Boston Holiday Review
Submitted by: Doromie - Wigan
Date: February 2002
In September 2001, I flew with my partner to Boston, Massachusetts to stay with friends.
Flying out from London Heathrow with American Airlines, the 7-hour flight was fantastic. The airline have a great in-flight entertainment centre to keep you busy and feed you delicious food on board, and lots of it.
Situated right on the Atlantic Ocean, Boston has the best of both worlds. Although on the sea, within a 10 minute walk you can reach downtown Boston, where Macy's and most of the other infamous American stores are situated.
WHAT TO DO
The main attractions of Boston are Quincey Market (see Food), the John Hancock Tower (tallest building in Boston) and, not forgetting, the 'Cheers' bar. You can take a trip up the John Hancock Tower for a few dollars and get spectacular views over the city, Boston Common and the Boston Red Sox stadium. There are several boat trips you can take. We went on a 3-hour whale-watching trip by catamaran. They guarantee sightings (or they let you go again for free another day) and true enough, we were lucky enough to get a mother and calf play around at the side of our boat. Fantastic stuff! After that, you can go back into town and to the 'Cheers' bar. Not the original pub, but an exact replica serving equally delicious food and beer. Polish off the Ultimate burger and get a certificate and your name in the Cheers bar Hall of Fame.
For a lazy day, Boston Common is the best place to go. It is itself very scenic, with weird and wonderful plants and flowers. You can walk around the park, go for a paddle in the shallow pool, sit at a cafe and also climb aboard a swan boat (like those at Alton Towers) for a trip around the lake. Alternatively, a stroll around the seaside aquarium is a good idea.
For the more energetic of you, you can follow the History trail. Starting in the city centre, although I can't remember exactly where, there is a red line that runs on the pavement around town past all the sites of historical interest. It can take a while and goes off on all sorts of tangents but is well worth it. One of the sites not covered is that of the Boston Tea Party. Although they were renovating when I was there, it is worth a visit, especially for the kids, who can, as far as I can remember, have a tea party.
One advantage to staying with friends is that you find other small places you never would have though of going to. 2 such places are Rockport and Manchester Beach. A short easy train ride from Boston main station, they are well worth a day out.
FOOD
The food court at Quincy Market is any 'eaters' paradise. It has rows of small kiosks serving every local and international cuisine imaginable, catering for everyone's tastes. The local dish is a 'must try'. Lobster! Freshly fished from just down the road, it is served in a variety of weird and wonderful ways. I personally had it as a pate on toast with chips...but then I am from Wigan!
TRANSPORT
The best way to get around the main town is definitely on foot. There are so many hidden sights that it is worth getting achy feet for. In any case after eating burgers and lobster, you may need to shift a few extra pounds! Getting from town to town is best by train. Although the carriages, and ticketing methods, are a bit outdated, the trains are punctual and quite reasonably priced. Beware though that the last trains usually go before midnight. Buses, are very few and far between, unless you want to get to a school.
WEATHER
I was always told that September, or at least autumn is the best time to go to the States. The weather is still hot but, as the trees are starting to lose their leaves, the scenery is beautiful and, well 'autumnal'. Indeed, throughout my stay it was scorching. Apart that is from a 15-minute downpour and storm, which pleased me no-end, on the day before we left.
Our last meal before leaving Boston !
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