I'm visiting Boston for the first time. What should I see?

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shekinah02

There is a ton of things to see and do in Boston. As a local, here's my top 10:
1. Boston Common and Public Garden - The oldest public space in the country...also close to the beginning of the Freedom Trail and it has ice skating.
2. The Museum of Fine Arts...You can take a Duck Tour right from there, but first check out the great exhibits.
3. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - It's less well known than the Museum of FIne Arts, but it's my fav!
4. Faneuil Hall - Shop, dine and enjoy the atmosphere
5. The brand new ICA on Boston's Waterfront - it's new, has ocean views and there's plenty of seafood to eat nearby. It's free on Thursday evenings.
6. East Boston - This is the most unknown area of Boston, but I love it. Piers park has the best views of Boston (for pics), and it's right off Maverick Station on the Blue Line. You'll see the old Solider homes from when the area was a working harbor. The neighborhood also has the best Italian and hispanic food!
7. ImprovAsylum - great improv in the Italian Northend...they also have cheap shows that run late, if you're a night owl.
8. Harvard Square - home to the venerable institution. You can check out Harvard campus, eat in the Greenhouse Cafe and shop.
9. Copley Square - Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library are right next to each other. The Prudential Center Mall is also close (be warned, the Pru is pricey!)
10. Check out the local events and caldendar listings. If you are going in March, there is a ton of Irish related stuff going on because Boston is the Irish capital of America. If you need more information on traveling in Boston, check out www.travelnewenglandnewspapers.com. It's a local travel newspaper and it has an events listing for February.

Mike R

Duck Tours are really cool, definitely worth doing. Walk the Freedom Trail, especially if the weather's good, and see as many of the sites along there as possible. These should be listed in guidebooks and you can also get information. There is a tourist information booth on Boston Common, which has good maps and stuff and it's right near where the walking tour starts.

Make sure to have dinner in the North End, really good Italian food. Although if you're from New Jersey you might not be so impressed - NY and NJ I think are the only places that might have better Italian food than Boston. Mike's Pastry is REALLY good though - my parents live in Washington DC, although my dad's from NYC originally, and he says that Mike's Pastry is as good or better than NY bakeries. And that's the one thing they don't miss doing in Boston when they visit. And speaking of restaurants, if you like seafood then go to the Union Oyster House or Anthony's Pier 4.

Also go to Harvard Square/Harvard Yard.

quincymit

If the weather is good, definitely check out the Freedom Trail. It might take a couple of days to cover, but you'll see all of the best historical sites.

As far as individual attractions that are must sees, here are a few sorted by region/town:

In downtown Boston:
+ Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market
+ Boston Common and Public Gardens
+ The Bull and Finch Pub at 88 Beacon St (seen in the opening credits of Cheers)
+ Lots of old landmarks including Sam Adams grave, the Old North Church, etc. These are all located along the freedom trail.

Western Boston:
+ Fenway Park
+ Boston University (if you're into the younger scene)

Charlestown:
+ Bunker Hill Monument. Walk the stairs to the top for a great view of Boston/Cambridge
+ USS Constitution

Cambridge:
+ Harvard University/Harvard Square.
+ MIT (make sure you see the Stata Center and the various IM Pei buildings if you're an architecture buff)

For shopping:
+ The upscale shops are along Newbury Street just west of the Public Garden.
+ Copley Square also has a few upscale shops including a Saks 5th Ave.
+ Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market
+ Filene's Basement at the Downtown Crossing T-Station

For good food:
+ Lots of great Italian Restaurants in the North End
+ Pizzaria Regina's (North End) is great if you're up for pizza
+ Cambridge has a great assortment of ethnic restaurants
+ Legal Sea Foods -- although a chain -- is a must for all visitors. Make sure you get a cup of clam chowder.

Juliane

Boston is a great city and there is a lot to do!

Lots of history stuff to do! If you follow the Freedom Trail it will take you to a lot of sights like Fanueil Hall, Old North Church, Boston Common, Public Park, etc.

Great food there too. I would especially suggest going to Hanover Street (near Haymarket) for some of the greatest Italian food.

The building that the previous poster was referring to is the Hancock Building, I believe. Great views.

The Duck tour is ok. There is also another tour which has a bus that lets you get off and on as many times as you want. It goes to all of the tourist spots. I forget the exact name of the company.

The trains are pretty safe too which saves a lot on taxis. Have fun!

