One of the oldest cities in the United States, Boston offers the perfect mix of new and old - where The Freedom Trail landmarks stand beside cutting edge restaurants. Given its age, Boston’s streets aren’t arranged in a grid or anything remotely resembling an organizational structure. Given that each Boston neighborhood tells its own story - it's the perfect place to get lost. Just be careful when walking on cobblestone!
For Part 1: 3 Day Itinerary in Boston | Part 1
Part 2:
(1) Check out the best that Boston has to offer at the Public Market
(2) Continue the appreciation of local produce and crafts at the Quincy Market & Faneuil Hall
(3) Enjoy an oysters and chowder lunch at Union Oyster House
(4) Learn about the birth of America at the Boston Tea Party Ships
(5) Enjoy a pint (or two... or three) at Sam Adam's Brewery
(6) Indulge at Toro
1. Check out the best that Boston has to offer at the Public Market
[Photo credit: Fitt, Boston Public Market]
The Boston Public Market is an indoor public market with 35 shops, offering everything from prepared and take-out meals to meats, dairy products, fish, and produce, to flowers, herbs, nuts, and chocolate, to hand-crafted wooden bowls, stone platters, lotions, and woolens. Everything sold at the Market is produced or originates in New England; locals and visitors alike can find seasonal goodies. The market itself is a wonderful respite in any type of weather. The open spaces and inviting atmosphere is a great place to spend a few hours. There is ample room to sit down and enjoy a snack. There's also an outdoor farmers’ market that is open on Sundays and Wednesdays from May to November.
2. Continue the appreciation of local produce and crafts at the Quincy Market & Faneuil Hall
In the historic heart of Boston is the famous Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall known as Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Located in downtown Boston, this complex of unique shops, well known chain stores, food court, restaurants and taverns are a major attraction for tourists, daytrippers, locals and those working nearby. Steps away from the waterfront, Faneuil Hall is actually four great places in one location – Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market. There are over 70 retailers that occupy the 200,000 square feet of retail and 160,000 square feet of space on Boston’s iconic mixed use festival marketplace.
Some history on this must-visit site in Boston
In 1742 Peter Faneuil, Boston’s wealthiest merchant, built Faneuil Hall as a gift to the city.
It is where the colonists first protested the Sugar Act in 1764 and established the doctrine of “no taxation without representation.”
Faneuil Hall has played host to many impassioned speakers, from Oliver Wendall Holmes and Susan B. Anthony to Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy, always living up to its nickname, “The Cradle of Liberty.”
Located between Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Rose Kennedy Greenway, the New England Aquarium and the Boston Harbor, there is Christopher Columbus Park. The park features an iconic trellis lit with blue lights during the holiday and winter season. In the center of the park is the statue of Christopher Columbus.
3. Enjoy an oysters and chowder lunch at Union Oyster House
[Photo credit: Union Oyster House, Inbound Destinations]
Union Oyster House, located on the Freedom Trail, near Faneuil Hall, is amongst the oldest operating restaurants in the U.S. and one of the best places for (you guessed it) oysters. While it certainly draws a tourist contingent looking to get their clam chowder fix, this place also sees neighborhood regulars as well as Government Center nine-to-fivers. It serves all the iconic New England dishes: clam chowder, lobster rolls, baked beans, broiled scrod, as well as oysters and clams every which way. If you don't know what to order, just ask. Whatever it is you end up having... just make sure you have some of their world-famous cocktail sauce.
4. Learn about the birth of America at the Boston Tea Party Ships
If you really want to take in U.S. history, head to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. The museum offers so many unique experiences.
Enter the Meeting House and step back in time to rebellious 1773 Boston and meet Samuel Adams – your 18th century host! This is where you’ll start your journey to learning about the “single most important event leading up to the American Revolution” – the Boston Tea Party – where it all began during the colonial town meeting.
Storm aboard the 18th Century sailing vessels Brig Beaver and Eleanor! Experience life at sea aboard an 18th-century sailing vessel as you join a Son of Liberty and take part in the “Destruction of the Tea”! Throw tea into the very same body of water where the Boston Tea Party took place over 240 years ago.
Explore Griffin’s Wharf and board both ships, the Eleanor and the Beaver. Throw the fated tea into Boston Harbor alongside our costumed historical interpreters and hear the dramatic events surrounding the Boston Tea Party.
Check out the Robinson Tea Chest - protected and preserved for more than two centuries, the Robinson Tea Chest is the only known surviving tea chest from the Boston Tea Party of 1773. Experience the compelling history of this significant artifact from its humble beginnings in China through the Boston Tea Party and being handed down through the generations. The Robinson Tea Chest is proudly displayed at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum from the permanent collections of Historic Tours of America, Inc.
Enjoy a spot of tea in Abigail's Tea Room & Terrace. The comfortable charm of another era, wonderful waterfront and skyline views, a friendly welcome from colonial tea ladies and reasonably priced menu choices make Abigail’s the perfect place to pause for a relaxing break. Taste history by sampling some of the 5 teas thrown over during the Boston Tea Party, enjoy a glass of refreshing lemonade, cool iced tea, or a mug of hot or cold apple cider and try our hard-to-resist tasty treats: assorted scones, cookies, brownies, muffins and pies.
5. Enjoy a pint (or two... or three) at Sam Adam's Brewery
[Photo credit: Samuel Adams, Boston University]
It's hard to think about Boston without thinking about beer. More specifically the renowned Sam Adams Brewery. The Sam Adams Brewery is outside the city center (in Jamaica Plain), but totally worth the trip for beer lovers. This brewery is Samuel Adams' testing facility for new and specialty brews, and offers the public tours and a tasting. The tours offer a comprehensive and informative overview of the brewing process and will help you discover Sam Adams’ vast history, including the story behind the man himself. But more importantly are the free beer tasting (including their specialty malts) and keepsake glass at the end of the tour. The classic tour is approximately an hour long, with 30 minutes learning about the ingredients in their beer and brewing process, and the other 30 minutes spent in a tasting room, sampling 3 different styles of craft beer. There is no charge for admission for the classic tour of the Boston Brewery, but they do ask for a small charitable donation to local charities.
They also serve pints, flights, and tasters in the Tap Room. And the brewery also has a beer garden, where the draft menu is constantly rotating R&D beers of Sam Adam's newest styles and limited-releases, alongside the classics. There's also often food trucks and local businesses serving food.
6. Indulge at Toro
[Photo credit: Toro, Conde Nast Traveler]
Where do we start... between the tapas, the drinks, and the setting, Toro is one of the very best restaurants in the South End. Toro, helmed by Chef Ken Oringer, almost entirely of small plates of pintxos and tapas.
Everything is delicious - from their classics (like their grilled corn, medjool dates stuffed with Marcona almonds, Valdeon blue cheese and wrapped in Serrano jam, and the white anchovies) to more innovative ones (like the taco with uni and caviar, smoked duck with za’atar, seared foie gras, or bone marrow chased by a sherry luge)... it's all absolutely delicious. Toro also has a full cocktail menu (that creatively weaves in Spanish flavors), extensive list of Spanish wines and sherries, and some of the best local beers (it IS Boston afterall).
Regardless if you're having dinner here or just stopping by for a snack... doesn't matter. Just make sure you stop by when you're in Boston.
For Part 1: 3 Day Itinerary in Boston | Part 1
