Custom House activities!

[PaulaC]

We have a reservation for the Custom House next month and wondered if anyone has a list of activities or optional tours that they offer? We've stayed there several times, but we have never taken advantage of these.

 

[Pamplemousse]

We have a reservation for the Custom House next month and wondered if anyone has a list of activities or optional tours that they offer? We've stayed there several times, but we have never taken advantage of these.

You can find the activities on the MVC app. There are a few tours listed there.
Download it from your App Store and use your MVC login.

For more tours call the resort and speak to the concierge.

Enjoy you stay!

 

[TdoaoR]

We go often and love Boston!!
Highly recommend the boat tours, hop on hop off. Take the fast ferry to P-town.
The north end restaurant tour is great if its not too hot.

 

[iowaguy09]

Here is a PDF of the activities guide available during our stay in June.

 

[PaulaC]

Thank you! That was just what I wanted. Do you have any recommendations? We've done most of the Boston area tours and attractions, but never any of the ones offered by the Custom House.

 

[jackio]

We have taken the north end food walking tour and enjoyed it.

 

[iowaguy09]

Thank you! That was just what I wanted. Do you have any recommendations? We've done most of the Boston area tours and attractions, but never any of the ones offered by the Custom House.

We did the Custom House Building Tour (highly recommend!), Dark Chocolate Tasting, Sangria Social, Historic Marketplace Tour, got Root Beer Floats, and Great Debate: North End Cannoli. Those were all really good, and based on them I would recommend any others as well depending on your interest level. We skipped a few purely based on other activities we were involved in at the same time, and due to our limited time in Boston.

The chocolate tasting was so interesting that we decided to go tour the small factory of Taza Chocolate which is over near Charleston. They make a Mexican-style chocolate (like the Oaxaca Mexico region) and the tour is entertaining with lots more free samples offered. We bought a good supply of treats from the company store (ask about available discounts)! They do charge a reasonable fee per person for the tour.

 

[PaulaC]

We did the Custom House Building Tour (highly recommend!), Dark Chocolate Tasting, Sangria Social, Historic Marketplace Tour, got Root Beer Floats, and Great Debate: North End Cannoli. Those were all really good, and based on them I would recommend any others as well depending on your interest level. We skipped a few purely based on other activities we were involved in at the same time, and due to our limited time in Boston.

The chocolate tasting was so interesting that we decided to go tour the small factory of Taza Chocolate which is over near Charleston. They make a Mexican-style chocolate (like the Oaxaca Mexico region) and the tour is entertaining with lots more free samples offered. We bought a good supply of treats from the company store (ask about available discounts)! They do charge a reasonable fee per person for the tour.

Thank you so much! I had forgotten that we did the Custom House Building tour several years ago. We always seem to have a lot of outside activities scheduled, so we miss the ones that are offered by the Custom House. However, we decided to try some of the on-site activities on this stay.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

Great Debate: North End Cannoli

You almost make me miss living in Boston, with relatives in the North End. The strange thing is my mind pulls out "Columbus St" whenever I think of Hanover St, and I have to knock it around for 2 seconds. Going to Boston in summer? Take the road less traveled by. Go out to Walden Pond and swim across it, the narrow way. Then take a hike around the yellow wood. IT is a thouroughly good time

 

[sun starved Gayle]

We also did Custom House Tour and found it fascinating. Amazing to think the building was once at the harbor’s edge. We were killing time waiting for the rain to stop and are glad we did.

We also did a wine and cheese social and the historic market place tour. Really interesting and free is a very good price! We did tip the guide, she was very good.

These free activities are a great bonus when staying at The Customs House. Don’t forget to take a glass of wine and head up to the observation deck at sunset. There was almost never anyone else up there and they even have a few tables and chairs to sit and enjoy the view.

 

[Pamplemousse]

You almost make me miss living in Boston, with relatives in the North End. The strange thing is my mind pulls out "Columbus St" whenever I think of Hanover St, and I have to knock it around for 2 seconds. Going to Boston in summer? Take the road less traveled by. Go out to Walden Pond and swim across it, the narrow way. Then take a hike around the yellow wood. IT is a thouroughly good time

Great suggestion, but the main beach is closed this summer for construction of a new bath house.
Red Cross beach is open, but no life guards.
Limited parking too.
They close when they reach capacity so be sure to check before you travel.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

A good alternative to the historic Walden Pond beach may be to visit the fabulous ocean beach located on the north shore in Ipswich (Crane's Beach).

