Hey earth muffins! Today, I am back with another weekender’s travel guide! The last travel guide I wrote was back in March where I shared my thoughts on what you should do in Ann Arbor, MI. With this pandemic, I haven’t been able to write many of these in the past year…. But I am hoping to post a few of them once I start traveling again. ๐ Check out this page with all of my sustainable travel guides so far! Today, I wanted to share my recommendations from a trip I took before the pandemic started. (I didn’t want to post it during the pandemic because no one could travel, but I figured now would be a fun time to share.) Here are my thoughts on fun things to do in Boston, Massachusetts!
What to Do in Boston, MA
Check out the Freedom Trail! Whether you like history or not, Boston is full of some pretty cool sites to visit. I personally love that the trail is marked with a brick path throughout the city. It makes you feel like you are almost on a treasure hunt as you walk around. One of my personal favorites is the Old North Church where Paul Revere hung up the lanterns in the window – such an iconic symbol of American history!
Take a ride in a Duck Tours… (or maybe don’t?). As someone who grew up on the East Coast, I visited Boston many times as a child. The Duck Tours are basically tour buses that end up driving into the harbor where they then turn into boats. While an iconic scene in the city, they aren’t that safe… So maybe just get a picture of one and call it a day!
Enjoy the outdoors at Boston Common. Just like any well known city, Boston has a great park to play in! This park is a great place for a picnic or to soak up some sun. The park is massive and has a bunch of fun statues to look at as well. My personal favorite is Make Way for Ducklings – which they dress up for certain holidays!
Do some shopping at Newbury Street. There are a ton of fun little shops on this street, including well known brands but also some local boutiques. If you are traveling with someone who likes to shop, this is a great option that will take all afternoon!
Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum – and see empty frames from the infamous robbery! Whenever I travel I love to visit at least one museum. This museum is full of amazing pieces of art, as well as 13 empty frames from the pieces that were stolen in 1990. If you are interested in learning about the theft, I would highly recommend the book Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled Off the Worldโs Greatest Art Heistย by Stephen Kurkjian, which I read last year. I’ve always loved heist novels, so it is amazing to actually go to the museum and see the empty frames for yourself.
What to Eat in Boston, MA
Eat a cannoli in Little Italy! If you are by the Old North Church I mentioned above, then you are right next to Boston’s Little Italy. The streets are so quaint and adorable, and it honestly reminds me of my trip to Italy a few years ago. As a girl who loves good cannoli, I recommend checking out Mike’s Pastry. While it is a bit of a touristy location, the cannoli are totally worth it. Definitely a great snack for walking along the Freedom Trail!
Find something tasty at Faneuil Hall. If you are traveling with a group of people who have totally different tastes in food, then this stop is for you! This hall is full of tons of different choices from Chinese food to pizza. It can get pretty busy during peak hours; it is best if some people order while others go track down a table. Sometimes it can be hard to find a place to eat when you have a ton of tasty food in hand!
Hit up a classic Dunkin’. Growing up on the East Coast I was around a lot of Dunkin’ Donuts. They are all over the place in Boston, so I would recommend getting a few donuts at least once. There is nothing special (in my opinion) about their drinks and pastries, but it is just an East Coast thing you have to do. ๐
Final Thoughts!
Overall, I think Boston is a great place to visit. There is tons of history, plenty of fun things to do, and definitely some tasty things to eat. Make sure you are conscious of your choices as you travel – make your Airbnb as sustainable as possible, reduce your impact when flying, and explore the public transportation Boston has to offer instead of driving everywhere. Where will you be headed on vacation this summer??
Love,
Jenna โฅ