I work in Boston!!! I walk the public gardens and commons almost everyday.. It's so beautiful. I love my city 😊Born and raised in Mass too. I'm literally smiling ear to ear right now!! I wish I saw you filming this I am a huge fan!! Everything you said is so true! I would love to see more New England videos! Thanks for everything you do!
+Monica McCue thanks Monica. We have a love and hates of new England video. It takes a while to find because of all the Patriots videos :) yeah Boston is awesome. I am bringing the family and some friends next summer to show them more. Big boston travel hug
0:16 Tip #1 - Walk the Freedom Trail 0:52 Tip #2 - Bring Good Walking Shoes 1:17 Tip #3 - Eat Local 1:56 Tip #4 - Don't Just Do Historic Boston 2:39 Tip #5 - Visit Spring, Summer or Fall Another helpful video up there! Thanks for sharing!
Hi! I went to Europe last year for 1 month. Your videos helped me a lot! Like I was able to anticipate a lot of things and make informative decisions because of your videos. Thank you! God bless you! i visited the US for two weeks last month. and before my trip, i tried finding more about seattle, LA, san francisco, san diego and las vegas from your page. but i only saw videos about las vegas and i think about western usa. it was still informative though and i appreciate that a lot. :)
As people have mentioned before, the universities are great. MIT has a good walking tour and is within walking distance of the Kendall Square station off the T. Harvard Square is another nice stop. The Square has lots of nice shops and restaurants. Someone mentioned Mike's Pastry. Modern Pastry is good as well. Speaking of the North End, this is where a lot of Italian immigrants settled so there are some great, great Italian restaurants in the North End. I can't suggest just one. Ask the locals for their opinion. Even though it's a touristy area, Quincy Market is near Faneuil Hall which has a lot of history with it. Also in that area is the Union Oyster House. It's my favorite restaurant in the city. The sign said Est. 1826 but the building itself has been around since 1742 and Washington paid his troops in this building. John Kennedy was a regular and the waitresses will be happy to show you the table where he regularly sat. I believe there's a plaque on it. The original Cheers bar is a good place to visit as well. It's not possible to tell you all the great places to visit in Boston in such a small space. I would like to add that the tours of the Ocean Spray cranberry farms are real fun too.
Winter in Boston can be fun too. Cold an icy yes, but beautiful. Freshly fallen snow on the Common, the Christmas tree famously sent from Halifax down to the Common. The other tree in front of Trinity Church, skating on the Frog Pond, the Public Garden on Valentine's Day.
Boston is one of my favorite cities! Was just there this Memorial Day. I lived in northern Vermont (if you haven't done a Vermont video yet, you should!) for a few years so I became well acquainted with New Engand in general, with some weekend trips down to Boston and loved it. Good tip on the winters. If you're not used to it, it will hit you like a bag of bricks! But if you're used to it and don't mind the snow so much it can be fun in the winter too.
Wolters World up in the northeast kingdom in the St. Johnsbury area. Was very rural (and very cold in the winter) but absolutely beautiful in the fall & winter. I miss many things there (not to mention real maple syrup!)
Nicely done Mark! Gotta agree with #5. As a Boston native who left for warmer weather 20+ years ago...I tell my friends and family there, from November to April, wanna see me? JetBlue flies direct to DFW.
I would recommend staying in Boston or Cambridge since it is easy to get around by the T(Subway and Bus) or walking. Public transportation is very popular in Boston and a lot of people use it so it can be cramped during the weekdays and when the Soxs are playing but it will get you anywhere you want in the local area, as long as it doesn't break down lol. Yeah the trains and buses are old and worn since they are heavily used. People also use the rideshare services though they can be expensive in the rush hour times . You can even take the commuter rail to cities further away for day trips such as Salem, Newburyport, Gloucester, Rockport ( all on the same line) and it is not that expensive. I would not recommend driving in the area unless you need to go to a specific location that is not conveniently accessible by public transportation.
The Freedom Trail IS awesome! Best thing I remember outside of the center of Boston was the Museum and Observation deck at the top of The Hancock. Which I understand is now closed. (bummer)
#1 - JFK Presidential Library! You take the "T" and then a bus... the Library is wonderful, and the view, looking back at the City, is beautiful. #2 - We took a walking/photography tour. We loved it so much, we took a second walking/photography tour in another part of the city. In all: Part of the Freedom Trail, Granary, Beacon Hill, Boston Library, Trinity Church, John Hancock Building... this was the best part of a week in Boston.
