Boston for Fireworks

We are going to be near Boston just before the 4th of July and were thinking of taking in the fireworks. Any suggestions for good places to stay and good places to view the fireworks. Won't have a car. Thanks.

dogfeet

well.. prices for hotels with a view are astronomical for the 4th. You're better off staying some where further away from the Charles River esplanade and walking down for the event.

If you have money to burn.. high-level floors at the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge has a clear view (Charles River facing side). Same for Hyatt Regency Cambridge.

As far as viewing.. I usually make it a day trip to Boston .. do some window-shopping, have a great lunch .. then go stand in queue to get onto the esplanade itself. Take a big blanket and find an open spot. Best view in Boston IMHO

With 4th Of July, they have a couple hundred thousand people crammed into several acres for the concert. But, concert-goers can't see the fireworks due to trees along the river. So, it's either fireworks or the Boston Pops concert. When my wife and I went in 2008, we found a 1 ft squared piece of land, and we were able to watch the concert. The subway ride out of town was next to impossible. We actually parked near the USS Constitution, paid for parking for several hours, and walked a couple miles to the "Hatshell".

If you don't mind dealing with terrible traffic, tons of people crammed into a relatively small area, there is NOTHING in the country quite like Boston's 4th!

TS

^ very true.. and even worse now with the "enhanced" security procedures.

What we have done is have sat further back, way back... frankly out of earshot to the Hatch Shell. Radio simulcasts make sure we hear the concert and, more importantly imho, the lead up to the fireworks vis a vis the 1812 Overture :whoopie:

In that area there are no trees between you and the water.

We and 500,000 of our closest friends watch the fireworks riverside. I must say, it's spectacular. We don't camp out with blankets, but can usually find a spot to sit on the grass a couple of hours before the fireworks start. Big speakers broadcast everything going on at the Hatch Shell.

There are all kinds of things happening in town so it's nice to make a day of it.

We stayed at Marriott Copley Place. $215 per night and booked 6 months earlier. Got senior rate. Put us on a high floor facing the river. Plat upgrade. Perfect view of the fireworks from our room. Never left!

Thanks for the input.


dogfeet