My Boston Travel Guide
Spring is officially here, and with summer quickly approaching, it’s safe to say that summer vacation plans are occupying our minds more often than not. If you’re anything like me, you’re always thinking about places to travel to, or new things to see or experience…these thoughts are just significantly amplified around this time of year.
With a lot of us in the midst of brainstorming and solidifying travel plans for spring getaways and the upcoming summer season, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite places to visit when I’m looking to explore. That place is none other than the city of Boston, Massachusetts.
In my opinion, Boston provides its tourists with a different type of adventure than those found in “typical” summer vacation destinations. I’ve visited Boston several times throughout my life, three of those times having been within consecutive summers over the past five years. However, throughout each visit, I never get that “been there, done that” feeling that can be expected when returning to such a distinct place. We could be visiting the same sites, walking the same streets, eating at the same restaurants, yet each time feels like it’s the very first all over again.
Boston has it all-shopping, food, history, and so much more…what more could you ask for in a travel destination? When it comes to this city, I definitely haven’t seen it all, despite my frequent visits—what I have experienced here, however, has been pretty great.
Here are some of my favorite things to do as a tourist in Beantown…
Food
Food is a focal point of vacation…whether or not we want to admit it. For me, food selections while traveling are the perfect combination of “tourist” and local cuisine.
*For a good burger-Check out Wahlburgers, the family restaurant of Donnie, Mark, and Paul Wahlberg. They have several locations throughout the city, but if you’re up for a little driving, head about 20 minutes outside of Boston to Hingham and dine at the original Wahlburgers location.
Menu Tip: order the Impossible Burger. I tried an Impossible Burger for the first time here, and I was far from disappointed—to this day, it is still my favorite plant-based burger.
*Tourist Food-There are certain types of places that you go to while traveling that scream “vacation”. For me, Boston has two of those: Max Brenner and Hard Rock Café. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, especially chocolate, Max Brenner is the place for you. Not only do they have a dessert menu longer than most books I’ve ever read (kidding), but they also offer traditional menu items to go along with your something sweet. For some food with a side of rock-and-roll, Hard Rock Café is the perfect place to go. Here, the wide variety of “General American” food does not disappoint, but the atmosphere is what truly makes the experience.
*For a quick bite while exploring the city-Stop at the historic Quincy Market. This popular food “market” adjacent to Faneuil Hall is home to thirty small food establishments. Offering cuisine from around the world, you are bound to find something to satisfy your vacation cravings.
*In the mood for Italian Food? Ristorante Lucia has become my family’s favorite spot for Italian Food in the city. With a picturesque location in Boston’s North End, this restaurant offers all of your favorite Italian dishes, from appetizers through to dessert.
Shopping
Would a vacation ever be complete without shopping? I don’t think so…Boston is the 22nd largest city in the United States, so you can be assured that there will be good shopping…a lot of it.
*I could not start off with a shopping location other than Newbury Street. Newbury Street is THE place to shop in the city. With eight blocks worth of stores and small restaurants, there is something here for anyone and everyone.
*To shop alongside history-Check out Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Here, you can explore the wide variety of local shops and well-known mall favorites, while also experiencing one of the most significant sites in the city…and if you get hungry while browsing, grab a quick bite in the adjacent Quincy Market.
*For some rainy-day shopping-The Shops at Copley Place and the Prudential Center are the perfect spots to position yourself in for the day. Known to include a wide variety of upscale storefronts, these two shopping locations are connected by a skybridge, allowing for a full day of shopping while avoiding the elements entirely.
History
Boston is a city that is filled with history, so I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a few of the city’s most noteworthy historic sites. Let’s be real, you can’t travel to Boston without going to see the places that are so significant within American History (or at least the one’s you for sure learned about in History Class).
*The Boston Tea Party Ships, located in the Boston Harbor-Everybody knows about, or has at least heard of, the Boston Tea Party, so why not take a look at where the well-known dumping of tea took place.
*Faneuil Hall-While I previously referred to it as a prime shopping location within the city, Faneuil Hall served as a meeting place throughout the American Revolution.
*Bunker Hill-Visit the location of one of the first major battles within the Revolution, as well as the monument constructed to commemorate the event.
*Take a walk by and through the Old North Church. Not only is this the oldest church existing within the city, but it was also one of Paul Revere’s stops on his Midnight Ride (the home of “one if by land, two if by sea”).
These are only a few of the countless significant places of history within the city. If you’re looking for a more extensive guided tour of Boston’s history, follow the Freedom Trail to see and explore sixteen historic sites.
Extra Tourist Attractions
There’s much more to Boston than shopping, food, and history:
*Interested in beer and the process in which it’s made?-Visit Samuel Adams Brewery. Here, you’ll get an inside look at the company’s brewing process, and the ingredients included within their various offerings of beer. The tour concludes with a tasting (if you’re 21+ of course).
*Boston is also known for its sports!- If you’re a fan of sports, baseball, in particular, take a tour of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox (+ the Green Monster), and the oldest Major League Baseball Stadium. Also located within the city is TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.
*Beyond the main city-Take a short trip over the Charles River to Cambridge and explore the picturesque campus town of Harvard University.
Here they are, my favorite parts of Boston…so far—this may seem like a lot of things to do, but this is actually only a small fraction of what Boston has to offer. I guess you’ll just have to take the trip and see for yourself the full adventure that lies within this city…ready to go?!
