History Buffs
Follow in the footsteps of the heroes of the Revolutionary War along the Freedom Trail.

Food Lovers
From the Italian restaurants of North End to Boston’s fabulous seafood, a wonderful meal is around just about every corner.

Sports Enthusiasts
Visit Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox

Boston’s major airport is Logan International, across the harbor from downtown.

Transfers
Transfers are not included with your air and hotel vacation package. From the airport to hotels, there are shuttle vans, buses, taxis, and the subway.

Subway
Known as the “T,” the subway runs from the airport to downtown Boston, takes about 20 minutes, and connects to other subway lines and commuter rail. Visitor passes can be purchased in increments of one-, three-, or seven-day intervals and allow for unlimited travel on all subway lines, the Silver lines, local and Crosstown (CT) buses, and inner harbor ferries.

Taxi
Tip around 10-15%. If you think you're being overcharged, either let the driver know or get a receipt and note the license number.

Rental Car
Rental cars are available as an optional add-on with your vacation pacakge and are a great way to see New England away from the city. While in Boston, driving can be difficult and parking is expensive.

Walk
Boston is a great walking city with narrow, Colonial cobblestone streets and many attractions all located a short distance from one another.

With its long and storied maritime history, seafood, particularly the lobster, is synonymous with dining in Boston. You’ll find marvelous restaurants scattered throughout the city with fantastic ethnic cuisine in Little Italy and Chinatown. While in Boston, make sure you indulge in the fresh seafood, New England clam chowder, Boston baked beans, and a slice of delicious Boston cream pie.

• 75 Chestnut
  Enjoy a bistro-like atmosphere for a cozy, friendly ambiance and traditional American comfort food. Beacon Hill.
• Chart House Restaurant
  Dating back to the 1760s, the building once housed the offices of John Hancock. Today, you can feast on steaks and seafood while enjoying a tasty cocktail and great views. Waterfront.
• L'Espalier
  One of Boston's best dining experiences, L'Espalier puts an imaginative spin on traditional French cooking techniques. Back Bay.
• Mike's Pastry
  Taste delicious cannoli, rum cakes, and other traditional Italian pastries at this busy little pastry shop located along the Freedom Trail. North End.
• Salty Dog Seafood Grill and Bar
  A local landmark for more than 25 years and serving a variety of the finest fresh seafood in Boston. Also enjoy the full-service raw bar. Faneuil Hall.
• Smith & Wollensky
  Located in the historic Armory "castle," you can dine on juicy steaks and fresh seafood while choosing from an extensive wine list. Theater District.
• Union Oyster House
  Established in 1826, Ye Olde Oyster House is America’s oldest restaurant. Enjoy a lively atmosphere and wonderful Yankee-style seafood, lobster, shore dinners, and, of course, oysters. Faneuil Hall.

Though not as wild as its Northeast neighbor New York, Boston has a multitude of entertainment opportunities after the sun goes down. Brew pubs are popular gathering places to watch a game and with the largest population of college students in the world, there’s bound to be a happening party somewhere. Other pursuits include cultural activities such as theater, opera, orchestra, and anything else you can imagine.

Everything from quaint boutiques to gigantic malls offer shopping of all kinds. Boston is a great place to shop for clothing as there’s no sales tax on items priced below $175. The most prominent shopping areas are the Back Bay, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and Beacon Hill where you’ll find all kinds of boutiques and shops. Stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus can be found at the Shops at Prudential Center and Copley Place.

The Boston Metro area is home to festivities throughout the year including concerts, festivals, fairs, and sporting events. Here are some annual events that might interest you:

St. Patrick’s Day
March 17. One of the largest celebrations and parades in the world.

Boston Marathon
April. The premiere marathon in the world.

Midsummer Revels
June. An outdoor Summer Solstice celebration that’s free to the public. Enjoy a parade and 90-minute stage show.

Restaurant Week
Mid-August. Many Boston restaurants feature a three-course prix-fixe menu for a fraction of the usual price.

Fall Foliage
Mid-September – mid-October. Join more than a million people as you enjoy the beautiful red and orange hues of the autumn trees.

Boston Tea Party Re-enactment
December 16. Dress up in a Colonial outfit and see a re-enactment of the December 16, 1773 protest.

First Night
December 31. Partying in the streets and something for everyone to ring in the new year.

Spectator Sports
Boston has a long and storied history when it comes to spectator sports. The “curse of the Bambino” has finally been lifted for Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox. The New England Patriots of the National Football League are one of the most successful franchises of recent years. The NBA’s Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League also exude a commitment to excellence.

Outdoor Recreation
Boston Common is a terrific park to take a stroll, rent a boat, or lay down a blanket for a picnic.

Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red brick or red painted line that travels through Beacon Hill, downtown Boston, the North End, and Charlestown. The Trail itself is an outdoor experience, but the sites it leads you to should be entered to be fully appreciated. Walking tours are guided by a costumed character, or take the new Antenna Audio Tour, which incorporates sound effects, character voices, celebrities, and historians into a headset that you wear along the tour. You can start or finish anywhere on the Trail, and listen to each segment as often, or as little, as you like.

The North End
Just a short distance from Faneuil Hall, The North End is one of Boston's first neighborhoods and is now home to several historical sites as well as Little Italy. Here you'll hear Italian spoken in the streets and savor the flavors of all the wonderful restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries.

Black History Trail
Between 1800 and 1900, most of Boston's African Americans lived in the West End and this 1.6-mile trail traces some of that history. Guided walking tours are offered by the National Park Service daily and go past sites of significance ranging from stops along the Underground Railroad and a commemorative plaque in Boston Common describing the bravery of Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, the first black regiment to be recruited by the North.

Before Camelot
Before the White House and Hyannis, the tree-lined street of Brookline was the birthplace and childhood home of John F. Kennedy. The home is now open to the public and is filled with childhood toys and other memorabilia.

Good to Know: