Monday, May 9, 2016

The Best of Boston: A Travel Guide

If I had to choose my new favorite Northeastern City.... it would probably have to be Boston. Sure, New York City has the glitz and glamour of a big city, but Boston's got this clean, friendly, historical feel that I just couldn't get enough of. After we hopped off a plane in Baltimore, rented a car, and started our spring break with three days in New York, we drove the three and a half hours for our first experience in Boston. We were in for a treat.

The Best of Boston: A Travel Guide

Aaron and I had a free night to spend at any IHG hotel, so we got the most bang for our buck at the Boston Intercontinental. We drove in that evening, then walked over to Central Wharf to find a bite to eat. Aaron had a delicious pulled pork sandwich, and I had the Cast Iron Statler Chicken which was honestly some of the best, most moist chicken I've ever had. The server was so friendly I felt like we were in the Midwest. He even gave us a free cheesecake dessert (which means the world to this sweet-lovin' lady). Plus they had this sweet "salty" sign (see what I did there) on the wall. Had to snap a photo for all my high schoolers who overuse the word on a consistent basis. (You High School teachers know what I'm talkin' about!)
Central Wharf
Central Wharf
The Boston Intercontinental
We walked back to the hotel after dinner and spotted the waterfront and a few ships just out the back entrance. Little did we know, we were actually staying right next to the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. This museum is awesome- you actually get to be in the town hall meeting with other "patriots", get feathers for your "disguise" for the evening, and get to engage in treasons against the mother country by throwing tea into the sea! (See instagram post below.) Our museum tickets actually came as a part of our Old Town Trolley Tours of Boston package, which I would highly, highly recommend!




We really only had one full day in Boston, so to make the most of it we decided to do the Old Town Trolley Tour. It was March, and still quite chilly in Boston, so the special they were running, along with the "double-decker" trolleys made it a no brainer: this was a great, fun way to see things without freezing. It was a bonus that we'd also get a feel for the whole city (past just what we would walk to see), and then we'd know the areas we'd want to come back and see another time! Also, I have to give a little shout out to the tour guides- they are super knowledgeable and made it a really fun hop on, hop off tour. I love knowing what I'm looking at, and hearing some history!


We rode all around the entire city, taking in areas like Beacon Hill, Boston Common, Cambridge, the Back Bay, Fenway Park, the Inner Harbor, and the North, South, and West ends. Check out this great tourist map for an overview of the city. I loved the historical feel of Boston Common and Beacon Hill, and we had to stop for lunch at Cheers (yes, like the show). We also made our way back later in the evening to see the gaslit lamps and to enjoy a little Boston Creme Pie!

Cheers Boston

Fenway Park

If you don't have the money to splurge on the Bus Tour, or if you're there in the warmer summer months and prefer to, you can totally walk all over the city! One super cool thing about Boston is the Freedom Trail! They actually have a red-bricked stripe that runs throughout the city. It's two and a half miles long, and will walk you right by/through 16 historical sites! The trail starts right from the Visitor's Center in the Boston Common area, and then concludes in the Visitor's Center near the USS Constitution! Most of the historical buildings are free of charge, other than Paul Revere's House (yes, THE Paul Revere!). We enjoyed walking the main chunk of it from Boston Common to the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, which is a great place to shop and eat!

The Freedom Trail

The spot of the Boston Massacre! 
If you think back to middle school American history, Boston is the home of lots of major events such as the Boston Tea Party, Boston Massacre, and various important meeting houses, graveyards, and revolutionary buildings. So cool to see the birthplace of revolution in our great nation!


All in all, Boston was a great city full of yummy seafood, friendly people, and amazing history. There is so much to see and do for families, couples, and people of all ages. If you're looking for the perfect Northeastern City with the right mix of history, fun, shopping, and affordable things to do, you've got to check out Boston. We will definitely be back someday!

Currently,
Kelsie

Are you following along on Instagram and Facebook? We'll be traveling quite a bit this summer, so you can stay in the loop with me (and see all our silly photos first) on social media!

I'm linking up with  Motivational Monday, Modest Mom Blog,  Tell it to Me TuesdayBliss and Faith,  Sweet Little OnesTestimony TuesdayIntentional TuesdayTwinkly TuesdayWomen with IntentionA. Liz Adventures The Diary of a Real HousewifeMomfessionals,Life in Leggings, and Quintessential Mommy.


