For the excursions that used public transportation, find the details on the Travel page.
Tuesday Excursions:
Kayaking on the Charles
One of the best ways to enjoy Boston in the summer is to kayak the beautiful Charles River and take in the sights of Cambridge and Boston on either side. A great excursion for Tuesday afternoon, we departed BU at 2pm and kayaked for two hours. Kayaking was $55 for a single kayak or $45 for a shared double kayak (transportation included). Participants packed a lunch.
Duck Boats
The Duck Tour is a great way to see Boston from all different ways. We started out by cruising through Boston on a World War II style amphibious vehicle. Participants received a narrated 80-minute sightseeing tour including everything from the State House to Bunker Hill all the way to Copley Square. It included several interesting insights about this unique and wonderful city. The tour finished by splashing into the Charles River for views of the Boston and Cambridge skylines. The tour departed BU at 2pm. The ride was $27.50, and the starting point could be reached via public transportation.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
The Harvard Museum of Natural History is just a short 10-minute walk from the Harvard Square T-station. For $12, you can explore exhibits aimed to enhance public understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the human place in it. This excursion departed BU at 2pm and used public transportation.
Wednesday Excursion and Special Events:
New Member’s Breakfast
Were you new to ABLE this year? You were invited to have breakfast with the board members and discover why we call ABLE “Summer Camp.” Breakfast was on the 18th floor of StuVi, our campus dorms, which has a view of the Charles River and our campus. SimBio, a vendor who has been a long-time ABLE supporter, generously sponsored this event.
HHMI’s Night at the Movies
We saw the premier of the new short film Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn from 5-6pm. Ten thousand years ago, corn didn’t exist anywhere in the world, and until recently scientists argued vehemently about its origins. Today, the crop is consumed voraciously, by us, by our livestock, and as a major part of processed foods. So where did it come from? This is the story of the genetic changes involved in the transformation of teosinte, a wild grass, into corn. Dr. Ellie Rice, corn biologist and science education fellow at HHMI, was available for Q&A after the film. Refreshments were served and this event concluded prior to the Red Sox game (see below).
Red Sox @ Fenway
One of the best parts about BU’s campus is its close proximity to historical Fenway Park! We walked to Fenway Park and attended a Red Sox game on Wednesday night. The game started at 7:10 against the Orioles, but we headed towards Fenway around 6:30. The price of tickets was $29 per person for bleacher seats or $50 for infield grandstand seats. We watched the Red Sox play, grabbed a Fenway frank, and explored the oldest ballpark in MLB!
Thursday Special Event:
Hayden McNeil/Late Nite Labs Mixer
Hayden McNeil, a long-time ABLE supporter, in collaboration with Late Nite Labs, generously sponsored this social from 6-8pm in the Trustee’s Ballroom, located on the 9th floor of the Questrom School of Business. It included refreshments and entertainment to accompany a great view of the Boston skyline.
Saturday Excursions:
Woods Hole
Those staying in Boston on Saturday who wanted to go explore Cape Cod went to Woods Hole for the day. We took a coach bus down into the Cape to explore shops, restaurants, and various beautiful sights along the beach. There was a tour of the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory, which is an international center for natural science and an opportunity to see current projects and observe living marine organisms. Cost was $65 per person, including transportation and lunch from Pie in the Sky, a local bakery and cafe. The lunch area is an outdoor spot near the beach, so some participants brought beach attire!
Freedom Trail/Quincy Market
A guided tour of the Freedom Trail is a fantastic way to learn about the 16 historically significant sites on the 2.5 mile trail. For $15 plus the cost of public transportation, participants explored museums, meetinghouses, churches, and more. We learned local Boston history while enjoying a narrated tour with an 18th-century costumed guide. The tour lasted about 90 minutes on Saturday morning. Lunch was not provided, but the tour passed near several great places for lunch, including Faneuil Hall. After the tour, participants explored all the great shops and restaurants in the area or headed to the Aquarium (see below).
Whale Watch
A whale watching excursion was held Saturday at 9 am, departing from the New England Aquarium and lasting for three hours. Participants hopped on board a comfortable catamaran until they reached the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a rich feeding ground for whales, dolphins, and other marine life. We learned about the various marine mammals from onboard naturalists. The tour was $36, and the starting point was reached via public transportation.
Aquarium
Saturday at 2 pm, we held an excursion to the New England Aquarium. Entrance to the museum was $21, and we travelled via public transportation to get there. There are thousands of aquatic animals to visit here at the aquarium including lionfish, sea dragons, octopus, and sea lions. During their visit, they explored all the exhibits and learned about all of these animals up close! Lunch was not provided.