A Boston travel guide – American history trails, waterfront eateries and baseball fever

Take a Boston vacation and explore a rich Revolutionary heritage, the prestigious Harvard University and world-class art galleries. Book a Boston hotel to sample the city’s delicious seafood and the thrill of a Red Sox baseball game.

American history

Boston is steeped in early American history. The two-and-a-half mile walk along the red-brick Freedom Trail takes in the gold-domed New State House, burying grounds and Old State House where the Declaration of Independence was first read in 1776. Revolution hero Paul Revere’s house is the oldest in North End, a district which dates back to the 1630s. Daily cannon fire from the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat in the world, is a favorite with families. Westwards is Beacon Hill with its cobbled streets and gas street lamps, and neighboring Back Bay’s Victorian brownstone buildings.

Art and culture

Egyptian scrolls, American masters and a Japanese garden stand out at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, near the Back Bay Fens, a short tram ride west of downtown. Nearby, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is set in a Venetian-style palazzo and houses over 2,500 objects collected by Gardner on her travels. The waterfront Institute of Contemporary Art is the place to head for cutting edge contemporary art.

Gourmet heaven

Boston’s diverse cuisine ranges from high-end gastronomy at the Four Seasons’ Aujourd'hui restaurant by Boston Common to succulent steaks at Abe & Louie's in Back Bay. And don’t forget to sample some New England favorites like lobster rolls and cream pie. Waterfront eateries serve fresh seafood while Quincy Market near Faneuil Hall has a tempting selection from clam chowder to dim sum. A trip to North End, Boston’s Little Italy, is a must on a Boston vacation for Sicilian cannoli pastries and cappuccinos. 

Green spaces and ball parks

The 50-acre Boston Common, the country’s oldest park, provides a leafy urban escape. In winter, the Frog Pond transforms into an ice-skating rink. Westwards are the landscaped Boston Public Gardens with its quirky swan boats. Walkers love the 40-mile Boston Harborwalk. Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox baseball team, packs out during the April-October season - ask your Boston hotel about tickets.