While Boston serves up everything for the historian, gourmet, sports lover, shopper, and people-watcher in you, it is possible to see the sights in three days -- and have a blast in the process.
What you'll need:
Boston is a big city with lots to see, but it's also very tourist-friendly, making it easy for visitors to become familiar with the districts, popular attractions and main streets. In order to get the most out of the city, I recommend you visit between March and April, and between late August and October, as you'll be doing a lot of walking (no excuses). In addition to your sneakers, it's a good idea to walk around with a map, in order to better illustrate the city's main areas, which include:
A map of the "T," the city's subway line, will also come in handy for long distances. You may not use the subway much at home, but in Boston, it's one of the easiest ways to get around. If you rent a car, driving to each location is not recommended as parking is difficult, and you'll take in more of the sites by foot.
3-day boston
Day 1
Once you arrive in Boston, start the day by taking in the sights of Cambridge and Harvard. Harvard's campus and Harvard Square are everything you'd expect, and everything you wouldn't at the same time. Depending on when you're in Boston, you'll see preppy students roaming the campus and lounging on the grass, but you'll also see another side of Harvard: a fun and wild one.Cafes (which you might recognize from a scene in Good Will Hunting ) and street musicians (known as buskers) playing in front of the Out-of-Town newsstand are part of Harvard Square's character and charm.
Check out the architecture of the Harvard buildings, and spend the rest of the afternoon at the stores and independent bookstores in the area. If it doesn't make you want to go to back to "school," nothing will.
Next stop: Hop onto the "T" and get off at the Prudential Center (on Boylston Street) to catch the Duck Tour. Anyone who has been to Boston before has surely spotted the Duck Tour on the street while on its route. A perennial favorite, this will assure you see all of Boston's main attractions, from the bar that inspired Cheers (Bull and Finch Pub) and the Massachusetts State House to a water tour on the Charles River. This quasi boat-quasi bus is a great way to see the city in approximately 80 minutes.
Day 2
This is the big day of your Boston experience, so grab your camera and sneakers, and get ready to go.Start the day at Fenway Park. Tours are scheduled on weekday mornings and noon (on non-game days) from May to September, but you may as well go with the early birds to get the most out of the day. This guided tour is a must, even for the non-baseball fans out there -- the park's rich history and pop culture will even impress your girlfriend. Learn about the park's trivia, the history behind the Green Monster, and the famous backdrop of Fenway: the vintage Coca-Cola "bottle" billboard and the retro "Citgo" sign. Once outside the park, you'll see where Mark McGwire's then record-breaking homeruns landed.
Next stop: Newbury Street. Your female travel companion joined you for a tour of the legendary Red Sox landmark, now you'll have to compromise and check out the posh stores and cafes on Newbury Street, Boston's 5th Avenue or Rodeo Drive. But don't worry, because between every designer store you can think of -- and even designer cafes, like the Armani Cafe -- you'll have plenty to keep you busy.
Newbury Street is an eight-block street characterized by designer and more affordable shops, hair salons, outdoor cafes, and restaurants, and also features plenty of eye candy for you. And seeing all the women dressed in the most fashionable, not to mention flattering, clothes will inspire you to buy some new threads of your own. Just make sure not to eat too much ice cream at J. P. Licks, one of Boston's renowned ice cream parlors.
Head toward the end of the street and walk through Boston Common, the country's oldest public park. Stroll around the central park, lounge on the grass or benches, and watch the swan boats in the pond of Boston Public Garden.
Once at the other end of the park -- just follow the vast, open grassy space -- you'll see the beginning of the Freedom Trail, which takes you through 16 sites commemorating the American Revolution. At this point, you can either take the self-guided tour or head downtown, where you can browse through more department stores like Filenes's Basement and Macy's at the Downtown Crossing.
