Posts Tagged ‘boston’

I am known for never wanting to move away from New York City. But, if I had to move, I mean, if someone MADE me move but gave me the ability to pick the location, Boston would be one of my top choices. Of course Boston is much smaller than NYC, although that isn’t saying much since most cities are, but it has all of the charms of a large city (culture, walkability, sports) but in a tidy package.

On my first visit to Boston I armed myself with a pocket size fold out map and set out by foot to see the sights. Maps can be misleading and I was expecting a much larger area — I ended up being surprised at how small the city really was. Known for its rabid Red Sox and Patriot fan base (and believe me, rabid is not an exaggeration), Boston is also full of history. Boston’s favorite son isn’t Larry Bird from Celtic fame or even Tom Brady, one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL — the favorite son and keeper of the city is the historic hero Paul Revere. The story of Revere’s horse ride through town alerting the residents “the British are coming, the British are coming” is taught to all American children at an early age. That act of bravery secured him a place in US history but also on many of the streets and landmarks (and tourist gifts) throughout the city where his influence has been great.

I decided that I owed it to my US history teachers and to Boston to immerse myself first and foremost into all that was Paul Revere. I headed to the North End neighborhood where I toured the home he lived in with his 16 children (yes, 16) and as in most historical home/museums, I was pleased to see the rooms of the house were still decorated as they would have been during the time period in which Revere lived there. I saw the North Church where his lanterns hung from the steeple warning the townspeople of the British approaching, quite a few statues of him scattered about and finally, the cemetery where he is buried. The cemetery was actually across the street from my hotel–which creeped me out a bit–however realizing how old this city is (Boston had many “firsts” for the United States including the first park [established in the 1600s], the first church, first public school and first subway system), it seemed almost normal that modern hotels (such as mine, Nine Zero) and shops would be integrated in with the original buildings, cobblestone streets and, yes–cemeteries.

cemetery where Paul Revere is buried. the large tombstone belongs to Ben Franklin

Boston is full of diverse, beautiful neighborhoods surrounded by parks, boutiques and restaurants. Many of these neighborhoods and major landmarks throughout the city can be reached easily by strolling the “Freedom Trail” that winds through the city. Here are some of my favorite neighborhoods:

Beacon Hill, one of the oldest and smallest neighborhoods in the country, is also one of the most famous. It is known for its elegant brownstones and fashionable shops. A walk down Charles Street will introduce eclectic antique shops, welcoming cafes and top of the line clothing boutiques.

brownstones on beacon hill

Faneuil Hall has been a bustling marketplace and meeting spot for over 200 years. Near both the Waterfront neighborhood and the North End, this neighborhood has a huge shopping area (indoors and out), sidewalk performances during warmer months and is one of the most famous stops along Boston’s “Freedom Trail.” The famous bar “Cheers” from the TV show of the same name has been remodeled and relocated here too.

Here is a video I took of a street performer just outside of the marketplace.

boston street performer

the author outside of Faneuil Hall

Back Bay is the neighborhood that I think I enjoyed the most. This area claims the gorgeous Public Library (wonderful tour) and Trinity Church in Copley Square. Many browse-able boutiques are to be found on posh Newbury Street along with galleries, bars and restaurants.

lion in the boston public library

Boston can be reached in under 5 hours by car from the New York City area which makes it an excellent choice for a long weekend getaway. I look forward to going back soon–maybe for a Red Sox game this fall–or a classic Ivy League football game so I can better check out the Fenway and Harvard neighborhoods I didn’t have a chance to visit or maybe to find more reasons that will put Boston at the top of my “if I had to move list”.

… from the Boston Public Library.
Gorgeous building inside and out!! This Lion is so stoic, so proud. I love it.