What's Billerica, MA like?

[Qacer]

I haven't been to Billerica, MA, yet. I'm just curious what the area is like.

How's the weather in the area? We're enjoying warm weather in FL, so I can get away with wearing tropical clothes.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Why would you go to Billerica? It's a boring suburb. I hope you're planning on going down to Boston.

And average temps this time of year are in the 40s.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Why would you go to Billerica? It's a boring suburb. I hope you're planning on going down to Boston.

And average temps this time of year are in the 40s.

This. Have fun.

 

[MotF Bane]

Weather is somewhere in the 40's right now. Dress warm, Floridian, or freeze.

I can't think of much interesting in Billerica... the closest point of interest that comes to mind would be the Lowell Mills, and beyond that, Boston is only about 25 minutes from Billerica.

 

[Qacer]

Yeah, I'm flying in to Logan Airport, but unfortunately, I'm not renting a car. I'll be mostly relying on taxi service. Tsk. Or.. if my hotel has a shuttle to the airport, then I can probably hitch a ride and just get dropped off in the Boston area.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Qacer
Yeah, I'm flying in to Logan Airport, but unfortunately, I'm not renting a car. I'll be mostly relying on taxi service. Tsk. Or.. if my hotel has a shuttle to the airport, then I can probably hitch a ride and just get dropped off in the Boston area.

There is also a commuter rail line that runs from Billerica to Boston - http://mbta.com/schedules_and_...il/lines/?route=LOWELL

 

[Qacer]

Ah.. I see. I'm about 3 miles south of the Billerica mall. Maybe I can take a taxi there and just go to Boston on rail.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Just FYI, if you haven't been, the Museum of Science and Boston Aquarium are both pretty cool. I'm going with my gf next week.

 

[Qacer]

Nice. I'll keep that in mind. I'll probably check out Boston next Wednesday in the afternoon. Hopefully, I'll be able to navigate my way around the city.

 

[Savij]

How the hell did you end up with billerica?! Go to Boston. Billerica has NOTHING worth traveling across the country for. I live next door in Burlington MA which is better but you should be in boston/cambridge if you're visiting.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Qacer
Nice. I'll keep that in mind. I'll probably check out Boston next Wednesday in the afternoon. Hopefully, I'll be able to navigate my way around the city.

Hopefully it will be nice out. There's plenty to do in Boston!

Faneuil Hall
The Freedom Trail
the State House
the public gardens / common
take a walk through the Back Bay
go to the top of the Hancock Tower
walk the Esplanade
visit Harvard Square
visit the Holocaust Memorial (beautiful, IMO)
go to Castle Island
visit For Warren (best haunting story in NE, though not sure it's open)
visit the MFA
Walk around the North End (maybe stop into Mike's Pastries)
Visit the Old North Church
Visit the Old South Meeting House
Paul Revere's House
The JFK Library
JFK's birthplace (in Brookline)
Take a Duck Boat Tour
See the Zakum Bridge
Visit Bunker Hill
Check out the main branch of the Boston Public Library (much cooler than it sounds)
Visit some of the old cemeteries around the city


That's off the top of my head. Enjoy your stay!

Edit: One tip -- downtown Boston is really, really small. Walking from the North End to the Common takes about as a long as public transportation. Don't be afraid to walk around the downtown area, it's easier than the T, just as fast, AND you get to see cool buildings and experience more of the city.

Also, the USS Constitution is not open to the public right now. I believe only the museum is open.

Post any questions you might have.

 

[Qacer]

Originally posted by: Savij
How the hell did you end up with billerica?! Go to Boston. Billerica has NOTHING worth traveling across the country for. I live next door in Burlington MA which is better but you should be in boston/cambridge if you're visiting.

I do see that there is a Burlington Mall. I was actually thinking of walking to there, but then I realized that it only looks close on the aerials. It would take me about an hour to walk.

 

[Flammable]

once again, why Billerica?

 

[Qacer]

Very nice! Thanks!

Are there any areas I should avoid?

Originally posted by: BeauJangles

Originally posted by: Qacer
Nice. I'll keep that in mind. I'll probably check out Boston next Wednesday in the afternoon. Hopefully, I'll be able to navigate my way around the city.

