This isn’t a list of the big tourist attractions in Boston. This is a list of the small things, the seemingly minor details that end up being the most memorable moments of your trip.
1. Finagle a good view: It isn’t the most glamorous breakfast spot in town, but the Finagle a Bagel location near Copley Square is a great place to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee. Why? Because the seating area on the second floor overlooks Copley Square and Trinity Church.
2. Ride on a hare: While you’re in the Back Bay, stop by Copley Square and take a few pictures with the tortoise and the hare sculptures outside Trinity Church. E. loved this!
3. Visit a cemetery: Boston is filled with history and some of America’s most notable people are buried in the cemeteries along the Freedom Trail. Stop by the Central Burying Ground to see the grave site of American painter Gilbert Stuart. Not far away, you’ll find the Granary Burial Ground, final resting place of Samual Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere.
4. Golden dome: No trip to Boston is complete without a stop by the State Capitol building. You’ll recognize it immediately; it’s the one with the distinctive gold dome. (And yes, that’s really gold leaf. It was added in 1874.)
5. Pasta and pastries up north: Head to a part of town known as the North End for great Italian food. You’ll be overwhelmed by the number of restaurant options in this neighborhood–this is the place to go for pasta, pastries, and espresso. I really enjoyed my tiramisu at Cafe Dello Sport, but the options are endless.
All of these activities are “small” in the sense that they don’t require lots of time or money. In fact, three of them are free! Boston has so much to offer…do the big stuff, but make sure you soak in the details too. It’s the details that I’m dreaming of today. For more Monday Dreams, check out the family travel blog Mother of All Trips.
Great list, I'm going to be sure to find some of these places this summer. We're going to Boston for the first time.
I couldn't agree more about Boston, which abounds with small pleasures. In the North End, I highly recommend Mike's Pastry for cannolis. They alone are worth the trip. And you'll find it right up the street from the Old North Church, which has a lovely and peaceful garden dedicated to Saint Francis next to it that most of the tourists bypass, but which my little one loved.
Carolina–I'm sure you'll have a great time in Boston. It's one of my favorite cities…history, good food, fabulous art museums, lots of city parks…Mara–Thanks for suggesting Mike's Pastry. There are so many places to eat that it's overwhelming! We must have looked dazed walking through the North End because a local came up to us to see if we needed help! His advice: you can't go wrong. Every place around there is delicious.
Great list! Makes me what to head back to Boston and do the smaller activities like you said.
I love Mike's Pastries for their cannolis, and enjoy getting an espresso at the small Italian cafes in the North End. Also, I love the farmer's market in Cambridge and recommend anyone going there this summer to check it out. Great local food vendors and fun activities for little ones.I'm actually going up to Boston this weekend and can't wait to relax and eat great food!
Suzy–Thanks for stopping by! Hope you get to return to Boston soon.Ashley–Thanks for the farmer's market suggestion…I'll definitely keep it in mind next time we're in Boston. Have a wonderful weekend!