*The Boston Public Garden bursts with color in May. (Photo: Marge Dwyer)*

Having grown up in the Boston area, many summers and school vacations were spent taking visiting friends and relatives ‘into town’ to experience some of the history, culture, sports, and great food Boston has to offer. Boston’s a walkable city with something for virtually everyone.

Boston has four distinct seasons, with each offering a different experience. When’s the best time to visit? May through October.

What are some of the best things to see and experience?

Walk the Freedom Trail

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walking path from Boston Common in downtown Boston, through the North End, to Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. There are 16 sites of historical importance, including Faneuil Hall, the USS Constitution, Old North Church, and Old Corner Bookstore. All sites are free except the Old South Meeting House, Old State House, and Paul Revere’s House, which charge admission. Pick up a map at the visitor’s center on the first floor of Faneuil Hall, or schedule a tour here.

Eat, Shop, and See Street Performers at Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Faneuil Hall Marketplace includes Faneuil Hall (the building where Revolutionary-era meetings took place that the National Park Service now operates), Quincy Market (a massive food hall), and the North and South Halls (filled with shops and full-service restaurants.) The Marketplace also covers the cobblestoned areas between the buildings where musicians, street performers, and seasonal pushcarts locate. It’s a big area that has become one of Boston’s most popular tourist attractions. It gets crowded mid-day through the evening, so plan accordingly.

When locals say, ‘let’s go to Faneuil Hall,’ they mean the marketplace and not the Revolutionary-era Hall.

Enjoy Italian Cuisine in the North End

*Homemade pasta, fresh ingredients, passed-down family recipes. What’s not to like about the North End’s Italian food? (Photo: Sydney Schmerzler)*

The North End is Boston’s oldest and one of its safest neighborhoods. Known for its Italian-American roots and exceptional dining options, it’s a must for any Boston visitor. Most of the establishments are family-owned and operated. Several of the bakeries have been there for over 100 years. Due to its popularity, dinner reservations are highly recommended. Most restaurants use OpenTable and Yelp.

Some of the top sites on the Freedom Trail are in the North End, so if you are walking the trail, plan on a meal in this neighborhood.

See an Improv Comedy Show

*ImprovAsylum is located at 216 Hanover Street in the North End. (Photo: Sam Kramer)*

Looking to do something different? How about seeing a comedy show? Locals and tourists love ImprovAsylum for its blend of improv and sketch comedy. Audience suggestions inspire scenes, so no two shows are alike—you might even get picked as an ‘extra’ in a sketch.

Located in the North End next to all the best Italian restaurants, grab dinner and a show one night. Tickets are available online here.

Stroll Through the Public Garden

*The Swan Boats have been operated by the Paget family since 1877. (Photo: Marge Dwyer)*

The Public Garden bursts with color from spring through fall. It is the first public botanical garden in the U.S. and features many stately and ornamental trees, shrubs, formal flower gardens (continually changing), fountains, statues, a pond, and paths. It’s downtown and adjacent to the Boston Common, the oldest city park in the U.S.

Swan boats have been the centerpiece of the Public Garden since 1877. They operate from mid-April to early September, with tickets sold at the Swan Boat dock (no reservations needed.) When local preschool kids and kindergarteners take a trip to Boston, the day always includes a Swan Boat ride and a stop at the Make Way for Ducklings statue (corner of Beacon and Charles.)

Take a Walk Around Historic Beacon Hill

*Beacon Hill is one of the city’s prettiest historic neighborhoods and is particularly nice to see in the Fall. (Photo: Marge Dwyer)*

Beacon Hill is one of the priciest and most prestigious neighborhoods in Boston. Known for its narrow cobblestoned streets, colonial brick row houses, decorative ironwork, and gas lamps, it’s located between Boston Common and Storrow Drive, the major road that runs along the Charles River. There are a few restaurants and shops, but the area is mostly residential.

If you ask a local about ‘Beacon Hill,’ they may assume you are soliciting their opinion on Massachusetts state government or the latest legislature because ‘Beacon Hill’ is a figure of speech commonly used for just that. Fear not. If you find yourself at the Massachusetts State House, you are on the edge of the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

Enjoy the Charles River Esplanade

*The Charles River Esplanade as seen from the water. (Photo: Marge Dwyer)*

Need a break from city sightseeing? Recharge at the Charles River Esplanade. The park is located on the Boston side of the Charles River, offering an idyllic setting to watch sailboats and sculls with Cambridge as a backdrop. There’s a 3-mile walking and biking path that runs along the river bank for those that want to get some exercise with the locals. The Hatch Shell, made famous by Boston’s July 4th Boston Pops Concert and Fireworks, offers free concerts and Friday night flicks (family movies) during the summer. Bring a picnic!

Cross the River to Visit Harvard

*Harvard University. (Photo: Somesh Kesarla Suresh on Unsplash)*

Boston’s a university town. In fact, over 250,000 students go to schools in Boston or Cambridge (just across the Charles River.) That’s why most apartment rentals in metro-Boston start September 1st. Streets across the city are filled with moving vans that day—a nightmare for some areas with only on-street parking.

Harvard, the oldest university in the United States, is always top on the visit list. It has a beautiful campus, and the area around it (Harvard Square) offers a bohemian vibe like no other section of the city, with an eclectic mix of boutiques, coffee houses, music shops, and street performers.

Visit Myrtle, the Sea Turtle, at the Aquarium

*New England Aquarium is a visitor favorite. Look for Myrtle, a green sea turtle in the Giant Ocean Tank. (Photo: Adam Desrosieres on Pixabay)*

The New England Aquarium offers a four-story giant ocean tank that is a Caribbean coral reef exhibit. It’s filled with about 1,000 animals, including tropical fish, moray eels, and loggerhead sea turtles. You’ll see aquarium divers and researchers at work, but the star of the tank is Myrtle, a green sea turtle that has lived at the Aquarium since 1970. The aquarium is also home to more than 50 penguins.

Buy tickets in advance online here because walk-up tickets are very limited. Visitors using wheelchairs and visitors with visual impairments are welcome free of charge. Sensory bags are available at the information desk.

See a Red Sox Game or Take a Tour of Fenway Park

Fenway Park, Boston. (Photo: Greg Sabin on Pixabay)

Any baseball enthusiast (even a Yankees fan) will want to visit Fenway for a game or tour. Home to the Boston Red Sox since 1912, it’s the oldest active ballpark in Major League Baseball. It seats under 38,000 and has all kinds of quirks because of its size and age, including obstructed views, a hand-operated scoreboard, the Green Monster, The Triangle, Duffy’s Cliff, and more. Order game tickets here. Tours of the park are available daily 30 days in advance here.

If you’ve visited Boston, what did you enjoy most? Any additional recommendations for our readers?

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