Getting There

The eastern United States is very well-connected in terms of rail, bus, and public transportation, so getting to Boston from anywhere on the east coast is relatively easy. Boston’s Logan Airport and South Station (where you’ll find Amtrak trains and the bus terminal) are both very accessible by public transportation so you’ll be in the city in no time. If you arrive late at night or don’t want to brave Boston’s famous ‘T’ with all of your luggage, you can take an Uber or taxi to your final destination. However, make sure you know where you’re going if you take a taxi (or at least pretend) because the taxi drivers will drive the long way and rip you off if they think you’re from out of town.

Where To Stay

Although it’s definitely possible to do Boston on a budget, it can sometimes be a little bit more difficult when it comes to accommodation—so plan ahead. There are five hostel properties in the city and they will typically run around $50-60/night, excluding taxes and hotel fees. For comparison, you can probably also find an Airbnb around the same price (or less!) or split a hotel room if you’re traveling with a group.

If you’re looking to see the sites, it might be worth finding a place located in central Boston so you’re close to the action. However, if you’re looking to get a better feel for the city, Cambridge and Somerville both have a great quaint New England neighborhood vibe, while still giving you easy access to downtown.

Boston On A Budget: Must-See Attractions

While you do have to pay to enter many of Boston’s most famous attractions, you can walk city’s famous Freedom Trail, either on your own or with a guide to learn about the city’s important role in American history. The Freedom Trail will take you past 16 historical sites, including the Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House, the Park Street Church, the Old State House, the site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere’s House, the Bunker Hill Monument, and the USS Constitution. The city of Boston was founded in the year 1630, making it almost 400 years old. It’s impossible to walk around downtown Boston or the surrounding areas without running into yet another historical site with a fascinating story.

If You’re Visiting In Summer

If the weather is warm while you’re visiting, grab a picnic lunch and head to the Boston Public Gardens, the first public garden in the United States. The beautiful park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and is home to Boston’s famous swan boats.

From the public gardens, you can walk or drive across the Longfellow Bridge to get a beautiful view of the sailboats floating up and down the Charles River, as well as a great view of the Boston skyline. Once you get to the other side, you can visit the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University campuses in Cambridge and soak up some knowledge about the many influential people who got their start on those hallowed grounds.

If you need a spot to cool off and relax after a long day of sightseeing, head to Constitution Beach, a little bit further out from the city, where you can watch airplanes taking off from Boston’s Logan Airport and more ships and sailboats drifting down the Charles River.

And of course, no trip to Boston is complete without a trip to Fenway Park to see the Boston Red Sox play. Tickets to the games may be relatively pricey, depending on who’s playing, but you can also take a tour of the historic stadium outside of game times if you’re interested in baseball or sports history.

If You’re Visiting In The Winter

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Massachusetts can be cold and snowy, to say the least. If you’re visiting in the winter time, you can seek refuge from the cold in Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, where you can find delicious food and window shop to your heart’s delight. In December, the entire area will be decorated for the upcoming holidays, and Christmas music fills the air everywhere you turn, making this a great festive stop on your city break.

In addition, Boston is home to many arcade, board game, and other activity-themed bars if you need to get out to escape the cabin fever but aren’t willing to brave the outdoors. Ask around at your hotel or hostel to find the local favorites.

What To Eat And Drink

Massachusetts (and New England in general) is famous for its seafood, so be sure to get some fresh seafood at one of the numerous restaurants along the water. Clam chowder is my personal favorite, but you can find crab, oysters, and a variety of other options up and down the coast.

In addition, you can’t leave Boston without trying some Sam Adams beer, either at the Sam Adams brewery south of the city, or at any of Boston’s numerous bars. There are some great brews that are sold only in the Boston metropolitan area, so be sure to check them out while you’re in town.

And last but not least, check out Mike’s Pastry for some world-famous cannolis and other desserts. The lines will be long, but it will definitely be worth the wait.

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Although it may be much more pleasant to visit Boston in the summertime when you don’t have to trudge through several feet of snow to see all the city has to offer, it’s definitely a delightful experience year-round, and it’s completely do-able doing Boston on a budget.

