Boston - Things to See & Do

Boston is so compact and walkable that you can see and do most everything you want on foot. To guide you in your travels, here's our list of can't-miss attractions:
20. Boston Public Library

A library disguised as a museum disguised as a park, the BPL (America's first lending library) draws bibliophiles, art snobs, and Internet addicts alike.
19. MIT Museum

A quirky, well-executed collection of robots, holograms, and other things that go "blip" in the night.
18. New England Aquarium

Children of all ages will delight in the Aquarium's array of Technicolor denizens of the deep, not to mention its 4-story shark tank and IMAX theater.
17. Arnold Arboretum

One of Boston's largest parks, the Arboretum's rolling, lilac-blanketed expanses are the perfect escape from the cramped confines of the city.
16. Haymarket

The sheer chaos of Boston's multi-block farmers' market---right in the heart of Downtown---must be seen to be believed.
15. Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market

The world's only shopping mall pretending to be a historical landmark, these twin colonial buildings are the most visited spots in the city.
14. Tremont St

It may not be as chic as Newbury St., but for great gourmet food and fabulous shopping, the South End's main drag can't be beat.
13. Sam Adams Brewery

All you ever wanted to know about beer and beer brewing, brought to you by America's winningest brew. Plus free beer! Oh, did we mention free beer?
12. Beacon Hill

The city's oldest and snobbiest quarter is classic Boston, with winding cobblestone streets crammed full of cute shops, gas lamps, private parks, and quaint brownstones with purple windows.
11. Christian Science Plaza

An epic expanse of grass and concrete, dominated by the ornate Mother Church, centered on a dramatic reflecting pool, and home to the fascinating Mary Baker Eddy Library.
10. Harvard University

Prestigious Harvard is more than just a place to pahk yah cah. With a historic campus and several world-class museums---showcasing the work of everyone from the Mayans to Mondrian---the country's wealthiest university is well worth a visit.
9. Old State House

An informative, interactive museum of the early history of Boston---the highlight of the busy Freedom Trail.
8. Museum of Fine Arts

Impressive to the point of exhaustion, the globetrotting MFA features every artistic and artisanal tradition known to mankind, including Japanese samurai armor, medieval musical instruments, and the largest Monet collection outside France.
7. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Well-maintained. Breathtaking. Extravagant....and that's just the atrium courtyard. Housed in a lavish turn-of-the-century mansion, the most delightful museum in Boston features the work of some of the past few centuries' most impressive artists and authors, from Dante to Rembrandt.
6. Public Garden & Swan Boats

A lush, beautifully manicured park smack dab in the middle of the city, the Public Garden offers year-round flowers, Boston's most beloved statue (Make Way for Ducklings), and quiet sunset trips aboard the famed Swan Boats.
5. Fenway Park

Tourists may think Boston revolves around the Freedom Trail, but Bostonians know the city's heart lies just inside the gates of storied Fenway, America's oldest and smallest baseball park.
4. Newbury St

The exception to the Puritan rule, chic Newbury St. is an 8-block parade of everything fashionable, form-fitting, and fabulous---although the high-priced attitude belies what is actually quite a diverse lineup of shops and trendy outdoor cafés, with everything from sleek luxury boutiques to musty used bookstores.
3. North End

Signs in the North End point to Genoa, Roma, and Napoli, but the fastest way there is through the doors of one of the many Old World bakeries, eateries, and caffès that line the streets of this charming Italian-American enclave.
2. Harvard Square

Where else can you find awestruck tourists, angry teenagers, over 300 registered street performers, the world's densest collection of bookstores, and countless current and future yuppies---all on the same block?
1. Freedom Trail

300 years in 2mi.?! It's funny because it's true. Just follow the red brick road (and the camera-wielding tourist hordes) on this trip back in time to the country's exciting revolutionary beginnings.



Boston, Massachusetts travel guide
Boston, Massachusetts - a traveler's guide to the best sites and tourist attractions in this historical city that is America's birthplace.

Boston, Massachusetts is one of the best cities to visit in the United States not only because it holds a lot of America's history but also because it is a "walking city." There are a lot of exciting things to see and do and many sites are centrally located, within walking distance of each other.

One way to view this historical city that is America's birthplace is to take a sightseeing tour by trolley or walk along the Freedom Trail. This popular tourist attraction is actually a red line painted on the sidewalk which meanders through Boston covering many important historical places such as the Old North Church where lanterns were hung "one if by land, two if by sea" during the famous ride of Paul Revere and the site of the Boston Massacre.

Boston's Freedom Trail has several burial grounds along the way in which there are some signers of the Declaration of Independence laid to rest as well as the woman who was known as Mother Goose.

The Freedom Trail also passes through the Boston Common and Fanueil Hall -- which has served as a meeting place since the 1700's when Samuel Adams and other patriots were moving towards the Revolutionary War -- and is now also a fabulous place to both shop and dine. Food stations have almost every kind of food imaginable including delicious bakeries and ice cream. There is also a large number of stores to choose from including pushcart vendors selling all sorts of unusual things as well as your basic Boston souvenirs. If you want to experience Boston, Fanueil Hall should definitely be a stop on your list.

While near the Boston Common don't miss the Public Garden across the street (ask a passerby in which direction to walk). There you will find the Swan Boats (which you can ride on for a few dollars) in warmer weather and a very beautiful setting all year round. A ride on the swan boats is ideal for the kids (they love feeding the ducks in the pond and are usually amazed by the entire concept of the swan boat). However, romantics visiting Boston should not miss the Public Garden either as it is the perfect place to sit, chat and do what couples do and is a frequent place for proposals and even a wedding now and then.

If you didn't do enough shopping at Fanueil Hall, a side trip to Boston's Dowtown Crossing is recommended. Here you will find the famous original Filene's Basement department store where the automatic markdown program ensures bargains galore!

The best way to get around in Boston is by public transportation which is run by the MBTA better known as "The T" to most Bostonians. The T sells visitor passes at fair prices and taking advantage of this will allow you to see even more sites. To venture outside of Boston, take the T to Cambridge and visit Harvard Square. In addition to the prestigious school located there, Harvard University, there is always something interesting to see and do in Harvard Square.

Lastly, I would recommend skipping the John Hancock Building observatory. It can be disappointing. An alternative insider tip: for a really great view of Boston's skyline, check it out from Logan Airport. Harborside Drive at Logan Airport is a great place to view the city and take photos of the skyline against the water of Boston Harbor. At night it is especially breathtaking. Enjoy this fine city!