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From The Hatchshell
To The Harbor...
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Check out this complete informative guide
(in PDF format) that provides you with helpful tips and advice on things to do in Boston.
Note: In order to view and print in PDF format, you must download and install the
Adobe Acrobat Reader. utility.
"From the Hatchshell to the Harbor"...
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Things to Do In Boston Tips By THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL
Mayor's YOUTHLINE resource phoneline and an online database:
www.bostonyouthzone.com
617-635-2240 Weekdays Noon-8pm - (Summer Hours 10am-6pm)
Things to do. Things to know. Someone to listen.
Telephone resource line and YOUTHLINE web database designed by teens. The TeenZone also has our Mayor's Youth Council page with info on our program and annual Youth Summit, www.bostonyouthzone.com/myc .
THOMAS M. MENINO, MAYOR OF BOSTON
Introduction
From the Hatchshell to the Harbor, from North Station to South Station, from City Hall to the State House, Boston is chock full of things to do. Whether you are a visitor, a resident, young, or old, Boston has something to offer you. Whether you want a trolley tour of the city or a self-guided walk along the Freedom Trail or maybe a leisurely stroll around Jamaica Pond or some window shopping along Newbury Street, Boston has hundreds of activities to satisfy anyone’s appetite for the sights, sounds, and “going-ons” in the city. With all of these great activities out there, The Mayor’s Youth Council, a group of high school juniors and seniors who outreach to teens and work with city officials to improve youth-oriented opportunities, gathered information on these activities, and put them on this website to make it readily available and accessible to everyone.
Boston Talk and Fun Facts That Every Visitor Should Know
While Bostonians are known for being avid sports fans and lovers of clam chowder, perhaps the thing that we are most known for is our beloved Boston accent. But the uniqueness of the Boston dialect doesn’t stop with dropping our r’s where they are supposed to be and putting them in where they shouldn’t be; Bostonians have some idioms and colloquialisms that truly bring out the local color of the area and its residents. Here are some terms and phrases that you might hear:
T: refers to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Boston’s public transportation system. The term is all-inclusive – if you’re on the T you could be on a subway train, a trolley, a commuter rail train, a bus, or even a boat.
Tonic: not tonic water at all, rather its any soda or pop whether it be Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, or Dr. Pepper.
Wicked: very. During the summer months in Boston it is not uncommon to hear someone rant, "It’s wicked muggy out!"
Jimmies: named after the producer of this ice cream cone condiment, Jimmy Bartholomew. You might know them as chocolate sprinkles.
Frappe: no one gets milkshakes in Boston, we get Frappes!
Fin: five dollars. “Let me borrow a fin?”
Sub: submarine sandwiches, hoagies, heroes, spuckie, or grinders
Coffee Regular: a coffee with cream and sugar
When researching Boston, one is bound to find a ton of interesting facts about the city. Below is a list of fun facts that one might not so easily come across:
- The Boston University Bridge on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston is the only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane.
- Famous Firsts - The Boston Common, was the first public park in the US (1634), First Public school, The Boston Latin school (1635), First post office, First street light, First use of Penicillin, First department store, First lighthouse, First public library, First subway in the US (1897), First Christmas card.
- The celebration of Christmas was banned in Boston from 1659 to 1681. Anyone showing Christmas spirit was fined 5 shillings! The pilgrims believed that it was a decadent celebration.
v Known to many as Beantown or The Hub of New England, Boston is also nicknamed the Athens of America, The City of Kind Hearts, The Cradle of Liberty, and Puritan City.
- Boston has the world's smallest suspension bridge. It is in the public garden.
Useful Websites and Info
City of Boston: www.cityofboston.gov
City of Boston Calendar: www.cityofboston.gov/calendar/calendar.asp
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA): www.mbta.com
Boston Centers for Youth and Families: www.cityofboston.gov/bcyf
Boston Parks Department: www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Greater Boston Convention and Visitor Bureau: www.bostonusa.com
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (formerly the MDC): www.mass.gov/mdc/mdc_home.htm
Boston Common Visitor Information Center:
147 Tremont Street
Open Monday through Saturday 8:30am-5pm and Sunday 9am-5pm.
By Park Street Station on the Red and Green Lines.