This is a great video. I think your tips are absolutely true! I have been to Boston on my first trip to the US and it was awesome! I think tip #2 is especially important. I was glad to have really good shoes, because most things are so close, that walking instead of taking the T is often a very good option. Also that way you see more of the surroundings. :) I really love Boston and definitely want to come back soon!
+Maggy Schreibt I know. It's like "just walk a bit more to the next sight. Then let's walk another couple blocks" and it goes for all day :) I walked all the way to bunker hill and by the time I got there I just sat down and relaxed. My feet needed it :)
I enjoyed Quincy Market when I was there. There's burgers and pizza and what not but there also some good seafood and more typical stuff there, I think it's worth to check it out at least!
+Sergio Romero I agree it's worth to check out for sure. Just was a bit disappointed at the entrance :) expecting boston and seeing my mall for court. Farther you go in more good stuff comes up for sure. And that area is fun too
One of the greatest cities to visit for sure. Love everything about Boston but haven't been since 2013. Yes, get out of the center...green line to Fenway; red line to Harvard - you feel smarter just walking the campus! Excellent video, Wolters. Love the photos.
+Wolters World Obvious comment coming up 😀 - If you have a car, take the family out to the Cape. It's a very easy and lovely drive. And don't eat in the city that day because there are heaps of excellent seafood shacks off every exit. 👍
Fun to see you here in Boston, Mark. Have enjoyed the Sweden videos. Locals call The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston "the I-C-A" which you mentioned; however no one will ever refer to it as "Eee-ka," and locals won't be able to help direct tourists there if they use that phrase. ;) Have you walked The Rose Kennedy Greenway from Boston's Chinatown to the North End? Along this beautifully landscaped path visitors may experience public art, food trucks, take a detour ride on a ferry to the Boston Harbor Islands, or ride the Greenway Carousel which features 14 different hand-carved characters native to the land, sea and sky of Massachusetts. Boston was also recently ranked America's 3rd best running city by Runner's World with the Charles River route being the most popular. Finally, there are several ways to get out on the Charles River -- Community Boating is the nation's oldest public sailing center, and there are several places along the river where folks can rent canoes and kayaks.
Any recommendations for a good local seafood restaurant? We will be in Boston for 5 hours during a layover - we're foodies and also love good wine. Thanks in advance!
boston market is a chain fast food restaurant that's known for their rotisserie chicken. I love their mac and cheese!! It's not a market and not really bostony but I really like their food. I don't know of any in boston though. It's not a popular as a wendy's or mcdonalds and they dont have burgers or stuff like that. more of buffet...
There is a Boston Public Market a short walk away from South Station. I didn't go inside, but outside there were vendors selling produce and some fish. From what I could tell, the produce were the same produce (down to the brand name on the packaging) at nearly every grocery store in the continental US. As far as I could tell, it seemed like your typical grocery store and nothing special.
My wife and I are coming to Boston in July were doing a road trip thank you for your video after we have been to Boston we're would you recommend to go and visit as we have just under 4 weeks really looking forward to see Boston first time there
+Kimberly Colbert we are trying to get a bunch of USA tourism videos out this month. More boston videos a couple from Georgia and a couple from the Minnesota are still to come :)
Boston Common please, not Commons. An adjoining park 1/4 mile to his right is The Public Gardens. These grounds are more formal. Flower beds. A lagoon that has swan boats that has one pedaler moving a basic raft like barge holding rows of park benches for customers. The gold domed building is the Massachusetts State House. Underneath him are the Green Line which are street cars and further beneath the Red Line subway trains. The station is Park Street Station. People wonder what outbound and inbound mean on the T, Boston's Metro. Street cars and trains leaving Park St are going outbound. Those arriving are coming inbound. The station is part of the nation's first subway. Going the State House way, Beacon Hill, leads to the last Boston station before the train goes over a bridge across the Charles River. 30 to 45 seconds of a panoramic view of downtown Boston, Back Bay and Cambridge. The Red Line continues underground. The east end of MIT. 2 stops later is Harvard Square.
