A Revered City: Things To Do When Visiting Boston

Nicknamed the hub of the universe, Boston is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States.

Also considered the Capital of New England, Boston’s standard of living is among the highest in the nation due to industries such as biotechnology, research, and medicine.

With an abundance of rich historical and cultural sites, and being home to some of the most prestigious universities in the world, I actually consider Boston a very intellectual city as well.

If you have a few days to visit Boston, here are some things to do that can give you a better appreciation of the city.

Boston Common and the Freedom Trail

Boston Common is the central park of the city and the oldest park in the United States.

It is a great place to start your visit to get a better feeling of its historical importance during the American Revolution.

As a matter of fact, right at the park’s visitor center, begins the most famous walking tour in Boston: the Freedom Trail. This is a 2.5 mile path that goes through 16 historic landmarks.

Some of the sites you’ll see are the magnificent Massachusetts State House (see photo), the King’s Chapel, Boston Latin School (oldest public school), Paul Revere’s house, the USS Constitution, and the Bunker Hill Monument.

Newbury and Boylston Streets

After exploring the Freedom Trail, you’ll realize Boston is a great city to enjoy walking. Two great streets you should stroll are Newbury St. and Boylston St.

The streets are famous for its shopping offering an eclectic blend of options, from upscale brand-name stores to small coffee houses and bookstores.

Both modern and historic 19^th century brownstone buildings blend seamlessly together, making Boston a unique architectural jewel in the United States.

The Prudential Center Skywalk Observatory

For the best 360-degree panoramic bird’s-eye view of Boston, you must visit the Skywalk Observatory, located on floor 51 at the top of the Prudential Center.

Some of the places you can see from the observatory are Fenway Park (home of the Red Sox), the Cambridge district, downtown and the Boston Common grounds, the Charles River, as well as the harbor.

Not far from the Prudential Center is Chinatown, another unique cultural experience.

A Wealth of Museums

The museums in Boston are true gems and it’s a delight to see the wealth of options offered in the fields of arts and sciences.

Some of the best options are the Museum of Science, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Fine Arts, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

I absolutely love the impressive collections at the Museum of Fine Arts, where you can see works from different periods and from all over the world.

The Egyptian collection brings an impressive compilation of relics such as sarcophagus, sculptures, and pieces made of gold and ceramic.

Don’t miss the works of Hokusai in the Japanese hall and be mesmerized by the European collection with paintings from Rembrandt, Canaletto, Van Gogh, and Monet, just to name a few.

The American hall is very well represented with paintings by Winslow Homer, Mary Cassat, and John Singleton Copley (see painting).

But one of the best things about this museum is the element of surprise that awaits you around every corner. A sculpture by Fernando Botero, an original Stradivarius violin, or an abstract painting by Jackson Pollock seem to appear when you least expect it.

Where to stay and vicinities

A truly authentic hotel to stay in Boston is the Kendall Hotel, located in the neighboring district of Cambridge and with easy access to the main spots in town. Take a look at a review TravelPlusWine.com did on this hotel.

From concerts & theatre shows, sports events, upscale shopping, world-class museums and great dining, Boston has something for everyone at any time of the year.

If you have more time to visit places near Boston, two great choices are Cape Cod and Salem, the latter famous for the 1692 witch trials.

Culinary Landmarks

An article about Boston cannot be complete without talking about some of its culinary icons.

The first one is Legal Sea Foods; since the 50’s, this restaurant has been a symbol of the exquisite sea food that has made Boston so famous. You can’t go wrong with the clam chowder or the lobster bisque.

Wash this food down with the most representative beer of Boston. You guessed right, I’m talking about Samuel Adams. Don’t forget to bring a valid ID in case you want to tour the brewery.

And in case you wanted to know who Samuel Adams was… he was one of the most successful politicians in Massachusetts and a signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Cheers to that!