Things to Do in Boston

The Boston Public Garden is a 24 acre (10 hectare) botanical oasis of Victorian flowerbeds, verdant grass, and weeping willow trees shading a tranquil lagoon. At any time of the year, it is an island of loveliness, awash in seasonal blooms, gold-toned leaves, or untrammeled snow.

A statue of George Washington, looking stately atop his horse, greets visitors at the main entrance on Arlington Street. Other pieces of public art in the park, however, are more whimsical. The most endearing is Make Way for Ducklings, always a favorite with tiny tots who can climb and sit on the bronze ducks. But it’s the peaceful lagoon that draws visitors and locals a like to the Public Garden. For it is hear, you should take on the slow-going swan boats, a serene relic of bygone days.

Founded in 1848, the Boston Public Library contains over 23 million items, making it the second largest public library in the U.S., after the Library of Congress. Of those millions, about 1.7 million are rare books and works, including medieval manuscripts and incunabula (a book or pamphlet printed prior to 1501 in Europe). Among the rare books are also the personal library of John Adams, early editions of works by William Shakespeare, drawings from Thomas Rowlandson and musical archives from the Handel and Haydn Society.

The McKim Building, with its vast research collection, and the Johnson Building, where you can find the circulating collection, are two of the most important parts of the library. The McKim Building is even a National Historic Landmark. And while the library system technically includes a whopping 24 branches, the original Copley Square location offers plenty to see, including Bates Hall, the Chavannes Gallery, the Abbey Room and the Sargent Gallery.

The Prudential Center Skywalk Observatory is located on the building's 50th floor. The tower is also known as "the Pru" to locals and is the second-tallest building in Boston behind John Hancock Tower. The Skywalk Observatory is the tallest open-to-the-public observation deck, as John Hancock Tower’s has been closed since Sept. 11, 2001.

Enjoy 360-degree views from the Skywalk Observatory, and if it’s your first time in Boston, be sure to grab the Acoustiguide audio tour headphones, as the guide details the city’s main points of interest. In addition to English, the audio tour is available in French Canadian and Japanese. The first floor houses the Shops at Prudential Center, where anchor stores include Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue. There are over 75 specialty retailers and even a functioning Roman Catholic Church as well. St. Francis Chapel is staffed by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and is located inside the shopping center.

Copley Place is the premier high-end shopping destination of Boston. With 75 shops spread out over 9.5 acres, there is something for every shopper at the massive mall. The two levels of shopping are joined by a dining area, four office buildings, and two hotels. Apparel shops include brands such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Christian Dior, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co, and Barney’s New York, alongside lifestyle stores like William & Sonoma and Sur La Table.

Named for American artist John Singleton Copley, it was designed by the Architects’ Collective. The building’s center atrium and skylight lets in a ton of natural light and creates an airy feeling inside. The Westin and Boston Marriott Copley Place hotels offer maximum proximity to the center’s many shops. Special events are held frequently in the space as well. Copley Place is a luxurious, central place to shop, eat, work, and play in historic Boston.

True, Beacon Hill may be home to the Massachusetts State House, the crown jewel of the neighbourhood and focal point of politics in the Commonwealth, but the real appeal of this prestigious neighbourhood lies in its beauty. Gas lanterns illuminate the cobblestone streets, while distinguished brick town houses come decked with purple windowpanes and blooming flowerboxes.

Beacon Hill’s residential streets are reminiscent of London, and streets such as stately Louisburg Square indeed capture the grandeur that was intended. Charles Street, Beacon Hill’s charming commercial thoroughfare, is Boston’s most enchanting spot for browsing boutiques, haggling over antiques, or sipping a steaming cappuccino at one of the European-styled cafes. Stay for a fine dinner, made all the more romantic when it is enjoyed in such a delightful setting.

Erected in 1729, Old South Meeting House is a prime stop on Boston's Freedom Trail and among the country's most vital national historic landmarks. It is best known as the rallying point for the infamous Boston Tea Party; at the time, it was the city's largest building and it was here that more than 5,000 revolutionaries gathered to organize the historic event.