+Denise K. A weekend to see all the main stuff. 1 day is historic freedom trail and North end. 1 day for Backbay and fenway. And another day to head out & see around Boston. It's a lot in 3 days but doabls
Just to note, I usually drive into the city to visit during the weekend. Parking at the Boston Common Garage underneath the Boston Commons is like $12 all day and you're in the center of the city. Also a must-see is going to the top of the Prudential tower (the Pru).
Also don’t go to Quincy Market because it’s probably gonna be mostly teens from surrounding towns and cities. In Eastern MA schools, if you have maybe 2 field trips a year, one of them is Boston and if you have one field trip, it’s still probably going to be Boston. We’ve done the freedom trail like 5 times, always the Swan Boats, and Make Way for Ducklings with either a picnic lunch in the Commons after a State House Tour or lunch in Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Boston is also extremely cultural with two primary cultures in the city, the Irish and the Italians. There are more of the Irish though and both have parts of Boston that they’re dominant in, both are usually very friendly. The Irish are especially prideful though, myself included, and to many foreigners, my saying Irish instead of Irish-American or something is very confusing. When nearly everyone is an American who’s ancestors were immigrants (or Native Americans, who are amazing and fascinating as well and usually very proud of their heritage), we make the distinction between culture and customs that we’ve retained from our immigrant families. With the Irish and Italians, this is especially common because for a long time there was a ton of discrimination toward these groups and even with in Irish and Italian communities, it was very, very taboo to marry outside your culture. My mom is 100% Irish who was born to Irish American parents from Boston who were born to other Irish American families from Boston, etc. I’m only half Irish but the taboo nature of marrying outside the culture existed well into the 20th Century. Since this lasted so long, that’s why Bostonians now are still extremely prideful of their cultural roots and I’ve heard stories from Irishman that Boston really did almost feel like a mini Ireland because there’s so much influence in many parts. Please visit an authentic Irish pub, you’re not gonna see anything close to the real thing outside of Ireland and the Italian food here is top notch. Also I’m told that my accent makes me sound scary... I foster kittens in my free time, I’m not gonna stab you. Bostonians are usually very very friendly, I promise, we just SOUND scary and embrace the Masshole nickname because it keeps the tourists out of our Dunkin Donuts lines.
I know you recommend no winter, but what about mid-march? Have been highly considering coming up from Florida March 11-14 of 2017 for my spring break! I know it will be freezing but am still looking forward to it! What is the tourist population like at the time?
I would say February is coldest, and that really bad winter in 2015 was mostly Jan and Feb. March tends to start getting some warm day fluctuations (once it hits 37 everyone's taking off their puff coats and taking the car to the car wash), but there will still be more cold days than warm and there can be significant snowfalls. I grew up in the area and I remember having 3 days off school in April once. :-) But the city is pretty small and generally walkable with public transit (which is decent and getting upgrades since the last bad winter), so bring some warm leggings, boots, and a good coat, and trust you can always find a Dunkin Donuts to warm up in (they're local, and everywhere). Hope you have a great trip to a great town.
Nzie nailed it. Jan/Feb are the deep freeze months. March is usually warmer but don't get fooled, it is New England. 55 one day, 25 the next and back to 60 the day after that.
btw Marie, good luck with your trip. hope you enjoy it. if I may, check out Fire & Ice restaurant. it is a few blocks from the common and very cool, unique place. the Black Rose, Bell in Hand and The Green Dragon are great lunch/drink spots near Quincy Market. outsiders think we're joking when we tell them there is a Dunkins on every corner! I'm pretty sure, within the city, we have more Dunkin' Donuts then we have traffic lights.
Big tip for military driving into Boston for a day trip: Free parking! Park inside the Coast Guard base. It's just across the water from the U.S.S. Constitution. Just don't leave your vehicle there past 2300.
Hey, Boston native here, the Sam Adams brewery gives free tours, including three free half pint beer samples. And you get to keep the glass.
+Suzanne Rose ;)
Necromantiic same for the Coors brewerary in Denver! It was badass, caught a good buzz for free!
I work in Boston!!! I walk the public gardens and commons almost everyday.. It's so beautiful. I love my city 😊Born and raised in Mass too. I'm literally smiling ear to ear right now!! I wish I saw you filming this I am a huge fan!! Everything you said is so true! I would love to see more New England videos! Thanks for everything you do!