National Parks Services: www.nps.gov/bost
Open All Year 9 am - 5 pm
Downtown Visitor Center - 15 State Street, Boston, MA 02109, 617-242-5642
Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center, Bunker Hill Pavilion, Constitution Road, Charlestown, MA 02129, 617-242-5601
Bunker Hill Lodge Visitor Center, Monument Square, Charlestown, 617-242-5641
Passes
MBTA Visitor Pass Program
617-222-6117
www.mbta.com/traveling_t/passes_special.asp#visitorpass
A visitor's pass allows unlimited travel on all subway lines, the Silver lines, local and Crosstown (CT) buses, and inner harbor ferries. It also allows travel within commuter rail zones 1A and 1B (about five miles from downtown Boston). It is not valid for Night Owl service. A one-day pass costs $7.50, a three-day pass costs $18, and a seven-day pass is priced at $35. Please check the above website for sales location or to buy online. For group sales or for further questions, please contact Sorrenia Dillon at the above number.
CityPass
707-256-0490
www.citypass.com.
Adults visit six Boston Attractions for just $36.75 (A $73.40 Value!) or children (3-17) for $25.50 (A $50.90 Value)!
The attractions include The New England Aquarium, Harvard Museum of Natural History, John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts, and the Prudential Skywalk Observatory (all in the “Museum, Culture, History” Section). Buy your CityPass at the first attraction you visit. You will have 9 days to visit these six famous attractions once. You avoid most ticket lines. Simply present your CityPass booklet on your way into each attraction. The agent will remove that attraction’s ticket and you’re in!
Museums, Culture, and History
Freedom Trail
617-357-8300
www.thefreedomtrail.org
Sixteen historic sites, all significant in this country's early struggle for freedom, are connected by the 2.5 mile red stripe that not only links one place to another, but the past to the present. Places like the Old North Church in the North End (check out the nearby Italian pastries) and the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. Take a bus tour or you can walk the trail by following the red brick line on the sidewalk, starting at the Boston Common at Park Street Station on the Red and Green Lines.
Old North Church
www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/oldnorth.asp
Known as "Christ Church in the City of Boston," this Episcopal church was built in 1723 and is Boston's oldest Church building. On the steeple of this church, Robert Newman signaled with lanterns the approach of the British regulars; "One if by land, and two, if by sea.: The steeple is 191 feet tall, making it the tallest steeple in Boston. It is also the first set of bells ever brought to America. Paul Revere was one of the neighborhood bellringers. The interior high box pews and brass chandeliers, as well as the Church's first clock are all original. Open daily from 9am-5pm. Sunday services 9am and 4pm.
Bunker Hill Monument
www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/bunkerhill.asp
Bunker Hill Monument is open daily from 9am-4:30pm and is located in Charlestown. While at the Monument, there is a chance to walk up to the top of the monument and view all of Boston. Bunker Hill Monument is also free of charge.
Charlestown Navy Yard and the USS Constitution “Old Ironsides”
617-426-1812
www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/ussconstitution.asp
Donation requested for museum; USS Constitution is free of charge
USS Constitution is open Thursday – Sunday 12 noon-4pm
Museum is open Everyday 10am-5pm
During the summer the USS Constitution is open from 9am-6pm
Charlestown Navy Yard houses the USS Constitution and Museum. The Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, launched in 1797 and undefeated in the War of 1812.
North Station Stop on the Orange and Green Lines.
Old State House
www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/oldstate.asp
Also known as Boston's "Towne House", the Old State House dates back to 1713. It was the center of all political life and debate in colonial Boston. On July 18, 1776, citizens gathered in the street to hear the Declaration of Independence read from the building's balcony, the first public reading in Massachusetts. The Royal Governor presided here until the new State House was built on Beacon Hill in 1798. Today, the building is run by The Bostonian Society as a Boston history museum. Open daily from 9:30am-5pm. Nominal admission fee. Massachusetts school children, children under six, and Boston Senior Citizens and members are free. Group rates are available.
Boston Massacre Site
www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/bostonmassacre.asp
In front of the Old State House, at the intersection of State and Devonshire Streets, a circle of cobblestones commemorates the Boston Massacre. At this site, tensions between the colonists and British soldiers erupted into violence on March 5, 1770. A minor dispute between a wigmaker's young apprentice and a British sentry turned into a riot. The relief soldiers that came to the aid of the British were met by an angry crowd of colonists who hurled snowballs, rocks, clubs, and insults. The soldiers fired into the crowd and killed five colonists. Samuel Adams and other patriots called the event a "massacre".
