THINGS TO DO IN BOSTON

Why choose Boston?

(Top 10 things to see and do).

Boston is the walkable city on the East coast of the USA, a fantastic destination in its own right and also the gateway to glorious New England and the adventures the region holds.

Boston is a year-round destination with each season holding something special for those visiting.

In winter Boston becomes a beautiful winter wonderland, perfect for a Christmas shopping break, or to soak up the festive atmosphere, spring season sees the city come into bloom, with its lush green spaces and sunshine making it a great time of year to explore the friendly and fascinating neighbourhoods on foot or by bike. Spring rolling into summer is the time to experience outdoor dining and water-based activities on the Charles River or Boston Harbor; enjoy the city skyline, sports, festivals, arts, history and as the colours begin to turn to fall you can experience all of these things but with a different coloured canvas as your backdrop.

Ways to see the city – Boston is #’America’s Walking City’, it’s relatively flat, very easy to navigate and great to explore on foot, or you could choose to take a guided cycle tour.. See Boston by land and water taking a Duck Tour, drive by historic landmarks before making a splash into the Charles River while knowledgeable guides tell tales of ‘Bean Town’. Old Town Trolley tours are another option for ‘hop on hop off’ transport on offer, or simply work the ‘T’.  Boston’s public transport system is clean, easy to navigate and either super-low cost or even free.

Here are just some of our top tips of things to do on a Boston break:

History – Boston is the birthplace of modern America, so here you will find iconic sites to visit. Follow the red markers of the Freedom Trail and self-guide yourself along the 2.5 mile trail visiting 16 of the most significant historic sites in the city. You can pick up an audio guide or guidebook at the Visitor Center located at the start of the trail on Boston Common. If you prefer, you can even opt for a guide dressed in historic costume to tell you the historic tales – also booked through the Visitor Center.

Sports – Fenway Park home of the Red Sox and TD Gardens home of the Boston Celtics plus the Boston Bruins are located in the centre of Boston and both offer behind the scenes tours, and have sporting memorabilia and museums to explore. The Gillette Stadium is home of the New England Patriots, located just South of Boston. With all of the top US sports represented in Boston, it’s the prime spot to catch a game for sports fans.

Dining – Boston is renowned for its seafood (which we can’t deny is delicious with a capital D!) but the city also offers so much more, from fine dining, with Boston’s buzzing chef-led scene and fusion cuisine, to food markets where you taste, dine and buy all sorts of local offerings including the Boston Public Market, High Street Place, Eataly, Timeout Market Boston.

Harvard & MIT – Head across the Charles River to Cambridge and take a campus tour of Harvard. You will be guided by a student of this historic centre of learning, find out what it’s like to study here, explore the campus and facilities whilst hearing about iconic figures that have studied here over its near 400-year history, visit the Co-op (pronounced coop not co-op) Harvard’s store and grab a hoodie – you can then say you ‘went to Harvard’!  The new Innovation Trail explores not only Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) but also many of the incredible tech firms and ground-breaking institutions now calling Cambridge home, as graduates of the city simply refuse to leave!   

The Embrace – The Embrace is a bronze sculpture by Hank Willis Thomas, installed in Boston, Massachusetts in January 2023. The artwork commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, and depicts four intertwined arms, representing the hug they shared after he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Martin Luther King Jr and his family have strong links with Boston and this beautiful piece of art celebrates that history and is a sight not to be missed, just head to Boston Common and have your camera at the ready.

Whale watching – Set aside time for a whale watching cruise whilst in Boston. Setting off from next to the New England Aquarium, you will head out to beautiful open waters on a catamaran including outside decks and spot whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Cruises are normally 3-hours in duration approximately, and the season runs from May to October.

Cycle tour – Hire a bike and meander through the lovely neighbourhoods of Boston and along the waterfront at your own speed, or take a guided cycle tour and get under the skin of this beautiful city with a tour guide who can tell you tales of the sights and sounds you will experience as you pedal your way through.

The Tall Ship is a 245 feet long ship housing a drinks and oyster bar docked at Pier One alongside food trucks aplenty and fun and games to be enjoyed across the harbor from downtown Boston. Let’s set the scene…..sip a cocktail on the deck, looking out over the Boston skyline as sail boats float past, the sun is shining, and a DJ is playing chilled out vibes. On the wharf you can reserve a private seating area, or take a spot at one of the many picnic tables, grab a bite from one of the food trucks and play a game of giant Jenga. It’s a fun and entertaining spot.

Explore further afield –

Salem and its interesting witch history is within easy reach of Boston, see it on an organised sightseeing trip, take the train, bus or hire a car (it’s only a 30 min drive), or take a ferry from Boston directly to Salem (50-minute sail time). A beautiful, intriguing coastal town to visit at any time of year, but October and Halloween is punctuated by parades, events and lots of ghostly happenings.

New England – the 6-States of New England are right on Boston’s doorstep, enjoy outdoor adventures, small towns and beautiful scenery, cider farms, waterfalls, hiking, biking, zipline adventures, canoeing and kayaking, Fall colours and  why not make the most of the great snow conditions on the East Coast and indulge in winter activities including dog-sledding, snowshoeing, snowboarding and skiing.

Support from MeetBoston.

(support offered images, marketing).

Images can be requested and downloaded from the Meet Boston image library: Media Library (meetboston.com)

Training – please contact Sara Ellis at Sara@ttmworld.co.uk to arrange virtual or in person training on Boston with your team