Visiting Boston and looking for places to see, things to do, and spots to eat and drink? Discovering the ins and outs of cities around the country to build fun, challenging scavenger hunts means we know a lot about those cities. And you know what they say: Sharing is caring.
Read on for 11 great things to do in Boston, from historic sites to epic bites.
Places to See
1. It’s impossible not to recommend walking some or all of the Freedom Trail, two and a half miles of history in a city studded with the stuff. Highlights include the Old North Church, of two-if-by-sea lantern fame; the Old State House Museum, with a vial of original Tea Party tea; and the recently renovated Paul Revere House.
2. Walk the Rose Kennedy Greenway from South Station up to North Station, starting with the beautiful “Spaces of Hope” mural and ending at the Greenway Carousel. There you can take a spin on native New England animals like lobster, cod, and harbor seal, and then enjoy all the greenery, public art, and activities for kids.
3. Take a stroll in Boston Common, one of the oldest public spaces in America, and the manicured Public Garden next door. Ride a swan boat, pose for a photo with famous bronze ducklings, or skate on the pond in winter.
4. For unparalleled views of Boston from the water, take the ferry from the aquarium to Charlestown. The 15-minute jaunt offers an eyeful of the North End, and while you’re in Charlestown you can pop into the USS Constitution Museum.
5. Or see the city by bike! Boston’s Hubway bike-share program boats some 1,600 bikes and 180 stations spread across the metro area.
With a $6 day pass, you can scope out the North End, Cambridge, Back Bay, Fenway, and more in one beautiful—and healthful—day.
Places to Eat & Drink
6. Neptune Oyster is pretty much the undisputed king of the lobster roll, a must when visiting Boston. As for another signature dish, New England clam chowder? That’s a toss-up between Neptune and Legal Sea Foods, whose chowder has been served at every presidential inauguration since 1981—but you can’t miss either way.
7. Not just the city’s oldest neighborhood, the North End is Boston’s version of Little Italy. Some of our favorite spots for Italian perfection include Panza, the venerated pasta house; Regina Pizzeria for, you guessed it, pizza; and anywhere named Bricco.
8. The Boston bar scene extends well beyond a Sam Adams at Cheers, of course, but we’d be here all day if we tried to do more than scratch the surface. So we’ll stick to one of our faves: For a boozy brunch with a side of live jazz, you can’t beat the funky, lively Beehive.
Things to Do
9. Fenway Park! It’s the place to be on game day, and cheap(ish) seats are usually gettable, even up to the last minute. Grab a Fenway Frank and cheer your heart out for the eight-time world champion Red Sox. If you’d rather just brush up on your history, swing by on an off-day—you can walk around the park and learn about team history and legendary Sox from statues and plaques and the like.
10. Get your game on along the Charles River as part of the Sunday Parkland Games. From May to September, the Charles River Conservancy sets up a slew of free games along the closed section of Memorial Drive. Try your hand at (deep breath) paddle ball, parachute, corn hole, frisbee, something called an agility cube, hula hoops, ladderball, potato-sack races, bocce, soccer, badminton, volleyball, and more. Oh, and yoga.
11. And the best idea of all? Join a Watson Adventures scavenger hunt! Our Boston scavenger hunts send you on trails of tricky clues through museums, neighborhoods, and other spots to answer fun, funny questions. Hunts for the public include the Murder at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt, the Secrets of Old Boston Scavenger Hunt along the Freedom Trail, and the Munch Around the North End Scavenger Hunt. Private scavenger hunts and events for corporate team building are available most any time as well.
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