Even though I’ve lived in Boston about half a year now, I sometimes still feel like a tourist, since I spend so much time in classes. When we first moved here in the summer, we had more free time and did a lot of exploring around, especially when my family came to visit. Here are a few suggestions I would offer to anyone planning a visit to Boston. I am mainly listing the “popular” stuff. I will put a (*) to mark things that are more off-the-beaten-track. This is not a comprehensive list, of course.

Downtown Area

  • Quincy Market/ Faneuil Hall
  • Aquarium/ Long Wharf
  • Italian restaurants in the North End
  • Freedom Trail
  • Bunker Hill
  • USS Constitution
  • Boston Public Gardens
  • Community Sailing*
  • Barking Crab restaurant- good seafood, less expensive than Quincy Market area.
  • Science Center

Back Bay/ Fenway

  • Trinity Church- taking a guided tour is recommended.
  • Duck Tours
  • Boston Public Library
  • Museum of Fine Arts
  • Fenway Park
  • Isabella Steward Gardener Museum*

Cambridge

  • Harvard Square
  • MIT Campus
  • Mt. Auburn Cemetery*- has a cool monument tower you can climb for an excellent view of the city. Also many famous people are buried here.
  • Minuteman Bike Trail*- an old railroad grade extends from Alewife all the way out to Lexington/ Concord

Other Places

  • Pleasure Bay*- it’s fun to watch the tide come in and out, and to see the windsurfers.
  • Arnold Arboretum*- Jamaica Plain neighborhood
  • South End neighborhood*- many interesting townhouses and shady streets
  • Larz Anderson Park*- South Brookline. Has a unique automobile museum and excellent sledding/ kite flying hills.