Hopefully it will be nice out. There's plenty to do in Boston!

Faneuil Hall
The Freedom Trail
the State House
the public gardens / common
take a walk through the Back Bay
go to the top of the Hancock Tower
walk the Esplanade
visit Harvard Square
visit the Holocaust Memorial (beautiful, IMO)
go to Castle Island
visit For Warren (best haunting story in NE, though not sure it's open)
visit the MFA
Walk around the North End (maybe stop into Mike's Pastries)
Visit the Old North Church
Visit the Old South Meeting House
Paul Revere's House
The JFK Library
JFK's birthplace (in Brookline)
Take a Duck Boat Tour
See the Zakum Bridge
Visit Bunker Hill
Check out the main branch of the Boston Public Library (much cooler than it sounds)
Visit some of the old cemeteries around the city


That's off the top of my head. Enjoy your stay!

Edit: One tip -- downtown Boston is really, really small. Walking from the North End to the Common takes about as a long as public transportation. Don't be afraid to walk around the downtown area, it's easier than the T, just as fast, AND you get to see cool buildings and experience more of the city.

Also, the USS Constitution is not open to the public right now. I believe only the museum is open.

Post any questions you might have.

 

[Qacer]

Originally posted by: Flammable
once again, why Billerica?

Haha.. Not my choice, unfortunately.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: Qacer
Very nice! Thanks!

Are there any areas I should avoid?

Avoid Billerica, Dorchester, Roxbury and being sober in southie.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: BeauJangles

Originally posted by: Qacer
Nice. I'll keep that in mind. I'll probably check out Boston next Wednesday in the afternoon. Hopefully, I'll be able to navigate my way around the city.

Hopefully it will be nice out. There's plenty to do in Boston!

Faneuil Hall
The Freedom Trail
the State House
the public gardens / common
take a walk through the Back Bay
go to the top of the Hancock Tower
walk the Esplanade
visit Harvard Square
visit the Holocaust Memorial (beautiful, IMO)
go to Castle Island
visit For Warren (best haunting story in NE, though not sure it's open)
visit the MFA
Walk around the North End (maybe stop into Mike's Pastries)
Visit the Old North Church
Visit the Old South Meeting House
Paul Revere's House
The JFK Library
JFK's birthplace (in Brookline)
Take a Duck Boat Tour
See the Zakum Bridge
Visit Bunker Hill
Check out the main branch of the Boston Public Library (much cooler than it sounds)
Visit some of the old cemeteries around the city


That's off the top of my head. Enjoy your stay!

Edit: One tip -- downtown Boston is really, really small. Walking from the North End to the Common takes about as a long as public transportation. Don't be afraid to walk around the downtown area, it's easier than the T, just as fast, AND you get to see cool buildings and experience more of the city.

Also, the USS Constitution is not open to the public right now. I believe only the museum is open.

Post any questions you might have.

And don't forget about Sunset!

 

[badkarma1399]

Originally posted by: Savij

Originally posted by: Qacer
Very nice! Thanks!

Are there any areas I should avoid?

Avoid Billerica, Dorchester, Roxbury and being sober in southie.

 

[Savij]

Map

My suggestioned day:
Get your camera and comfy shoes/coat.

1. Take train/subway to the prudential center/mall
2. Book a duck tour I seem to remember them booking indoors near the cheescake factory (they can make you wait a couple of hours so do this first thing and schedule accordingly)
3. On a clear day go take the sky tour at the prudential center (you can get tickets in the mall) (can spend 30 minutes to a couple of hours here).
4. Walk out of the mall to Copley square and look at the library and the square and the church...take pictures etc.
5. Walk to Newbury St. and check out rich people shopping and getting parking tickets.
6. Keep walking through the public garden and the Common.
7. Outside the northeast corner of the common look down for the painted/red brick line on the ground. You've found the Freedrom Trail.
8. Walk around till you get tired.


Alternate start to your day: Start at Fenway...it's a little bit disconnected from the other stuff.

Your subway and commuter rail info can be found here: http://mbta.com/
I think you're on the Lowell commuter rail line but check which ever station is closest to you.