Paul Revere House
www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/paulrevere.asp
Built around 1680, this house is the oldest building in downtown Boston, and served as the home of Paul Revere and his family from 1770 to 1800. Revere left here for his famous “midnight ride.” This site is owned and operated by The Paul Revere Memorial Association. The house is open April 15th to October 31st, 9:30 am-5:15 pm, and November 1st to April 14th, 9:30 am-4:15 pm. Open daily except Thanksgiving, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, and Mondays, January through March. Adults $2.50, Seniors age 62+ and college students w/ID $2. Children 5-17 $1. Under age 5, free. Partially handicap accessible.
Women’s Heritage Trail
www.bwht.org
Follow this route to see how Women's lives and achievements have enriched the history of Boston for almost four centuries and Boston women have played an integral role in shaping history. Begin at the State House, Park Street Station on the Red and Green Lines.
City Hall Plaza Concerts, Concerts in the Neighborhoods, and Movie Nights
Late spring through summer family activities throughout Boston-Check out the Calendar at www.cityofboston.gov/calendar/calendar.asp
New England Aquarium
617-973-5200
Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110
www.neaq.org
Children under 3 are free; 3-11 years old $8.95; over 12 years old $15.95; Senior citizens $13.95 (with a valid ID).
Summer hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
The Aquarium's 200,000-gallon tank is the centerpiece of the New England Aquarium, and it is one of the region's most popular underwater exhibits. Also check out the Aquarium's Whale Watch and IMAX Theatre.
Aquarium stop on the Blue Line.
Black Heritage Trail/Museum of Afro American History Boston
617-725-0022
46 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108
www.afroammuseum.org
Open 10am-4pm Monday – Saturday
Summer Hours (beginning Memorial Day) 10am-4pm Mon-Sunday
Free, Donations Accepted.
Vivid historical accounts about the lives of free African Americans and white abolitionists.
Park Street Station on the Red and Green Lines.
Faneuil Hall
www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com
Free
Faneuil Hall has served as a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742.
Marketplace is open Mon-Sat 10am-9pm and Sundays 12 noon-6pm
Second floor meeting hall and market level information desk open daily 9am-5pm.
National Park Service rangers present historical talks every thirty minutes, 9:30am-4:30pm, except when Hall is in use for special events.
Government Center Station on the Blue and Green Lines or Haymarket Station on the Orange and Green Lines.
John F. Kennedy Museum and Library
617-514-1600
Columbia Point - Dorchester, Massachusetts 02125
www.jfklibrary.org/
Open 9am-5pm daily (check their schedule for holiday closings). Adults $10; Senior Citizens and College Students with ID $8; ages 13-17 $7; under 12 free. Presidential memorial and museum honoring President John F. Kennedy.
JFK/UMASS Station on the Red Line. At station take free shuttle bus to library. Buses run every 20 minutes between 8am and 5pm. Buses are marked JFK.
John F. Kennedy Birthplace - National Historic Site
(617) 566-7937
83 Beals Street, Brookline
www.nps.gov/jofi/
Birthplace of President John F. Kennedy. Since the refurbishing was done by Rose Kennedy herself, it is either what actually sat in the house when the family lived there or a close replica. The National Historic Site is open March through the end of November, Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM - 4:30 PM. Tours are given on the half hour (last tour begins at 3 PM) and admission is $1 for adults and free for senior citizens and children under 16. To get to the site, take the Green C line to Coolidge Corner and walk north on Harvard Avenue for four blocks. Take a right onto Beals Street.
Children’s Museum
617-426-8855
300 Congress Street, Museum Wharf Boston, MA
www.bostonkids.org
Open daily 10am-5pm and Friday open until 9pm.
Friday from 5 -9pm, $1 for everyone! All other times, $7 for kids 2-15; $9 for adults.
The Children's Museum is fun. Come enjoy - everything is hands-on. Little kids will love to play in the maze. You can see what a real Japanese house used to look like inside and out!
South Station stop on Red Line.
The Copley Library
617-536-5300
Copley Square, 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116
www.bpl.org/central/index/htm.
Open Monday to Thursday 9am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm.
The oldest library in the country has many ongoing exhibits and lectures.
Copley stop on the Green Line and Back Bay Station stop on the Orange Line.
Institute of Contemporary Art
617-266-5152
955 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02115
www.ica.org
Cost is $5 for students and seniors; $7 for adults; free for members and children under 12. Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 12pm-5pm, Thursdays 12pm-9pm (free after 5pm). This is a contemporary art museum which houses artwork is from around the world and around Boston.
