Hooray! You got to your hotel and checked in! Congratulations, you’re in Boston! If you arrive early in the day on Thursday, you should definitely check out all Beantown has to offer. You’re in a new city, so explore it! Here are a couple of points of interest for you. I’ve also created a Google Map with these locations pinned, as well as a few other Boston classics, so you can navigate and print out walking directions between them.
The Freedom Trail (Free)
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile path that will lead you to 16 different historic sites, from the Boston Commons to the Paul Revere House to the Boston Massacre. Simply follow the red bricks in the sidewalk to get a feel for Downtown Boston and the history of the city.
Boston Common (Free)
The Common is the first stop on the Freedom Trail and home to a number of musicians, balloon artists, and more. The park will be a less lively than normal, but it’s still worth a visit.
Faneuil Hall (Free, shops and restaurants)
The Faneuil Hall Marketplace is always packed and vibrant, full of street performers, restaurants, and specialty shops. The main hall itself is lined wall to wall with fresh and fast food, while the surrounding area has specialty shops with something for everyone. Assuming you’re a nerd going to PAX, set aside some time to check out Newbury Comics; the store is lined wall to wall with awesome comics, books, movies, board games, and more.
Museum of Science ($22 for Exhibit Pass)
While a bit price-y and kid-centered, the Museum of Science is pretty damn cool. It’s home to the world’s largest Van De Graaf generator with a live electricity presentation every couple of hours, a butterfly garden for an extra $5, and exhibits for everything from space to dinosaurs to birds of prey. Worth a trip with friends.
PAX Magical Mystery Tour
The MMT is an annual tour of Boston/Seattle organized by members of the PAX Forums, and is a great way to make new friends before the official show. The tour runs both Wednesday and Thursday. On Thursday, they’ll be hitting up The Freedom Trail and the Museum of Science, so definitely check out their PAX Forum thread for more info.
One of the most common complaints I heard at last year’s show was a lack of good eats around the BCEC, which is completely and utterly false. There are a number of great restaurants within walking distance of PAX, providing a wide range of delicacies. Mexican, Italian, seafood… you name it. I’ve made a separate Google Map showcasing area restaurants. Please reference this when looking for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – you’ll thank me later!
Click here to go to GamerNode’s PAX East 2012 Restaurant Guide
You’re going to want to have at least 2 good meals a day. You’ll be pushing your body to its limits this weekend, and eating well during the show is both important and rewarding.
Oh, and by the way, don’t buy food at the con. Yes, it’s convenient and close, but the quality doesn’t match the high prices. If you’re looking for snacks to get you through the day, I’ve marked a nearby 7-11 on the map.
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