Trip Coach: November 4, 2008

_______________________

Brooklyn, N.Y.: Eric, what are a couple good neighborhoods to aim for when booking? I often use Hotwire and Priceline to book hotels, but I seem to end up in dull neighborhoods like the financial district. Much obliged.

Eric Wechter: Well, without knowing exactly what type of neighborhood will appeal to you (and in Boston each neighborhood is quite distinctive, with something for everyone), I'll recommend two that are decidedly not "dull like the financial district." For cozy B&B's and character-infused lodgings, try the South End. A lively neighborhood animated in large part by Boston's gay community, it has great restaurants, cafés, and boutiques, and is tempered by peaceful brownstone- and tree-lined streets. 82 Chandler Street B&B is often a good bargain in this neighborhood. For a student scene replete with a strip of college bars and nightclubs, check out Kenmore Square, where you're also right next to the mayhem that is Fenway Park as well as the tranquility that is the chain of parks known as the Emerald Necklace.

_______________________

Burlington, Vt.: One of the problems I have when I visit is that I don't know where to meet the locals. There seem to be so many chain restaurants and stores. What are some places where I could rub shoulders with the locals? I went to John Harvards' brew house (pub?) once and liked it.

Eric Wechter: Ah yes, Boston, too, is not immune to the metastasis of character-crushing chains and numbing gentrification, an insidious...oh my, I seem to have reflexively launched into my anti-development rant again.... Actually, there are a number of neighborhoods in Boston that resolutely retain an old-world charm and local feel. Back Bay residents once famously staged a sit-in to prevent developers from paving over their elegant brick sidewalks, and the neighborhood today looks much like it did during the 1800s. But you want to meet some locals, so I'd say head to the North End, Boston's Little Italy, where many residents have roots three and four generations deep. Caffe Vittoria is where they go for espresso, a great selection of grappa, and conversation, which often they are happy to include strangers in on. Another good local hang happens at the weekend jazz brunch at Johnny D's Uptown in Somerville. And not too far from John Harvard's is another great student and local spot, the Plough and Stars, which has local bands, readings, and is reputed to be the place where Emerson's literature journal Ploughshares was conceived.

_______________________

Providence, R.I.: Go Sox! How can I arrange to get a tour of the stadium? Is there a fee?

Eric Wechter: Tours are $12 for adults and $10 for kids 2 to 15. On game days tours are offered from 9am to 4pm. They are first-come first served. Call the Fenway Tour Office 617/226-6666.

_______________________

Denver, Colo.: I hear that driving is a nightmare. But is the subway system thorough enough that a car isn't necessary?

Eric Wechter: Driving around Boston, and then driving around Boston some more in search of parking can indeed, be a nightmare—a recurring one. So yes, ditch the car and hop on the "T." It is quite thorough, covering all points of interest in the city and just beyond the city limits. More often than not there's a T stop a block or less from wherever you want to go. And for even more coverage, get an MBTA Link Pass ($9 per day $15 per week), which gives you unlimited travel on subways, buses, and inner-harbor ferries.