Boston – our kind of city

Boston is our kind of city. Big enough that there is plenty to see and do, but not too big that it becomes exhausting and walking between areas is not an option. There’s a good mix of the modern with the historical; fantatsic coffee shops; and nature on the doorstep.

I first visited Boston during November some years ago – it was so cold it physically hurt! So visiting in the summer with Anya in 35c+ heat allowed us to fully experience and enjoy one of our favourite US cities, and fully appreciate air conditioning…

Must Dos on a Trip to Boston

Boston Trolley Tour

While there are several ‘hop-on, hop-off’ bus tour options around Boston, including the Duck Boat that is part on land and part in the water (Charles River), we opted for the traditional Boston Trolley to get the full historical experience. This was the best way for us to see the city and get a feel for the lay out – our tickets also provided discounts on other attractions within the city.

Visit Harvard

A walk over the Charles River brings you into the area of Cambridge and Harvard University. The Boston area Subway takes you directly to Harvard, but if you have the time, it’s a nice walk along the river, past MIT, and then up to Harvard itself where Anya and I had our Rory and Lorelai moment – if you know, you know…!

Whale Watch Boat Trip

Any opportunity to jump on a boat, particularly if that involves the possibility of sea life, and we are there! Boston Harbour Cruises offer whale watch trips with their ocean research teams who monitor whales in Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary. The tour was around 4 hours and, to date (we visited in summer 2022), it is the best whale watching experience we have had. The time of year meant whales were in the area with calves to feed in the rich waters off Cape Cod, and not only did we see multiple Humpback whales, but we saw calves playing and breaching, and were lucky enough to also see a Fin whale.

Parks and Walks

The footpaths along the Charles River offer a lovely break from the city and allow you to see a different side to Boston. A popular walking route is the Freedom Trail which takes you to each of the main historical sites across the city. And the numerous green spaces offer a place to take a break and enjoy the sun. Boston Common is a good central spot surrounded by places to grab a drink or bite to eat.

Food & Coffee

Being on the coast, Boston is known for its sea food and is a great place to try lobster or crab (although very expensive!). We managed to track down a restaurant in the harbour area that offered gluten free battered fish, which was a bit of a win – although the portions were ridiculously huge! Little Italy is a great spot for all things Italian – from pastries, to pasta and pizza.

Coffee shops/delis can be found on just about every corner offering a wide array of sweet treats and good options for breakfast to fuel you for the day.

You can even enjoy a drink at the pub that inspired Cheers!