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Home > Things To Do in Boston
Things to do in Boston
Boston is one of the US’ oldest and most historically rich cities. With over 4.5 million people in the greater Boston area, yet only 600,000 in the City, proper, you get a sort of small-town feel, even when you can see the skyscrapers in the distance. Residents have no problem showing off their city with pride, and keep it clean.
Below is a quick look at some of the sights and things-to-do around town. If you can’t get them all in, at least this will give you an idea of where to start, and where to go before you finish.
Attractions and Sights
Home to sharks, penguins, giant octopi, turtles, and many other aquatic animals, New England Aquarium is a very cool place to check out sea life.
Home to more than 220 species, and covering 72 acres, the Franklin Park Zoo is a great place to see animals you'll likely never see anywhere else.
Parks and Outdoor Activities
Boston National Historic Park actually covers eight sites around downtown (Dorchester Heights, Faneuil Hall, the Chareston Navy Yard, etc.) - all connected by trails.
Boston Duck Tours offers a look at town in a unique way - from an amphibious bus.
Old Town Trolley Tours take visitors around town in an old-style bus, stopping at many Boston attractions.
Boston By Foot is a guided walking tour of town offered by a non-profit organization - a very cool way to take in the sights and history of Boston!
Boston Public Garden is a park downtown where visitors can find many statues, beautifully-kept grounds, Swan Boats, and a lot more.
Landmarks
The Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum features a replica of the famous ship and reenactments of the 1773 protest.
Bunker Hill Monument is a 221-foot obelisk built in memory of the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Aside from being a resource center, Boston Public Library is a city icon with many architectural details definitely worth checking out.
Shopping
Newbury Street is where all of the trendy shops, art stores and galleries are downtown - from clothing to CDs, coffee shops, and more.
Boston's main downtown shopping district, Downtown Crossing is home to major department stores, restaurants, nightclubs and more.
Full of upscale retail outlets like Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Tiffany & Co., not to mention restaurants, electronics shops, music stores, and more; Copley Place Mall has everything you might want in a mall.
Festivals and Events
Boston Arts Festival, otherwise known as “(ähts)” lasts three days every fall with live music, dancing, sculpture, painting and other artforms.
Showing more than 90 films each year, Boston International Film Festival runs nine days every spring, featuring independent films from all over the world.
Boston Cyberarts Festival seeks to use digital means to present art, and is the largest festival of its kind.
Arts and Entertainment
The Boston Pops Orchestra seeks to bring popular music (the "pops") to an orchestral setting, resulting in great entertainment for all.
Boston's Museum of Fine Arts is very impressive, featuring more than 450,000 works and seeing over a million visitors each year.
The Boston Center For the Arts houses performance and rehearsal space, a visual art gallery, restaurants, and arts-related organizations.
Nightlife
Wally's Café is Boston's place for live jazz. Just a few blocks from Berklee College, Wally's has been a sort of initiation for emerging jazzers over the years.
Wilbur Theatre is a historic building built in 1913 that serves as host to Comedy Connection, booking mostly stand-up comedians.
For live music, Bill’s Bar & Lounge is the place; hosting metal to indie to funk shows, this place has got it going on.
Convention Centers
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center holds 516,000 square feet of exhibition space, and 160,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Hynes Convention Center has 193,000 square feet of exhibition space and 71,600 feet of meeting space.
Arenas and Stadiums
Home to the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park holds baseball games and major concerts for names like Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, and the Dave Matthews Band.
TD Garden is home to the Boston Celtics of the NBA and the Boston Bruins of the NHL.
Gillette Stadium is home to the New England Patriots of the NFL, and the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer.
Food and Drink
America's oldest restaurant, Union Oyster House dates back to 1826 and serves great fresh seafood and New England cuisine.
Sel de la Terre offers French country cuisine, freshly baked goods, local ingredients, and a fantastic dining experience.
Addis Red Sea is a popular spot for Ethiopian cuisine in a comfortable setting.
Located right downtown, Kinsale Irish Pub & Restaurant is popular for lunch, but also serves a great dinner from entrées of stews and steaks to "pub food" like nacho platters.