August 2nd, 2010 by
admin
Don’t be surprised if you see a special Boston Explorer Pass showing up with your room key when you check into your hotel. Thanks to a partnership between the Massachusetts Lodging Association and Smart Destinations (the creator of Explorer Pass), hotels across the state can now offer Explorer Passes directly to their guests.
The MLA Explorer Pass gives hotel guests the choice of any one attraction from a list of Massachusetts’ top 54 sights, activities, museums, and tours. The pass acts as the admission ticket for the attraction with nothing further to purchase upon arriving.
Attractions available include Boston’s must visit locations such as the New England Aquarium, Museum of Fine Arts, a 2-Day Beantown Trolley Pass, Fenway Park, a Charles Riverboat Cruise, and the Prudential Center’s SkyWalk Observatory.
Smart Destinations makes the process easy for MLA member hotels. After a Massachusetts Lodging Association member purchases the MLA Explorer Pass, they are given a card. The guest then presents their card at their chosen attraction, the card is swiped and the guest is granted admission-it’s as easy as that. Once the pass is used at the attraction, the card expires.
If your hotel isn’t participating, you can hound them to get with the program. It won’t help you, but future travellers will be unknowingly in your debt. You can also get a Boston Explorer Pass directly either by buying a 3-choice Explorer Pass online or at one of the local retail locations, or (and this is new) build your own Custom Explorer Pass where you add as many things as you want to a custom ticket that is then built just for you.
No matter which route you take, the Explorer Pass is a great way to see and do the things you want on your visit to the Bay State while saving money in the process.
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July 29th, 2010 by
admin
Most people who buy city passes (aka “attraction passes”) like the Go Boston Card or the new Boston Custom Explorer Pass do so because they want to save money. And both these options as a great way to see the sights, visit museums, and take in tours and cruises. But there are additional benefits that people don’t always know come with these products unless they have previously used one that go beyond the savings.
Besides money, what is your most precious resource on vacation? An ability to handle jet lag? Memory for your digital camera? Map reading skills? Sure, those things can be good. But a better answer is time. In fact, it is time that arguably is the MOST precious resource on vacation. You can earn more money, but no one has figured out a way to earn more time. And while on vacation, the more time you get to spend having fun the better.
And what is typically the biggest waste of time on vacation? Assuming you are not one of those people who view sleep as a unfortunate necessity, then it has got to be standing in line. Think about it. You fly or drive all the way to Boston. The whole way you are looking forward to seeing and doing all the great things that the city has to offer.
But of course unless you are lucky enough to take vacation when nobody else is around, you are surrounded by people who have remarkably similar intentions as your own. These people also want to see and do all the great things in Boston. And so you join all these like minded people standing in line to get in. (You are all paying full price too unless you got a Go card or an Explorer Pass, but read on to solve both problems)
But if you have a Go Boston Card or a Boston Explorer Pass, you can actually skip some of the worst ticket lines. Because in addition to saving you money, the Explorer Pass comes with the ability to skip the line at places like the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium. And time NOT spent in line is time that you can devote to doing the things that brought you to Boston in the first place.
My guess is you didn’t stand in line to buy your plane ticket (much less walk up and pay whatever the price was on the day you wanted to fly). So why do it for all the fun things you plan to do on your trip? Get a Go Boston Card or an Explorer Pass to get yourself out of some lines (and save a bunch of money at the same time).
Planning a trip to
Boston?
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Go Boston Card.
April 23rd, 2010 by
judy c
Looking for a great deal on sightseeing in Massachusetts this spring? Then consider the $99 Spring Sightseeing Savings Package from Go Boston Card and the Old State House Museum.
Package Details:
Includes two 1-day adult attraction passes, valid for one full day of sightseeing at more than 70 top attractions in and around Boston! Use the pass for admission into any of the participating attractions of your choice and save up to 55% compared to buying tickets separately at each ticket gate.
Plus, receive a complimentary courtesy of the . This hardcover coffee table book features the best of Boston in gorgeous color photographs so that you can remember your experience for years to come. All for just $99!
Package Price: $99 (a $120 value)
How to buy:
- Visit www.SmartDestinations.com/boston
- Add two 1-day adult Go Boston Cards to the cart
- Enter coupon code MASS99 at check out
- Offer valid only for shipped orders (no voucher pick-up)
- Offer expires 6/27/2010
Note: You will receive your pair of Go Boston Cards in the mail, plus a coupon to pick up your free souvenir book at the Old State House Museum when you arrive.
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
March 23rd, 2010 by
admin
If you are headed to Boston for a vacation or a visit, there is a good chance you will find yourself on one of the city’s ubiquitous “Ducks.” These WWII vintage amphibious vehicles have been re-purposed for city tours and carry passengers through the streets of Boston before plunging into the Charles River for a waterside view of the city.
As fun as this unconventional approach to a city tour can be, the vehicle is only half the story. Each driver is a unique character, giving a competent tour but also enlivening the trip with his or her own personality. A common feature of most Duck tours is a frequent “quack-quack” emitted in unison by the passengers at (somewhat) unsuspecting passers-by. It might sound hokey, but few fail to get caught up in the fun and even fewer fail to remember their duck tour with anything but fond memories.
But running and operating a fleet of amphibious tour vehicles isn’t cheap, so neither is the Duck tour. Adult tickets cost over $32 and children $22. While it worth the price, there is good news for Boston visitors this year. Holders of a valid Go Boston Card are entitled to get a Duck Tour ticket for half the regular price. The full details on the offer can be found here. There is unlikely to be a better deal on the Duck Tour than this.
The catch is you need a Go Boston Card, but its a good catch all on its own. The Go Boston Card provides benefit of covering pretty much everything else there is to see and do in Boston: holder get in FREE to 70 Boston museums, sights, and tours for the cost of the card. Participating sights and activities include the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, the Boston Children’s Museum, Beantown Trolley, the Whale Watch, the Museum of Fine Arts, and a lot more. Get all the info on the Go Boston Card and a list of all the participating things to do here. Depending on what you do with it, the savings can be as much as 55% compared to buying separate tickets.
Have fun on your Duck Tour!
Planning a trip to
Boston?
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Go Boston Card.
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!
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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?
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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?
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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.
_
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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!
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Planning a trip to
Boston?
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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
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Boston?
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Go Boston Card.
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