Boston Things to Do Tips by Helga67

Beacon Hill is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Boston, known for its architecture and lay-out. Here you will find brick row houses with beautiful doors and decorative iron work. Many notable Americans have once lived here and it is still a place for the upper class. It's a nice area to stroll along the narrow streets with brick sidewalks and gas lamps. Don't miss Acorn street and Louisburg Square. However, I must admit that the homogenous buildings bored me after a while.

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Directions: Area bounded by: Storrow Dr., Cambridge St., Beacon St., Bowdoin St.
Website: www.beaconhillonline.com

Back bay was built on a stretch of land that was once a smelly marsh. Now it is a bustling neighborhood with beautiful brownstone houses in Commonwealth avenue, trendy restaurants, fashionable shops in Newbury Street and a lovely square "Copley Square", where you can sit down on a sunny day and look at the two tallest buildings of Boston, the Prudential Center and the John Hancock Tower. Two other buildings on the square that are architectural treasures are the Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library.

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Directions: Commonwealth Ave, Newbury St., Boylston St. from Public Garden to Mass Ave.
T-station: Copley (green line)
Website: www.visitboston.org/back_bay.html

The Freedom Trail is a red brick or painted line connecting Boston's most interesting historic sites. It's a good introduction to Boston's rich history.

The walk starts at the park visitor center (15 State Street) next to Boston Common and takes about two or three hours minimum, but better take a full day to see it all at a leasure speed.

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Directions: T-station: Park Street (green/red line)

Boston Common is one of America's oldest public gardens and is located in the heart of Boston. The park has nice walking paths, the "frog" pond, and swan boat rides. There are ancient trees, a colourful array of shrubs, historic statues and fountains all over the park.

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Directions: Bound by Tremont, Beacon, Charles and Boylston Streets.
Downtown
T-station: Park Street (green/red line)

The State House is a remarkable building located across from the Boston Common on the top of Beacon Hill. It was built in 1798. The dome, originally made out of wood shingles, is now sheathed in copper and covered by 23 karat gold.

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Directions: T-station: Park Street (green/red line)
Website: www.sec.state.ma.us/trs

The Old South Meeting House was built in 1729 as a Puritan house of worship. It is best known for the site of where the Boston Tea Party began. Today, the Old South Meeting House is a museum where they recreate the tea party debates. It has informative interactive displays and is packed with history.

The story behind the "Boston Tea Party" can be found here.

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Address: 310 Washington Street
Directions: Corner of Milk and Washington Street.
T-station: Downtown crossing (red/orange line)
Website: www.oldsouthmeetinghouse.org

This house was built around 1680 and is the oldest wooden building in downtown Boston. It was the home of Paul Revere and his family from 1770 to 1800. You can visit his home and learn more about him and his life as a silversmith. You can visit the kitchen, living room and 2 bedrooms.

Paul Revere is famous for his “midnight ride". In 1775, Paul Revere rode through the streets warning everyone that the British troops were coming, and so he played an important role in the American history.

Entrance: 3 USD
No photos are allowed inside.

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Address: 19 North Square, Boston
Directions: North End
T-station: Haymarket (green/orange line)
Website: www.paulreverehouse.org

This Episcopal church was built in 1723 and is Boston's oldest church building. The steeple is 191 feet tall, making it the tallest steeple in Boston.
The interior high box pews and brass chandeliers, as well as the church's first clock are all original.

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Address: 193 Salem Street, Boston
Directions: North End

The 'older' readers will surely remember the TV show "Cheers". Did you know that the outside of the bar got it's inspiration from a place in Boston? The facade of the former Bull & Finch Pub was used in the opening sequence of the TV show. In the meantime the Bull & Finch has been renamed "Cheers Boston Beacon Hill" because of the great notoriety from the TV series.
Tourists are already waiting to get in at opening time (11 am). It's a huge tourist attraction now. Be aware, however, that the inside of the pub doesn't look like the TV show at all. For this, you can go to "Cheers Boston Faneuil Hall", which is a replica of the interior of the bar.

There is also a souvenir shop for memorabilia and T-shirts.

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Address: 84 Beacon Street, Boston
Directions: Beacon Hill opposite Public Garden
Website: www.cheersboston.com

This landmark can be found on the Freedom Trail amid the skyscrapers of downtown Boston.

It's the oldest public building in Boston, built in 1713. It served as the seat of the British Royal Government until 1776 when, with the evacuation of the British from Boston, it became the first State House. It was from the balcony of this building that the Declaration of Independence was first read.

Today it houses the Boston History Museum.

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Address: Corner of Washington and State Street
Directions: Downtown
T-station: State (blue/orange line)
Website: www.bostonhistory.org