The city of Boston is frequently referred to as the gateway to
New England. It is the capital of Massachusetts, and the largest
city in New England. There is plenty to do for young and old
alike in Boston, making it a great destination for a holiday to
New England.
Boston lies on a peninsula, with the Massachusetts Bay on one
side and the Back Bay on the other. It became one of the
wealthiest cities in North America during the 18th and 19th
centuries, which led to a great many cultural buildings being
built during this era.
The Public Garden is the oldest botanical garden in the USA,
with its flower gardens, trees, grassy lawns and lakes. The most
famous part of The Public Garden's is of course the Swan Boats,
to take you on a graceful ride around the lakes.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace was built in 1742, and now houses over
one hundred shops and restaurants. Great for shopping or for
sampling the local cuisine, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a "must
see" in Boston. The restaurants feature many local favourites
such as clam chowder, and Boston baked beans!
The Museum of Fine Arts is Boston's oldest and most respected
art institution. It is home to a lot of early American art, as
well as Egyptian and Impressionist collections. There is also a
fine collection of French art.
Many of the famous historic buildings make up the Freedom
Trail, which is marked out with red lines or bricks. These are
buildings that played some significance in the American
Revolution. The trail includes Paul Revere's house (home to the
night time messenger that warned Samuel Adams and John Hancock
of the British Army's planned movements), Faneuil Hall (a
meeting point for revolutionaries), Granary Burial Ground (where
Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Paul Revere are buried), Bunker
Hills, the site of Benjamin Franklin's birth, and the Old State
House (where the Declaration of Independence was first read).
Not on the trail for obvious reasons is the USS Constitution.
This ship is 200 years old and is the oldest commissioned
warship in the US Navy. Still afloat the ironclad/ironside ship
gives some of the most spectacular views of the city of Boston.
One of the most visited attractions in Boston is the New
England Aquarium. With a massive 200,000 gallon tank, with giant
turtles swimming in it, it is a fantastic sight to behold.
Home to the universities of Harvard and MIT, the city has a
vibrant atmosphere in the evenings. There are plenty of
restaurants and venues with live music to entertain you after a
day of sightseeing or retail therapy!
Steeped in history, great for shopping and abundant with
evening entertainment, Boston makes a great destination for your
New England holiday.