On the subway, inbound is towards Park St. and Outbound is away from it (check the direction you want to go before you get to the train to save yourself some trouble).

Bonus video of what your commuter rail trip may look like.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Qacer
Very nice! Thanks!

Are there any areas I should avoid?

If you stick to downtown, then you're pretty safe. Chinatown can be sketchy at night, but other than that the truly bad areas of Boston are nicely separated from the downtown / tourist area.

The only real tourist venue in a "bad" area of town is the Franklin Park Zoo in Dorchester, but I wouldn't be too concerned during the day.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Qacer
I haven't been to Billerica, MA, yet. I'm just curious what the area is like.

How's the weather in the area? We're enjoying warm weather in FL, so I can get away with wearing tropical clothes.

If your going soon be sure to make it to Boston for St. Paddys day.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: Qacer
I haven't been to Billerica, MA, yet. I'm just curious what the area is like.

How's the weather in the area? We're enjoying warm weather in FL, so I can get away with wearing tropical clothes.

If your going soon be sure to make it to Boston for St. Paddys day.

But don't drink in public (around cops) they just announced a new crack down on public drinking for this weekend.

Take a flask and see pale naked chicks in southie.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Savij
Map

My suggestioned day:
Get your camera and comfy shoes/coat.

1. Take train/subway to the prudential center/mall
2. Book a duck tour I seem to remember them booking indoors near the cheescake factory (they can make you wait a couple of hours so do this first thing and schedule accordingly)
3. On a clear day go take the sky tour at the prudential center (you can get tickets in the mall) (can spend 30 minutes to a couple of hours here).
4. Walk out of the mall to Copley square and look at the library and the square and the church...take pictures etc.
5. Walk to Newbury St. and check out rich people shopping and getting parking tickets.
6. Keep walking through the public garden and the Common.
7. Outside the northeast corner of the common look down for the painted/red brick line on the ground. You've found the Freedrom Trail.
8. Walk around till you get tired.


Alternate start to your day: Start at Fenway...it's a little bit disconnected from the other stuff.

Your subway and commuter rail info can be found here: http://mbta.com/
I think you're on the Lowell commuter rail line but check which ever station is closest to you.

On the subway, inbound is towards Park St. and Outbound is away from it (check the direction you want to go before you get to the train to save yourself some trouble).

Bonus video of what your commuter rail trip may look like.

The Duck Tours start at the Museum of Science which he can walk from North Station where he'll be coming into when he takes the commuter rail from Billerica.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: Savij
Map

My suggestioned day:
Get your camera and comfy shoes/coat.

1. Take train/subway to the prudential center/mall
2. Book a duck tour I seem to remember them booking indoors near the cheescake factory (they can make you wait a couple of hours so do this first thing and schedule accordingly)
3. On a clear day go take the sky tour at the prudential center (you can get tickets in the mall) (can spend 30 minutes to a couple of hours here).
4. Walk out of the mall to Copley square and look at the library and the square and the church...take pictures etc.
5. Walk to Newbury St. and check out rich people shopping and getting parking tickets.
6. Keep walking through the public garden and the Common.
7. Outside the northeast corner of the common look down for the painted/red brick line on the ground. You've found the Freedrom Trail.
8. Walk around till you get tired.


Alternate start to your day: Start at Fenway...it's a little bit disconnected from the other stuff.

Your subway and commuter rail info can be found here: http://mbta.com/
I think you're on the Lowell commuter rail line but check which ever station is closest to you.

On the subway, inbound is towards Park St. and Outbound is away from it (check the direction you want to go before you get to the train to save yourself some trouble).

Bonus video of what your commuter rail trip may look like.

The Duck Tours start at the Museum of Science which he can walk from North Station where he'll be coming into when he takes the commuter rail from Billerica.

What's the scheduling like from there? The tours from the Pru used make you wait long enough that you an walk around to the Common and Govt. Center and by the time you got back it was almost time to board. The timing is pretty good on a nice summer day for showing friends around.

 

[geno]

What's Billerica like? Boring, boring, boring. Make plans elsewhere, like everyone else said