Today, the house is open as an interactive museum that offers visitors an insight into America's colonial past. It features a variety of exhibits, events and activities to interest both children and adults. The Voices of Protest exhibit includes several original Boston Tea Party artifacts, a model of colonial Boston, an original writing desk belonging to John Hancock and an authentic first-edition book by slave and poet Phillips Wheatley.

The Bunker Hill Memorial is a granite monument built in memory of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the first real battle of the American Revolutionary War.

The Battle of Bunker Hill took place in June 1775 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, when American Revolutionary forces met the British Army during one of the earliest battles of the war. The British ultimately won that battle – although, of course, they would go on to lose the war. The battle itself took place on nearby Breed's Hill, but Bunker Hill was the main objective of both armies – so that's where the Bunker Hill Monument was built. The first monument was built in 1794, made of wood, and stood 18 feet tall. From 1827-1842, the current granite memorial was built. The obelisk resembles the Washington Monument in Washington D.C., towering over the surrounding landscape.

The main hub of the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, bustling Quincy Market has attracted locals and visitors alike for nearly 200 years. This historic food hall, set inside a stately three-level Greek revival-style building, is packed with more than 50 shops, 14 restaurants, and 40 food court stops. There’s even a bar that’s an exact replica of the bar from the popular TV show Cheers.

Inside Quincy Market, the central corridor is lined with full-service restaurants, pushcarts, and New England souvenirs. Choose from chowder, bagels, Indian, Greek, baked good, and ice cream. Then, take a seat at one of the tables in the central rotunda. On warm evenings, tables spill outdoors from restaurants and bars fill up with people, creating a festive mood. The rest of the marketplace is made up of the North Market building, the South Market building, and Faneuil Hall. Along with restaurants, you’ll find an intoxicating mix of chain stores and unique shops.

Located in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Copley Square is among the most beautiful public parks in the city. For more than 100 years, it has been a hub of downtown activity and historical significance for the sheer number of institutions built here since the 1800s. Many still stand today, including the stunning Boston Public Library, Trinity Church, Old South Church, the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel and New England's tallest skyscraper, John Hancock Tower.

The square is best known as the site of the finish line for the annual Boston Marathon, and there is a 1996 memorial here celebrating the race's 100th anniversary. It is also well known as a downtown commercial hub with a variety of upscale restaurants and shopping options. The onsite Copley Place mall includes high-end stores such as Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Porsche Design and Tiffany & Co.

Boston Children's Museum is the city’s premier destination for the education of children and the second oldest museum of its kind in the country. It boasts a wide variety of activities and hands-on exhibits for children through entertainment and fun. Many are just as entertaining for parents as they are for children.

The museum hosts nearly 20 permanent exhibits. Among them, the incredibly popular Arthur & Friends is home to characters from Marc Brown’s TV show and book series. In the Art Studio, parents work with their children to create freeform art. The Construction Zone inspires children to work with trucks and power tools to explore the world of construction. While the Japanese House is an actual house shipped from Kyoto to help foster an understanding of foreign cultures a world away. History buffs will also appreciate the museum’s rare and substantial collection of Natural History, Dolls and Dollhouses, Americana, Native American and Japanese artifacts.

With more than 600 interactive exhibits, the Boston Museum of Science is an educational playground so engaging and effortless that you can’t help but learn something. The amazing array of exhibits explores computers, technology, complex systems, algae, maps, models, dinosaurs, birds and much more.

Favorites include the world's largest lightning bolt generator, a full-scale space capsule, a world population meter, and a virtual fish tank. At Investigate!, live science demonstrations involve animals and experiments taking place before your eyes. The Science in the Park exhibit uses familiar objects such as skateboards and playground equipment to teach kids the concepts of physics. You can even find out how much you weigh on the moon! The Museum of Science also houses the Hayden Planetarium and Mugar Omni Theater.