Oyster Blog

Lenox Hotel

A public Pay Toilet in downtown Boston

A public Pay Toilet in downtown Boston

[Flickr/michelle murphy]

One of the many perils of touring any city is trying to find a conveniently located public restroom. Very few restaurants like to accommodate non-paying tourists breathlessly trying to push their way to back, and even most fast food emporiums insist you that become a customer before using their facilities. To make your wanderings throughout Boston as painless as possible, here’s a list of the city’s better placed public bathrooms (for those with small children or elderly adults – you even might want to print this out!):

1. The Boston Public Library – Located on Dartmouth Street in Copley Square. Enter the main building, pass the security equipment/check-in desk, take a left before the stairs and then follow the signs. Make sure to check out the lions guarding the elegant stairway going up to the main reading rooms, and after the pressure is off, take a walk through the lovely center courtyard. Of course, if you’re lucky enough to be staying in one of Copley Square’s great hotels – like the Marriott Copley Place, Westin Copley Place, the Lenox or Fairmont Copley Plaza – you can just go there simply to appreciate the architecture. Open 9 AM – 5 PM Monday-Saturday (longer during the summer) and 1 PM – 5 PM Sundays.

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A wintry Faneuil Hall in Boston, MA

A wintry Faneuil Hall in Boston, MA

[Flickr/LI Refugee]

There’s a reason it’s so inexpensive to travel to Boston December through February; the bone-numbing temperatures and random snow squalls are enough to keep even the heartiest tourists at bay. But there’s no reason to hole up in your hotel the entire time – just dress warmly and remember to bring an extra pair of socks! Here are five fun things to do around Beantown even when the temperature has dipped below freezing:

1. Museum of Fine Arts/Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: The MFA Boston is one of the best museums in the city, and features new exhibits and shows throughout the year. Nearby, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum will treat you to scenes from centuries ago in the mansion’s various rooms. If you’re staying at nearby hotels like The Eliot, the Hilton Boston Back Bay, or The Colonnade, you can definitely brave the walk to the museums. 465 Huntington Avenue /280 The Fenway

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