
Boston Common- sits at the center of the city
Downtown Crossing- main downtown commercial district
Beacon Hill- cobblestone, lamp-lit streets that are just north of the Common
North End- northwest of downtown...it is Boston's answer to Little Italy.
Chinatown- just south of the Common...can easily rival Chinatown in New York or San Francisco
Back Bay- easy-to-navigate street grid, upscale shops and restaurants, and old-money brownstones. The area begins at the west end of the Public Garden
The Esplanade- along the river, is a lovely spot for a walk
South End- south of Back Bay. This is where you should first go to stretch your post-trip legs by walking around and checking out the striking brownstones. Boston's South End has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as having the largest Victorian brick-row-house district in the U.S.
When to Go: Late Spring and Fall are the most pleasant times to visit. The winters are cold, and the summers are often humid. The best months to go are May, June, September and October.
Where to Stay:
Nine Zero Hotel- A Kimpton Hotel (pet friendly), and also a beautiful boutique hotel located in downtown. It was also recently named as one of Travel & Leisure's "Best 500 Hotels in the World." Rates start at $199 a night, but they do offer better discounts if you are a AAA member.

XV Beacon- Located in Beacon Hill, this boutique hotel is rich on detail and beautifully styled. $$$$ when it comes to price, but well worth it for the incredible service you get!


Where to Eat:
Flour Bakery- (12 Farnsworth St. Boston, MA (617) 338-4333) One of the best bakeries ever! Go for delicious pastries and yummy lunch sandwiches too. There are two locations in Boston.




Fun Boston Food Facts:
State Muffin- The schoolchildren of Massachusetts petitioned for the CORN MUFFIN, a staple of New England cooking, and the Legislature made it official in 1986.
State Dessert- The BOSTON CREAM PIE, created in the 19th century, was chosen as the official state dessert on December 12, 1996. A civics class from Norton High School sponsored the bill. The pie beat out other candidates, including the toll house cookie and Indian pudding.
State Cookie- The CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE was designated the official cookie of the Commonwealth on July 9, 1997. A third grade class from Somerset proposed the bill to honor the cookie invented in 1930 at the Toll House Restaurant in Whitman.
What to Do:
Boston Common and Public Garden- Boston Common is the oldest park in the country. This is a great place to have a picnic lunch. Nearby cute sandwich shops are Finagle-a-Bagel (129 Tremont St.; 617-426-3300) and Chacarero (426 Washington St.; 617-542-0392)- try one of their Chilean sandwiches of chicken or beef with Muenster cheese, string beans, tomato, avocado spread, and hot sauce.




Charles Street- Get lost along the cobble-stone streets and wander into all of the antique shops.
Newbury Street- About an eight-block or one mile span where you will find clothing boutiques and high end stores, art galleries, spas and restaurants.
South End- This is a great area if you are in the market for home goods. The main streets where the stores are: Tremont, Shawmut and Washington.
When is the best time to go to Boston? And can you suggest any hotels with more reasonable prices. I've always wanted to go to Boston.
ReplyDeleteYour JSS Fan
Pat
Hi JSS Fan,
ReplyDeleteIn the post I mention when is the best time to go...see below:
When to Go: Late Spring and Fall are the most pleasant times to visit. The winters are cold, and the summers are often humid. The best months to go are May, June, September and October.
Other hotels to consider:
Ames
Charles Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel Boston
Intercontinental Boston
Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common
Taj Boston
Liberty Hotel
Inn at St. Botolph
Eliot Hotel
Colonnade Hotel
Westin Copley Place
Mandarin Oriental
Hope this helps!