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Top 3 Things to do in Boston?
thecarmenfoxx See my TER Reviews 1505 reads
posted

Hey Everyone...

I am going to be visiting Boston for the first time in a couple weeks...and I have no idea what kind of activities I might want to do in my free time. I will definitely have about 3 hours of free time on a Sunday afternoon. Other then that, not going to have a lot of free time except maybe 1-3 hours here and there. So I am ideally looking for noteworthy sites and things to see in a short amount of time, preferably close to Downtown or Backbay....or a short cab ride (maybe 15-20 minutes is fine).  

Thank you so much for your recommendations!

Carmen Foxx

mrfisher443 reads

There is a fine small art museum called the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum about 2 miles from Backbay in the Fenway area.  I think they might still have free public music concerts on Sunday afternoons still

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thecarmenfoxx421 reads

Sounds awesome! Thanks so much Mrfisher!

Posted By: mrfisher
There is a fine small art museum called the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum about 2 miles from Backbay in the Fenway area.  I think they might still have free public music concerts on Sunday afternoons still.  
   
 

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Demcc3412 reads

Wow!  Great minds think alike.  That's exactly what I was going to suggest :-)

D.

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Nnoway490 reads

Route 1: Walk along the Charles River Esplanade then look at the murals and Abbey Room @ Boston Public Library and relax at its courtyard with notebook or without. For food: B & G Oysters (higher end) or Atlantic Fisheries (more manageable) for seafood or Brazilian Fogo de Chão for high quality meaty experience.  

Route 2: Cross Public Gardens and walk through Beacon Hill area towards the North End, the Italian neighborhood saturated with small charming restaurants. Grab a bite @ Mamma Maria but don't miss Teramisu @ Cafe Paradiso. Find a thin (spite) house and picture yourself living there. :)  

If weather is not your friend spend time @ Isabella Gardner Museum (IGM) museum if you're more into classical art or @ Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) if you like modern. Both have charming cafes where to grab a bite and frequent afternoon public concerts (classical @ IGM, bands @ ICA) . ICA also got great views and scores of very respectable restaurants around it.  


-- Modified on 5/7/2016 6:00:10 PM

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thecarmenfoxx404 reads

These are wonderful recommendations...and on foot to boot! Thank you Nnoway: )

Posted By: Nnoway
Route 1: Walk along the Charles River Esplanade then look at the murals and Abbey Room @ Boston Public Library and relax at its courtyard with notebook or without. For food: B & G Oysters (higher end) or Atlantic Fisheries (more manageable) for seafood or Brazilian Fogo de Chão for high quality meaty experience.  
   
 Route 2: Cross Public Gardens and walk through Beacon Hill area towards the North End, the Italian neighborhood saturated with small charming restaurants. Grab a bite @ Mamma Maria but don't miss Teramisu @ Cafe Paradiso. Find a thin (spite) house and picture yourself living there. :)  
   
 If weather is not your friend spend time @ Isabella Gardner Museum (IGM) museum if you're more into classical art or @ Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) if you like modern. Both have charming cafes where to grab a bite and frequent afternoon public concerts (classical @ IGM, bands @ ICA) . ICA also got great views and scores of very respectable restaurants around it.    
 

-- Modified on 5/7/2016 6:00:10 PM

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1angelinajones273 reads

I concur on all that you've recommended.  I've found Boston's Little Italy to be the best
I've encountered anywhere.  Also look for underground Speakeasy's in Little Italy as some date
back to the 1920's with some of the most amazing little hidden gems and cigar bars one could ever enjoy.

Related Link: Angelina Jones "Desiderata"

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impposter437 reads

Maybe not a Top 3, but maybe you like sightseeing from the 50th Floor of the Prudential Tower. You can see 75+ miles (where the other buildings don't get in the way). The Pru is in Back Bay - you can't miss it!  

