Boston is a great city! It is full of history which goes back to the founding of America. It has several fantastic museums. It is also a wonderful city for walking — many of the major sights are easily accessible on foot. Since we live near Boston, we have spent many days exploring its many and varied attractions. Here are my favorites.
1. Walk the Freedom Trail — Pick up a map, either at the Boston Common or at the Old State House and amble through the early history of America before it won its independence from Great Britain. The route is marked with a red line on the sidewalks, to make it easier to follow.
2. Learn About Physics, Biology and Astronomy at the Boston Museum of Science — This great museum has won many honors for its high quality-hands-on exhibits. It is fun and informative for the entire family.
3. Make a Grave-Rubbing at a Cemetery — Several of Boston’s historic cemeteries are found along the Freedom Trail. Take some butcher-block paper and charcoal to make a rubbing of a famous American’s gravestone.
4. Explore “Old Ironsides” — The USS Constitution is docked at the waterfront in nearby Charlestown, at one end of the Freedom Trail. It is America’s first commissioned ship and its exploits were legendary during the War of 1812.
5. Take in the Views of Boston’s Skyline from the Pru — The Prudential Center is one of Boston’s tallest buildings and the views from its Skywalk Observatory are fantastic.
6. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) — Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts is one of the best Art museums in the United States. From Egyptian mummies to modern paintings, the collection is huge and wonderfully displayed.
7. Grab a Quick Bite at Quincy Market — This kaleidoscope of sounds and smells is located next to Faneuil Hall and offers all sorts of prepared foods. It’s a popular place for lunch for workers in the nearby Financial District, so finding a seat might be difficult.
8. Do Some Shopping at Faneuil Hall — This former meeting place has been transformed into an eclectic shopping mall. It is crowded with shoppers at almost any time of the day or night.
9. Take in a Red Sox Game at Historic Fenway Park — This is easier said than done, since tickets at the legendary ball park are extremely difficult to get. But, the “Green Monster” is well known in baseball circuits and the stadium should be visited by aficionados of the sport or the team.
10. Get into the Ocean at the New England Aquarium — This venue is one of the best aquariums in the world, with thousands of sea creatures on view, especially in its huge central tank which is a replica of a coral reef.
11. Head North to Salem — The scene of the Salem Witch Trials is only about 15 miles north of the city. There are numerous attractions here which chronicle the events of this time period in American History.
12. Head South to Plymouth — The place where the Pilgrims landed is a short drive south of Boston. Plymouth Rock is venerated on the waterfront, enclosed within a classical-looking canopy and etched with the date, 1620. Plimoth Plantation, an open-air museum describing life in the first colony is nearby.
13. Head West to Minute Man National Historical Park — Relive the events and locations at the beginning of the Revolutionary War in the towns of Lexington and Concord, just west of the city.
14. Visit the John F Kennedy Memorial Library — The life of one of America’s most beloved presidents is chronicled here. Exhibits remind visitors of his short but storied presidency and the assasin who cut his life short.
15. Take a Look at the Fishing Industry on the North Shore — The towns of Rockport and Gloucester typify the early reliance on fishing in the Massachusetts colony. Reminders are everywhere of this noble occupation where mariners put their lives on the line for their families.
