Boston
Whether you call it Bean Town, The Cradle of Liberty, The Walking City, The Hub of the Universe or The Athens of America there is no denying that Boston is a first-rate city that deserves a special spot on your itinerary.
Boston is the largest city in New England and is also one of the oldest cities in the nation. In fact, the first park that was established in the U.S. is right smack dab in the heart of the city – the Boston Commons. The famous Bull & Finch Pub (known for the inspiration it provided for the popular sitcom Cheers) sits on the northern edge of the Commons.
In the 1770s, British attempts to exert more-stringent control on the thirteen colonies—primarily via taxation—led to the American Revolution. The Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party and several early battles—including the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston—occurred in or near the city. It was during this period that Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride.
Weather:
Weather in Boston is as varied as the seasons, Summer is always a delight, with sunny warm days, but as always, fall is a great time to visit for those who love to walk and explore. Spring and Winter are not as busy and will let you see more attractions and venues with fewer crowds.
Neighborhoods:
Boston is composed of different neighborhoods and villages all with their own charm and character. Most common are the North End, Chinatown, Allston, Brighton, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Charleston, Dorchester, Downtown. East Boston, Fenway/Kenmore, Financial District, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Mission Hill, Roslindale,and Roxbury, to name a few. Although, it is not formally part of Boston, Cambridge does deserve special mention.
Sports & Events:
Activities in Boston run the gauntlet from Major League Sports, to festivals, markets, and walking tours. Sports are highlighted by some major teams in all venues – Boston Red Sox Baseball team, Bruins Hockey, Patriots Football, the Celtics Basketball, and the Boston Revolution Soccer team.
There are plenty of events in Boston that take place each year such as the Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Italian Feast Days, Boston First Night, reenactment of the Boston Tea party and the famous Boston Fourth of July extravaganza, with the Boston Pops, are all a must do and must see to get a feel for the city of Boston and it’s people and heritage.
There are plenty of other fun things to do during your visit to Boston as well. The Swan Boats in the Boston Commons are an iconic Boston activity as is Ice Skating on the Commons in the winter.
Tours & Museums:
Many areas of Boston have quirky little tours of all kinds. Little Italy has a great culinary tour of the North End and there is also a China Town Culinary Tour. The Duck Tours and waterfront tours are a great choice if you want to spend some time on the water. There are plenty of Self Guided tours in Boston as well, such as the Freedom Trail, the Black Heritage Trail and the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail.
There are many Museums and historic points of interest around the city of Boston, including the Boston Museum of Art, The Science Museum, Boston Aquarium, The Jewish Holocaust Memorial, Old City Hall, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Park Street Church, John Hancock Tower (the tallest building in the North East), Kings Chapel and the Kings Chapel Burying Ground, Robert Shaw and the 54th regiment memorial, State House and the Old State House, Old South Meetinghouse, Old Corner Bookstore, the Paul Revere House, the Ebenezer Hancock House, the Old North Church, and the USS Constitution. The list goes on and on but the ones above should keep you quite occupied!
Shopping:
Boston has an abundance of excellent shops including The Prudential Center, Newbury Street and Faneuil Hall just to mention a few.
Restaurants & Bars:
Foodies Unite! While Boston is known for its baked beans and chowder, it is actually is a mecca for cultural food of all kinds from Jewish to Italian and Middle Eastern to Mexican. If you’re in the mood for a great meal Boston has several top restaurants to choose from. With its seaside location Boston is the perfect fit for anyone who enjoys seafood, in fact some of the freshest lobster in the nation can be found in restaurants in the city.
Did you know the oldest restaurant in America, the Union Oyster House, is located in Boston?
Here is a short list of restaurants we recommend:
Union Oyster House, Anthony’s Pier 4, Legal Seafood, Charter House, Sunset Bar & Grill (over 100 beers on tap), The Grasshopper (excellent Vegan fare), The Border Cafe in Cambridge (Mexican), Empire Garden Restaurant (Chinese Dim Sum), Top of the Hub & Quincy Market
If you fancy the world’s finest Italian cuisine outside of Tuscany and you find yourself in Boston’s North End (also known as Little Italy) get yourself prepared for a gastronomy treat. There you can enjoy everything from the world’s freshest cannoli to lobster stuffed ravioli with mushrooms. Yum!
