What's near South Station?

We are staying in Plymouth this summer and plan to take public transportation from Plymouth to South Station in Boston. What do you recommend seeing or doing that is a short walk from South Station(within 15 minutes)? Any fantastic restaurants nearby? How far a walk to Nathaniel Hall?

P.S. My wife is lerrie of the subway.

What's near South Station?

The subway is not a big deal. It%26#39;s really fine... tell her no worries. It%26#39;s very hard to get lost on the subway. The map is simple. It%26#39;s not like NYC with a zillion lines, locals and express trains. It%26#39;s very basic. During summer months especially, there are TONS of tourists on the trains. People tend to be friendly and welcoming. Yes, it smells and it%26#39;s not clean like the DC system and yes if you fall asleep or leave your bag open with a wallet sticking out you could get robbed but... it%26#39;s basically fine... the worst thing about the trains is getting smushed in at rush hour (there you can find some weirdos, but a swift elbow gets rid of them). The subway is fine.

South Station itself isn%26#39;t that exciting. There%26#39;s the train station, a bus station, the federal reserve bank and office buildings. Its closest neighbor is the financial district. HOWEVER...within 5-10 mins you have Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, the waterfront, the Boston Harbor Hotel with its gorgeous outdoor area/gazebo, Faneuil Hall, etc.

That said, the trains can take you anywhere within minutes. In SSTation, you can jump on the red line and take it into Cambridge or just a few stops to Park Street and get out at the Common.

What's near South Station?

Do you mean Fanueil Hall Marketplace? It is about a 10 minute walk from South Station. As is the waterfront area, the Aquarium and South Boston.

There are several great restaurants and bars in the immediate area also. When looking in guide books and on maps, you%26#39;ll want to look at the Waterfront and Financial District areas, as South Station is smack in the middle of them.

As others have indicated, within 15 minutes you can get to Downtown Crossing, Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market, the Financial District and the Waterfront. If you expanded it to half an hour, you could even get to Back Bay (including Copley Square) and Beacon Hill.

And also as the others have told you, the subway is safe and easy.

Are you from Rochester, NY? If so, don%26#39;t worry -- I%26#39;m from there, and if I can get my entire family on the subway when they are used to driving everywhere, you shouldn%26#39;t have a problem. The subway here only has a few lines, and they are color-coded. Most people are friendly, although not like in Rochester (sorry other Bostonians), but they%26#39;ll be able to help if you ask.

As others have said, Faneuil Hall and the Aquarium are nearby. Also, Filene%26#39;s Basement and other shopping. How long are you planning to be in Boston? Is there a reason you%26#39;re limited to a 15-min walk? If so, you can always take the subway to other places.

No need to be leerie of the Boston subway,i have been to NYC and always ride the subway and have no fears at all been doing it many years.

Carab20, yes, I am from Rochester, NY.

Regarding the 15 minute walk limit, I have arthritic knees. Also, I know my wife will be going in and out of stores, so I know I will be on my feet a lot.

Thanks to all for very useful information!

Oldies---I didn%26#39;t mean I thought the NYC subway was dangerous---I meant it%26#39;s confusing. There are way more lines and types of trains. I think it%26#39;s easier to get lost there than it is in Boston. I wasn%26#39;t sure if that%26#39;s why she was leary of the trains here.

letslive,

Well, then, welcome to Boston from a displaced Rochesterian -- actually, Irondequoit-ian (and soon to be new Chicago-an -- I%26#39;m moving again). If your wife feels comfortable walking on her own, it%26#39;s a straight shot up to Washington St reet, and you could wait for her in South Station: plenty of tables, or there is a nice sandwich place called Sebastian%26#39;s on the way that is open on the weekdays. In ';Downtown Crossing'; (along Washington St), there is Macys, Filene%26#39;s Basement, H%26amp;M, etc. If you like books, there is the Brattle Book Store (a used shop) nearby on West St, or a large Border%26#39;s. Downtown, most of the stores, except for Filene%26#39;s Basement and a large costume jewelry store called ';So Good,'; you can find in Rochester now... There are other places in the city with things you can%26#39;t find -- Crate and Barrel is one that comes to mind.

Let me know if you -- or your wife -- have other specific questions!