The quickest beach to get to from the Custom House is Revere Beach. Go downstairs and take the MBTA Blue Line north to the Revere Beach station.










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[WBP]

The closest beach to the Custom House is Constitution Beach, on the Blue Line, at the Orient Heights T Stop (in East Boston).

From the Custom House, walk 2 minutes to the Aquarium T stop, take the Blue Line towards the airport, and get off at Orient Heights. Constitution Beach is 5 minutes away.

https://www.mass.gov/locations/constitution-beach-park

Across from the Orient Heights T stop is Royal’s Roast Beef (seafood and sandwiches, and fresh fried fish, too). If you feel like taking an Uber from the beach, the best seafood place, nearby, is Belle Isle Seafood.

Constitution Beach is wild. The beach is across the pond from the runways at Logan Airport. You can read the letters on the airplanes, as they are lined up, taxing.

If I had the option, I’d head north to Crane’s Beach in Ipswich, but, you need a car. Constitution Beach is a very easy Blue Line ride from the Custom House, Revere Beach, Blue Line, too, but, further away.

 

[WBP]

The closest beach to the Custom House is Constitution Beach, on the Blue Line, at the Orient Heights T Stop (in East Boston).

From the Custom House, walk 2 minutes to the Aquarium T stop, take the Blue Line towards the airport, and get off at Orient Heights. Constitution Beach is 5 minutes away.

https://www.mass.gov/locations/constitution-beach-park

Across from the Orient Heights T stop is Royal’s Roast Beef (seafood and sandwiches, and fresh fried fish, too). If you feel like taking an Uber from the beach, the best seafood place, nearby, is Belle Isle Seafood.

Constitution Beach is wild. The beach is across the pond from the runways at Logan Airport. You can read the letters on the airplanes, as they are lined up, taxing.

If I had the option, I’d head north to Crane’s Beach in Ipswich, but, you need a car. Constitution Beach is a very easy Blue Line ride from the Custom House, Revere Beach, Blue Line, too, but, further away.

In today’s Boston Globe is this picture of Constitution Beach. A picture is worth a thousand words (although, the picture does not exude the smell of jet fumes, at the beach, while the large/heavy aircraft are lined up, waiting to take off to foreign counties).

Bacteria pollution threatens Massachusetts beaches. This map shows where pollution is worst. - The Boston Globe

Last year, the state reported the third highest rate ever of beaches testing positive for dangerous levels of bacteria.

www.bostonglobe.com

 

[billymach4]

In today’s Boston Globe is this picture of Constitution Beach. A picture is worth a thousand words (although, the picture does not exude the smell of jet fumes, at the beach, while the large/heavy aircraft are lined up, waiting to take off to foreign counties).

View attachment 114299

Bacteria pollution threatens Massachusetts beaches. This map shows where pollution is worst. - The Boston Globe

Last year, the state reported the third highest rate ever of beaches testing positive for dangerous levels of bacteria.

www.bostonglobe.com

Now that's my definition of a day at the Beach! Love that scene.

Jet fumes don't bother me either.

 

[andre10056]

Now that's my definition of a day at the Beach! Love that scene.

Jet fumes don't bother me either.

The planes are actually not that close. But I guess a camera can make it appear so. Otherwise, the beach ain't so hot.

I'd rather stay on the Blue Line subway train for a few stops more and get to Revere Beach. And if you happen to be in the Boston area now, you'd get to see the incredible sand sculptues just created in the International Sand Sculpture competition.

Last year's winner:

This year's winner:

 

[jellen613]

We took the blue line, then a bus to Winthrop Beach. It was off season, however it was still a lot of fun, even found a little Japanese restaurant to have lunch. Looks like currently due to construction the blue line stops at the airport, however there is a shuttle to the 712/713 lines which are the bus routes for Winthrop.