Photo by Eva Barbier
Boston
Why Boston? Historic, walkable, wicked smahhht. Bostonians are brutally honest, loyal, and freakin' hilarious!
Must See & Do: At sunset, sit by the Charles river in Cambridge facing Beacon Hill and watch the city turn to gold.
Must See & Do: At sunset, sit by the Charles river in Cambridge facing Beacon Hill and watch the city turn to gold.
Explore
Boston Walking Tour: Start at FenwayPark, walk down Newbury Street and stop at the many shops, galleries and cafes. Then stroll through the Botanical Gardens where you can watch the Swan boats against a backdrop of willow trees and the old mid-rise buildings of Back Bay. After the gardens, quickly check out Boston Common and wander through Beacon Hill to see the historic brick homes. Walk down to Charles Street to check out the boutiques and antique shops. At the end of Charles Street you'll be at the Liberty Hotel. Pop in and check out this former jail. The staff here is very knowledgeable and will tell you all about the history of the hotel. Afterwards, head back toward the city to see Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market and the Old North Church. Continue across the park at Haymarket Square (above the legendary Big Dig) to see the historic North End (old Italian neighborhood). Afterwards, cross the Charlestown bridge to check out the Gaslight District of Charlestown, followed by the Navy Yard where you can tour the USS Constitution. At night, stay in Back Bay or head over to the South End to enjoy one of many amazing restaurants in Boston.
Other neighborhoods to visit:
Harvard Square, Cambridge - very easy to get to via the Red Line T
Brookline, Newton & Chestnut Hill (here you'll find beautiful Boston College)
Walk the Esplanade along the Charles river
Historic Activities:
Freedom Trail & Duck Tour
Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge
Day Trips:
Quintessential New England Towns: Marblehead & Rockport (hour north of Boston)
Take the fast ferry (1.5 hrs) to Provincetown, MA on the tip of Cape Cod. Go to Local 186 for the best burger ever.
During Halloween visit the historic town of Salem
Beaches/Parks: Halibut Sate Park, Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester , Crane's Beach, Manchester by the Sea, Duxbury Beach, Walden Pond
Other neighborhoods to visit:
Harvard Square, Cambridge - very easy to get to via the Red Line T
Brookline, Newton & Chestnut Hill (here you'll find beautiful Boston College)
Walk the Esplanade along the Charles river
Historic Activities:
Freedom Trail & Duck Tour
Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge
Day Trips:
Quintessential New England Towns: Marblehead & Rockport (hour north of Boston)
Take the fast ferry (1.5 hrs) to Provincetown, MA on the tip of Cape Cod. Go to Local 186 for the best burger ever.
During Halloween visit the historic town of Salem
Beaches/Parks: Halibut Sate Park, Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester , Crane's Beach, Manchester by the Sea, Duxbury Beach, Walden Pond
Eat, Drink, Be Merry...Snooze
Gaslight French Bistro -South End (the chocolate bignets are to die for!)
The Cellar - Harvard Square
The Oak Room - Back Bay (fancy brunch)
The Upper Crust or Cambridge One (thin crust pizza)
Neptune - The North End (best raw bar)
Oishii - South End or Chestnut Hill (best sushi)
Orinoco - South End or Harvard Square
Legal Sea Foods Harborside (great seafood with a view)
Tangierino, Charlestown (best middle eastern food/atmosphere - hookah bar downstairs)
Most Italian Restaurants in the North End - You really can't go wrong!
Cuchi Cuchi - Central Square (best muddled drinks)
Drink - Leather District (most innovative cocktails - just tell them the type of ingredients you like and they'll surprise you)
Life Alive Cafe - Central Square (healthy, vegetarian, macrobiotic, and gluten-free options)
Snooze:
Liberty Hotel, Beacon Hill (this used to be a jail until the mid-90's & one of the best place to spot celebrities)
Hotel Veritas, Harvard Square Cambridge
The Cellar - Harvard Square
The Oak Room - Back Bay (fancy brunch)
The Upper Crust or Cambridge One (thin crust pizza)
Neptune - The North End (best raw bar)
Oishii - South End or Chestnut Hill (best sushi)
Orinoco - South End or Harvard Square
Legal Sea Foods Harborside (great seafood with a view)
Tangierino, Charlestown (best middle eastern food/atmosphere - hookah bar downstairs)
Most Italian Restaurants in the North End - You really can't go wrong!
