"Home of the Bruins" a Boston Travel Page by dinhyen

Boston is one of the historical, financial, cultural, political -- you name it -- hubs of the US. It has everything that a big city has to offer, such as a youthful and dynamic population, a diverse ethnic makeup, all major league sports teams, a rich perfoming arts heritage and a vibrant night life. Yet small-city charms live on and prosper in many of its diverse towns and neighborhoods.

Boston is a city filled with history -- just a short walk in downtown Boston will touch on enough materials to fill a textbook on the American Revolution. It is a city full of green, indicative of the abundant urban parks and gardens, some of which were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the pioneer landscape architect. Instead of the concrete jungle of Manhattan or the suburban sprawls of Los Angeles, the Boston is surrounded by relatively undeveloped open space. Just minutes' drive from the city, one can enjoy many nature reserves, ponds, lakes, wooded parks, and forests. In the winter, the famous ski resorts of New England are just a few hours' drive away, the closest being just minutes from downtown Boston. And of course, autumn in New England is unequaled anywhere.

I've lived in Cambridge, just across the Charles River from Boston, since 1995. Boston, or rather urban Boston, is my favorite American city (my favorite city, anywhere, is not in the US :) I'm an avid biker and rollerblader and has explored many nooks and crannies of the city on wheels. The best time to visit is the Spring and Autumn, but beauty can be discovered at any time of year.

Boston's nationally televised Fourth of July celebration features a performance by the Boston Pops and culminates in a fireworks extravaganza. It usually attracts a few hundred thousands spectators to the Esplanade along the Charles.

The annual New England Flower Show held at Bayside Expo Center highlights the creativity of florists and horticulturists from around New England.