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Fenway Park

To non-Americans, baseball probably seems like a boring sport, but to truly understand American culture, especially in Boston where sports is practically a religion, you have to go see a baseball game. Fenway Park is home to the Boston Red Sox, one of the oldest teams in baseball. While you may not understand what’s happening out on the field, in my biased opinion, there’s nothing better than sitting outside on a warm summer day, watching a baseball game with a hot dog and a cold drink. The passionate fans easily rival anything seen at Premier League football matches. You can also take a tour of Fenway, which was built in 1912 and is loaded with history. You’ll quickly understand that most history in Boston has some sort of link back to sports and Fenway is a big part of Boston’s history.

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Freedom Trail

The 2.5-mile trail throughout Boston winds through 16 historical sites that each are unique and have a special place in Boston’s history. The trail was preserved by dedicated citizens in 1951 who believed that the government wasn’t doing enough to preserve Boston’s history. They took it upon themselves to save these sites and set up a trail for locals and visitors. Today, the US’s National Park Service operates the Freedom Trail. Visitors can take a guided tour from 18^th Century reenactors who tell you stories about treason, mobs, fights, and battles that took place at these locations (of course, you can just walk to the sights yourself since many have plaques that recognize their significance). Many of the buildings are from the revolution or from Boston’s founding. While you don’t have to visit all 16 sites, there are a few can’t miss locations. In my opinion, one can’t miss option is the USS Constitution. Commissioned in 1797, the boat was nicknamed, “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812 due to the appearance of some cannonballs fired by the British bouncing off of it. Interestingly enough, some of the boat was built by Paul Revere. Another site that is worth the visit is Boston Common, the oldest public park in the US. Built in 1664, Puritans bought the land for their livestock to graze, which was allowed until 1830 when it was converted into a public park. The Freedom Trail is a must do activity if you find yourself in Boston during the summer.

Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill could easily be considered Boston’s most picturesque neighborhood and seems as if it is stuck in a different time period in the past. With its tree-lined, cobblestone streets with Federal and Victorian-era row houses, its registered as a landmark and historic district by the government. It’s not uncommon to see the area covered with tourists throughout the year who are trying to get the perfect, trendy picture for Instagram. Social media aside, most of the area was constructed in the 17^th Century and was home to some of Boston’s first residents. It is also the area where the American Revolution started in 1775. If you are a history buff, you could practically spend all your time in this area, discovering all of the back streets that Beacon Hill has to offer. For everyone else…well, they might think about how many likes their Instagram picture will get.

Paul Revere House

Speaking of the American Revolution, you can go walk around Paul Revere’s house—the silversmith turned American patriot. It’s a great place to see the inside of an 18^th Century house. It’s hard to imagine anyone living in the extremely cramped quarters, but somehow they made it work. The house was sold before Revere died in 1800 and it served as various different businesses from apartments to a hotel, but the city wanted to pull it down and make way for more modern buildings. In 1902, the great-grandson of Revere decided to purchase the house for $12,000 US (if I had to guess, it is worth a little bit more than that today…) to preserve the house for history’s sake. Revere’s underwent a big restoration and today the museum is operated by the Paul Revere Memorial Association. They did a great job preserving the house and making sure future generations will be able to see what the founding of the US looked like.

Harvard

It’s surprising how Harvard has managed to be thought of as one of the best higher education schools in the world for over 300 years, but it has done just that. People come from all over the world to study at the school, but many visitors come and walk the grounds of Harvard Yard. Harvard is the oldest higher education institute in the United States (it was founded in 1636.) It’s played an important role in the founding of the United States and has some of the country’s best minds walk its halls such as Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Ballmer, John Roberts, and Bill Gates (14 US presidents have received honorary degrees from the university). Even if you are not interested in the history of Harvard, just walking around the school’s ground feels special. It is absolutely stunning in the fall as the leaves are changing and there is a crisp breeze in the air. You can take a guided tour of Harvard, especially great for those that want to see inside the buildings, but anyone can come and walk around the university.

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Suggested next reading: How To Experience The Best Of Boston On A Tight Budget. Or, for somewhere else, why not check out Rhode Island: The Smallest State With The Biggest Heart?

The post Must-Do Things In Boston That Everyone Will Love appeared first on Modern Trekker.