Things to do in Boston
-
A
Barking Crab
Big buckets of crabs (Jonah, blue, snow, Alaskan etc), steamers dripping in lemon and butter, paper plates piled high with all things fried… The food is plentiful and cheap, and you eat it at communal picnic tables overlooking the water. Beer flows freely. Service is slack, but the atmosphere is jovial. Be prepared to wait for a table if the weather is warm.
reviewed
-
B
Fenway Park
From April to September you can watch the Red Sox play at Fenway Park, the nation’s oldest and most storied ballpark. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive – not that this stops the Fenway faithful from scooping up the tickets. There are sometimes game-day tickets on sale starting two hours before the opening pitch.
Head to Gate E on Lansdowne St; arrive early (but no earlier than five hours before game time) and be prepared to enter the ballpark as soon as you purchase your tickets. Otherwise, you can always get tickets in advance from online vendors or on game-day from scalpers around Kenmore Sq. If the Sox are doing well, expect to pay two times the…
reviewed
-
Boston Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour
1 day (Departs Boston, Massachusetts)
by Viator
Discover Boston at your leisure with a one-day ticket on the Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour. Create your own itinerary to see the most popular sights of Boston at…Not LP reviewed
-
C
Finale Desserterie
- Boston, USA
- Restaurants › Cafe
Choose from a long list of tempting treats, from crème brûlée to chocolate soufflé, and enjoy them with coffee, wine or port. Mirrors over the pastry chefs’ workstation allow patrons to watch their magic. There are also light soups, salads and sandwiches at lunchtime and appetizer-size dinner dishes so you don’t have to eat sweets on an empty stomach.
reviewed
-
D
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
After years of anticipation and restoration, the Tea Party Ships are moored at the reconstructed Griffin's Wharf, alongside a shiny new museum dedicated to the revolution's most catalytic event. Interactive exhibits allows visitors to meet re-enactors in period costume, explore the ships, learn about contemporary popular perceptions through multimedia presentations and even participate in the protest.
At the time of opening in 2012, visitors can board the fully-rigged Eleanor and the whaler Beaver to experience life aboard an 18th-century vessel. (The Dartmouth is expected to be built later.) Would-be rebels can throw crates of tea into the harbor, in solidarity with…
reviewed
-
E
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
The city’s second-oldest cemetery – dating to 1660 – is the final resting place for an estimated 10,000 souls. It is named for William Copp, who originally owned this land. While the oldest graves belong to Copp's children, there are several other noteworthy residents.
Near the Charter St gate you'll find the graves of the Mather family – Increase, Cotton and Samuel – all of whom were politically powerful religious leaders in the colonial community. Front and center is the grave of Daniel Malcolm, whose headstone commemorates his rebel activism. British soldiers apparently took offense at this claim and used the headstone for target practice. The small plot of…
reviewed
-
F
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology
The centerpiece of the Peabody is the impressive Hall of the North American Indian, which traces how native peoples responded to the arrival of Europeans from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Other exhibits examine indigenous cultures throughout the Americas, including a fantastic comparison of cave paintings and murals of the Awatovi (New Mexico), the Maya (Guatemala) and the Moche (Peru).
Founded in 1866, the Peabody Museum is one of the world’s oldest museums devoted to anthropology. The price of admission includes entry to the neighboring Harvard Museum of Natural History.
reviewed
-
G
Old City Hall
This monumental French Second Empire building occupies a historic spot. Out front, a plaque commemorates the site of the first public school, Boston Latin, founded in 1635 and still operational in Fenway. The hopscotch sidewalk mosaic, City Carpet, marks the spot where Benjamin Franklin, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Charles Bulfinch were educated.
Statues of Benjamin Franklin, founding father, and Josiah Quincy, second mayor of Boston, stand inside the courtyard. They are accompanied by a life-sized replica of a donkey, symbol of the Democratic Party. (‘Why the donkey?’ you wonder. Read the plaque to find out.) Two bronze footprints ‘stand in opposition.’
The…
reviewed
-
H
MassArt
This is the country’s first and only four-year independent public art college. It is one of the country's oldest art schools and – as such – was the first to grant an art degree. Originally the Massachusetts Normal Art School, the institution was part of a plan by civic leaders to promote fine arts and technology, in an attempt to ensure the state's continued economic growth.
Other parts of this plan included establishing the Museum of Fine Arts (founded in 1870) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1860).
Nowadays, there's always some thought-provoking or sense-stimulating exhibits to see at MassArt. In the South Building, the Bakalar and Paine galleries…
reviewed
-
Walden Pond
Thoreau took the naturalist beliefs of Transcendentalism out of the realm of theory and into practice when he left the comforts of town and built a rustic cabin at Walden Pond. Now a state park, the glacial pond is surrounded by acres of forest preserved by the nonprofit Walden Woods project.
