Itinerary for a Short Visit
Someone recently
asked me for some ideas for their short visit in Boston. I hope
these ideas are useful for you.
Boston is a
walking city, dressing for comfort is a good idea. It's also a city
of neighborhoods, which fortunately are well connected by an old,
but reliable subway system.
Beacon Hill
For early stops in your trip I'd recommend visiting Beacon Hill
and/or Copley Square.
The draw of Beacon Hill is that it is quintessentially New England.
Of great interest is the Massachusetts
State House (which is open to the public and has interesting
exhibits, even though the exterior is undergoing some repair). Walking
down Beacon Hill to the East you can walk by the Boston Commons,
or stay a few blocks back on Mt.
Vernon St. and walk by Louisberg Square - a cobblestoned street
of quaint and very expensive townhouses.
This leads to
Charles
Street, which again is an attractive neighborhood with opportunities
to shop, eat or watch the locals. (recommended restaurants include:
local favorite - the Paramount, and Lala Rokh which has exotic,
subtle Persian cuisine set in a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere.
It is at 97 Mount Vernon St.
Copley Square
A subway stop removed from Beacon Hill is Copley Square - which
becomes more desirable in bad weather as it is full of historic
building you can enjoy from inside. Trinity
Church is beautiful inside and out, across the street is the
Boston Public
Library, which has museum exhibits - since most of the library
functions out of a less beautiful but more functional annex.
Also, Boston's
tallest building, the John
Hancock Tower is in Copley Square - and for a fee visitors can
go to its top and survey our area. On a clear day mountains 70 miles
off are visible. This is a good getting oriented activity. If you
are looking for a dinner with an impressive view, I recommend the
"Top of the Hub" which is sufficiently good food served on top of
Boston's second highest building, the Prudential
Center. They have jazz, a great view - and I always prefer to
overpay for a nice drink, rather than an old elevator ride in the
Hancock. ;>
Freedom Trail
If you want to get a does of Boston History walk the downtown part
of the Freedom Trail, which begins at a national park station by
the State St. subway (or as Bostonians say "T") on the orange line.
This will take around the downtown - by Faneuil
Hall (hot spot for tourists) and into Boston's Italian "North
End". Besides being the home of patriots, it also has over an excessive
number of fine Italian restaurants. Also near by is Union Oyster
House, Boston's oldest restaurant, which often serves good seafood.
Art
If you are an art enthusiast, consider visiting either Boston's
Museum of Fine Arts
- their varied collection is strong on the impressionists. Nearby
is the more personal and enjoyable Gardner
Museum, the personal collection of one of Boston's richest and
most self-styled women. The museum is located in her Italianate
mansion, which has a wonderful courtyard and greenhouse
..and
a very nice café.
Higher Learning
Finally, though Cambridge is technically out of town, Harvard
University is a short "T" ride away. Its campus, Harvard Yard
is open for visitors to walk through. There are a plethora of university
museums along Oxford Street. For info call 617.495.1910. Harvard
Square is a lively neighborhood, and an enjoyable visit.
I suspect than
in all this you'll find more than several days of enjoyment, and
hope that you will pick an choose your way to a wonderful time.
Please let me know if I can offer further advice.
All the best,
Dave Wieneke
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