+Monica McCue thanks Monica. We have a love and hates of new England video. It takes a while to find because of all the Patriots videos :) yeah Boston is awesome. I am bringing the family and some friends next summer to show them more. Big boston travel hug
0:16 Tip #1 - Walk the Freedom Trail
0:52 Tip #2 - Bring Good Walking Shoes
1:17 Tip #3 - Eat Local
1:56 Tip #4 - Don't Just Do Historic Boston
2:39 Tip #5 - Visit Spring, Summer or Fall
Another helpful video up there! Thanks for sharing!
As a local all I can say is avoid driving - trust me
I visted Boston from the UK back in 1992 and loved it. We used the T to get around, or walked.
Hi! I went to Europe last year for 1 month. Your videos helped me a lot! Like I was able to anticipate a lot of things and make informative decisions because of your videos. Thank you! God bless you! i visited the US for two weeks last month. and before my trip, i tried finding more about seattle, LA, san francisco, san diego and las vegas from your page. but i only saw videos about las vegas and i think about western usa. it was still informative though and i appreciate that a lot. :)
As people have mentioned before, the universities are great. MIT has a good walking tour and is within walking distance of the Kendall Square station off the T. Harvard Square is another nice stop. The Square has lots of nice shops and restaurants.
Someone mentioned Mike's Pastry. Modern Pastry is good as well. Speaking of the North End, this is where a lot of Italian immigrants settled so there are some great, great Italian restaurants in the North End. I can't suggest just one. Ask the locals for their opinion.
Even though it's a touristy area, Quincy Market is near Faneuil Hall which has a lot of history with it. Also in that area is the Union Oyster House. It's my favorite restaurant in the city. The sign said Est. 1826 but the building itself has been around since 1742 and Washington paid his troops in this building. John Kennedy was a regular and the waitresses will be happy to show you the table where he regularly sat. I believe there's a plaque on it.
The original Cheers bar is a good place to visit as well.
It's not possible to tell you all the great places to visit in Boston in such a small space. I would like to add that the tours of the Ocean Spray cranberry farms are real fun too.
Winter in Boston can be fun too. Cold an icy yes, but beautiful. Freshly fallen snow on the Common, the Christmas tree famously sent from Halifax down to the Common. The other tree in front of Trinity Church, skating on the Frog Pond, the Public Garden on Valentine's Day.
Boston is one of my favorite cities! Was just there this Memorial Day. I lived in northern Vermont (if you haven't done a Vermont video yet, you should!) for a few years so I became well acquainted with New Engand in general, with some weekend trips down to Boston and loved it. Good tip on the winters. If you're not used to it, it will hit you like a bag of bricks! But if you're used to it and don't mind the snow so much it can be fun in the winter too.
+Nick Barnets where in northern Vermont? We were in Franklin a couple years ago and the capital.
Wolters World up in the northeast kingdom in the St. Johnsbury area. Was very rural (and very cold in the winter) but absolutely beautiful in the fall & winter. I miss many things there (not to mention real maple syrup!)
Nicely done Mark! Gotta agree with #5. As a Boston native who left for warmer weather 20+ years ago...I tell my friends and family there, from November to April, wanna see me? JetBlue flies direct to DFW.
+itsnotme07 I can COMPLETELY understand :)
I would recommend staying in Boston or Cambridge since it is easy to get around by the T(Subway and Bus) or walking. Public transportation is very popular in Boston and a lot of people use it so it can be cramped during the weekdays and when the Soxs are playing but it will get you anywhere you want in the local area, as long as it doesn't break down lol. Yeah the trains and buses are old and worn since they are heavily used. People also use the rideshare services though they can be expensive in the rush hour times . You can even take the commuter rail to cities further away for day trips such as Salem, Newburyport, Gloucester, Rockport ( all on the same line) and it is not that expensive. I would not recommend driving in the area unless you need to go to a specific location that is not conveniently accessible by public transportation.
I'd definitely do a guided tour for the Freedom Trail. And I'm not just saying that because my friends work as costumed guides. It's really awesome.
The Freedom Trail IS awesome!
Best thing I remember outside of the center of Boston was the Museum and Observation deck at the top of The Hancock. Which I understand is now closed. (bummer)
#1 - JFK Presidential Library! You take the "T" and then a bus... the Library is wonderful, and the view, looking back at the City, is beautiful.