The site of Thoreau’s cabin is on the northeast side, marked by a cairn and signs. Parking costs $5.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
Lala Rokh
Lala Rokh is a beautiful Persian princess, the protagonist of an epic romance by poet Thomas Moore. The tale evokes the exotic East, as does the flavorful food served at this Beacon Hill gem. While the ingredients are standard to Persian cuisine, the subtle innovations – an aromatic spice here or savory herb there – set this cooking apart. Reservations recommended.
reviewed
-
J
Parish Café
Sample the creations of Boston’s most famous chefs without exhausting your expense account. The menu at Parish features a rotating roster of salads and sandwiches, each designed by a local celebrity chef, including Lydia Shire, Ken Oringer and Barbara Lynch.
Despite the creative fare, this place feels more ‘pub’ than ‘cafe.’ The long bar – backed by big TVs and mirrors – attracts a lively after-work crowd.
reviewed
-
K
Paramount
This old-fashioned cafeteria is a neighborhood favorite. Basic diner fare includes pancakes, steak and eggs, burgers and sandwiches, and big, hearty salads. For dinner, add table service and candlelight, and the place goes upscale without losing its down-home charm. The menu is enhanced by homemade pastas, a selection of meat and fish dishes and an impressive roster of daily specials.
reviewed
-
L
Helmand
Fusing flavors and techniques from India and the Middle East, the Helmand shows off the rich, diverse and little-known cuisine of Afghanistan. The active, open kitchen - complete with an oven that turns out melt-in-your-mouth flatbread - is entertainment enough in this simple dining room. And the dishes it produces are exotic and enticing. Not to mention that the place is owned by the brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
reviewed
-
M
North Bennet Street School
The North Bennet Street School has been training craftspeople for over 100 years. Established in 1885, the school offers programs in traditional skills like bookbinding, woodworking and locksmithing. The school’s on-site gallery sells incredible hand-crafted pieces made by students and alumni. Look for unique jewelry, handmade journals and exquisite wood furniture and musical instruments.
reviewed
-
N
Casa Romero
The entrance to this hidden treasure is in the public alley off Gloucester St. Step inside and find yourself in a cozy casa – filled with folk art and Talavera tiles – which is wonderful and warm during winter months. In pleasant weather, dine under the stars on the delightful patio.
This is not your average taqueria – be prepared to pay for the experience (unless you arrive before 6pm, in which case you can take advantage of the early bird special, a three-course meal for $22).
reviewed
-
O
Ginza
Named after Tokyo's upscale center of culture and finance, this traditional Japanese restaurant (complete with servers in kimonos) rates among Boston's best sushi places. The freshest pieces of nigiri, sashimi and maki are artfully presented, offering a feast for the eyes as well as the palette. There is a second outlet near Kenmore Sq.
reviewed
-
P
El Pelon
If your budget is tight, don't miss this chance to fill up on Boston's best burritos, tacos and tortas, made with the freshest ingredients. The tacos de la casa are highly recommended, especially the pescado, made with Icelandic cod and topped with chili mayo. Plates are paper and cutlery is plastic.
reviewed
-
Arthur’s Paradise Diner
The epitome of ‘old school, ’ this place is open only for breakfast and lunch and specializes in something called the Boot Mill sandwich (egg, bacon, cheese and home fries on a grilled roll). Expect long waits, testy service and an atmosphere as authentic as it comes. In other words, paradise.
reviewed
-
Q
Croma
Newly revamped, this stylish pizzeria has a hip European feel. The sleek interior - with exposed brick walls and floor-to-ceiling windows - is a hot spot to see and be seen, as is the outdoor patio. Enjoy a crispy-crust, Neopolitan-style pizza or a selection from the extensive wine-by-the-glass menu.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
R
Harvard Museum of Natural History
This esteemed institution is famed for its botanical galleries, featuring more than 3000 lifelike pieces of handblown glass flowers and plants. At the intersection of art and science, the collection of intricately crafted flora is truly amazing. The zoological galleries house an unbelievable number of stuffed animals and reassembled skeletons, as well as an impressive fossil collection.
The mineralogical and geological galleries contain sparkling gemstones from all over the world, including some found right here in New England. The museum sponsors loads of special programs for kids, so it’s worth checking the website when planning your visit. The price of admission…
reviewed
-
S
NPS Freedom Trail Tour
Show up at least 30 minutes early to snag a spot on one of the free, ranger-led Freedom Trail tours provided by the National Park Service. Tours depart from the visitor center in Faneuil Hall, and follow a portion of the Freedom Trail (not including Charlestown), for a total of 90 minutes. Each tour is limited to 30 people.
reviewed
-
T
Café Jaffa
A surprising bargain in the middle of blue-blood Back Bay. Fill up on delicious shwarma and falafel, and wash it down with palatable Israeli beer or rich dark Turkish coffee. With polished wood floors and painted murals, it's more stylish than your typical Turkish deli.
reviewed
-
U
Figs
The brainchild of celebrity chef Todd English, Figs rakes 'em in with its innovative whisper-thin pizzas. For a real treat, order the signature fig and prosciutto pizza with gorgonzola. Equally delish are the sandwiches, salads and pastas.
reviewed
-
V
Pho Pasteur
One of three branches in the area, this Vietnamese restaurant is almost always crowded. Regulars keep returning for big bowls of spicy stir fry and delicious vermicelli at prices you can't beat.
reviewed