Boston, in New England, Massachusetts, is one of America’s finest cities. Beans, Fenway Park, the Boston Marathon and the sitcom “Cheers” have all helped to put Boston on the map. Boston has also given to America and, in some cases, the rest of the world such famous and influential figures as the late president John F. Kennedy, late civil rights activist Malcom X, the late poet Edgar Allen Poe, the late author Louisa May Alcott and the inventor of the internet, Tim Berners-Lee.
The above have helped make Boston a fine place to be. If you happen to be visiting, here are some other great things to do while you’re there to get the best out of Boston.
See the Boston Celtics play live
The Boston Celtics play in the NBA at the their home stadium of the TD Garden, which has a seating capacity of 19,156 for the basketball games and, overall, a maximum capacity of 19,589. The stadium opened in 1995 and hosts a variety of events, including home games for the NHL’s Boston Bruins.
The Boston Celtics have been having a terrific season, their form has meant they’re regularly the favorites in the NBA odds. They’re enjoying a 4-0 winning streak for the first time in years and, in early November, laid a 155-104 basketball beatdown on the Indiana Pacers. Make the most of your time in Boston to catch the Celtics while they’re in this scintillating form.
Visit the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
Boston was the stage for one of the most seminal events in US political history. “The Boston Tea Party” refers to an incident that took place in 1773 in which American patriots, disguised as Mohawk Indians, threw 342 chests of tea belonging to the East India Company into Boston Harbor. The patriots were protesting against taxation on tea and against the perceived monopoly of the East India Company.
The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum features historical interpreters, replicas of 18th century sailing vessels and interactive exhibits, all casting you back to the event that paved the way for the American Revolution. You’ll get to head out onto an open deck where the Boston Tea Party occurred, throw tea into Boston harbor, see one of the original tea chests from the 1773 incident and round off your visit with a nice cup of tea.
Visit the Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is a library of many firsts: the first large free public library in the US, the first public library to lend books, the first public library to have a branch library and also the first library to offer a children’s room. This pioneering City of Boston institution boasts a central library and 25 neighborhood libraries. Each year, the library serves nearly 4 million visitors and many more online.
The Central Library is a landmark library and sits in Copley Square. The building features architecture that spans three centuries, and inside there are several decorative installations and treasured artworks inside.
You can take a free tour of the library, but must turn up to the McKim Building Welcome Desk, which is right through the library entrance on Dartmouth Street, because tour places are allocated on a first come first served basis and the library doesn’t take reservations for its art and architecture tours.
Boston Harbor Cruise
Boston Harbor is packed with legend, and a harbor cruise provides you with a splendid opportunity to learn about the history of the harbor and about some of the events that have taken place on it. You can learn about how the waterway was transformed into one of the cleanest in the country.
A tour will also give you the chance to see the Boston Harbor Islands, the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides), which is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, and the Bunker Hill Monument, a 221-foot obelisk which commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill, the first battle of the American Revolution.
Explore the different neighborhoods of Boston
Boston has lots of different neighborhoods, all with their own distinctive, endearing personality. One of the most notable is the South End, which is renowned for its brownstones and plentiful restaurants.
Another is the North End, which is known locally as “Little Italy” and you should make plans to spend several mealtimes there, such is the quality and variety of coffeehouses, pizzerias and pastry shops. Then there’s the elegant Back Bay neighborhood, which has the Commonwealth Avenue mall and lots of trees, park benches and statues.
Boston is an amazing city, bursting with history and things to do. If you don’t fancy the above, or if you still have time after completing the above list, other things you could do in Boston include walking or cycling along the esplanade, shopping along Newbury Street and enjoying a craft beer.
