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US Airways Flights from Chicago (ORD) to Boston (BOS)
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on US Airways, which operates 6 regularly scheduled daily non-stop flights from Chicago (ORD) to Boston (BOS), departing between 6:30am and 8:45pm, and 2 additional non-stop flights, departing between 1:55pm and 5:10pm on select days of the week. Usually a Boeing 737-300 or Boeing 757-200 is flown for this route. The average travel time from Chicago, IL to Boston, MA is 2 hours and 16 minutes.
During your Boston vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
New England Aquarium
This complex is home to more than 15,000 fish and aquatic mammals, and at busy times, it seems to contain at least that many people -- in July and August, try to make this your first stop of the morning, especially on weekends. You'll want to spend at least half a day here, and huge afternoon crowds can make getting around painfully slow. Also consider investing in a Boston CityPass; it allows you to skip the ticket line, which can be uncomfortably long, and may represent a savings on the steep admission charge. The Simons IMAX Theatre, which has its own building, hours, and admission fees, is worth planning ahead for too. Its 85-foot-by-65-foot screen shows 3-D films with digital sound that concentrate on the natural world. It's a dizzying experience.The focal point of the main building is the four-story, 200,000-gallon Giant Ocean Tank. A four-story spiral ramp encircles the tank, which contains a replica of a Caribbean coral reef and an assortment of sea creatures that seem to coexist amazingly well. Part of the reason for the peace might be that scuba divers feed the sharks twice a day. Other exhibits show off freshwater and tropical specimens, a wide variety of jellyfish, denizens of the Amazon, and the ecology of Boston Harbor. The floating marine mammal pavilion, Discovery, is home to performing sea lions. At the Edge of the Sea exhibit, visitors can touch the sea stars, sea urchins, and horseshoe crabs in the tide pool. The Aquarium Medical Center is especially involving -- it's a working veterinary hospital.Naturalist-led harbor tours that teach "Science at Sea" run daily in the spring, summer, and fall. Discounts are available when you combine a visit to the aquarium with an IMAX film, harbor tour, or whale watch.
Paul Revere House
One of the most pleasant stops on the Freedom Trail, this 2 1/2-story wood structure presents history on a human scale. Revere was living here when he set out for Lexington on April 18, 1775, a feat immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride" ("Listen, my children, and you shall hear, / Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere"). The oldest house in downtown Boston, it was built around 1680, bought by Revere in 1770, and put to a number of uses before being turned into a museum in the early 20th century. It holds neatly arranged and identified 17th- and 18th-century furnishings and artifacts, including the famous Revere silver, considered some of the finest anywhere.The thought-provoking tour is self-guided, with staff members around in case you have questions. The format allows you to linger on the artifacts that hold your interest. Revere had 16 children (he called them "my lambs") -- eight with each of his two wives -- and he supported the family with a thriving silversmith's trade. At his home, you'll get a good sense of the risks he took in the events that led to the Revolutionary War.Across the courtyard is the home of Revere's Hichborn cousins, the Pierce/Hichborn House. The 1711 Georgian-style home is a rare example of 18th-century middle-class architecture. It's suitably furnished and shown only by guided tour (usually twice a day at busy times). Call the Paul Revere House for schedules.Before you leave North Square, look across the cobblestone plaza at Sacred Heart Church. It was established in 1833 as the Seamen's Bethel, a church devoted to the needs of the mariners who frequented the area. Today it's Roman Catholic, and one Mass every Sunday is in Italian. Wharves ran up almost this far in colonial days; in the 19th century, this was a notorious red-light district.To continue on the Freedom Trail: The trail leaves the square on Prince Street and runs along Hanover Street past Clark Street. Before turning onto Prince Street, take a few steps down Garden Court Street and look for no. 4, on the right. The private residence was the birthplace of Rose Fitzgerald (later Kennedy).
Nichols House Museum
A stroll around Beacon Hill can leave visitors wishing to know what the stately homes look like inside. This is one of the only places to satisfy your curiosity. This 1804 home is decorated with beautiful antique furnishings collected by several generations of the Nichols family. Its most prominent occupant, Rose Standish Nichols, was a suffragist and a pioneering landscape designer. Her legacy includes not just family heirlooms but objects she brought back from her many travels. Open days may vary, so call ahead.
Make your reservations for discount hotel rooms in the
Boston area, including:
Charlesmark Hotel
In an excellent location overlooking the Boston Marathon finish line, the Charlesmark has a boutique feel and great prices. It's both luxurious and -- literally, not figuratively -- no frills. The sleek, contemporary design evokes a yacht, using custom furnishings to pack plenty of comfort into the compact spaces of the 1886 building. While the rooms are small, they have enough space to hold a comfortable chair. Plus, beds have pillow-top mattresses. The amenities don't challenge the perks of the large hotels in this neighborhood, but they're more than sufficient for most business or leisure travelers. The second-floor lobby holds a computer and printer for guests' use. Breakfast is included in the rates, and light refreshments such as bottled water and fruit are always available at no charge, part of management's policy not to pile a lot of incidentals onto your bill (the same rationale applies to the free local phone calls). The only real drawback is that the building has just one elevator -- and if that's your biggest problem, you're doing pretty well.
Royal Sonesta Hotel
This luxurious hotel is in a curious location -- it's close to only a few things but convenient to everything, making it a good choice for both business travelers (who can take advantage of Wi-Fi access throughout the building) and families. The CambridgeSide Galleria mall is across the street, the Museum of Science is around the corner, and downtown Boston is close at hand. In the other direction, MIT and the technology hotbed of Kendall Square are 10 minutes away on foot. In the midst of all this activity, the hotel achieves a serene atmosphere, thanks in part to the always-helpful staff. Most of the spacious rooms in the 10-story building have lovely views of the river or the city (higher prices for better views). Everything is custom-designed in modern, comfortable style, and is regularly refurbished. Original contemporary artwork, including pieces by Andy Warhol and Frank Stella, hangs throughout the public spaces and guest rooms. The closest competition is the new Hotel Marlowe, across the street, which offers less extensive fitness options (there's no pool) and fewer river views.Facilities: Restaurant; cafe with seasonal outdoor seating; heated indoor/outdoor pool with retractable roof; well-equipped health club and spa; bike rental (seasonal); concierge; courtesy van; business center; room service until 1am; massage; laundry service; dry cleaning. Rooms for travelers with disabilities are available; staff is trained in disability awareness.
YWCA Boston, Berkeley Residence
This pleasant, convenient women-only hotel and residence offers a dining room, patio garden, piano, and library. The well-kept public areas also include a TV lounge. The dorm-style guest rooms are basic, containing little more than beds, but they're well maintained and comfortable -- not plush, but not cells either. That description might not seem to justify the prices, but check around a little before you turn up your nose.
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