Cuchi Cuchi - Central Square (best muddled drinks)
Drink - Leather District (most innovative cocktails - just tell them the type of ingredients you like and they'll surprise you)
Life Alive Cafe - Central Square (healthy, vegetarian, macrobiotic, and gluten-free options)
Snooze:
Liberty Hotel, Beacon Hill (this used to be a jail until the mid-90's & one of the best place to spot celebrities)
Hotel Veritas, Harvard Square Cambridge
Blog Posts
Cambridge, MA Maternity Photos
Brahmins of Boston Tour with Context Travel & WITS
Live Like A Local, Boston: Marissa
Live Like A Local, Boston: Jen
Live Like a Local, Boston: Lisa
Why Bostonians Secretly Love Blizzards
Fall Photo Run: Boston's Charles River
Cocktail Class at South Boston's Gran Ten Distilling
Halloween Special: Cemeteries Around The World
Cambridge's Belly: A Monday Must
Cambridge has Bloomed
Love that Dirty Water
5 Fun-Filled Days at Home
Brahmins of Boston Tour with Context Travel & WITS
Live Like A Local, Boston: Marissa
Live Like A Local, Boston: Jen
Live Like a Local, Boston: Lisa
Why Bostonians Secretly Love Blizzards
Fall Photo Run: Boston's Charles River
Cocktail Class at South Boston's Gran Ten Distilling
Halloween Special: Cemeteries Around The World
Cambridge's Belly: A Monday Must
Cambridge has Bloomed
Love that Dirty Water
5 Fun-Filled Days at Home
Pack
If possible, visit in October to see the vibrant colors of the foliage. It's also a great time of year to walk around the city because it's not too hot or too cold. Pack casual comfortable clothes and layers because one day can be 70F and the next can be 45F. Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Dress up outfits with accessories.
Tunes
Dirty Water - The Standells
Shipping Up to Boston- Dropkick Murphys
For Boston - Dropkick Murphys (Boston College Fight Song)
This entire album - Boston
Dream On - Aerosmith aka The Bad Boys from Boston
Boston (Ladies of Cambridge) - Vampire Weekend
Sleepyhead - Passion Pit (local Cambridge band)
Sail into the Sun - Gentlemen Hall (we saw this band for the first time playing outside in Harvard Square)
Rachel - Buffalo Tom (lead singer is also a real estate agent in a nearby suburb)
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend
Airport Song - Guster (Tufts band) During senior week of college at BC these guys played a surprise morning concert right outside our dorm. We woke up to this song :) Bongo drummer is amazing.
The General - Dispatch (local Boston Band that we listened to every day in college)
Tonight - New Kids on the Block (the original boy band)
Shipping Up to Boston- Dropkick Murphys
For Boston - Dropkick Murphys (Boston College Fight Song)
This entire album - Boston
Dream On - Aerosmith aka The Bad Boys from Boston
Boston (Ladies of Cambridge) - Vampire Weekend
Sleepyhead - Passion Pit (local Cambridge band)
Sail into the Sun - Gentlemen Hall (we saw this band for the first time playing outside in Harvard Square)
Rachel - Buffalo Tom (lead singer is also a real estate agent in a nearby suburb)
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend
Airport Song - Guster (Tufts band) During senior week of college at BC these guys played a surprise morning concert right outside our dorm. We woke up to this song :) Bongo drummer is amazing.
The General - Dispatch (local Boston Band that we listened to every day in college)
Tonight - New Kids on the Block (the original boy band)
Tips
Boston Movies: The Departed, Good Will Hunting, With Honors , Love Story, The Town, Boondock Saints, Jaws, School Ties