#2 - We took a walking/photography tour. We loved it so much, we took a second walking/photography tour in another part of the city. In all: Part of the Freedom Trail, Granary, Beacon Hill, Boston Library, Trinity Church, John Hancock Building... this was the best part of a week in Boston.
beautiful place to visit! I fell in love with Boston! 💕
+Sandra Marquez me too. I looked at Boston University back for college and fell in love with the city
This is a great video. I think your tips are absolutely true! I have been to Boston on my first trip to the US and it was awesome! I think tip #2 is especially important. I was glad to have really good shoes, because most things are so close, that walking instead of taking the T is often a very good option. Also that way you see more of the surroundings. :) I really love Boston and definitely want to come back soon!
+Maggy Schreibt I know. It's like "just walk a bit more to the next sight. Then let's walk another couple blocks" and it goes for all day :) I walked all the way to bunker hill and by the time I got there I just sat down and relaxed. My feet needed it :)
also, if you want to find great places to eat in Boston/ Massachusetts check out "phantom gourmet" if they recommend something its probably amazing.
Thanks for the tip!
Spend one day taking the train to Salem and explore. Lots of witch kitch. Its fun all year around, but super busy in October (naturally)
I enjoyed Quincy Market when I was there.
There's burgers and pizza and what not but there also some good seafood and more typical stuff there, I think it's worth to check it out at least!
+Sergio Romero I agree it's worth to check out for sure. Just was a bit disappointed at the entrance :) expecting boston and seeing my mall for court. Farther you go in more good stuff comes up for sure. And that area is fun too
One of the greatest cities to visit for sure. Love everything about Boston but haven't been since 2013. Yes, get out of the center...green line to Fenway; red line to Harvard - you feel smarter just walking the campus! Excellent video, Wolters. Love the photos.
+Tosh T thanks Tosh. I really liked Boston. We are heading back next summer with the kids and we are really looking forward to it
+Wolters World Obvious comment coming up 😀 - If you have a car, take the family out to the Cape. It's a very easy and lovely drive. And don't eat in the city that day because there are heaps of excellent seafood shacks off every exit. 👍
great town maybe. only 650k people.
great town maybe. only 650k people.
+chris Vinci Town? I suppose Baltimore, Miami, Atlanta, etc. are all towns as well. Ha.
I think you forgot to talk about the universities. They have some pretty good ones up there. Gracias por todo Mark :)
+Corvux IX ;)
as a lifelong new Englander, I can totally concur that showing up int he winter is a very bad idea.
Hey Mark, I love the video's you make. you really are doing a great job !! keep it going
Cheers from Ghent, Belgium
the bricks on the footpath are cool
+Conor Kieran it is pretty cool and pretty helpful :)
Fun to see you here in Boston, Mark. Have enjoyed the Sweden videos. Locals call The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston "the I-C-A" which you mentioned; however no one will ever refer to it as "Eee-ka," and locals won't be able to help direct tourists there if they use that phrase. ;) Have you walked The Rose Kennedy Greenway from Boston's Chinatown to the North End? Along this beautifully landscaped path visitors may experience public art, food trucks, take a detour ride on a ferry to the Boston Harbor Islands, or ride the Greenway Carousel which features 14 different hand-carved characters native to the land, sea and sky of Massachusetts. Boston was also recently ranked America's 3rd best running city by Runner's World with the Charles River route being the most popular. Finally, there are several ways to get out on the Charles River -- Community Boating is the nation's oldest public sailing center, and there are several places along the river where folks can rent canoes and kayaks.
Thank you. very intriguing and interesting
Any recommendations for a good local seafood restaurant? We will be in Boston for 5 hours during a layover - we're foodies and also love good wine. Thanks in advance!
I've heard about this place called Boston Market. It must be good. Ever been there?
+Zeke Blackwell :) favorite comment of the day :)
boston market is a chain fast food restaurant that's known for their rotisserie chicken. I love their mac and cheese!! It's not a market and not really bostony but I really like their food. I don't know of any in boston though. It's not a popular as a wendy's or mcdonalds and they dont have burgers or stuff like that. more of buffet...
There is a Boston Public Market a short walk away from South Station. I didn't go inside, but outside there were vendors selling produce and some fish. From what I could tell, the produce were the same produce (down to the brand name on the packaging) at nearly every grocery store in the continental US. As far as I could tell, it seemed like your typical grocery store and nothing special.
