You can visit some of America’s oldest landmarks, dine on fresh seafood from the nearby Atlantic Ocean, and enjoy a major league sports game all in Boston, Massachusetts. Visitors flock to Beantown to enjoy historical sites like Paul Revere House, Quincy Market, and other Revolutionary War landmarks. Sports fan can enjoy Celtics basketball, Red Sox baseball, Bruins hockey, and Patriots football. The Atlantic Ocean offers fresh clams, oysters, fish, and other seafood and also offers recreational activities like fishing, boating, and waterskiing. For anyone who enjoys sightseeing, the Prudential Skywalk offers views of Boston attractions as well as the sights of Cambridge. Boston is full of activities for every lifestyle, so get out there and experience all the city has to offer.
The Prudential Skywalk is an attraction that appeals to tourists who want to get a bird’s-eye view of Boston and surrounding areas. This Skywalk is located at Prudential Center, a tourist attraction in its own right. Visitors can view nearby Cambridge and Boston landmarks like the Hancock Building and the Boston Public Library. Many tourists liken this attraction to New York’s Empire State Building or the Sears Tower in Chicago, but the Prudential Skywalk is distinctly different because it is contained entirely within the building and offers no outdoor observation opportunities.
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Boston’s State House is the perfect tourist stop for anyone with an interest in architecture, history, or government. Built in 1798, the State House was designed by the same man who designed the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The building’s architecture is unique and features a gilded dome along with two statues of former New England statesmen. The first floor is home to Doric Hall and other functional event spaces, while the second floor houses governmental offices like the Senate Chamber and the Governor’s Office.
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The Boston Museum of Fine Art is considered one of the best museums in the United States and features works from all over the world. There are 200 galleries in the museum, making it an attraction that may take the whole day to properly get through. Some of the highlights of the museum include its collections of European, Ancient, Asian, and American art. Paintings, sculpture, and other mediums are exhibited and special events often feature the works of new artists or works on loan from other institutions.
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For anyone looking to get away from the usual tourist attractions and get back to nature, the Alewife Brook Reservation offers visitors the chance to see many forms of wildlife in their natural habitat. Those interested in staying fit can participate in biking and hiking on nearby trails. Nature enthusiasts can view woodcocks, osprey, and blue heron birds in some of the park’s wetland areas. This is not your typical tourist attraction, so you may need to pair up with a body if you want a chance to socialize during your visit.
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Harvard University is home to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology. It’s one of the oldest museums in America, but is not as well-advertised as many of the bigger art museums. This collection focuses on anthropological findings throughout time and also features half a million pictures related to the exhibits in the museum. Visitors can participate in scheduled lectures and workshops that offer an opportunity for learning about the museum’s exhibits and information related to the items on display.
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Masala Art isn’t listed in any of the major guides to Boston, but it should be. This restaurant combines food with art for a dining experience that can’t be had at many places. In addition to the Indian food you’ll enjoy, there is also a wine bar and a spice bar when you can pick the perfect complements to your meal. The atmosphere is soothing with it’s blue lighting and you can enjoy your meal in subtly elegant décor.
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The Freedom Trail is one of Boston’s most popular attractions because it takes visitors back through history, particularly that of the Revolutionary War. The trail winds past some of the most historic locations in Boston including King’s Chapel and Burying Ground, Paul Revere House, Public School Marker, Old North Church, Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall, and the Benjamin Franklin Statue. Anyone visiting the trail will be able to learn more about all of these landmarks and find out why they are so important to American’s history.
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The New England Aquarium will appeal to the visual senses of children and adults alike. Popular sea creatures are on display in tanks including penguins, seals, jellyfish, fish, and sea dragons. The Aquarium also has a program where visitors can act as a trainer for the seals or penguins. This allows both adults and children to interact with these animals up close. Anyone interested in watching whales can inquire about the Aquarium’s whale watching tours, which can be taken at a cost separate from that of Aquarium admission.
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John Harvard’s Brew House, Cambridge, is an American restaurant in the heart of Harvard Square. Whether you want to have a few drinks or order a monster burger, John Harvard’s has a full menu for both lunch and dinner.
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LaGroceria Restaurant, Cambridge, is an Italian restaurant offering chicken, fish, and beef prepared with Italian seasonings, cheeses, and sauces. Diners can also choose freshly-prepared salads and appetizers. Smaller portions are available on the children’s menu.