Posted By: thecarmenfoxx
I am going to be visiting Boston for the first time in a couple weeks...and I have no idea what kind of activities I might want to do in my free time. I will definitely have about 3 hours of free time on a Sunday afternoon. Other then that, not going to have a lot of free time except maybe 1-3 hours here and there. So I am ideally looking for noteworthy sites and things to see in a short amount of time, preferably close to Downtown or Backbay....or a short cab ride (maybe 15-20 minutes is fine).
Boston's museums and performance venues are fantastic. The Public Library (spitting distance from the Pru) is beautiful and lots of artworks on display. Others have mentioned the Gardner; see also MFA (a walk from Back Bay or hop the Green Line just a few stops); take the #1 bus or subway to Harvard Square and check out the Harvard Museums (Fogg, Natural History, etc.).  

Blue Man Group performs near Back Bay.  The show is less than 2 hours so it should fit your 3-hour window if the starting times match up. (Sunday shows start at 2PM and 5PM).

-- Modified on 5/7/2016 10:18:58 PM

Related Link: Prudential Skywalk

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Nnoway360 reads

Right, the Prudential skywalk - great idea! and there is a nice restaurant on the 52 floor called Top of the Hub with 360 degrees view as well! Food is quite good and the place even has lunch menu until 2pm. So here is a 3rd Route:

Route 3: Have lunch at Top of the Hub with gorgeous panoramic view of Boston then walk to Charles river and either  
      a. take Dartmouth st bridge over Storrow Drive and then walk to Copley Sqr and Boston Public  
          Library (BPL) or  
      b. Farther to Boston Esplanade, where you'd cross Storrow drive at Arlington St bridge and  
          keep on walking parallel to the river through Beacon Hill until you hit Charles St. where you
          turn right and cross Public Gardens, after which, if you still have time you can come back to  
          BPL.

One lunch alternative to Top of the Hub. On Newbury St between Mass Ave & Hereford St there is a place called Trident Booksellers & Cafe. Nice casual atmosphere but order something called Lemon Ricotta French Toast. Great for brunch and never failed to impress.  

Also if you prefer window (and not only window) shopping to walking along the river continue on down Newbury St. It's the trendiest street in Boston full of restaurants and little boutique shops for every taste imaginable

Related Link: http://topofthehub.net/

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RSpork373 reads

If it's a nice day, stroll a few minutes (from Copley) over to the South End. South End Buttery & Coppa are great spots for lunch or brunch. I've run into people from touring Broadway shows at Coppa. The side streets of the South End are special. Union Park is a little 19th century oasis. (It's also next to the Butcher Shop, which has amazing wines.) Further down, you get to SOWa, which has a funky open market on Sunday afternoons.
If it's lousy out, the covered courtyard at the Gardner Museum will blow you away with its colors and flowers. The Boston Public Libray in Copley Square has amazing murals, recently restored, and a quiet courtyard.
Have fun!

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thecarmenfoxx291 reads

Thank you RSprok! I enjoy walking quite a bit and will have some free time to explore. This trip is going to be so fun and I can't wait to see as much of Boston as I can on my trip. I've also heard that lobster is really cheap there?! LOL. Thanks for your recommendations. So much to do this trip!

Posted By: RSpork
If it's a nice day, stroll a few minutes (from Copley) over to the South End. South End Buttery & Coppa are great spots for lunch or brunch. I've run into people from touring Broadway shows at Coppa. The side streets of the South End are special. Union Park is a little 19th century oasis. (It's also next to the Butcher Shop, which has amazing wines.) Further down, you get to SOWa, which has a funky open market on Sunday afternoons.  
 If it's lousy out, the covered courtyard at the Gardner Museum will blow you away with its colors and flowers. The Boston Public Libray in Copley Square has amazing murals, recently restored, and a quiet courtyard.  
 Have fun!
Related Link: http://thecarmenfoxx.com

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sniper0321332 reads

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thecarmenfoxx358 reads

Wow I cannot thank you all enough for these great recommendations! You have all been incredibly thoughtful and I wish I had more time to explore your great city. I will definitely be back...maybe in August, so these ideas will give me some lovely additions to future and present itineraries.

Thank you for all of your contributions. Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to call your Mom's for Mother's Day!!

xoxo

Carmen Foxx

Related Link: http://thecarmenfoxx.com

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vanessafontaine360 reads

Newbury st is full of cool cafes and restaurants and great stores ....
On a nice day it's awesome

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augustwest327 reads

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Foodyguy306 reads

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