Creatchture it’s not that gud
love all your great tips!!
You can take the commuter rail to Salem, it drops you off right outside the touristy part of town
My wife and I are coming to Boston in July were doing a road trip thank you for your video after we have been to Boston we're would you recommend to go and visit as we have just under 4 weeks really looking forward to see Boston first time there
If you ever been to Phoenix Arizona you should make a video on that
Our winters are Currier & Ives magnificently beautiful! Don't be afraid to come in the winter. Just do not drive a car.
Another great video. I love when you do domestic tourism because that is what I can afford.
+Kimberly Colbert we are trying to get a bunch of USA tourism videos out this month. More boston videos a couple from Georgia and a couple from the Minnesota are still to come :)
+Kimberly Colbert and thank you for watching and commenting :)
How about visiting Beacon Hill especially Acorn Street.
Can I expect a "5 things you will love and hate about Boston" video next, or at least pretty soon?
yes... tomorrow's video is something special, but I would imagine 5 Love & Hates of Boston will be out within a week or so.
Boston Common please, not Commons. An adjoining park 1/4 mile to his right is The Public Gardens. These grounds are more formal. Flower beds. A lagoon that has swan boats that has one pedaler moving a basic raft like barge holding rows of park benches for customers. The gold domed building is the Massachusetts State House. Underneath him are the Green Line which are street cars and further beneath the Red Line subway trains. The station is Park Street Station. People wonder what outbound and inbound mean on the T, Boston's Metro. Street cars and trains leaving Park St are going outbound. Those arriving are coming inbound. The station is part of the nation's first subway. Going the State House way, Beacon Hill, leads to the last Boston station before the train goes over a bridge across the Charles River. 30 to 45 seconds of a panoramic view of downtown Boston, Back Bay and Cambridge. The Red Line continues underground. The east end of MIT. 2 stops later is Harvard Square.
Cheers..!!!
+Jason Laverd they have a fake cheers you can drink at at quincy market.
Mike's Pastry is the best.
+beachbum0014 I had to go there :) yummy
I was there on October 1st to the 3rd hahaha I probably walked by you XD
How about the Public Garden and the Swan Boats.
I would love to have met you! I am a tour guide in the city.
+Manwalkerinpark would have been fun. I will be back next summer for a longer visit for a full family visit
Mark can you do a video contrasting Madrid and Barcelona? I am torn.
+Bao Do Madrid, fun, modern & museums, Barcelona beaches architecture pickpockets fun
+Bao Do modern in terms that it isn't old old like parts of barcelona
Hey, Wolter! How many days do you suggest I need to "passear" in Boston and feel the city like you said the historical and the modern part of it?
+Denise K. A weekend to see all the main stuff. 1 day is historic freedom trail and North end. 1 day for Backbay and fenway. And another day to head out & see around Boston. It's a lot in 3 days but doabls
Thank you!
Way to go, man!
You could also make a video about Philly
+Leonardo Bauer we will get there. This was a Boston and New York trip. Hoping to visit Philly and DC next spring or summer. Any tips?
Hahaha I was wondering if you could recommend me something. I've never been there, but it seems like a nice place to visit
+Leonardo Bauer my mom loves Philadelphia so I will head there to help out eventually :)
Just to note, I usually drive into the city to visit during the weekend. Parking at the Boston Common Garage underneath the Boston Commons is like $12 all day and you're in the center of the city.
Also a must-see is going to the top of the Prudential tower (the Pru).
+Scott Byer thanks Scott! We appreciate the hands on tips. All the best on your travels.
Now, where do I get that guidebook of the Freedom Trail?
I just ordered one from the FT website.
How do you know where to go and how to get there all the time? Do you carry a map?
+CrazyAnj07 I look at maps before I go to get a rough idea then I only have to glance at my phone occasionally
Oh thank you. I've always wondered. :)
Also don’t go to Quincy Market because it’s probably gonna be mostly teens from surrounding towns and cities. In Eastern MA schools, if you have maybe 2 field trips a year, one of them is Boston and if you have one field trip, it’s still probably going to be Boston. We’ve done the freedom trail like 5 times, always the Swan Boats, and Make Way for Ducklings with either a picnic lunch in the Commons after a State House Tour or lunch in Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market.
