12 Best Boston Hotels - Jul 2019

When you learned American history in school, you undoubtedly came across the events leading up to the American Revolution, such as the Boston Massacre, as well as events of the Revolutionary War, such as the battle of Lexington and Concord, and Paul Revere’s famous “midnight ride”. A trip to Boston will allow you to see these places first-hand--in fact, there are even actors at some of the sites to reenact the events!

But that’s not all that Boston offers you. You can also experience the unique atmosphere, food, and culture of one of America’s oldest cities. And, since Boston has no less than 35 universities (not to mention Harvard and M.I.T across the river in nearby Cambridge), the city also hosts a vibrant nightlife and cultural scene. A vacation in Boston can be a rich, unforgettable experience.

What are the Must-Do-s and See-s in Boston?

Boston Common and Boston Public Garden

In a town with a history as rich as Boston, even the public parks have a story behind them! For example, Boston Common is a 50-acre park located in the Boston downtown area. It is the U.S.’s oldest public park, being established all the way back in 1634, even though it was more a “common” (= as in “communal”) pasture land at the time. It became used as a public park only in the 1830s. Boston Common also has a splash pool (which freezes over and is used as a skating rink in the winter), a playground, and monuments honoring soldiers and sailors in American History. Depending on the season, there are also ice sculptures, sledding, parades, concerts and outdoor theatre throughout the year on Boston Common!

Next to Boston Common, there is the Boston Public Garden, which offers quaint swan boat rides in the summer, and a tulip garden in the spring. Together with Boston Common, it is part of a chain of public parks in Boston, called the Emerald Necklace. The Taj Boston is located near Boston Public Garden, while The Kimpton Nine Zero and The Godfrey are located near Boston Common.

Freedom Trail

Boston Common is a starting point for going through Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile long path that takes you through 16 different historical sites and landmarks, dating from the Revolutionary War onwards. From Boston Common, you can continue on to the gold-domed Massachusetts State House. The historical sites include the Old State House and the site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere’s house and the Old North Church. If you walk the whole trail, you’ll go over the Charlestown Bridge for the last legs of the Trail: the Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”, so called for its role in the War of 1812, where it withstood the cannon fire of the British frigate HMS Guerriere, as if the USS Constitution’s sides were made from iron!). At many locations, there are actors in period costumes reenacting the events. If you want to cover the entire trail in one day, it's recommended to start out early: many of the sites close at 5:00 PM, and there's a lot to see!

Music and Art

If you prefer classical or popular music, try to check out the world-acclaimed Boston Symphony Orchestra. They perform at Symphony Hall, which is itself a Boston landmark, dating from the year 1900. It is considered one of the finest concert halls in the United States in terms of acoustic quality. In the same concert hall, there are also performances of light classical and popular music by the well-loved Boston Pops. Besides classical favorites, they also have special programs of movie scores, Broadway musicals, and even gospel music. In the same area, you can also attend concerts by the Berklee College of Music, or the New England Conservatory.

Boston also has some impressive art collections. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts is one of the largest art museums in the United States in the Back Bay neighborhood, with the best Boston hotels located nearby, such as the Lenox and Sheraton. It is well-known for its collection of art from the Near East, Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, dating as far back as 6500 BC. As for modern art works, the Museum is famous for its collection of Impressionist works, as well as four levels of American art.

Getting around in Boston

MBTA’s “T”

Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (= MBTA) has a train-trolley system (known as “the T”) with color-coded lines: Red Line, Green Line, Orange Line, and Blue Line. (There is also a Purple Line commuter rail to the outlying regions.) The train system is partly a subway, which converts to a trolley above ground in the residential neighborhoods. The “T” will give you quick and convenient transportation, linking the major tourist attractions with the most popular hotels and hostels.

Bus service

The MBTA runs 177 different bus routes in Boston. Besides getting you around Boston, the bus service will connect you with the outlying neighborhoods in the Greater Boston area. There are three Silver Line buses connecting Boston neighborhoods to the South Station and Logan Airport.

Logan Airport Transportation

If you fly into Boston, you’ll arrive at Logan International Airport. You’ll have your choice of using the “T”’s Blue Line to get you into the other Boston neighborhoods. There is also a taxi and limousine service at designated stations in the airport, as well as car rental services, such as Hertz and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. If you like, there are also popular hotels in the vicinity of the airport, such as the 4-star Hilton Hotel on 1 Hotel Drive. If you have reserved rooms at a hotel, check if the hotel offers a shuttle service to and from Logan Airport.