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Warren Tavern, Charlestown, is a 225 year-old bar and restaurant with a traditional American menu for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Patrons can enjoy a drink with dinner or participate in one of the Tavern’s special events.
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No Name Restaurant, Boston is a more affordable alternative to other seafood eateries. The fish is fresh and accompanied by seafood appetizers and side dishes. Finish off your meal with a sweet piece of pie or dish of pudding.
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Henrietta’s Table, Cambridge, is an eatery serving up lunch, dinner, brunch, and dessert options for hungry patrons. Burgers are made more sophisticated with a variety of cheeses and toppings, while fresh seafood is prepared using traditional American methods.
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Legal Sea Foods, Boston, is a chain restaurant that features fresh seafood prepared in salads, appetizers, and entrees along with other foods to complement your meal. It’s a noisy place, but a great destination for fresh seafood.
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Ristorante Marsala, Boston, is an establishment that specializes in cooking Sicilian-style seafood, in addition to steak, poultry, and other dishes. The atmosphere is casual but the food is considered fine dining.
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Union Oyster House, Boston, is landmark offering fresh seafood prepared in a variety of ways. This restaurant also offers steak and other entrees and is a great place for a group of friends to unwind after a day of sight-seeing.
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Ciao Bella, Boston, is known for its atmosphere as much as its food. The menu includes brunch, lunch, serving diners fresh meats and seafood accompanied by carefully prepared appetizers and side dishes
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Boston’s transportation system can get you where you need to go in many Boston neighborhoods. The MBTA offers a subway line, commuter trains, and buses throughout the city. Your best bet is to grab a schedule for the line you need to ride so you can have it on hand during your Boston visit. The subway system is color-coded and referred to by lines such as the orange line and the green line. Safety is overseen by the subway conductors as well as the Boston police, but you can do your part to keep everyone safe by reporting any suspicious behavior or criminal activities.
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Boston is a very large city with plenty of opportunities for recreation. This means that, like any city, there are also opportunities for criminals to take advantage of the large crowds and the number of people who are not familiar with their surroundings. Avoid carrying large sums of money or valuables on your person. Always keep purses and wallets out of reach of others. You may want to consider wearing a fanny pack close to your body so that your money is near you at all times. Avoid traveling alone in areas that you’re not familiar with to lessen your chances of being a victim of a crime.
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While Boston is home to some of the most popular tourist attractions, fresh seafood, and cultural events, there are also some neighborhoods to avoid if you want to stay safe. East Boston is one of the neighborhoods known for a higher crime rate and you should also try to avoid visiting Dorchester and Mission Hill. If you can’t avoid visiting these areas, travel with a trusted friend or in a group of people you can count on so you can stay safe during your visit.
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The Black Horse Tavern caters to a slightly older crowd, so it’s not for moshing and wild dancing. It does have live music and a good drink selection, so the older crowd shouldn’t put off younger patrons looking for a wide variety of beer and liquors.
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M.J. O’Connor’s is a more upscale bar that often has a crowd of professionals gathering for a drink after work. This is a true Irish pub that offers Irish ale and spirits along with a full selection of other drinks. The atmosphere and architecture are both worth a stop at this pub.
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The Oak Bar is an elegant bar with a wide selection of martinis, beer, and mixed drinks. This bar is home to mostly young to middle-aged patrons and also offers live jazz and comfortable seating for a well-rounded drinking and entertainment experience.
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Nightlife in Cambridge has a mix of young professionals and students that make it a great hangout for the younger crowd. The décor is unique and visitors can enjoy a wide range of live music. There is a good drink selection and some light food for hungry partiers. There is also live music and the opportunity to let your hair down and dance.
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Hong Kong is nestled in Harvard Square, so it attracts a wide variety of local college students and visitors from out of town. Hong Kong actually started as a restaurant but now has a lounge on the second floor and a dance club on the third floor. Grab a bite to eat, meet with friends, and hit the dance floor all in one night by visiting this combination restaurant and nightclub.
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Avalon is a hip club in the heart of Boston that has been renovated several times to fit into each new area. Avalon offers live music and some of the area’s best DJs. The older crowd might not like having to crowd into this 2,000-person nightclub, so Avalon is best left to the young and hip.
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