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| Guide To Boston
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Imagine you wake early, stroll out the front door of your hotel and over to a huge public commons a few blocks away.As you walk along, you notice architectural details -- a wrought iron gate here, a street lamp there – that seem to beckon from another time. Strolling through this park, where the Puritans once brought their cattle to graze, you try to imagine what the city must have looked like back then, before there were cobblestone streets or newspapers in the young colony. Turning a corner you find yourself on State Street, site of the famous massacre, which galvanized the town's position behind the Minutemen and against the King and his armies. You are in Boston my friend. For there is no other place in this country, which carries its history and legacy quite as proudly and easily as this colonial port. Just book a room at any one of the wonderful hotels in the downtown area, such as the Millenium Boston, Boston Milner Hotel, or the Radisson Hotel Boston, and use your front door as a gate through which to explore Boston's rich and varied history.
A walk along the Freedom Trail is a great way to familiarize yourself with both the layout of the city and its history. The Freedom Trail is a three-mile self-guided tour of Boston's most significant historic sights and structures. The trail begins at the Boston Commons before heading north to sights around Charlestown. It's as easy as following the red line painted on the sidewalk. With sights such as Faneuil Hall, whose meeting hall was dubbed the “Cradle of Liberty” for its role in our country's earliest political debates, and Paul Revere's original residence, you'll want to give yourself the better part of a day to do the entire trail.
Those who enjoy walking, but aren't big history buffs, might enjoy a stroll around the Emerald Necklace, as a leisurely walk through the city's nine continuous scenic green parks is sure to be relaxing and energizing, especially if you're hoping to save yourself for a night on the town. The Boston Public Garden is also the oldest botanical gardens in the country, and it is famous for the pedal boats that visitors use to cruise around the pond during the warm months.
Each of the distinct neighborhoods around Boston has its own heritage and contribution to the larger culture of Beantown (a nickname for the town known as the “town of the bean and the cod”). For example, many people have heard of Fenway, home to the famous Boston Red Sox and heavily speculated upon curse of the Bambino, but this neighborhood is also host to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the picturesque Victory Gardens. Guests at the Howard Johnson Fenway and the Best Western Fenway, will want to be sure to spend some time touring the ballpark and surrounding areas before heading off to explore other districts.
In addition to its legacy of Victorian townhouses and brownstone architecture, Back Bay is also home to the Boston Symphony, the Hard Rock Café, and the John Hancock Observatory. Book a room at the Copley Square Hotel (c. 1891) and stay at the oldest continuously operating hotel in the United States. Of course if your needs aren't quite so rustic, then there are plenty of other options in this well-heeled neighborhood, such as Club Quarters, the Colonnade, or the Eliot Hotel. If you choose to stay in Back Bay, you'll also find you have plenty of options for shopping and dining in this neighborhood, as it is home to famous Newbury Street, and is still only minutes from downtown.
No matter where you stay in Boston, you'll probably want to take some time to visit Cambridge. Founded in 1630, Cambridge has a long-standing reputation as the academic center of Boston. Although a walk across Harvard campus is definitely enticing, one place you will not want to miss in Cambridge is the Mt. Auburn Cemetery. One of the oldest cemeteries in the country, it is situated on a hill offering an incredible vista view of Boston and the surrounding areas. Take a headphone tour and learn about all the historical figures laid to rest there, or just drive up to the observatory at the top. In either case, the beautiful landscaping and view are not to be missed. Staying at the Hampton Inn Cambridge, the Charles Hotel, or the Radisson Hotel Cambridge, will give you an intimate glimpse of this neighborhood's unique mixture of youthful enthusiasm and rich academic history.
Beacon Hill has its own particular Victorian charm to offer and the North End is home to the Old North Church as well as a charming Italian neighborhood which hosts some wonderful festivals during the summer months. The Downtown Crossing is home to Boston's premier theater district, and the adjacent Chinatown is the third largest in the country. Stay at the Seaport or the Boston Harbor and enjoy the waterfront, featuring refurbished wharves dating back to the 1800s, first hand. Or stay at the Hyatt Harborside and gaze across historic Boston Harbor at the colorful pastiche of the seaport in action.
If you have the time and desire to get out of the city, then be sure to visit Cape Cod's beautiful beaches, or one of the numerous National Parks within an hour of Boston. Plymouth Rock, Salem, and the Boston Harbor Islands are all close by and each offers their own unique contribution to the local history and natural beauty that is not to be missed. |
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