Day 3
While yesterday's focus was on shopping, today's main "lesson" is food. So don't fill up on too much breakfast because you're heading to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. You've surely heard of Quincy Market, but don't believe the hype until you actually check it out yourself. Located in close proximity to the waterfront, the market features an incredible blend of history, international and local cuisine, natural beauty, and commercialism.Before walking into the open-air market, you're greeted by a statue of Samuel Adams right in front of Faneuil Hall, which served as a town hall and marketplace since its establishment in 1742, and today plays host to a wide array of food stands and counters.
Just walking into Faneuil Hall will make your mouth water; with food ranging from Italian and Japanese to French crepes and of course, fresh seafood, there is something available to satisfy any and every palate.
And you wouldn't have the complete Boston experience without tasting a bowl of New England clam chowder.
Step out into Quincy Market, and you'll see stores like Abercombie & Fitch and the Gap on either side of the open-air market. There is also no shortage of kiosks selling jewelry, artwork and souvenirs.
You can spend up to two hours at Quincy Market (depending on how much you want to eat and browse), so once you've had your fill -- literally -- head down to the harbor and catch a boat ride, weather permitting. The city's skyline is amazing, and even more amazing is the city's ability to blend modern skyscrapers with surrounding vintage architecture, cobblestone streets, and an overall sense of history and authenticity.
Speaking of history, most boat rides will stop at the Boston Tea Party site, so get your history class flashback while enjoying the breeze of a harbor tour and the breathtaking view of Boston from a different perspective.
For dinner, get a glimpse of Boston's North End, for the best in Italian food. And if you're there during July and August, you might also see one of the street festivals. It's quite a walk from the harbor, but it's worth it. The North End offers up a great mix of authentic Italian eateries and the more modern, trendy restaurants. You're sure to receive excellent service, ambience, and food at a quaint Italian restaurant. Top off your dinner with some gelato and an espresso.
restaurants
Boston is known for its wide selection of fine restaurants, but the following are some suggestions located in the areas you'll most likely pass:Union Oyster House: 41 Union St., Faneuil Hall
As mentioned before, it's a crime to leave Boston without tasting the seafood. The food at the UOH isn't exceptional (it is a tourist hot-spot, after all), but with a wide variety to choose from and an inviting atmosphere, you'll be more than satisfied.
Sonsie's: 327 Newbury Street
Serves up high quality sandwiches and salads in a bistro-style environment; dine with the fashionistas.
Biba: 272 Boylston St., Back Bay
This is the place to visit if you're an adventurous diner who likes to try different, exotic dishes, although there are also things to order if your date is picky. The broad menu and beautiful dcor comes at a price; it's not for the budget-minded.
CIBO: 326 Hanover St., North End
For superior Italian cuisine in a truly authentic Italian restaurant, the aroma of the restaurant alone will have you salivating. The veal is a must-try.
Atlas Bar & Grill: 145 Ipswich Street, Fenway
One of the more popular, mainstream choices, it's usually busting with university students.
bars and lounges
Bristol Lounge: Boylston StreetAlthough this is also one of Boston's best restaurants, it's also a bar that happens to serve the best martinis.
Good Life: 28 Kingston St.
Live jazz bands perform in this smoking haunt known for excellent tunes in an intimate, tacky environment. Enjoy the diner-style cuisine and red "leatherette" walls.
Whiskey Park: 64 Arlington Street, Beacon Hill
Located in the Boston Park Plaza hotel, this lounge is part of Rande Gerber's (Cindy Crawford's husband) nightlife empire. It's touted as the place to see celebrities, but even though you probably won't, the hip décor, dim lighting and attractive staff will be enough to keep you busy.
Avalon: 15 Lansdowne Street, Fenway
If you and your lady want to hit the town for a night of drinking and dancing, the Avalon is more than willing to oblige.
one heck of a hub
If you're looking to get away and are craving incredible scenery, European architecture, fine cuisine, a touch of history and culture, and entertainment galore, you couldn't find a more well-rounded city than Beantown -- see for yourself why it's considered "The Hub of the Universe."Resources:
http://www.ae.boston.com/
http://www.cityofboston.gov/default.asp
http://www.bostonducktours.com/pages/route1.html
Boston Travel Guide
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