@RonaldP66 Good advice here. In terms of sightseeing, I’d keep it to Boston itself to keep it easy. Salem is a bit off the beaten path and not fully worth it. Cambridge/Boston give you plenty to see. For the poster who suggested Brandeis and Tufts…know that Brandeis is definitely suburban…you are really stuck out in Waltham with just a commuter rail and NOTHING walkable. Tufts will have its own Green Line (subway/light rail) stop by the time your daughter is there. If she is looking for “city” it is “city light” in this Bostonian’s opinion. A nice option for kids who want convenience. A tough admit, though. Best of luck!
I will second the staying in Boston to sight see - there is so much to do in Boston - historic sites, museums, lovely outdoor spaces, great food places, etc. I wouldn’t spend my only free day going to Salem (a commuter train ride away). (This is from somebody who has been visiting Boston for over ten years and still finds new places to see in the city almost every visit).
IMO, it’s easy to do all three of those in a day. BU and NE are practically next to each other.
Many people say it’s best to do two a day. Sometimes you have to, but those are all so close to each other. Personally, I’d use one day for the colleges and another day to do fun stuff. Lots to see in Boston.
If you are at BU you might as well go across the river to see Cambridge, America’s first college town and perhaps still the ultimate college town. I am not suggesting MIT and Harvard as target schools, but I highly recommend Cambridge as a great tourist stop if you are sightseeing in Boston. Harvard Yard is steeped in history; that’s where George Washington and his troops stayed during the revolution and the idea of independence from Britain was conceived. The campus also has many top rated museums if you are into those too. And MIT admissions gives one of the best college application seminars IMO for prospective students and their families. Its worth attending and listening to even if you are not applying there.
Personally I’d just do the freedom trail for a day of sightseeing. You see loads of Boston, get the history fix in, and can stop in at whatever museums etc you want along the way. Then hang out in back bay etc in the evening.
My d didn’t like Brandeis - it really does feel rural and detached - but we also know kids who love it.
There is so much to see and do in Boston. I’m not sure I’d recommend trekking to Salem either (now…if you were there in October…that would be another story).
BU and NEU are not practically next to each other. They are either a long walk or a nice T ride apart.
We toured BU and New England Conservatory in the same day (NEC is near to NEU). And that really took some planning…because we wanted to have lunch between.
Regardless…if you want to do a tour and info session at each college…these are typically scheduled so that you can do one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
If you are going in June…check the Red Sox schedule. If there is a home game, that area around Kenmore Square will be wild…and especially if the team wins!