Hynes/ICA stop on the Green Line "B" "C" & "D" Trains.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
617-566-1401
280 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115
www.isgm.org
Open Tuesday to Sunday 11am -5pm. Cost is $10 adults ($11 weekends); $7 seniors; $5 college students with current ID; Members and children under 18 admitted free. Originally her home, now houses one of the finest collections of contemporary art in America. Has ongoing exhibits and lecture series.
Museum of Fine Arts stop on the Green Line "E" Train.
Museum of Fine Arts
617-267-9300
Avenue of the Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115
www.mfa.org
This world-renowned museum, home to many famous pieces of art is open Monday & Tuesday 10am-4:45pm; Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 10am-9:45pm (Thursday and Friday West Wing only after 5pm -reduced fee), Saturday & Sunday 10am-5:45pm. Cost is Adults $15; Senior Citizens and College Students $13; Youth, 7-17 $6 on school days until 3pm, admitted free at all other times. Wednesday evenings 4pm-9:45pm, general admission is by voluntary contribution.
Museum of Fine Arts stop on the Green Line "E" Train.
Museum of Science
617-723-2500
One Science Park, Boston, MA 02114
www.mos.org
Open Monday to Thursday, Saturday & Sunday 9am-5pm (9am-7pm July 5 - Labor Day and Massachusetts school vacation weeks) Fridays 9am-9pm. Ticket prices range from $8.50-$23 for adults; $6.50-$18 for children (3-11) and students; $7.50 - $20 for seniors depending on what exhibits/show you attend.
A wonderful museum dedicated to science that houses both permanent and temporary exhibits, a planetarium, and an Omni theatre.
Science Park Stop on the Green Line.
Zoo New England – Franklin Park Zoo
617-541-LION
1 Franklin Park
Boston, MA 02121
www.zoonewengland.com
October 1- March 31 open daily 10am-4pm; April 1-September 30 open weekdays 10am-5pm, weekends and holidays 10am-6pm. Adults $9.50; children (2-15) $5; Under 2 Free; seniors $8.
The Franklin Park Zoo, founded in 1911, is a 72-acre site nestled in Boston's historic Franklin Park. The largest zoo in New England, this oasis of green features lions, snow leopards, gorillas, hippos, zebras, a children's zoo, plus hundreds of free-flying birds in Bird's World and the indoor Tropical Forest.
Take the Orange line or commuter rail to the Forest Hills station, then take the number 16 bus to the Franklin Park Zoo. Or, take the Orange line or commuter rail to the Ruggles station, then take the number 22, 28, 29, 44 or 45 bus to the Franklin Park Zoo. Or, take the Red line to the Andrew station, then take the number 16 bus to the Franklin Park Zoo.
Mary Baker Eddy Library
617-450-7000 or 888-222-3711
200 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
www.marybakereddylibrary.org
Visitors to The Mary Baker Eddy Library are invited to explore the power of ideas to inspire individuals and change the world with two floors of Library Exhibits, including the Mapparium, Hall of Ideas, Monitor Gallery, and Quest Gallery.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday 10am-5pm; Thursday, Friday 10am-9pm.
Mapparium
The Mary Baker Eddy Libary
617-450-7000 or 888-222-3711
200 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
www.marybakereddylibrary.org/exhibits/mapparium.jhtml
The world-famous, three-story, stained glass globe is one of the key attractions of The Mary Baker Eddy Library, where visitors are invited to cross its glass bridge into the illuminated spherical space and consider how ideas have expanded and shaped the world over time.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday 10am-5pm. Thursday, Friday 10am-9pm. General Admission $5; Seniors (62 and over), Students (with ID), Youth (6-17) $3.00; Children under 6 and Friends of the Library - Free.
Boston Athenaeum
617-227-0270
www.bostonathenaeum.org/
The Boston Athenaeum is a library and culture center for members and scholars. Athenaeum docents conduct guided art and architecture tours of the entire building on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 3pm. Advance reservations are required through the Circulation Department.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
617-495-3045
26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
www.hmnh.harvard.edu
Open daily from 9am-5pm (closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day). Adults $7.50; Seniors and Students $6; Children (3-18) $5; Children under 3 and holders of Harvard ID’s and a guest are admitted free. Sundays from 9am-noon (year-round) and Wednesdays from 3-5pm (September through May) admission is free to all except commercial groups. The museum boasts a garden of more than 3,000 glass flowers hand-crafted over 50 years by a father-son team, a hall of animals containing exotic creatures from around the world, a 1,642 pound amethyst geode, and the world’s largest turtle shell.
