Boston

A fantastic place to visit. It is loaded to the rafters with history and yet is never stuffy, the students from the many colleges see to that. It is lively and with an atmosphere that is slightly British in essence. Stand in a corner of Boston Common on a bright fresh autumn day and you could easily be in Oxford or Bath.

Due possibly to its association with Britain from the start, dissatisfaction with the Empire set in early and Boston - with its famed Tea Party - was one of the places where the flames of revolution burned hottest.

Today, due to its educational traditions Boston is a major centre for research and development in the fields of biotechnology, medicine and electronics.

The real reason for coming to Boston is for the history, its elegant architecture museums and galleries.

Where to Go and What to See

Freedom Trail

Serves two purposes. Firstly, it gives the tourist a historical trip back to Boston at the time of the revolution. Secondly, it gives the visitor an excellent opportunity to see Boston and its people and other sites of historical interest. The trail is 2 1/2 miles long, grab a map and guide then just follow the red painted lines. The trail takes you past a number of historical sites. The Paul Revere House is along the way. This is not only the former home of this famed patriot but also Boston's oldest house. Also there is the State House, built in 1798 and topped with a golden dome, this is still the seat of political power in Massachusetts. The Old South Meeting House is an old Puritan place of congregation, it was from here that the patriots left to go and chuck tea in the harbour at the Boston Tea Party. The declaration of independence was first read from the balcony of the Old State House. This fine old building, the former seat of colonial power, dates from 1712 and is now a museum devoted to revolutionary artefacts. The trail ends at the harbour with the USS Constitution. This ship still sails once a year and is the oldest warship (commissioned 1797) in the world that can do so. Nearby is the Bunker Hill Monument, which is dedicated to the memory of those who fell having inflicted massive losses on a much larger British force.

Other sites of interest en route include the Museum of Afro American History and the Old Corner Bookstore, a former haunt of Longfellow, Hawthorn and Thoreau. Give yourself time to make this trip, it is well worth it. On a fresh, clear day in the 'fall', it is one of the best things to do in Boston.

Faneuil Hall

Formerly a market and revolutionary meeting place this is a blueprint for many urban renewal projects. The two large buildings (North and South) and the Quincy market make up a lively area of mainstream and more off the wall shops. The dining and drinking here is excellent but if you are too engrossed in shopping try Clam Chowder from one of the carts that can be found all over.

Harvard

One of the world's premier seats of learning, it was founded in 1636 by John Harvard. Apart from the buzz that exists around any campus there are also two excellent museums. The Harvard University Art Museums and the Harvard Museums of Natural History are both, in effect, three museums in one. There is also the pleasant Harvard Yard with its ivy-clad buildings and statue of the founder. Harvard is in the 'suburb' of Cambridge, a lovely and relaxing place to go and wander.

Museums

There are many museums amongst them the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, both for art lovers. For children there is the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Science or the Children's Museum. For those with an interest in history, there is the John F Kennedy Library and Museum and the Boston Tea Party Museum.

The Parks

Bostonians take pride in their nine parks, the best is the Boston Common and Public Garden. Boston Common is the oldest such public space in the States. This was first set aside as public land in 1634 and is the place in the heart of the city where the locals go to relax. It has the feeling of a massive village green. Adjacent to it lies the landscaped Public Garden, another place to go and wander amid trees, shrubs and flowers.

Fenway Park

Home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team, Fenway Park was built in 1912. These days it is the only Baseball Park that is still in the city, not on the edge of town, stuck on an asphalt loop off the freeway. It is a very anachronistic building and even for the non-baseball fan, this is a great way to pass an evening.

Eating, Drinking and Sleeping

Boston has some great watering holes; from the shiny chrome sports bars to good old-fashioned pubs there are many to choose from. The Irish bars are always fun. The food in Boston is of the highest order especially the seafood (lobster mmm). Hotels in the main parts of Boston can be costly but there is a good choice of motels, hostels and B&B accommodation available.