Boston Things to Do Tips by Krumlovgirl

This goes down as one of those spur of the moment moves that I jumped on first and thought about later. I’m actually a big fan of hop on/hop off tours. They’re a great way to see the city layout and I use them as a way of determining what I might want to go back and revisit later. I picked this one up at stop number 1 which was located on the harbor by the aquarium. For the first part of the tour I rode around until I got to Boston Common. I wasn’t that impressed with the guide. He knew his history, but he was very monotonous in speech. Still, I got some great views of the skyline and was able to get a good feel for where the North End and USS Constitution were located geographically. After walking around the Common and Beacon Hill I re-boarded in front of the State House. This time the driver was a little more animated. I enjoyed the drive through Chinatown and the Theatre District but was disappointed that the route wasn’t more expansive. This time I disembarked at the North End and had lunch in Little Italy. After visiting the Old North Church and Paul Revere’s statue I got back on the trolley. This was by far my favorite driver. He was funny and knowledgeable and made sure that everyone was having a good time.

At the end of my tour I took the free Harbor Cruise which was wonderful for skyline views of the city. The weather was great and the tour took 45 minutes which was just about perfect timing with the sunset. The other option was admission to the aquarium but since it was so pretty I opted for the cruise.

The only negative aspect of the tour was that it didn’t go more places. It didn’t go down Newbury or into Copley Square at all. I also would have liked to have gone into Cambridge. There are other trolley companies that do that and I might try one of them next time.

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Phone: 617.363.7899
Website: http://www.cityviewtrolleys.com/
Other Contact: info@cityviewtrolleys.com

I love Beacon Hill. As a matter of fact, just as soon as I finish my stint in Europe I plan on relocating there for half of the year while I do my writing. It dates back to the early 19th century and nearly all of the houses are either Federal, Victorian or Georgian styles. It is a National Historic District and extraordinarily quiet to be in downtown Boston. As you can see from my front page, I have an entire album dedicated to the area. I love to just walk around and take pictures. If you walk slowly and look hard you can see tiny little gardens stuck here and there throughout the neighborhood. This is my favorite part. Some are no bigger than the interior of my car and some are in obscure places, like balconies, but they all fascinate me.

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

The Common is a good place to go and relax. There is almost always something going on-even in the dead of winter when the frog pond becomes an ice skating rink. Originally set aside as a common area where people could put their animals out to pasture; now it has become a common area where people put themselves out to pasture. There is a playground for the kids, mounted policemen, food vendors, occasional concerts, artists, and lots of people that just set around on the ground and benches and watch the day go by. That’s what I do when I’m there anyway. It’s a good relaxing spot to get away from the city for awhile, which is odd considering it’s right in the middle of the city. With Beacon Hill to one side, the Public Garden to another, and Chinatown and Government Crossing close by, it is as central as it could possibly be.

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Directions: Bound by Tremont, Beacon, Charles and Boylston Streets.
Website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/bostoncom

Taking a harbor cruise is a lovely way to spend about an hour in your day. You can board most of them in the area by the aquarium and if you take one of the trolley tours of the city a harbor cruise is usually included. The one I did took about 45 minutes and offered some great views of the Boston skyline. The commentary was average, but it was a beautiful day and everybody was out on the water. I really enjoyed the sailboats and other vessels that floated around us and some of my best pictures came from that trip. They offered small snacks and beverages, including beer, on the boat but only take cash.

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Directions: By the aquarium.

It would be hard to miss the beautiful golden domed building of the New State House. Located across from the Common and on the edge of Beacon Hill on Beacon Street, it truly is an astounding site. Being “new” it was built between 1795 and 1797 on land that was owned by John Hancock. Free tours are given year round from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and last about 30 to 45 minutes. You can also give yourself a self-guided tour by picking up an info sheet. Just remember that it is closed on Saturday.

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Phone: (617) 727-3676

There is always something going on at Faneuil Hall and it is always crowded. That is the conclusion that I have reached. While it IS touristy and the shops are pretty much those of what you could find in any mall, it is still definitely worth visiting. You should really visit Quincy Market on an empty stomach because it is impossible to sniff all the mouthwatering smells without wanting to taste a little bit of everything. When I was in there last, it was a madhouse. The ice cream stand had a line that looked like it would take 30 minutes tog et through. You can find any kind of food you want, from hamburgers to Indian and Thai. You can take your food outside and people watch from a bench or you can try to find a table in the atrium which isn’t likely. Around Quincy is a pedestrian mall where artists, magicians, and other local entertainers set up shop and entertain. It can be a zoo, but it’s all in good fun. There are also carriage rides available. Another good area to visit is the farmer’s market. At the end of the day they start getting rid of everything and you can get some real bargains.

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Directions: bordered by Clinton, Chatham and Commercial Streets (Or get off at Haymarket on the T)

Although there aren't a lot of good reviews concerning the aqarium it's really not a bad way to spend a couple of hours. And that's really all you need-a couple of hours. To be located on the oceanit's actually smaller than most that I have been to. (Cincinati, New Orleans, and Gatlinburg.) But they have an interesting array of aquatic life and a great IMAX theatre. At last check "Aliens of the Deep" was playing. Really, the best way to view the aqarium is to use your free admission if you go on a trolley tour. Otherwise, the admission price of $16.95 IS a little steep.

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Phone: 617-973-5200
Address: Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
Website: http://www.neaq.org

The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge is part of the “big dig” in Boston and I personally have driven over it fifteen million times. No, I’m just kidding. It just feels like it. Actually, it’s a beautiful bridge, especially at night when it’s all lit up and you get great nighttime skyline views of the city. If the towers look familiar it’s because they-re supposed to-they are designed to look like the Bunker Hill monument. Lenny Zakim, the person who the bridge is named after, was a civil rights activist, which is interesting considering that his namesake is a bridge. (Bridging people together, get it? Okay, thought so.) Anyway, there are many places in the city to view the bridge and it really adds something wonderful to the Boston skyline.

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Address: Charles River
Directions: Between Storrow Dr. and Memorial Drive (Cambridge)
Website: http://www.leonardpzakimbunkerhillbridge.org/

One of the most famous things about the Old North Church is the hanging of the two lanterns back in 1775. The two lanterns informed the patriots in Charlestown that the Brits were leaving Boston by water. (“One if by land, two if by sea.”) On April 18, 1775 Robert Newman sneaked into the empty church to hang two lanterns in the church's belfry. Paul Revere had already left for his famous ride to warn the patriot leaders in the area; the two lanterns were lit in case he was intercepted by the British and prevented from delivering his message. It is also Boston’s oldest surviving church building. I think it’s interesting to see the pews up close and personal. It would have been cold in the church and since there was no central heating, little boxes of embers and firewood would have been placed in the pews to keep the patrons warm during the long services. The church is free to visit although they ask that you make a $3.00 donation.

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Directions: North End
Website: www.oldnorth.com

Most people go to Charlestown to see the USS Constitution. It is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Affectionately called “old Ironside”, it was first launched in 1797. The Navy Yard was one of the first shipyards built in the US. Today, thirty acres of the Navy Yard are preserved by the National Park Service as part of Boston National Historical Park. If you go, the guided tours are free and you’ll learn some fascinating history. Also, from time to time they have visiting ships in as well and sometimes you can go aboard them, too. If you’re a ship person, or even a big history buff, then I would definitely recommend putting this on your list of things “to do.”

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