Boston
Day One: Freedom Trail and great food & Drink
- Fly into Boston on a Friday Morning and take subway into Boston. Luckily Airbnb let us drop bags early. Staying in Beacon Hill in an old brick townhouse, so cool.
- 11:00AM. Freedom Trail ( 139 Tremont St). 2.5 Mile Trail with multiple historic sights. Just follow the red brick trail starting at Boston Common. There are multiple tours of different sections of the trail with tour guides "in character". We just walked the trail and read the signs, including reading about the sites via google searches. I'm sure the tours provide more depth and interesting stories, maybe next time.
- 11:00-1:15PM. Hike the first section of the trial, everything is close together, you can spend as much time or as little time as you wish. See Boston Common (seen in movies like Fever Pitch, Ted), Massachusetts State House (Gold Dome, The Departed), Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground (John Hancock, Paul Revere, Sam Adams), Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House (Boston Tea Party planning), Old State House, and Boston Massacre.
- 1:15-2:00PM. WIcked Lobsta (2 S Market St). Time for a great Boston Lobster Roll at Quincy Market just behind Faneuil Hall.
- 2:00-3:00PM. Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. Shops at Quincy and North Market. Recommend a flight at the Sam Adams Brewery.
- 3:00PM-4:00PM. Bell in Hand Tavern (45 Union St). Claims to be America's oldest tavern est in 1795. A must do, like Lafittes in New Orleans and McSorleys in New York.
- 4:00-4:45PM. headed to the North end on the Freedom Trail. Boston has a little italy, bigger than NY. Paul Revere's House (recommend touring the house, watch the time, may close early).
- 4:45-5:00PM. MIke's Pastry (300 Hanover St). Bill Clinton stopped here for a Canoli in 1993, famous place on a famous street. Hanover street is great with restaurants and shops. You can spend some time here.
- 5:00-6:00PM. Back on the trail to the Paul Revere Statue, the Old North Church (one if by land, two if by sea), and Copp's Hill Burying Ground (Creepy).
- 6:00-7:15PM. Continue on trail, long walk over the Charles River to Bunker Hill (don't shoot til you see the white of their eyes), and USS Constitution (need to get there earlier if you want to Tour). Made it to the end, now back over the bridge to the North End.
- 7:30PM+. Regina Pizzaria (11 1/2 Thatcher). Along with John's in NY, one of the best Pizza's in the world. You have to wait in line but it is worth it.
- Option: Eat anywhere in Boston's North End, enjoy Hanover Street.
Day two: Newbury, Fenway, Beacon hill
- 8:30 - 9:15AM. Cafe Bonjor (55 Temple). From Beacon Hill, cut through Boston Common (America's oldest park). Good Crepe choices, Kristi got the French Toast with berries and bananas.
- 9:30AM-11:45AM. Newbury Street and Boylston St shopping on the walk to Fenway (about 2 miles). Local consignments: Bartevian (160 Boylston), Castanet Designer (175 Newbury), Revolve (262 Newbury), Luxury Designer (359 Newbury). There are also high end shops, a shopping mall, and chains like Banana Repulic and Nordstrom Rack.
- Option: Skip the shopping and take subway to Harvard.
- 11:45AM-12:30PM. Trident Booksellers & Cafe (338 Newbury St). Huge Menu, fun place. Salads, Soups, Sandwiches, Bowls, and Breakfast all day.
- 1:00-2:00PM. Tour of Historic Fenway (4 Jersey Street). Only 1 hour, guided tour recounts Red Sox lore and highlights for Fenway. See more below.
- 2:00-4:00PM. Pre-Game at Fenway. Too much fun on a sunny day. Street vendors, crowds, noise, and bars. Bleacher bar is in Fenway under the bleachers (you can see the field). Game On!, also in Stadium, is a big sports bar and Cheeky Monkey Brewery is right there on Landowne St.
- 4:05-6:30PM. Red Sox Game day
- 6:30-7:00PM. Take the T from Fenway (Kenmore Stop) to Boylston stop in Boston Common. We walked to the game, train back.
- 7:00-7:30PM. Cheers (84 Beacon St). It looks like the TV show on the outside (b/c the exterior shots of Cheers were at this "Bull and Finch Pub"), but the inside is arranged differently with a similar wood panel feel.
- 7:45PM+. 21st Amendment (150 Bowdoin St). Old school building, local pub feel, good food, Clam Chowder, FIsh and Chips. So old school, there is no website.
Day Three: Bike the city
- 8:30-9:30AM. Sunny Girl (252 Commercial St). Large selection of sandwiches in a fun little shop. You can't go wrong, but recommend the "Sunny Girl", egg, bacon, chedder, and avacado.
- Option: We took a bus tour to Lexington, Concord, and Cambridge that look like it is currently not available. It was great to see where the "shot heard around the world" happened and the first two skirmishes of the Revolutionary war.
- 10:00-1:00PM. Boston Bicycle Tours by Urban AdvenTours (103 Atlantic Ave). Amazing how much ground you can cover on a bike. See more below.
- 1:00-2:00PM. Grab lunch anywhere in the North End (Little Italy). More specifically anywhere on Hanover, Carmelina's is highly rated. We ate at Regina Pizzaria again, like John's in NY, always go twice, can't get it at home.
- 2:00-2:30PM. Take the T from the North End to Harvard. Take the Red Line.
- 3:00-4:15PM. Harvard University Campus Guided Walking Tour (1380 Massachusetts Ave). This is student led, see Harvard Square, the Statue, Harvard Shop, walk the campus with interesting stories.
- 4:30-5:00PM. Shays Pub and WIne Bar (58 JFK st).
- 5:00-5:30PM. Could stay at Harvard and find food and drink but wanted to subway back b/c there is a great brewery beer garden.
- 6:00PM+. Trillium Beer Garden on the Common (Boylston St. at Boston Common). Beer Garden with Food and Entertainment. Excellent IPA line up.
More tips for Boston visit
- More Suggestions, maybe take several 3dayvacations: There is so much history in Boston and the surrounding area. The Freedom Trial could be a multi-day event.
- Concord, Lexington, Plymouth, Salem, and even Cape Cod are day trips from Boston.
Details & Descriptions
Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 Mile walk starting in Boston Common. We took the whole day soaking in each historic site and eating/drinking at some of Boston's top spots.
Regina Pizzaria
Regina Pizzaria is one of the best pizza's period. Barstool President Portnoy ranks it in the top 10 along with one of our other favorites, John's in NY.
Tour of Historic Fenway
Tour of Historic Fenway
Tour of Historic Fenway is a great way to get into the mood for a Red Sox game. Tip: last tour on game day is 3 hours piror to game which is perfect b/c you get 2 hours of pre-game festivities.
Pre-Game at Fenway
Pre-Game at Fenway
Tour of Historic Fenway
I've had the good fortune to experience the best game day atmospheres: Indians at Wrigley, Indians at Fenway, and Cubs at Busch in St. Louis. I liked Boston the best for the wrong reason. The Red Sox fans verbally abused me and Krisit, and it was great, just what you expect in Boston.
Game in Fenway
Pre-Game at Fenway
Boston Bike Tour
Yes it's all real: Green Monster, The Lone Red Seat, Williamsburg, Peski's Pole, all part of one of the greatest atmospheres in sport.
Boston Bike Tour
Pre-Game at Fenway
Boston Bike Tour
Boston Bicycle Tours by Urban AdvenTours took us to Charleston, Copley Square, the South end, Fenway, North End, Famous homes in Beacon Hill, and much more. Tour guide tells stories at every stop, both historical and current events.
Cheers
Cheers
Cheers