Al’s Favorite Boston Activities

By Al Alper

Food and Shopping

Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston
Located in the heart of downtown Boston, this bustling complex of novelty carts, distinctive shops, national chain stores, performers, food stands and restaurants brought new life to a historic meeting place.
Attraction type: Historic site; Mall; Architectural building; Specialty shop; Shop; Flea/street market

North End, Boston
This Italian neighborhood, Boston's oldest, is known for its wonderful restaurants and historic sights.
Attraction type: Neighborhood. If you do this, check out Michael’s pastries. They are to die for. Also check out the Old North church (below.)

Chinatown, Boston
One of America's largest Chinese neighborhoods, Boston's Chinatown is located at the edge of the downtown shopping and financial districts. If you are into Dim Sum then you must try the China Pearl for lunch.
Attraction type: Neighborhood

Newbury Street, Boston
Boston's chic shopping address mixes elegant boutiques with funky salons and trendy galleries.
Attraction type: Street

Downtown Crossing, Boston
Attraction type: Neighborhood; Shop; Mall. Lots of cool shops with the original Filenes basement

Prudential Center, Boston
Attraction type: Observation deck/tower; Architectural building; Mall

Sporting

Fenway Park, Boston
Hallowed ground to baseball purists, this cozy, quirky park has been the Boston Red Sox home field since 1912. The most distinctive feature of this classic baseball park is the 37-foot-tall left field wall, known as the "Green Monster."
Attraction type: Arena/stadium/field

Touring

Boston Duck Tours, Boston
Tour Boston by land and water on amphibious World War II vehicles.
Attraction type: Tour; Group tour/boat; Scenic drive

Boston Public Garden, Boston
This Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park, famous for its Swan Boats, has over 600 varieties of trees and an ever-changing array of flowers. It is America's first public garden.
Attraction type: Urban park; Garden; Park

Freedom Trail, Boston
The red line on the sidewalk leads you on this 2.5-mile, self-guided tour of Revolutionary sites, which starts at the Boston Common, America's oldest public park, and ends up at the famed Bunker Hill Monument.
Attraction type: Historic walking area; Trail; Tour

Kids

Children's Museum, Boston
Highlights of this interactive museum include the "Science Playground," featuring giant soap bubble-making tools and the "New Balance Climb," which teaches kids the laws of physics while navigating through a two-story-high maze.
Attraction type: Children's museum

See also, Museum of Science, , and Boston Duck Tours,

Fish

New England Aquarium, Boston  
The 200,000-gallon Giant Ocean Tank is the centerpiece of the Aquarium, Boston's most visited tourist attraction.
Attraction type: Aquarium

History

Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum, Boston
Visitors to this replica of the famous ship can participate in a reenactment of the famous revolt protesting "taxation without representation." (Please note: Due to a fire, the Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum is undergoing renovations and is currently closed.)
Attraction type: History museum; Ship

USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), Boston
The oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy and undefeated in battle, Old Ironsides earned its famous nickname with its legendary ability to repel any shot fired. Active-duty sailors guide visitors around the ship.
Attraction type: Historic site; Ship; Maritime museum; History museum

Old North Church, Boston
The signal from the steeple of Boston's oldest church triggered the War for Independence that led to the birth of America. On that fateful night in 1775, the two lanterns in the steeple told Paul Revere that the British were approaching by boat, not on foot.
Attraction type: Historic site; Religious site

See also Freedom Trail Above.

Art

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
A Venetian palace in the middle of Boston, Gardner's home is now a museum displaying her impressive, eclectic collection of European, American and Asian art, including sculpture, paintings, furniture, ceramics and textiles. Visitors can stroll or rest in a spectacular skylit courtyard filled with plants and flowers.
Attraction type: Art museum; Garden

Science

Museum of Science, Boston
Spend a couple of hours or the whole day at this hands-on museum that has something exciting for everyone. Touch a lizard, watch chickens hatching, see lightning being created and enjoy hundreds of other exhibits, where you can't help but learn something new about science and technology. Hold onto the edge of your seat at the IMAX movie theater, which costs extra.
Attraction type: Science museum