Archive for
2009
November 20th, 2009 by judy c
Image courtesy of
The turkey’s barely been stuffed and the table not even set, but we’re already scouring the newspapers looking for those wonderful Black Friday circulars! A $50 GPS so your husband doesn’t take that “shortcut”…again; $10 DVDs to keep the kids occupied; $300 for a High-Def television to better see McDreamy (oh, if only you could find a way to squeeze that TV into your holiday budget!). It’s almost too good to be true and we’re willing to wait out all night in the frigid temps just to take advantage of the bountiful bargains!
True, there’s more to the holidays than just the great deals. There’s the twinkling decorations, the Christmas tree lightings, the wonderful shows, the fat-inducing food! The list goes on and on…
That’s why if you’re in the New England area this holiday season, you’re in luck! is the City of Boston’s one-stop, central holiday-planning website. For every taste and every budget, you’ll find a Boston holiday experience to cherish for a lifetime.
Enjoy …holiday …a festive …a stroll through the …skating on …discounts on attraction tickets like the and the … even an . Whether you live in Boston or are planning a visit, is your ticket to great ideas, DEALS and DISCOUNTS, plus information to help you enjoy Boston’s many free and low-cost traditions.
There are over 8,000 half-price tickets to holiday theatre, music and dance. Not to mention special offers on dining, shopping, hotels, and even ! Plus, with all the money that you save this holiday season and how happy you’ve made the family, you don’t have to feel guilty for snagging that High-Def TV after all!
__
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
September 23rd, 2009 by judy c
“The Bersha Procession”
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
So you’ve wanted to experience Egypt for a while now, but you haven’t won Powerball (yet) and your MasterCard has been maxed out since Spring Break. But wait…there’s hope! You can visit the and if you squint your eyes tight and layer on enough coconut oil, you can just about imagine your beautiful bronze self in the Sahara. Only thing is, the year is 2,000 BC. (Hey - everyone has it rough right now and beggars can’t be choosers!)
All kidding aside though, beginning October 18th the MFA will feature a fantastic new exhibit that’s worth checking out. It’s known as “” and the is impossible to ignore. Why?
Well in a 1915 excavation, the MFA found the largest burial assemblage of Egypt’s Middle Kingdom ever discovered. The tomb was filled with the funerary equipment of a local governor and his wife, among which was the famous “Bersha coffin,” arguably the finest painted coffin Egypt produced. Envision the afterlife as imagined by ancient Egyptians through Tomb 10A’s contents: jewelry, walking sticks, canopic jars, and miniature models depicting everyday life - shown together for the FIRST time in 4,000 years!
Admission to the Museum includes the cost of the exhibit, so there are no hidden up-charges. Check it out while you can since it’s only on display until May 2010.
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
July 28th, 2009 by judy c
Our friends at the have alerted us that a limited number of seats have JUST been released for the August 5th date of the Paul McCartney concert at !
For those that have been living in a bubble this summer, Hall of Fame legend Paul McCartney will be rocking out at the historical ballpark on August 5th and 6th. The Fenway concerts will feature classics from McCartney’s extensive catalog, including Beatles, Wings and solo career hits as well as selections from his most recent album Electric Arguments, released under his alias The Fireman.
Great seats are now available in the State Street Pavilion Club section on Wednesday, August 5th. and you’ll also get access to the exclusive State Street Pavilion Club before, during and after the concert! The State Street Pavilion Club is located on the fourth level behind home plate and extends down both baselines, providing spectacular views of the field and the Boston city skyline.
If you are able to go, I am completely jealous. Be sure to come back and tell me how it was!
_
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
July 22nd, 2009 by judy c
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets image; Taken by Flickr user
Hitching their broomstick to the publicity-wagon surrounding the sixth Harry Potter film, the announced today that they will be the next stop for “” this fall. This traveling exhibit is currently on display at and showcases over 200 costumes, props, and set features from the record-setting wizard films - including the Great Hall, elaborate outfits from the Yule Ball, and the Gryffindor common room.
The Museum of Science will be the only New England venue to host the highly-anticipated exhibit, and although it is not set to debut in Beantown until October 25th, tickets are already on sale. You can purchase tickets online or by calling 617-723-2500. Be sure to have a credit card handy because they don’t accept golden galleons.
(Retail rates are $26 for adults and $23 for children.)
