Are you looking to take a vacation soon? Don’t you wish there was a place where you could experience American history as well as enjoy the hustle and bustle of modern America?
There’s one great city that’s rich with history but still feels young and energetic. Boston, Massachusetts is that city! It’s a city that has always attracted travelers, explorers, entrepreneurs, and settlers.
It’s a great place for solo travelers, couples, and groups. It’s one of America’s most famous cities and one that you don’t want to miss out on! We know you’ll have a great time.
Let’s look at the best things to do in Boston, Massachusetts…
NUMBER ONE – Walk the Freedom Trail
The first thing you should do when you get to Boston is to walk the Freedom Trail. This is a 3-mile walk that lets you see 16 historical monuments throughout Boston.
It starts at the Boston Common, which is the first public park in the United States. You can enjoy the walk on your own or go with a guided tour. You’ll learn about how Boston was founded while stopping to learn about each historical monument.
Boston is a history buff’s paradise and walking the Freedom Trail is a great way to get started. If you’re traveling with young children, this is especially a great activity to teach them about the richness of American history.
It’s also a great way to get some exercise. The great thing about Boston is that much of it is walkable, just like New York City or any European city. You’ll feel energized and ready to explore the rest of this great city!
Before we tell you more about the best things to do in Boston, Massachusetts, please like this video and subscribe to our channel for more great content on travel and where to plan your next vacation. Now, back to the video…
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NUMBER TWO – The Charles River Esplanade
If you want a quiet break after walking along the Freedom Trail, you should head to the Charles River Esplanade.
The Esplanade is a walkway by the Charles River near both the Boston Bridge and the Longfellow Bridge. There are over 1,000 trees along the walkway which make it a pleasant area to enjoy a stroll. During practice season for the Boston Marathon, you can expect to see runners practicing along the Esplanade.
At the Esplanade, you’ll also find The Hatch Shell. This is a performance area and one where you can enjoy live entertainment. It’s especially a great place to go to for the 4th of July.
As the Esplanade is a great place to wind down, you want to visit a few times during your trip. You can use it as a place to reflect on your journey or to plan for your next excursion. If you’re traveling with others, this is a great place to take a break before you enjoy your next activity.
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NUMBER THREE – The Lookout Rooftop
One of the best places to visit in any big city is a rooftop terrace. It’s great to visit a place where you can enjoy a drink while meeting others all against the backdrop of an incredible city.
In Boston, you’ve got to make your way to the Lookout Rooftop. This is a great place to grab a cocktail and socialize with others. It’s a professional crowd and offers a contrast to the college crowd that Boston is known for.
You might want to visit the Lookout Rooftop toward the end of your trip. It’s a great way for you and your friends to celebrate your trip. If you’re a solo traveler, however, you might want to visit the Lookout Rooftop toward the beginning of your trip. You might make friends with other travelers or locals and find company to enjoy the remainder of your vacation!
NUMBER FOUR – Buy a book at the Brattle Book Shop
One of the best things you can buy on any vacation is a book from a local bookshop. As a college town, Boston is full of small and large bookshops. There are independent booksellers as well as popular chain stores.
But the best independent bookseller that you should visit is the Brattle Book Shop. This quaint bookshop is so famous that its often busier than larger bookshops.
It sells secondhand books including many rare books. The bookshop has been featured on the PBS show Antiques Roadshow. You’ll find a great mix of regulars and travelers at the bookshop. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, you have to visit the bookshop at least once!
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NUMBER FIVE – Visit Faneuil Hall
Let’s return to seeing historical monuments. One of Boston’s most famous historical monuments is Faneuil Hall, which was built in the 1700s.
This was made by the merchant Peter Faneuil as an open marketplace. He presented it to the city of Boston and requested that it should always be kept open to the people.
On the ground floor you’ll find many market stalls. Here, you can buy delicious food and drinks. On the upper floor, you’ll find a meeting chamber – which was often used by revolutionaries during Colonial America. Later on, this floor would be used by abolitionists during the era of slavery.
On the 4th floor, you’ll find the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Museum – which is a must-see for history buffs! You’ll also get to enjoy live entertainment from many street musicians. It’s rewarding to see that almost 300 years later, Faneuil Hall is a busy place where Bostonians love to congregate.
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NUMBER SIX – The Museum of Fine Arts
This incredible art museum is enough to rival other art museums and galleries found throughout the country.
Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts is a great place to see artworks from different cultures and from various time periods. You can see artworks from Ancient Egypt to Ancient Greece. You can also see artworks from the Americas.
There are even Asian artworks from Korea as well as Buddhist sculptures to enjoy. This is a great place to spend a day and is a must-see if you’re traveling with your family. When you visit the Museum of Fine Arts, you’ll understand why Boston remains a city of great culture even today!
As it’s an extensive museum, you want to visit during the day so that you have enough time to see all the different exhibitions. Make sure you visit early in your trip so you have time to visit other museums as well.
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NUMBER SEVEN – Museum of Science
Another great museum to visit is Boston’s Museum of Science. It offers an interactive experience to learn about science and technology and is the perfect museum for families.
You can explore different fields of science from biology to astronomy to zoology to modern-day computer science. You’ll enjoy the planetarium, Butterfly Garden, and Electricity Dome. As with the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science is so vast that it’s best to visit during the day. This way, you’ll be able to explore as many exhibits as possible.
Since there are so many exhibits, you might even want to visit the museum more than once during your stay in case you miss out on any! This will definitely be one of the highlights of your trip to Boston.
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NUMBER EIGHT – Harvard University and MIT
Boston, is, of course, home to two of America’s most renowned universities: Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Whether you’d like to study at either university or you’re beyond the age of going to university, you’ve got to explore these beautiful campuses.
You can explore Harvard’s campus on your own or visit with a tour guide to learn about the history of the university. You can also hang out at Harvard Yard – part of Harvard Square – which is where many students hang out in bars, restaurants, ice cream parlors, and bookshops.
You can also enjoy the several museums that are part of Harvard. There’s the Harvard Art Museum, the Fogg Museum, the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, and the Busch-Reisinger gallery. At these museums you’ll enjoy art from Europe and Asia.
The MIT campus is more modern and offers a different experience to Harvard. You should explore on your own and see the beautiful campus with its various installations and sculptures.
It also has the Compton Gallery where you can see contemporary artworks. If you’re fascinated with ships, you can visit the Hart Nautical Gallery.
NUMBER NINE – Are you invited to the tea party?
One of the most famous events in the city’s history was the Boston Tea Party. In the late 1700s, a group of Bostonians protested against a tax imposed by the British. To rebel against this tax, they dumped tea into the harbor.
This harbor became the site of what’s now known as the Boston Tea Party. The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum shows replicas of the ships that these Sons of Liberty threw the tea off! You can learn about the history of this event through entertaining re-enactments.
If you’re traveling with children, they’ll love this excursion!
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NUMBER TEN – Boston Harbor
The best way to end your trip is to charter a boat trip on the Boston Harbor. You’ll enjoy a few hours on the Harbor, traveling from Castle Island to George’s Island.
You can schedule to enjoy brunch, lunch, or dinner on the boat trip. If you travel during the day, you might be lucky enough to see whales! These are among the most popular excursions for travelers and locals alike, so make sure you reserve your trip as soon as possible!
So, are you ready to book your trip to Boston? In fact, what are you looking forward to the most?
Are you looking forward to visiting the fascinating museums? Or are you looking forward to the incredible historical excursions?
Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
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We’ll see you in the next video!