the Old Colony commuter rail to the Quincy Center stop, which is just across the street from John Adams Historical Park. Your hotel will have information on the Red line or commuter rail.
The water shuttle is called the Harbor Express (harborexpress), a high-speed catamaran that makes frequent round trips daily from Boston's downtown Marriott's Long Wharf, as well as from Logan Airport to Quincy's Fore River Shipyard terminal. You don't need a reservation; the fare one-way from Boston to Quincy is $6 and Logan to Quincy, $12. Schedules are also available by calling (617) 222-6999.
Peacefield in Quincy is the centerpiece of the Adams historical park. Its stately mansion served as the summer White House for both Adams presidents and as home to generations of their descendants. Visit the Stone Library at the mansion, which houses the Adams collection of some 14,000 historic volumes. Peacefield admission is $5. It closes for the season on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
Start your journey at the park's visitors center located in Quincy Center where you'll see the center's exhibits and a video presentation after which you'll board a trolley to tour the grounds. Additional information and maps can be downloaded at discoverquincy.com.
Send your questions at least sixweeks prior to travel to MadelynMerwin in care ofTravel,Daily Herald, P.O.Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006, or e-maildpmerwin@sbcglobal.net.