Historic downtown area
There is no doubt that history is Boston’s main tourist attraction, and many of the most popular places are crowded into one area between the Park Street and Government Center T stops: Fanuiel Hall, Quincy Market, King’s Chapel and Burying Ground, the Old North Church and the Old State House, to name a few, are within steps of each other.
Boston Commons and the Public Garden
The Commons is the best place to lounge in the grass during the summer or ice skate on the frozen Frog Pond in the winter. Swan boat rides are available in the Public Gardens, separated from the Commons by Charles St, where the beautiful landscaping makes it a prime location for spring weddings.
Fenway Park and the Red Sox
Cheering for the Red Sox is the ultimate Boston experience, but games frequently sell out and tickets can be expensive (games against the rival Yankees easily go for hundreds of dollars). Luckily, standing room tickets are usually available for around $20 and tours of America’s oldest ballpark are available all year.
Newbury Street
A mix of expensive upscale boutiques and higher-end mall standards, Newbury Street is Boston’s main shopping area, particularly for those with extra cash to burn. Those without a hole in their pockets can enjoy excellent people watching at the many cafes and small art galleries in the area
Beacon Hill
Most tourist books feature photos of Beacon Hill’s narrow, gas-lit, cobblestone streets prominently, and for good reason. Take in old Boston charm on a walk around one of its oldest and most desirable neighbourhoods.
Outside the city
If Boston was not enough, take the Commuter Rail west to Lexington and Concord, a key area early in the American Revolution, or north to the witch trial town of Salem. For quintessential New England coastal charm, take the commuter rail to North Shore towns such as Rockport or Gloucester or catch a bus out to Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod.
