A Visitor's Guide To Boston

(Boston skyline from the Fenway Park press box)

Several times a year I am asked by friends I have met through social media, "Where should I go and what should I see when I visit Boston?" I am asked this question often enough that I’ve decided to kill many birds with one post, providing them a resource they can reference during their visit.

Some restaurants you may like to try during your visit are: L’Espalier with New England-French cuisine; Mistral, also with French cuisine (turn down the volume on your computer speakers because they have music on their website) or Davio’s, a Northern Italian steakhouse.

Some Twitter followers suggested several restaurants in the North End, among them: La Famiglia Giorgio’s; Antico Forno; Florentine Café (they also have music on their website); Limoncello and Assaggio (more involuntary music – when will web designers/businesses learn how annoying that is?).

Finally, for the history of it, you should visit The Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in the United States. This restaurant is dark and crowded so people either love it or hate it. Stop in for a cup of chowder and stay for some lobster if you like.

Boston is filled with museums and other educational facilities. Some obvious stops are the Museum of Fine Arts; the Museum of Science; the New England Aquarium; and the USS Constitution Museum. If art is your thing you must go to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum located conveniently down the street from the MFA. Baseball fans shouldn't miss a tour of Fenway Park which opened the same week the Titanic sank. Visitors who enjoy a nice stroll will be rewarded by the history of The Freedom Trail, with ancient (for the U.S.) buildings and grave yards.

There are also several half day and day trips a short jaunt from Boston. You can take an hour and an half cruise (one way) through Boston Harbor to Provincetown, where the Pilgrims first landed. While there, climb the Pilgrim Monument. Right outside of Boston, in Brookline (formerly Muddy River, a part of Boston), is Lars Anderson Auto Museum. To bear witness to our, thankfully left behind, past visit the Royall House and Slave Quarters. Tour the home of our second U.S. President and the birthplace of the sixth at Adams National Historic Park.

I could go on with all of Boston’s cultural offerings such as the Boston Ballet and the Boston Symphony Orchestra but you already have enough to keep you busy for a week or two so I will leave you discover those things for yourself. Enjoy your stay!

Local readers, what other “must see” sights have I missed? Please leave them in the comments below. Thank you.

(The author has not been, in any way, compensated by any restaurant, museum or business in this post. This post is merely a list of activities and does not necessarily serve as recommendation of any of the places cited herein.)