If food isn’t your thing but a nice beer or wine is just the ticket here is a list of a few of the different pubs and bars around the city:
Historic Watering Holes: Green Dragon Tavern, Warren Tavern, Bell In Hand (oldest bar in the nation), Union Oyster House
Good Time Bars: Bull & Finch Pub (from the show Cheers), Bukowski Tavern, Model Cafe, The Other Side Cafe, Sunset Grill & Tap, The Public House, T.T. & The Bears, The Middle East (live music)
Of course the famous Sam Adams brewery is located in Boston and deserves a look-see for a taste of their fine beer.
Accommodation:
Boston is an amazing city with a wealth of hotels, from boutiques to historic Inns and houseboat rentals there are plenty of establishments where you can get a little shut-eye.
We’ve listed some of the most popular hotels in Boston below:
Copley Square Hotel, The Liberty Hotel (used to be the Charles Street Jail), Boston Marriott Copley, Omni Parker House (oldest hotel in Boston), Four Seasons and one of our favorites – The Copley Square Hotel – a landmark boutique in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood and oh so nice!
Getting Around Boston:
Boston has excellent public transportation thanks to the T system. The T goes most everywhere you want to go and is easy to jump on and off for sightseeing. There are also plenty of city taxis and getting around by car is a another solution but keep in mind that Boston drivers are not known for their patience. Be sure to have a good street map or GPS and beware the parking & garage fees that are typical of any city. There is plenty of street parking but many neighborhoods only allow residents to park overnight and without a resident sticker you will get a ticket. There are also trolley cars in some areas that will shuttle you back and forth from some hotels and attractions.
Nearby Destinations:
If you plan to stay in the area for a while, there are many destinations within a 1 – 3 hour drive of Boston that you can explore.
During the winter you can head west to the Berkshire Mountains, for some fine skiing, great B & B’s and a plethora of fine dining.
About an hour and a half west of Boston is the city of Springfield which is host to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Fifteen minutes from Springfield is a Six Flags Amusement Park in Agawam.
North of Boston lies several more towns & cities steeped in history. Two of the most popular are Gloucester & Salem. Gloucester is a well-known Massachusetts fishing & lobstering hub (the city featured in the movie The Perfect Storm) and of course Salem is one of the nation’s most historical towns (famous for the Salem Witch Trials). Salem is great all year round and yes you will probably see modern-day witches walking the streets but it’s a particularly special place to be around Halloween. If your trip to Boston brings you during the Halloween season you should try to make a day trip to Salem.
South of Boston will bring you to Plymouth which is known as America’s Hometown. Plymouth is where it all began – the first Thanksgiving was held here and it’s the home of the famous Plymouth Rock, tons of fantastic restaurants & shops and plenty of sandy beaches. Continue a little further south (about 20 minutes) and you will arrive on Cape Cod with great sand beaches, golf, mini golf & National Seashore.
Spend some time exploring the great state of Massachusetts. You won’t be sorry – famous brew pubs, the greatest history in the nation, fantastic cuisine and out of this world beaches – there is literally something for everyone here! We love Massachusetts and can’t wait to help you discover it!
Education:
Boston is a city where higher learning has always been a priority. The city and surrounding area is a hub for a large number of Universities and Colleges. Some of the area institutions are known would wide, such as Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Tufts, Boston College, Northeastern, Berklee College of Music, Suffolk University, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Bentley, Brandeis University, and Emerson. The list is extensive and there is a college for everyone and for every degree imaginable.
Here are a few other colleges in the area:
UMass Boston, Boston Conservatory, Cambridge College, Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Lasell College, Lesley University, New England School of Photography, New England Institute of Art, Quincy College, New England School of Law, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Wheelock College, Wentworth Institute of Technology & Mount Ida College.
Top Rate Hospitals & Medical Facilities:
Boston has some of the finest hospitals in the country. It would be wrong for us not to mention the area hospitals because many people travel from around the country to receive medical care here. Also, if you are in Boston on vacation and feel the need for some medical attention consider yourself lucky – you will be well taken care of here. Not only is Boston home to some of the most brilliant minds in modern medicine but it is also home to the world-renowned, New England Journal of Medicine.
Some top ranked hospitals include Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel & Shriner’s Children Hospital.
Speaking from personal experience Mass General is an incredible hospital and I can’t say enough good things about it. Having several health problems over the last couple of years I decided to go to Boston this time around and was blown away at the facilities in Mass General. The nurses and doctors are some of the best I have ever had. If you’re visiting Boston and need hospitalization go to Mass General.