Boston is also extremely cultural with two primary cultures in the city, the Irish and the Italians. There are more of the Irish though and both have parts of Boston that they’re dominant in, both are usually very friendly. The Irish are especially prideful though, myself included, and to many foreigners, my saying Irish instead of Irish-American or something is very confusing. When nearly everyone is an American who’s ancestors were immigrants (or Native Americans, who are amazing and fascinating as well and usually very proud of their heritage), we make the distinction between culture and customs that we’ve retained from our immigrant families. With the Irish and Italians, this is especially common because for a long time there was a ton of discrimination toward these groups and even with in Irish and Italian communities, it was very, very taboo to marry outside your culture. My mom is 100% Irish who was born to Irish American parents from Boston who were born to other Irish American families from Boston, etc. I’m only half Irish but the taboo nature of marrying outside the culture existed well into the 20th Century. Since this lasted so long, that’s why Bostonians now are still extremely prideful of their cultural roots and I’ve heard stories from Irishman that Boston really did almost feel like a mini Ireland because there’s so much influence in many parts.
Please visit an authentic Irish pub, you’re not gonna see anything close to the real thing outside of Ireland and the Italian food here is top notch.
Also I’m told that my accent makes me sound scary... I foster kittens in my free time, I’m not gonna stab you. Bostonians are usually very very friendly, I promise, we just SOUND scary and embrace the Masshole nickname because it keeps the tourists out of our Dunkin Donuts lines.
I know you recommend no winter, but what about mid-march? Have been highly considering coming up from Florida March 11-14 of 2017 for my spring break! I know it will be freezing but am still looking forward to it! What is the tourist population like at the time?
+Marie Graham I was wondering the same thing as my husband and I will be in Boston on those exact dates!
I would say February is coldest, and that really bad winter in 2015 was mostly Jan and Feb. March tends to start getting some warm day fluctuations (once it hits 37 everyone's taking off their puff coats and taking the car to the car wash), but there will still be more cold days than warm and there can be significant snowfalls. I grew up in the area and I remember having 3 days off school in April once. :-) But the city is pretty small and generally walkable with public transit (which is decent and getting upgrades since the last bad winter), so bring some warm leggings, boots, and a good coat, and trust you can always find a Dunkin Donuts to warm up in (they're local, and everywhere). Hope you have a great trip to a great town.
Thank you so much! booked my flight last weekend, very excited to brave the cold :)
Nzie nailed it. Jan/Feb are the deep freeze months. March is usually warmer but don't get fooled, it is New England. 55 one day, 25 the next and back to 60 the day after that.
btw Marie, good luck with your trip. hope you enjoy it. if I may, check out Fire & Ice restaurant. it is a few blocks from the common and very cool, unique place. the Black Rose, Bell in Hand and The Green Dragon are great lunch/drink spots near Quincy Market. outsiders think we're joking when we tell them there is a Dunkins on every corner! I'm pretty sure, within the city, we have more Dunkin' Donuts then we have traffic lights.
is the city clean?
I found it pretty clean compared to Chicago for example
If I had a week to spend in Boston, I would spend the first day on the freedom trail and the remaining six aboard the USS Constitution.
You're not "in Boston Commons." You're "on Boston Common."
i'm looking for tips, "go out and explore" is not a tip lol
Big tip for military driving into Boston for a day trip: Free parking! Park inside the Coast Guard base. It's just across the water from the U.S.S. Constitution. Just don't leave your vehicle there past 2300.
Don't ask where the metro station is.
when is mikes that empty :(
Have you ever been to India?
sadly not yet
Don't miss the fish chowda at Legal Sea Food!! Don't miss the Harvard Museum of Natural Sciences!
Mark, it's not "Boston Commons." It's "Boston Common."
Don't forget the HOTPOT SPOT in BOSTON y'all is in CHINA TOWN...thank me later!😊
Eat at Santarpio's Pizza
+griffin324 will do :)
Don’t drive here. Leave your car outside town… maybe New Hampshire. 😁
Also, very important, do not drive in the city. That is always a bad idea
Don't try to do the accent its not really a Boston thing more of suburb thing
That nutjob in the background though.
+whutzat he did a flip. I had no idea until I was editing. He was just having a bit offun
Wolters World Lol, you're so nice, Mark.