Red Line to Harvard Square.
MIT Museum
617-253-4444
265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
web.mit.edu/museum
Learn about robots and artificial intelligence, see amazing holograms, or catch the time-stopping beauty of strobe photography. Main Exhibit Center is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-5pm; Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm-5pm; and closed Mondays and holidays. General admission $5; children (5-18) and seniors (65+) $2; children under 5 or anyone with a MIT ID card are admitted free; alumni and affiliates of MIT (and 1 guest) are admitted free. Also check out the MIT Musuem Compton Gallery, located at 77 Massachusetts Ave (Building 10), always free, and open Monday through Friday 9:30am-5pm (closed holidays), and the MIT Museum Hart Nautical Gallery, located at 55 Massachusetts Ave (Building 5), always free, and open daily 0am-8pm (closed holidays).
Red line to Central Square and then a short walk along Massachusetts Ave towards Boston.
The New England Holocaust Memorial
Carmen Park (on Congress Street near Fanueil Hall on the Freedom Trail)
www.nehm.org
Through the voices of survivors and witnesses to the Nazi death camps, visitors seek to comprehend the acts of inhumanity that can stem from the seeds of prejudice. Inscribed in the glass panels at the base of the Memorial's towers are statements which represent a range of personal experiences, from the horrors of camp life to acts of resistance.
The Memorial is within walking distance from the following MBTA Subway Stations: Haymarket on the Green & Orange line, Government Center on the Blue and Green Line, and State Street on the Blue and Orange Lines.
The Prudential Skywalk Observatory
617-859-0648
Copley Square, 800 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02117
www.prudentialcenter.com/play/skywalk.html
On the 50th floor of the Prudential Building, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the skywalk. Open everyday 10am-10pm. Adults $7; Children under 10 and Senior $4. Part of the Prudential Center, a renovated complex of stores and restaurants.
Prudential and Hynes stops on the Green Line.
Recreation
Boston Harbor Islands
617-223-8666
www.bostonislands.com
The thirteen islands offer many activities for a variety of audiences, especially in the summer, like All Access Boston, where character actors tell the history of Boston Harbor.
For details and a complete list see www.bostonislands.com/frmset_events.html.
You can visit a few islands by the MBTA, like Worlds End, Deer Island, Nut Island, and Web Memorial. Charter boats and water taxis are available and private boats may dock for free at Georges Island on a first-come, first-served basis, or at other islands for a fee. Ferries leave from Long Wharf, Fan Pier, Quincy Shipyard, and Pemberton Point for $10.
To get ferry schedules and other pricing information visit the website: www.nps.gov/boha/parkdocs/boatschedule.pdf. The ferries leave from Long Wharf, which is accessible by the Aquarium stop on the Blue Line. Some islands are year round while others are seasonal. They are open from sunrise to sunset unless you have a camping permit.
See www.bostonislands.com/trip_tips.html for what to do and what to bring. Boston's newest state park encompasses all the islands just off the coast of Boston. Board a ferry to the magic of the Boston Harbor Islands. Go for a picnic, a hike, or simply bask in the sun. Venture in and learn more! Events are held throughout the season. See listings also under Sports & Outdoors. On George's Island you will find Fort Warren, a National Historic Landmark, on this 28-acre island whose dock is the center of transportation to the islands. A favorite camping island, 62-acre Lovell's has trails that pass by dunes and woods, picnic areas, the remains of Fort Standish, and a supervised swimming beach. You need a group permit for groups of 25 or more, details at 617-727-7676.
Go Fly A Kite
Moakley Park, Castle Island or the beach in South Boston, Downtown at Boston Common, Piers in East Boston, Millennium Park in West Roxbury, Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester, or the Charles River Esplanade.
Jamaica Pond
617-522-6258
The Jamaica Way, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Open 9am-5pm daily, Fridays open until 9pm; Ages 10-17. Jamaica Pond is a good place to learn rowing and sailing. You can also fish there, and it is a fun place to go all year round. There is so swimming at Jamaica Pond.
Forest Hills stop on the Orange Line.
