Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is the capital city of Massachusetts and is the largest city in New England.

Boston was the scene of a number of important events during the American Revolution. It is also a city of firsts: the first public school in America, Boston Latin School and the first subway system in the United States.

Frederick Law Olmsted designed the parks in the Boston area. Designated the Emerald Necklace, the parks encircle the city. One of these parks, Boston Common, is the oldest public park in the United States. There are a number of parks scattered throughout the city.

The Greater Boston area has more than 100 universities and colleges including the first one in the country, Harvard University. Harvard is located acrss the Charles River in Cambridge and connected to Boston by its subway system.

Where to stay:

Hotel I40: Located one block from downtown and one block from Copley Square.

Newburg Guest House: Centrally located, the guest house is close to the major colleges and universities in the Boston area.

Where to eat:

Boston is famous for its baked beans but also has a variety of restaurants that range from seafood to Italian to Chinese and everything in between.

The Quincey Street Market located downtown has a number of restaurants, bistros, and take-away places with a diverse cuisine.

If you want authentic Italian, visit the restaurants in Boston's North End. Chinatown offers Chinese and other Asian foods. Back Bay is an upscale area and has expensive but also affordable restaurants.

What to see:

The Freedom Trail: The trail begins at the Visitor Information Center on Boston Common. You can follow the red bricks embedded in the pavement. This is a good way to see the city and learn about its history. The trail runs through the various neighborhoods of Boston: Beacon Hill, Downtown, Waterfront, Back Bay, and Jamaica Plain.

Museum of Fine Arts: Collection includes medieval instruments and contemporary American art.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Private art collection which includes Dante's Divine Comedy.

John F. Kennedy Library and Museum: Designed by I. M. Pei, the presidential library traces his career.

Sports Museum of New England: Interactive exhibits covering different sport franchises in the Boston area.

Museum of Science: Provides a number of interactive exhibits for learning about science.

After Dinner:

Boston is not really a town for dancing the night away in a club. It is filled with pubs and bars where people gather. There are clubs, such as Wally's Cafe and the Paradise Rock Club that offer live entertainment.