I found myself in Boston recently at a conference but with some time off, and I wanted to visit Boston's historic sites as well as Lexington/Concord and whatever else I could squeeze in. The area abounds in possibilities for side trips, such as the "Witch City" of Salem and, of course, old Plymouth and the Mayflower.
I discovered that tourism is mostly a seasonal, warm-weather business in Boston, about a six-month operation, and to find an operator who can take you to all the sights that you want to visit is rare (any time of the year, actually).
The concierge at my hotel (the Marriott) suggested a small, private tour company run by a retired history teacher, and I connected up with him, a gray-haired grandfather named Bill McDonough who was born and raised and taught in Boston. He's full of anecdotes, facts and humor and possesses a wealth of information, not just about the history of the area, but also about museums, literary references, etc.
The best part was that he picked me up at my hotel, and I got to see and understand much more than you would expect from a canned bus tour. Moreover, in his van, we were able to drive on quiet side streets where buses are prohibited.
McDonough calls his company Boston Private Tours, but it's really just a one-man operation, I believe. I highly recommend it. Even though it's more expensive than the canned tours, it's well worth it. Contact Boston Private Tours by calling toll free, 800 620-1136 or by email to boltonart@hotmail.com.
