Boston Waterfront
Credit: Leise Jones Photography
Way, the first game played at Fenway was on April 20, 1912. However,
news coverage of the opening was overshadowed by the stories of the
sinking of the Titanic a few days earlier. Fenway is home to the famous
Green Monster, or The Monstah, in local parlance — the left field wall.
Tours depart daily throughout the year, and if you go during baseball
season, and the Sox are at home, you can catch a Pre-Game Tour then
go see the game. The 60-minute guided tour — come rain, shine,
sleet or snow — offers a unique insight into the ball club’s history,
including back areas not readily accessible. Dress code is casual, but we
recommend not wearing a Yankees cap.
JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
AND MUSEUM
If politics is your game, then this museum commemorating Boston’s
most famous president (who was born in nearby Brookline) is a must-
visit. The modern building is built on a 10-acre park overlooking the sea
and the city that the 35th president loved and called home. It hosts a
combination of permanent and temporary exhibits, focusing on key
events in JFK’s life, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, formation of the
Peace Corps, the Space Program, the Civil Rights movement, and first
lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s historic restoration of the White House.
Other rooms reveal Kennedy as a kid — dubbed Young Jack — and
then as a decorated war hero. Read handwritten notes, loves letters,
and most tragically, the speech he was scheduled to deliver in Dallas on
the day of his assassination.
DUCK TOUR
One of Boston’s most popular modes of transport for visitors is the
“DUCK,” a WWII-style amphibious landing vessel that travels on both
land and sea. Popular routes visit the golden-domed Massachusetts
State House, Bunker Hill, the TD Banknorth Garden (home of the
Celtics and Bruins), Boston Common, Copley Square to the Big Dig,
Government Center, trendy Newbury Street, Quincy Market and the
Prudential Tower, before dunking into the Charles River. Tours either
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depart from the Prudential Center and Museum of Sciences, or from
the New England Aquarium. Be sure and pop in and say hello to the sea
otters, little blue penguins and northern fur seals while you’re there!
Led by a conDUCKtor educated in Boston trivia and history, a Duck
Tour is an easy and interesting way to be introduced to the city.
FREEDOM TRAIL
A great way to really learn the city is to head out on a foot tour. The
2.5-mile Freedom Trail stops at 16 historical museums, meeting houses,
churches and burying grounds, all an integral part of the American
Revolution. Established in 1964, the Freedom Trail Foundation’s
mission is to preserve the historic sites and to educate people on this
pivotal point in U.S. independence history. Public tours of about 90
minutes can be booked throughout the year for both individuals and
groups. If you want the DIY approach, pick up a map, follow the red
brick path and weave your way through the eighteenth century from
Boston Common to the U.S.S. Constitution. At the finish, you can either
retrace your steps, or take the Charlestown Water Shuttle back to
downtown Boston. There is a liquid version of the Freedom Trail known
as the Historic Pub Crawl — after all, most revolutionary ideas and
world-changing plans were first spawned in taverns. The Crawl visits
four authentic pubs in Blackstone Block, and includes free samples of
(what else?) Sam Adams beer.
CHARLESTOWN AND THE BUNKER HILL MEMORIAL
Once known as the “bank robbery capital of America” (a reputation
The Town only enhanced) Charlestown has undergone plenty
of facelifts since it was first settled in 1629. Yep, it’s a year older
than neighboring Boston. Charlestown was the first capital of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony and after being annexed in 1874, it is now
a square-mile neighborhood, part of the city-proper. Charlestown has
evolved since Affleck’s 2010 thriller, and has gentrified, as high-end
boutiques replace liquor stores, and day spas pop up in former pizza
parlor locations. Thankfully, some things never change, such as the