SPECIAL OFFER FOR GO BOSTON CARD & BOSTON EXPLORER PASS HOLDERS:
If you are or customer, you are entitled to special pricing! Show your card at the box office to upgrade to the discounted rate of $16 for adults and $13 for children.
Note: Tickets are only available at the box office (not by phone or online) and are subject to availability. Admission to the exhibit must be done on a day that your card is active.
_
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
June 17th, 2009 by judy c
Farmer’s Market Poster Image ; Taken by Flickr user
Cambridge folks know that summer is officially on the horizon when the Farmers’ Markets in Harvard Square finally open for the season. So with the 2009 grand opening of the first market having occurred just yesterday, residents are now ready to indulge in all the local food, music, and fun that they can while it lasts!
is located right next to the Harvard Science Center at Oxford and Kirkland Streets, about 100 yards away from the and . It’s open every Tuesday until the end of October from 12:30 pm – 6:00 pm and features regional farmers and vendors – in fact, none are from more than 50 miles away from Harvard Yard! There is so much variety that there is literally something for every palette. Vendors hock everything from standard organic produce, to exotic cuts of meat like lamb and goat. There are also seasonal florals, locally grown herbs, fresh baked bread, and tasty jams. By public transportation, take the Red Line to the Harvard Square stop.
If you aren’t a local but want to partake in this local tradition, consider stopping by the Harvard Museum of Natural History to purchase a reusable souvenir bag. Then head over to the Market to fill it up with fresh local snap peas and strawberries. Trust me, the strawberries are to die for!
And here’s a fun idea: While you’re at the , check out their famous “” exhibit if you have never seen it before. These extraordinary glass models of flowering and fruiting plants (including cacao, coffee plants, cashew nuts, pineapple, mango, and blueberries) were created in the late 19th Century by father/son glass artists in Germany to teach botany before the days of photography. They are quite a sight to behold and it’s the perfect prelude to get your taste buds watering for the Market. Bon appetit!
_
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
June 10th, 2009 by judy c
Draper Simulator Image; Courtesy of MIT Museum
Starting tomorrow and running until Sunday, June 14th, the will host a five-day celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing. Included are two special displays, and hands-on demonstrations (for middle school ages and up) by current students from the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro).
The MIT Museum event is part of the public outreach associated with , a major symposium at MIT that honors those who made the Apollo program a success and looks to the future of space research. Admission to is included with the .
Exhibition – MIT Goes to the Moon
See rare Apollo-era artifacts that tell the story of the major contributions made by MIT to the American space program. The display features an extremely rare simulator of the Apollo Guidance, Navigation and Control system lent by Draper Laboratory for its first ever public showing. On display from June 10–September 2009
Temporary Exhibition -Taking the Next Giant Leaps
Stop by to see the opening display of a special traveling exhibition about the excitement of current research in air and space. A series of “Facebook” like panels introduce middle and high school-aged students to students and young faculty who are pursuing their dreams - from winning a national airplane design competition to sending humans to Mars! On display from June 10-14 only
Hands-on Demonstrations -Meet AeroAstro Students
Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14; 1:00 -4:00 p.m.
Explore the latest advancements in aeronautics and space research. Examples include:
- The TALARIS Project - a prototype robotic lunar lander, which is helping MIT’s efforts to win a $20 million race to the Moon (part of the Google Lunar X-Prize)
- SPHERES micro-satellites - vehicles the size of volleyballs used in automated docking and formation flight experiments on the International Space Station
- Quadrotor UAVs - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles programmed to fly surveillance missions and cooperate with each other in swarms
_
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
June 3rd, 2009 by judy c
Happy Hour; Photo taken by Flickr user
Everyone is looking to save a buck these days (or several bucks in my case), but why compromise your social life and sense of fun in order to do so? We can still plan a vacation and dine out with friends and family, we just have to be super savvy about how we do it. In that spirit, I’ve pinpointed a few of the hottest happy hour spots in Boston so that your appetite doesn’t feel the pinch of your purse strings! And if that’s not enough, I’ve also identified some nearby attractions, which are all included for free with the .
Area: Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, Boston
Top Spot: – This popular eatery among tourists offers one of the best happy hour menus in the city. They have two happy hours – one from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm and the other from 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm. With each plate costing less than $5 a pop, you can choose from such items as a chicken sandwich and fries, grilled shrimp, fish tacos, and more. Beware of the cocktail prices though. Beer and wine are relatively inexpensive for the area, but martinis can end up costing upwards of $12 each.