35 comments:

  1. It's the post I've been waiting for! I haven't been to Boston since elementary school, but it's high on my list of cities to visit. I think a bus tour of the city sounds like the perfect way to see it all!

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  2. I love Boston! We used to go every year when I was a kid and stayed right on the harbor. It's such a fun town!

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  3. My husband and I really want to take a trip to Boston soon, and it looks like such a fun place! Great post with a lot of cute spots to visit!

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  4. I love reading about other people experiencing my city for the first time! Since I grew up right outside of Boston my whole life, I sometimes took it for granted and now that I live far away, I miss it! Boston was voted America's most walkable city and I think they are so right! It's definitely easy to navigate around by foot (or trolly!) I love that it's so historical and that Boston was built AROUND the sites and not on top of them! It's cool that you can see a super old cemetery from the 1800's right next to a huge skyscraper! Next time you go, you have to hit up Mike's Pastries! So tasty!

    xo, Chelsie @ Hey There, Chelsie

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    1. That's SUCH a great point!! I love that, and will visit Mike's for sure next time!

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  5. Boston is such a fun city to explore! I still have my mug from our visit to the Cheers restaurant :)

    http://smalltownsandcitylights.com

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  6. We recently went to Boston and it was so much fun! I absolutely LOVED the Boston Tea Party Museum!
    Kari
    www.sweetteasweetie.com

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  7. I've never been to Boston before, but now I know where to look for a great guide! Thanks a ton for this! :)

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    1. Yay! Thanks for reading- so glad it was helpful!

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  8. I have yet to visit Boston but it is on my bucket list of places to go to. I will have to save all these places/things you did while there for my future visit.

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  9. Looks like a fun visit! I have never been to the east coast..Boston and NYC are on m bucket list for sure. I have a friend in Boston and one close by in NH..so I need to go..thanks for sharing. That hotel looks wonderful!1

    Valerie
    Fashion and Travel

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  10. Boston is number one on my travel list! I'm hoping to go there sometime this year or next year hopefully! You have a great list for traveling in Boston! Great post!

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  11. I love historical cities so Boston has been on my travel list for awhile. I really need to plan a trip out soon.

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  12. I do want to return to Boston in the fall, to see the leaves change and to get in a side trip to Salem closer to Halloween. ;)

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  13. Aww, what a lovely shot of you guys together! The photos are amazing, and seems like you guys had a blast! I can't wait to go one day :))

    Rosalyn | LynSire.com

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  14. Love your pictures and it looks like you all had a wonderful time!

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  15. YES!!! I went to Boston for the first time last summer with my fiancé. We only stayed one night- it was a quick stop on our road trip, and how I wish I could go back! We packed a lot in that one day- we did a Duck tour, visited Fenway, and ate somewhere nice. I loved Boston, and I love reading your travel posts!

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  16. I love Boston! I went there over Christmas with my husband's family and we had a blast. I actually did three different posts on the trip if you want to check them out! (https://theartfulattempt.wordpress.com/2016/01/09/travel-boston-breweries/) The freedom trail is so nice to meander around and you see SO much! PS. My students say "salty" all the time too!!

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    1. Totally checking this out ha! And oh "salty"...thanks for sharing!!

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  17. How awesome! My husband talks about wanting to move to Boston all the time. Looks amazing and sounds like it was lots of fun!

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  18. Love this! My brother just moved to Boston so we're planning on visiting soon!

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  19. Popping in from Twinkly Tuesday! Great post! I have been dying to visit Boston!

    Claire
    www.singlegirlsanonymous.com

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  20. I've never been to Boston, but I've always wanted to. This post made me want to go even more!

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  21. Kelsie, Believe it or not, I only live an hour away from Boston and my husband and I haven't really explored it at all!

    After reading your post, it has spurred me on to enjoy this great city, ESPECIALLY with me being an American History lover! I didn't know about quite of the few things you shared, except the Freedom Trail which my husband and I are always saying we need to do. I LOVE the idea of the trolley tour.

    I am saving this post for future reference. I see a "staycation" in my future. lol.

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  22. We love Boston! We go frequently and there's always something fun to see and do. I too enjoy how old school it all feels.

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  23. I wasn't a huge fan of Boston when I visited but this is definitely making me want to give it another chance. It looks like you guys had a blast.

    LiveLifeWell,
    Allison

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  24. I've never been to Boston, but we're always looking for somewhere to visit!

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  25. You visited so many gorgeous places on my wish list! Travel pictures looks like something from another world

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