City Fun Facts:
- Continent: North America (United States), Massachusetts
- Primary Language: American English
- Currency: U.S. Dollar (USD)
- Passport Validity: (consult country’s embassy page)
- Tourist Visa Required: (consult country’s embassy page)
- Driving: On the right-hand side of the road. (consult country’s embassy page)
- Famous For: Fenway Park, Cheers (bar), culture, food (clam chowder, lobster), history (Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, USS Constitution), Harvard/Massachusetts Institute of Technology, etc.
Basic Phrase:
- Yes: (yEs)
- No: (NOH)
- Please: (plEEz)
- Thank you: (thăngk yo͞o)
- Hello / Hi / Hey: (hel low / high / hay)
Best Time to Visit and Temperature: Winter (37 F (2 C)) through Spring (48 F (8-9 C))
City of Boston
(photo from bostonteapartyship.com)
Snap Shot:
Boston competes with Manhattan, NY for my top spot in U.S. destinations. Love everything about Boston, except humid crowded summers. Beautiful medium size city, great public transportation, amazing history and culture, and the food…YUM! I have visited Boston many many times over the years, both for personal and as part of my job with the airlines. There are so many things to do and see, where do I start?
Sporting Events:
I will start by saying I am not a huge sports fan, other than ice hockey. There is just something about the smell of the ice and the fast-paced nature of the game that “had me at hello”. In 2019, the BFF and I decided last minute to attend the season opener at TD Garden (or just simply the Garden). It was AMAZING! Does not matter who was playing or if you are or are not a Bruins fan it is worth attending a game.
History:
History is all around. I am a big fan of taking an On/Off bus tour in any new city to get the lay of the land. There are several companies that offer tours that you can get tickets for around Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall and, in most cases, you can buy a ticket onboard the buses (double check with either your hotel concierge or the Visitor Information Center (next paragraph) on the latest ticketing options).
Another worth wild tour is taking the Freedom Trail. The tour is either self-guided or guided, tickets can be purchased at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center and ArtsBoston Booth at Faneuil Hall. I have only taken the self-guided tour (you can get a map online or at a Visitor Information Center). A few of the historical sites you will see on the Trail are Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Boston Common, and the USS Constitution.
Whilst touristy, Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall is a great place to visit. Plenty of shopping, nightlife, food, and is stunning at Christmas time.
Boston Common (or the Common) is a central public park in downtown Boston and lovely. Within the Commons is Frog Pond, which is home to a winter ice skating rink, a reflecting pool in the spring and fall, and a summer spray pool. Also, throughout the year the Commons holds many events (https://www.boston.gov/parks/boston-common). The Commons and the surrounding area is generally safe, I would use common sense and avoid walking though the Commons at night/after dark.
Note: Information included in this post should not be regarded as a security or safety professional advice, it is my experience and observation. If concerned about safety of the Commons and or Boston in general, please seek advice from a security or safety professional.
Culture:
I admit I have not been to many of the cultural events in Boston even though they are abundant. However, I have taken in the Egyptian Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts (https://www.mfa.org/collection/ancient-egypt-nubia-and-the-near-east). Egyptian history is a fascination of mine and this museum has a large exhibit worth seeing. You can get there via public transportation.
Food:
Just thinking about the food options in Boston makes my mouth water. Everyone has their favorites and Boston most likely has a great place to experience them. I will highlight my favorites:
Italian: Man-o-man! If Italian is your thing the North End is where you want to head. It is a beautiful shortish walk from Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall. The North End has the distinction of being the city’s oldest residential community (1630s). It is home to many amazing family-owned restaurants. I cannot recommend just one, as every place I have eaten at was delicious! Be forewarned, the North End can be touristy so you many want to scout out a dinner establishment and see if reservations are required. I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out to Mike’s Pastry (300 Hanover Street). Mike’s Pastry was founded in 1946 and is a dream for dessert lovers everywhere. Mike’s usually has a line, so get there early. Also, I believe they only take cash.
Clam Chowder: Spent many lunch and dinners having a hot bowl of savory clam chowder (with a pint of Sam Adams). Union Oyster House (established in 1826) was one of the first places I went for a bowl of chowder. Like Italian, everyone has their favorite place to go (Ned Devine’s, Neptune Oyster, Legal Sea Foods, Eventide, Saltie Girl), so you pretty much cannot go wrong.
Mike’s Pastry – North End
Other Foodie/Beverage:
The Black Rose: There are many really good Irish pubs in Boston, but I like The Black Rose (160 State Street). The Black Rose is an Irish pub and restaurant and located in the Faneuil Hall area. Pints, authentic yummy cuisine, and live Irish music seven nights a week, all year round. The menu is not extensive; my favorite items are the Guinness Beef Stew and Fish & Chips.
Doyle’s Café: Doyle’s Cafe (established in 1882) was a pub located on 3484 Washington Street in the Jamaica Plain and near the Samuel Adams Brewery (the brewery offers fun tours); where the beer was first put on tap. Yummy menu in the standard fare, but my fav was their Ruben sandwich. Unfortunately, Doyle’s closed in October 2019. The reason for the mention is that there has been rumors of the establishment being revived in some form. Hopefully, they will keep the same history that adorned the walls and the Ruben!!
Other yumminess in Boston: https://boston.eater.com/maps/iconic-dishes-boston
Travel Tips:
Fly in and out: Flying in and out of Boston’s Logan airport is pretty easy from just about anywhere. Once at the airport getting into the city is also fairly easy. I prefer to take the subway into the city and avoid dealing with parking and the cost associated.
Public Transportation: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) offers Blue Line Subway (aka the T) services and Silver Line Bus Rapid Transit service to and from Downtown Boston (https://www.mbta.com/destinations/logan-airport). Tickets (referred to as CharlieCard/ CharlieTickets, which are reloadable if you run over the amount you paid) for public transportation come in all shapes and sizes (e.g. one way, 1-Day, 7-Day, etc.).
Car Rental: Pretty much all big brand name car rental companies (Hertz, National, Budget, etc.) can be found at Logan. The Car Rental Center at Boston Logan Airport is located just a short ride from the Terminals. There is a free shuttle bus that take passengers there. Shuttle bus is located at the lower level of each terminal.
Dress Etiquette: Boston and its restaurants run fairly casual, east coast casual (slicker, edgier, darker colors, functional) vs. west coast (beachy, laid back, flowy). You will want to dress up for some of the fancier restaurants, even when there is no formal dress code. Business casual or casual chic should get you through most all outings. If you are visiting during the winter, you will want something with wool in it (wool coat, smartwool sweater).
Note: In any big, crowded city, I would forego an umbrella (if the weather calls for rain) and pack a hat instead. Too many people in a confined area to maneuver an umbrella without injuring someone, not to mention losing it to a strong gust.
Public Loos: Public loos can be limited to airports, gas/petrol stations, bus/train stations, some highway/expressway exits, and tourist-heavy town centers. Cafes/restaurant are the best option in an emergency, but it is polite to buy something for the privilege of use.