Boston Guide
Things Not to Miss
1 Cambridge
• Funky and historic, Boston's laidback sister is known for mixing storied Ivy League culture with artful museums, cheap eats, and unique architecture like that of MIT's Stata Center.
2 A concert at Symphony Hall
• Home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra – going strong for more than 125 years – this gilded hall is the perfect place in which to hear classical music.
3 Bonsais at Arnold Arboretum
• Jamaica Plain's Arnold Arboretum boasts the largest assortment of bonsais outside Asia.
4 Historic burying grounds
• Holding everyone from revolutionary heroes to literary titans, Boston's colonial burying grounds are peaceful spots to contemplate their contributions. See also King's Chapel Burying Ground & The Old Burying Ground.
5 A day in the Public Garden
• Take the kids down to Back Bay's idyllic Public Garden for a picnic and a ride on the Swan Boats; you might enjoy it as much as they do.
6 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
• The exuberant Gardner's stunning collection is housed around a beautiful courtyard in her former mansion.
7 Shopping on Newbury Street
• Back Bay's poshest commercial stretch, with everything from colorful boutiques to hip cafés situated in elegant rowhouses.
8 Trinity Church
• Step inside this 1877 Boston icon and be awed by architect H. H. Richardson's realized vision of "walking into a living painting."
9 A game at Fenway Park
• The country's oldest ballpark is home to the beloved Red Sox and the 37-foot-tall "Green Monster."
10 The Omni Parker House Hotel
• This opulent old Boston hotel – birthplace of the divine Boston cream pie – merits a look whether you stay there or not.
11 The USS Constitution
• Navy sailors give tours of "Old Ironsides," the oldest commissioned warship in the world.
12 Old North Church
• The oldest church in Boston, this North End landmark is where the famous lanterns were hung on the night of April 18, 1775, to warn of the advancing British troops.
13 The houses of Beacon Hill
• Be on the lookout for purple-tinted windowpanes, a former status symbol, as you stroll this elegant upper-class enclave.
14 Institute of Contemporary Art
• While some exhibits may prompt the question "Is this art?" the ICA's glamorous cantilevered digs on the waterfront are not to be missed.
15 Eating in the South End
• Boston's most gay-friendly neighborhood is also a veritable foodie paradise, with many of the city's best eats congregated here.
16 The Ware collection
• The Harvard Museum of Natural History's awesome collection of glass flowers, plants, and herbs is truly one of a kind.
17 Museum of Fine Arts
• New England's premier art space features the works of Sargent and Copley, Impressionist painters, and one of the world's best collections of art from the ancient world and Asia.
18 Pastries in the North End
• Experience the vibrant cafés, bakeries, and restaurants in Boston's most authentically Italian neighborhood.