CaliGirl

THE PRUDENTIAL BUILDING FOR SURE!!!
It's downtown - it's the skywalk where you are super high and can see everything. it's enclosed so no worries there, but the view is amazing. you get your own little hand held radio that tells you exactly what you are seeing out each window. i promise you will not be disappointed in this.

we did fenway park although they lost to nyy the 5 straight games we were there. travelled all the way from california to see 'em - a lifelong dream - drug two kids along and bam... they got creamed not once, not twice, but 5 straight games.

everything else the previous posters said is right on the mark. i love love loved boston and hope to return someday.

but i wanted to post to be sure you didn't miss the prudential building. seriously. go there and get a ticket to go up to the sky walk. i think that's what that floor is called.

we did the duck tour and yes you have to do that it's fun!!

Freedom trail is no charge to just walk on your own. Take your time and soak it all up. There is a fee to see Paul Revere's house though.

Have a drink in the country's oldest bar. Bell in Hand Tavern. It's on the cutest little corner/street. One of my favorite parts of the trip. that little street is so quaint!

Boston was amazing. So rich in history yet mixed right in with the new. AMAZING.

Mano GyveniВmas.в™Ґ

You def. should go to the Holocaust Memorial & All the museums.
Boston has alot of good restaurants too.

Huck

This is not an answer, but a bit of advice: LEAVE YOUR CAR AT HOME!!

selconcierge

I highly recommend viditing the Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, the Isabella Garnder Museum, and the Arnold Arboretum.

amichelle;*

the duck tour is awesome! i've been on it. also you should visit fenway park, and maybe a musuem there. boston has awesome restraunts. they have so many diversity in foods there. hope u have fun in bean town!!!

sansrival

According to Yahoo travel, the top 10 popular attractions in Boston includes the following:
1. Freedom Trail
If you are interested in history this will
lead you to the 16 historic sites in Boston.
How long? 90 minutes

2. Boston Duck Tours
This tour is via brightly colored vintage
World War II amphibians.
How long? 80 minutes

3. Museum of Fine Arts
This is one of the finest the State has.

4. Boston Common
This is the oldest park in the State.

5. Faneuil Hall Marketplace
You can dine and shop here.

6. Prudential Center Skywalk Observatory
This is where you can see the whole
Boston from above.

7. Public Garden

8. North End
The Mike's Pastry has many write ups.
I had seen good reviews almost in every
website that I encounter about it.

9. Museum of Science

10. Cheers Beacon Hill
This is the set of the famous tv
show which run for several years.

See the slideshow of these places too. The websites of the above gives you their location, what to expect, time the establishments open!

down town...fanuiel hall, quincy marker, the prudental, north end,and the freedom trail o yea and boston commen

Ms. Smarty

everything!! i used to live in a suburb outside of boston, but we went there practically every weekend...children's museum is call, charles river, harvard square, harvard's campus, go to a jazz concert...wellesley is a quaint historic town to visit....paul reveres' house...the harbor...take it all in!

bsc_student_08

The Christoper Columbus Waterfront Park, near the New England Aquarium.

DJ Ulster

Freedom trail, Boston Common & Public gardens, Fanueil Hall/Quincy Market

CYP450

Museum of Fine Arts. Best Impressonist collection ever.
Castle Island in Southie . You can see the 1600s fort, watch planes at Logan and view the Harbor Islands. Have a hot dog at Sullivan's while you're at it. You may recognize a lot of movie scenes around there. My cousin met LeoDiCaprio filming the Departed on her way home from exercise.
Top of the Hub- top floor in Prudential building.
If it's spring- the Swan Boats in the Public Garden.
Mt Auburn Cemetary. It's a horticultural paradise and when the birds are migrating it's awesome.
Take the Freedom Trail tour- it's cheap and very interesting.
Driving in Boston is very difficult if you don't know the area- the streets are based on former cowpaths and most of them are one-way. The Big Dig is wrapping up but causes huge delays still.
Symphony Hall- catch a concert.
Harvard Square. Lots of shops and eateries.
Faneuil Hall. Big tourist trap- shops, food, sights, street entertainment.
Walk along the Charles river. Emerald necklace.
Duck tour first- it will show you where everything is in reference to the rest. Very good choice. Don't forget to yell "Quack!"

Robert S

Boston Highlights
Tread the path of America's historic beginnings on the Freedom Trail
Ogle sea creatures at the New England Aquarium
Play and get messy at the Children's Museum
Explore hands-on exhibits at the Museum of Science
Stroll the Boston Common and Cambridge's collegial Harvard Square

The Multi-Attraction Pass that allows you to do MORE for less!
<>http://www.gobostoncard.com/?GCID=S18000x006&KEYWORD=boston&MATCHTYPE=search>

Elvis lives!

I don't remember the name of the building, but it's one of the tallest there and you can walk around the top and see the whole city. It is very cool. If you get the chance to walk around the older parts of the city that's also cool. It's a very interesting city with a lot of history. What I found facinating was there are old graveyard sites right in the middle of the city. Have fun

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