Spray Pool at The Frog Pond
617-635-2120
Boston Common
www.cityofboston.gov/parks/FrogPond_summer.asp
July 1st through September 1st. Open daily from 10am-6pm.
Entrance to the Common is FREE!
Swan Boats
Boston Public Gardens
www.swanboats.com
Open Mid-April to Mid-September
Spring hours: 10am-4pm; Summer 10am-5pm; Fall weekdays 12 noon-4pm, weekends 10am-4pm. Adults $2.50; children age 2 to 15 years old $1; seniors $2.
The Swan Boats are located in the Boston Public Gardens - 24 acres bound by Arlington, Boylston, Charles and Beacon Streets.
The MBTA Green Line Arlington Station is the closed "T" stop. From this stop, it is approximately a four-minute walk through the Public Garden.
Make Way For Duckling Statue
Boston Public Gardens (use entrance on Beacon and Charles Streets)
A tribute to the children's story by Robert McCloskey, Make Way for Ducklings, the statue is of Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings.
The Public Gardens is accessible by the MBTA Green Line at Arlington Street Station.
Tours and Cruises
Duck Tours
617-267-DUCK
www.bostonducktours.com
Points of Departure: Prudential Center (Huntington Ave. in front of Shaw's) and Museum of Science. March 29 - November 28, 2004. (All DUCKS are heated.) Tours depart rain or shine, 7 days a week. Tours begin at 9am and the last tour leaves an hour before sunset. Tours leave every 30 or 60 minutes, depending upon the season. Tickets are sold inside the Prudential Center, Museum of Science, and Faneuil Hall beginning at 8:30am. Adults $24; students and seniors $21; children (3-11) $15; special needs $10. Group rates are available for groups of 20 or larger.
Ghosts and Gravestones
617-269-3626
www.ghostsandgravestones.com
Tour Boston’s darker side…Walk the same streets that the Boston Strangler once stalked and visit two of Boston’s oldest burying grounds.
Tour departs from the Old Town Trolley Stop across from the New England Aquarium.
Tours begin at 6,7,8 and 9pm.
In May, tours are available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights; June through September tours run every night except Tuesday; In October tours run every night.
Please call to check on availability.
Reservations are required.
Beantown Trolley Tours
617-720-6342
www.brushhilltours.com
A traditional trolley tour of Boston.
Fully Narrated
Tickets sold on board
Free unlimited reboarding
Old Town Trolley Tours
617-269-7010
www.historictours.com
A traditional trolley tour of Boston
Gray Line Tours
617-720-6342
www.grayline.com
Everything from trolley tours to cruises, even day trips. Check out their website to see which tour is right for you!
Fenway Park Tours
617-226-6666
www.redsox.com
Visit the park where the Babe pitched, The Kid hit, Yaz dazzled, and Nomar and Pedro still thrill young fans today. Soak up the rich history; hear the echoes of the past. Touch the Green Monster, imagine being one of the "Knights of the Keyboard" as you see the view from the Press Box, visit the new Red Sox Hall of Fame presented by Volvo, and take a seat in the .406 Club before strolling around Fenway Park. Tours run May through September and are conducted daily from 9 am to 4 pm or until three hours before game time, whichever is earlier. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $8 for children 14 and younger. All areas are subject to availability. For more information and group reservations, call the Fenway Park Tours Hotline at 617-226-6666 or e-mail tours@redsox.com.
Spirit of Boston
1-866-211-3807
www.spiritofboston.com
Cruise Boston’s historic harbor and dynamic skyline.
Dinner and lunch cruises available.
Times depending on night. Call for details.
Boston Harbor Cruises
617-227-4321 or 877-SEE-WHALE
www.bostonharborcruises.com
Boston Harbor Cruises offers passengers everything from Historic Sightseeing Cruises to Sunset Cruises, even a guaranteed Whale Watching Cruise. Reservations are recommended. Check out their website for further information, schedules, and ticket prices.
New England Aquarium Whale Watch
617-973-5281
www.neaq.org/visit/wwatch/index.html
Get whisked away in a high-speed catamaran to a whale feeding grounds just 30 miles east of Boston. The trip also offers guaranteed whale sightings! Call or check out their website for reservations, schedules, and pricing information.
