Ultimate Sightseeing Guide to Boston | TRAVELTOBER

Here's another personal highlight of mine in this little Autumn "Traveltober" series for you. Last year when we went to Boston, I totally fall in love with this beautiful city. So, I decided to write the "Ultimate Sightseeing Guide to Boston" with my favourite things to do in Boston. This post also includes some "you can skip that"-points.

Let's start with my favourites!

Sky Walk Observatory

Every time I visit a new City I love to climb on a high building and check out the view from above. Most of the time you get a stunning view and get to know the place from an different angle. And the side effect: you get a better orientation - what is where? So of course Boston offers also a very nice lookout: The Sky Observatory.
It's not very crowded, you have the most amazing view and the see the whole City - the airport, Fenway Park, Downtown, the Harbour and a lot more. 
My tip: go at sunset or when the sun rises - the light will be gorgeous!  

Freedom Trail

You're just a day or two in town and you want to see as much as possible? Than the Freedom Trail is your best friend. You can do this walk in a day or just in 2 hours if you're in a rush and see most of the sightseeing attraction in Boston. Start at Boston Common (Site note: it's America's oldest public park) and follow the 2.5 miles long red line through Boston to the Bunker Hill Monument. You will pass the Quincy Market, some really old cool building, the State House, the Paul Revere House and a lot more. You learn things about Boston itself, its history and about the history of the U.S. And it's a really fun thing to do. 

Down below I put together a mal via Googlemap for you. The purple line shows you the path of the Boston Freedom Trail and each important stop on the Trail I marked with a pink-organge pin. 

       

Quincy Market

So I mentioned the Quincy Market before in the section of the Freedom Trail. But I think it's worth writing about in an extra section. Go inside and checkout the variety of food stalls. You will find the typical Lobster from Boston or exotic Asia food. The building itself is gorgeous, go upstairs and checkout the sitting-and-eating-area. 

Beacon Hill

To get to know Boston without experience the elegant neighbourhood "Beacon Hill" is impossible! The old red brick houses are a must-see. Wander around or follow the Black Heritage way to lern something about the African American history. Beacon Hill still is in another century, every things slows down over here. You will love it! 
My tip: the most instagramable street is the "Acorn Street", it's the famous old street out of bricks (the one in the teaser above :)). 

Boston Harbor

Follow the Harborwalk and discover a lot of sight which are located here at the Boston Harbor. You will pass the Boston Tea Party Ship (more about that - scroll down!), the New England Aquarium and little sweet fisher boats. You can also get on a boat for some whale watching or a harbour cruise. There are also a lot of places where you can get a yummy snack on your way. Just enjoy the sea and the atmosphere. 

Boston Public Garden

This is my last sightseeing tip for you - visit Boston Public Garden, a green oasis in the middle of the city. You stroll around or have a litte picknick. Enjoy the nature and watch the squirrels chase a nut.  

Dont's

40 Berkley Hostel

Let's begin with where we stayed. I don't know if you have noticed, but Hotels in Boston are so freaking expensive. We decided to save the many and booked the "40 Berkley Hostel". We payed for two nights about 250$. The hostel was okay, but for this money there are much nicer Hostels and Hotels out there. It's nothing special and not the cleanest. The rooms are simple and have old furniture in it. Good location with a 7/11 right across the street. 

Bunker Hill Monument during the Freedom Trail

If you don't have a lot of time, but want to do the Freedom Trail you can skip the Bunker Hill Monument at the end of the trail (if you start at Boston Common). It's a nice neighbourhood with nice houses and the Monument is also nice to look at. But it's nothing too special. So, don't be afraid to skip this sightseeing stop. 

Boston Tea Party Ship

When you think about Boston one of the first things which come to mind is the famous Boston Tea Party. At Boston Harbour you will find a replica of the original ship of the Tea Party. But in my opinion $28 for adult ticket is definitely too much and it's not worth it. You can look at it from the outside and for me this was totally fine. 

Looking for a nice place to have breakfast - read here. Or want to see a little bit about the city - watch my travel vlog here.

➸ "The Birthplace of America" : Lexington & Concord, MA USA

Happy 4th of July everybody! For all the people who don't know what I am talking about: today is better known as the Independence Day in the US. 

For this especial occasion I have cool post for you: last year I've been to dragged by my boyfriend (he's a history and English major) to a little town called Lexington. But why is this town so special to the US history and why does it make to a special post on the 4th of July? Let me tell you ... 

The towns Lexington and Concord are famous for nothing less than being the "Birthplace of America". A pretty big burden right? But why is that? 

In Lexington took place the first fight in the American Revolutionary War between the British and the Patriots - "the Minutemen"- on the 19th April 1775. You can still visit the battle field today - the "Battle Green". Of course nowadays it's a beautiful well-groomed field with a statue of Captain Parker in the middle of the town. For everybody who's wondering: Captain Parker was the leader of the Minutemen in this battle. The first shot in this battle is known as the "shot heard 'round the world" (Ralph Waldo Emerson in his "Concord Hymn"). After this first battle, the British went on to the town of Concord. The road they took is called today "the Battle Road". 

When you walk through Lexington you will discover a lot of old (some more than 200 years!) and beautiful houses from the colonial era. For example the visit center is located in one of these houses. Also the oldest tavern in Lexington: the Buckman Tavern, which is open for tours from spring to fall. The interior today is pretty much the same as back in the days when the tavern was the headquarters of the Patriots. Another beautiful house is the Lexington Depot (the picture right after this section), which was built in 1847 and was once the social center of Lexington.

Are interested in a tour around the Battle Green? Than it's your lucky day! There are FREE tours on the weekends from April and May, and also daily from Memorial Day until the 30th October. For more information visit the website of the visitor center in Lexington. 

➸ Hello from Boston

Dear New York,
I have to tell you something: I've kind of cheated on you. Today I fell in love, I fell in love with Boston. But you know, some people say it's possible to have two loves at the same time - and I really think we could make this work. You're the busy one, going with the flow and are always up to date. Boston is more chilled and lives a little bit in the past centuries. You both offer very different things. I really can't stand the charm of this city. It attracts you with the amazing town houses and stunning facades, with the very kind and friendly people, who love their hometown, with a lot of good local food and with the feeling to be at home, even when you're at the other side of the ocean.  I really hope you understand that I couldn't resist.

xxx Steffi