Nearby attractions: , , and
Area: Back Bay, Boston
Top Spot: – Okay, okay. I know it’s a chain, but give this one a shot. Not only is the bar located in a completely separate area from the restaurant (making you feel like you are in an actual downtown bar), but the happy hour menu is the best for bar food. We’re talking cheese sticks, quesadillas, mini sliders and more. And you can’t beat the $2.95 beer special! Happy hour runs from 4 pm - 7 pm and 10 pm- close everyday except Saturday.
Nearby attractions: ,, and
Area: Harvard Square, Cambridge
Top Spot: – This is a favorite among locals because of the laid back attitude. You come in, seat yourself, and call the place home. Plus, EVERYTHING on the menu is half-price from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm every evening and from 9:00 pm - 11:30 pm Sunday – Thursday! Keep in mind that they can get very busy toward the end of the half price hours, so plan to arrive early.
Nearby attractions: and
None of these suggestions working for you? The Boston Globe has a great guide to . Do you think that anything was missed?
_
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
May 20th, 2009 by admin
Driving; Image taken by Flickr user
There are many components to a successful visit to Boston. Where to stay, what to see, how to get around. We’ve always been of some help on where to stay and the Go Boston Card has what to see nicely covered. But on how to get around, we traditionally haven’t offered as much.
So here’s a tip for a handy way to get a good deal on car rentals when visiting Boston. Its called Vroom Vroom Vroom, and they have a dedicated Boston page on their site that will let you shop across all the top car rental companies.
While new to the U.S., Vroom Vroom Vroom has been around since 2002, when they were founded in Australia. They are the top online site for car rentals there, and in addition to their expansion into the U.S. in 2008, they also cover Canada, the U.K. and New Zealand.
They also have embraced the Green movement by paying more than just lip service to a concern over Global Warming. The company offers its customers free carbon offsets for car rentals booked on the site. Combine that with their low price guarantee and you can be green while saving green. Not bad!
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
May 7th, 2009 by admin
Companies typically think highly of their own products. If it were left to them, most companies would give all their products a five star review all the time. That’s why most people thinking about buying something tend to trust what customers say about a product. Increasingly, companies are following suit.
Last Summer, Smart Destinations hired KRC Research to interview over 1,300 people who had bought and used Go Cards and Explorer Passes. The customers were asked a variety of questions about their experiences with the cards and what they thoughts about the product.
The results that came back were overwhelmingly positive. 94% of the customers said they were either “satisfied” or “extremely satisfied” with the product (with most selecting “extremely satisfied”).
Perhaps even more impressively, Smart Destinations “Net Promoter Score” came in at 8 given that 91% of the people surveyed said they would recommend the product to someone else (many thanks to a reader for pointing out an earlier error in the calculation). Studies have show that the willingness to recommend a product shows a much stronger level of satisfaction than any other measure.
So if you are thinking about buying a Go Boston Card or one of the other destinations that are covered by Smart Destinations’ cards, it is reassuring to know that previous customers have been happy with their purchase and are willing to tell others that they should buy the product. You can read more about using the Go Boston Card on About.comwhere a reviewer has written about one family’s experience using the card.
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
April 21st, 2009 by admin
The Go Boston Card web site has a completely new look. The old site has been replaced with a new site that offers a number of improvements for customers.
First, the site has been folded in under a new top navigation bar that allows customers see all of the Go Cards and Explorer Passes offered by Smart Destinations. Previously, each Card had its own separate site which meant most customers were not even aware they could get Cards in other destinations.
Second, more information has been placed at customers’ finger tips. They can learn how the card works, where it is accepted, read reviews by other customers, and see all the VIP extras on the same page.
Images and descriptions have been upgraded, navigation streamlined and improved, and other changes have also been made to the site to help customers plan their trip and get the right Card.
Smart Destinations reports that demand for the company’s attraction passes has not only been strong, but actually accelerating in 2009 as more and more people are looking to travel smarter. The fact that Go Cards and Explorer Passes let people into the top museums, tours, and attractions for a single money saving price makes sense in any economy. The expectation is the new site will further contribute to strong growth.
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