Liberty Fleet
617-742-0333
www.libertyfleet.com/daily/boston.htm
Come aboard to relive the days of Boston Tall Ships. Take the wheel, set the sails, or just sit back and enjoy the sights and beauty of Boston Harbor and her islands! $30.00 Adults; $18.00 Child (12years). Full Cash Bar available on all sails. Special combo tickets for a sail on Liberty and lunch or dinner at Cheers in Faneuil Hall: $50 Adults $30 Child (12yrs). Also offers a Sunday Brunch Cruise. Check out their website for more information, reservations, and schedules.
Boston By Foot Walking Tours
617-367-2345
www.bostonbyfoot.com
From May through October, Boston By Foot presents daily walking tours and prearranged private group tours that highlight Boston's rich architectural heritage and history. Call for more information.
MYTOWN
617-536-TOWN
www.mytowninc.com
MYTOWN offers Boston’s only youth-led historical walking tours. For two hours, MYTOWN Youth Guides bring the history of Boston’s South End neighborhood to life by surveying the contributions that ethnic, immigrant, and working class communities have made to its development.
May and June: Tuesdays & Wednesdays 3:30-5pm
July and August: Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10-12pm & 1-3pm
Fridays 10am-12pm
September, October, November: Must call office to negotiate a date and time.
MYTOWN’s tours are priced on a sliding scale that ranges from $3-$15 per person. The fee is scaled so that Boston-based youth Programs and public schools pay the least amount. All potential tour takers should call to confirm scheduling and pricing.
Massachusetts State House
(617) 727-3676
www.state.ma.us/sec/trs/trsbok/trstour.htm
State House tours are conducted by the staff of the Tours and Government Education Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office and by volunteers well-versed in the history and architectural background of the State House. The tours are given weekdays year-round from 10am-4pm, and are free of charge. The Massachusetts State House is closed on weekends and holidays.
Fort Independence
Castle Island
Columbia Road, South Boston, MA 02127
Fort Independence is opened every Thursday for twilight viewing from 7:30pm until sunset. Fort Independence is also opened every Saturday and Sunday 12 noon-4pm (free guided tour optional). Castle Island houses Fort Independence in which there is something to offer everyone. While at Castle Island, there is a chance for people to view the beautiful sites of Boston Harbor, walk, fish, play in the playground or eat at the infamous Sullivan's food stand (Fort Independence is also Free of Charge but donations are welcomed).
Walking/Running In Boston
Arnold Arboretum
617-524-1718
125 Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
This huge park is a great place to walk, run or ride a bike. The trees and plants are beautiful to look at in the Spring and Summer.
Castle Island
Columbia Road
South Boston, MA 02127
Situated in South Boston and home to Fort Independence, this is a great place to walk, run or ride a bike. The ocean offers a cool breeze and a stop at Sully’s for some lunch or ice cream is a great way to spend an afternoon in Boston. For tours of Fort Independence, Check out the listing for the fort in the “Tours and Cruises” section.
Boston Commons/Boston Garden
The commons and gardens are great places for a stroll. Easily accessible by pubic transportation and containing many historic monuments, these parks are very popular in spring and summer.
The Charles River Esplanade
Between Storrow Drive and the Charles River, and between the Longfellow and Mass. Ave. bridges, lies an oasis of green called the Esplanade. Relax and enjoy the view of sailboats along the Charles, or Rollerblade, run, or ramble the paved pathway.
Free outdoor concerts run from mid-June to October.
Pope John Paul II Park
617-727-6034
Located in the Neponset District of Dorchester, this beautiful park offers Soccer fields, running paths, fishing, birding, foot paths, playgrounds, picnic areas, temporary restrooms. Take the Red Line (Ashmont branch) to Fields Corner. The #20 bus route passes by two of the park's entrances: at Neponset Circle and at Hallet Street.
Jamaica Pond
Located in Jamaica Plain, this pond is the largest body of water within Boston. Around the pond, fishing, rowing, sailing, walking, and jogging are all popular activities.
Back Bay
If you are staying in the Back Bay/Copley Square area be sure to take a stroll or jog through the streets of Back Bay. The old buildings offer great architectural sights. This is also a great area for shopping!
Shopping in Boston
Newbury Street
www.newbury-st.com
Situated in Boston’s Historic Back Bay, Newbury Street offers shoppers a wide range of stores. Upscale and Luxury stores such as Burberry and DKNY line the blocks closer to Arlington Street and the Public Gardens while hip trendy stores such as Puma and Urban Outfitters fill the blocks closer to Massachusetts Avenue. Also, do not neglect to pop into all the small boutiques that make Newbury Street a shopper’s paradise. Newbury Street is accessible by the Arlington, Prudential, Copley, and Hynes/ICA stops on the Green Line or by the Back Bay Station stop on the Orange Line.
