Sightseeing in Boston, MA

USA – October 2017

After the girls from Toronto leave Boston and Kate returns to University, I have a couple of days in Boston all to myself. Though we’ve already visited the most famous sightseeing spots, I know there is much more to see.

While researching things to do, I stumble across The Freedom Trail. I am a bit of a history nerd and love a good walking tour. So I decide to follow the well marked out trail from Boston Common to the waterfront, across the North Washington Street Bridge and to the USS Constitution. The self guided tour takes me to some beautiful historical sights and I probably should pay more attention to the signs explaining the importance of places and people who lived there. But I am listening to Trevor Noah’s captivating audiobook and so I don’t really know much more about the American revolution afterwards.

The next day I return to Little Italy, a part I’ve only seen from a far on the self guided tour. I treat myself to a delicious plate of Spaghetti Napoli and a dessert of Cannoli at Mike’s Pastry. In the afternoon Kate, one of her university friends and I enjoy the sunny weather at the Charles River Esplanade. On the way back to Kate’s apartment in Cambridge we see another of the famous Duck Boats. The amphibious vehicles are part boat and part car. They take visitors on a tour through downtown and the harbour area on land and water. I take a mental note to go on one of the tours the next day and we continue on to dinner.

On the hunt for the duck boats, I walk across the Charles River once again. I read online that the Duck Tours depart somewhere around the Prudential Center. But when I arrive there, there is no sight of the colourful vehicles. So I decide to continue my walk and catch a glimpse of a green alley. I turn into the SW Corridor Path and stroll through the long narrow park. Following my gut and pretty buildings, I get a little lost in the South End. After a good hour I find myself on Massachusetts Avenue and realize that this is the street the Mapparium is located on.

I’ve seen pictures of the colorful glass globe they have there online. It’s the key attraction at the Mary Baker Eddy Library and is three floors high. A glass bridge allows visitors to walk to the centre of the world and takes them on a journey through time with videos and music. After this inspiring visit, I head to Back Bay to do some shopping. From there I follow Commonwealth Avenue all the way to Boston Public Garden to watch the people going about their day. 

On my last day in Boston I want to head back to downtown and visit the Theatre District. But first I pack up my suitcase (which is much heavier than when I arrived) to be able to make the most out of the day before my red-eye flight in the evening. That done, I take the subway to Charles/MGH and from there walk through Beacon Hill and Boston Common. Arriving at Tremont Street I marvel at the colourful signs outside the theatres and cinemas. Resenting not being able to see a piece there, I continue my stroll and end up in Chinatown.

After a lunch of fried rice and vegetables, I leave Chinatown on John F Fitzgerald Surface Road. At Dewey Square I enter the Rose Kennedy Greenway and with a couple of breaks here and there make it to Long Wharf around an hour later. I treat myself to dessert at a food stall and then enjoy the last moments of sea air before returning to Cambridge to pick up my suitcase and head to the airport.