Boston Harbor Cruise

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008
Time: 11:45am - 3:00pm
Don’t head home too early, because we’re planning a boat tour of Boston Harbor on the Saturday after the conference! Enjoy a lunch buffet, cash bar, and the city sights aboard one of Boston’s finest harbor cruise boats. Experts onboard will describe some of the historic and green landmarks as you float by. See a wind turbine project and Spectacle Island, a recently completed ‘Big Dig’ brownfield site turned Massachusetts State Park, complete with a green visitors’ center and hilltop views of the city and surrounding islands.

» View cruise destinations on the Conference Map.

*Cruise details subject to change.
*Tours will go on rain or shine.  No refunds will be issued for inclement weather.

5K Race

Date: Friday, November 21, 2008
Time: 1:30 pm
There are few better places in Boston for an autumn run than the Charles River Esplanade. This 5K loop starts at the Arthur Fiedler Statue near the Hatch Memorial Shell and circle the Esplanade Lagoons. Along the way will be glimpses of the Bunker Hill Monument, the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, the Boston Museum of Science, the Longfellow (Salt & Pepper) Bridge, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology before finishing at the Hatch Shell. The race will start promptly at 2:00 p.m. Participants should check in by 1:30 p.m. The Hatch Shell is accessible by a 10-minute walk from the Charles Street Station on the Red Line or the Arlington Street Station on the Green Line. Pack your running shoes!

» View race course on the Conference Map.

*5K details subject to change.
*Tours will go on rain or shine.  No refunds will be issued for inclement weather.

Walking Tours of Boston

What visit to Boston would be complete without seeing some of the historic sights? Professional tour guides will provide a variety of walking tours throughout the conference.

Walking Tour 1: Revisiting the Waterfront

Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Time: 11:30am to 1:30pm
The deep, natural channels of Boston Harbor and Boston’s close proximity to fine fishing grounds enticed many Bostonians to turn to the sea for their livelihood. Ships were the tools of trade, used like floating department stores with captains and agents often bartering goods right on board. Join us as we discover how ocean trade and its related industries would have a great impact on the growth of Boston and the shape and character of its waterfront.

Walking Tour 2: Contemporary City

Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Time: 11:30am to 1:30pm
This tour through the downtown Financial District details the rise of the skyscraper in Boston and traces the city's financial evolution. It begins at the iconic, still controversial brutalist City Hall and ends at the post-modern waterfront.

The city, faced with a major exodus in the 1950s, began comprehensive, sometimes divisive plans to renew its downtown area. Results included Government Center and I. M. Pei's master plan; an early, controversial example of facadism; parks for tough urban spaces; and an adaptive re-use of the former Federal Exchange as time-share condos.

Walking Tour 3: Revisiting the Waterfront

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Time: 11:30am to 1:30pm
The deep, natural channels of Boston Harbor and Boston’s close proximity to fine fishing grounds enticed many Bostonians to turn to the sea for their livelihood. Ships were the tools of trade, used like floating department stores with captains and agents often bartering goods right on board. Join us as we discover how ocean trade and its related industries would have a great impact on the growth of Boston and the shape and character of its waterfront.

Walking Tour 4: Contemporary City

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Time: 11:30am to 1:30pm
This tour through the downtown Financial District details the rise of the skyscraper in Boston and traces the city's financial evolution. It begins at the iconic, still controversial brutalist City Hall and ends at the post-modern waterfront.

The city, faced with a major exodus in the 1950s, began comprehensive, sometimes divisive plans to renew its downtown area. Results included Government Center and I. M. Pei's master plan; an early, controversial example of facadism; parks for tough urban spaces; and an adaptive re-use of the former Federal Exchange as time-share condos.

Walking Tour 5: Heart of the Freedom Trail

Date: Friday, November 21, 2008
Time: 1:30pm to 3:30pm
An ideal introduction to Boston, this historic walk features seven designated Freedom Trail sites. Included are the Old State House, where the Declaration of Independence was first read in Boston; the site of the Boston Massacre; and Faneuil Hall (“The Cradle of Liberty”).

Walking Tour 6: Beacon Hill:

Date: Friday, November 21, 2008
Time: 1:30pm to 3:30pm
From the golden dome of the State House to the elegant homes of Louisburg Square, this tour offers examples of the work of Charles Bulfinch and his followers. Trace the evolution of a neighborhood from rugged hilly pastureland to a lovely, residential area with its historic collection of Federal and Greek Revival row houses. Experience the changing contours of the landscape and Boston's urban transformation. Learn about the people who influenced the path of this development.

Walking Tour 7: Victorian Back Bay:

Date: Friday, November 21, 2008
Time: 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Boston’s Back Bay embraces one of America’s richest collections of art and architecture. Its treasures include Trinity Church, the Boston Public Library, and grand rows of stately townhouses.

Walking Tour 8: North End:

Date: Friday, November 21, 2008
Time: 1:30pm to 3:30pm
The North End is a delightful labyrinth of narrow streets and exotic marketplaces. This tour covers the history of America’s oldest neighborhood from colonial days to the present, as well as the history of the city through waves of 19th century immigration. A gateway for immigrants from around the world, it is also home to the Old North Church and the Paul Revere House, the oldest extant building in Boston.

» View walking tours on the Conference Map.

*All Walking Tour details subject to change.

Note: All Walking Tours will begin at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Volunteers will escort participants to and from the tour via the T. T fare is included. Also, please make time for lunch before or after the tour as lunch is not included.
*Tours will go on rain or shine.  No refunds will be issued for inclement weather.

Biking

Up for an adventure? Try a biking tour. Professional tour guides will provide one-hour lunchtime tours and a three-hour Friday afternoon tour highlighting some of Boston’s historic sights and green buildings. Quality bikes and helmets will be provided. Space is limited, so sign up early!

Wednesday Bike Tour:

Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Time: 11:45am to 1:30pm
Route:
1. Artists for Humanity, 100 West 2nd Street, S. Boston
2. Macallen Building, 135-145 Dorchester Ave, S. Boston
3. Manulife Building, 601 Congress St, S. Boston
4. Children’s Museum, 300 Congress St., Boston

Thursday Bike Tour:

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Time: 11:45am to 1:30pm
Route:
1. Artists for Humanity, 100 West 2nd Street, S. Boston
2. Macallen Building, 135-145 Dorchester Ave, S. Boston
3. Manulife Building, 601 Congress St, S. Boston
4. Children’s Museum, 300 Congress St., Boston

Friday Bike Tour:

Date: Friday, November 21, 2008
Time: 1:45pm to 5:00pm
Route:
1. Artists for Humanity, 100 West 2nd Street, S. Boston
2. Macallen Building, 135-145 Dorchester Ave, S. Boston
3. Manulife Building, 601 Congress St, S. Boston
4. Children’s Museum, 300 Congress St., Boston
5. WGBH, 125 Western Ave, Brighton
6. Stata Center – MIT, 32 Vassar St, Cambridge
7. City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, Cambridge
8. Genzyme Center, 500 Kendall St, Cambridge

» View bike tours on the Conference Map.

*Biking details subject to change.

Note: Lunch is not included. Please make time for lunch either before or after your tour.
*Tours will go on rain or shine.  No refunds will be issued for inclement weather.