The Shops at the Prudential Center and The Mall at Copley Place
www.prudentialcenter.com and www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=784
The Shops at the Prudential Center and The Mall at Copley Place are two malls connected by an enclosed glass footbridge that crosses over Huntington Avenue. The two malls house nearly 200 stores as well as carts to satisfy most shopping needs. Shops include Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lacoste, Kenneth Cole, and Louis Vuitton. In addition to the shops, there are several restaurants, including Legal Seafoods and The Cheesecake Factory, a movie theater, and a food court.
The malls are accessible by the Copley and Prudential stops on the Green Line or by the Back Bay Station stop on the Orange Line.
Downtown Crossing
www.downtowncrossing.org
Looking to get outside while you shop? Then shopping in Downtown Crossing would be your best bet. The cobblestones on Washington Street add a little colonial flair as you run into the world-famous Filene’s Basement to grab a designer markdown. Be warned if they are having one of their semi-annual wedding dress sales as one can get caught up in the frenzy. Downtown Crossing is also home to another department store: Macy’s. Also, across the street is the Corner Mall if one is looking for a more traditional “mall shopping” experience. Continuing up Washington Street will lead one to several other stores such as DSW and H&M. Downtown Crossing is accessible by the Downtown Crossing stop on the Orange Line or by the Park Street stop on the Red and Green Lines.
Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market
www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/
Just minutes from Government Center are Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market, which offer shoppers a wide variety of stores and eateries. Strolling down the cobblestone streets one can pop into Coach for some leather goods or grab a quick drink at Ned Devine’s. During the day, this area is always bustling with tourists and shoppers alike. This area also supports a diverse nightlife with dozens of clubs, pubs, and bars. Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market are accessible by the Haymarket stop on the Orange and Green line or by the Government Center stop on the Green Line.
Boston's Main Streets
www.bostonunwrapped.com/Shopping.htm
Our neighborhood business districts have some amazing restaurants and shops that represent the culture and flavor of Boston. From the Thar Treasures in Jamaica Plain to the China Pearl Restaurant in Chinatown and Vilma's Boutique for Children's Clothing in East Boston to Ebenezer Bookstore in Hyde Park there is something for everyone. Check out their website to learn more about Boston Main Streets' Shopping.
Higher Education In And Around Boston
Boston is the #1 college city in the U.S.! When visiting Boston, seeing a college is a great thing to do—whether you or someone in your family is applying to colleges now or you just want to get a feel for where a fifth of Boston’s population spend their time. In addition to Harvard, which is actually located across the river in Cambridge, there are 34 colleges and universities located within the city of Boston itself, and many more just outside. Follow the links below to learn more about Boston’s many colleges and universities (followed by some others in the area) and get information on campus locations and tours. For additional information on visiting some of the colleges in Boston and the area try www.bostonvisit.com and for information on college admissions and higher education go to
www.heic.org.
BOSTON
GREATER BOSTON
Just Outside Boston
Salem, MA
877-SALEM MA
www.salem.org
Only in Salem can you board a reconstructed 1797 merchant ship, tour a world class museum or art and culture, and immerse yourself in the stories surrounding the Salem Witch Trials of 1692- all in the same day! Other notable attractions are The House of Seven Gables and The Salem Witch Museum (www.salemwitchmuseum.com). You can request a copy of the guide book online or by calling!
Plimoth Plantation
508-746-1622
Located off Route 3 in Plymouth, MA
www.plimoth.org
Step back in time into a 1627 Pilgrim village, or check out the Crafts Center, or Hobbamock’s Homesite Indoor Thanksgiving Exhibit. Open daily March 27th through November 28th. To check out other attractions in Plymouth County visit their website: www.seeplymouth.com
Minute Man National Park
www.nps.gov/mima/vcenter.htm
The Minute Man National Historical Park, the Battles of Lexington and Concord are brought to life through the preservation, restoration and interpretation of significant sites from "that famous day and year" when Colonists took up arms in defense of liberty and touched off the American Revolution.
At Concord's North Bridge, visitors can see the place where, on April 19, 1775, Colonial militia men fired the famous "shot heard 'round the world." Located 22 miles outside of Boston within the towns of Lexington, Lincoln and Concord, Massachusetts
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