A Boston Vacation: Five Ways To Experience Beantown

A Boston vacation is a mesmerizing trip through theThe centerpiece of the aquarium is the giant tank. The
nation's past and to a celebration of its future andfloors of the aquarium run around the tank and up four
center of learning. Here in one city you can experiencelevels. At the top you get to peer down into a coral
the start of the revolutionary war, see a coral reef,reef and listen as the staff explains about the tank and
take a bus on a river, and experience the campusesthe fish that live in it.
of MIT and Harvard - and all before dinner.You'll get the answer to questions such as: "Why don't
You'll find Boston vacations a refreshing mixture ofthe big shark fish eat the little tasty fish?" or "How old
historic and modern buildings. And what's even better isare those huge sea turtles swimming around down
you can see it all - or most - by walking. That's rightthere?"
the ole soft shoe shuffle. You'll save time and seeYour ticket will include a visit to the Discovery next to
more by expending some shoe leather.the main building, where you can see and learn about
But before you do that I highly recommend ansea lions during an amazing show. A few years ago
orientation tour first.the Aquarium opened an IMAX theater that shows a
THE FAMOUS DUCK TOURmixture of sea-related and general science films.
One of the best and most unique tours is the DuckA word of warning - this is a favorite Boston
Tour ride. This is a popular 80-minute tour for first-timevacations attraction for families so it can get crowded.
Boston vacation visitors. But be warned, during theBut you'll always get in, even when the ticket line
summer tours are usually sold out by lunchtime - soseems to stretch for miles.
make them reservations in advance. You can pick-upBEACON HILL
and buy tickets for the tour at two places: TheBeacon Hill is a popular walk for people on a Boston
Museum of Science, and The Prudential Center invacation. Here just off Boston Common you can stroll
Boston's Back Bay.around Louisburg Square and admire the picturesque
The tour is done in a renovated World War IIblock of perfectly preserved residences.
amphibious vehicle. You get to not only experienceThis quiet and bewitching area is full of alleys and
Boston from the streets of the city, but also from thenarrow red brick cobbled streets, where time has
Charles River... and without getting wet!stood still for the last century. It's a sheer delight to
That's right, during the tour, the bus you're on willwalk. You'll find walled gardens and an authentic 19th
become a boat, and you'll see the beautiful Bostoncentury neighborhood feel. Even the original gas lights
skyline from the river that separates Boston fromremain on streets lined with ancient elms.
Cambridge.While many tour buses and trolleys drive through
It's a great tour and you'd have to be "quackers" not toBeacon Hill, the only real way of experiencing it, is by
do it! Sorry couldn't resist it.foot. So put on some comfy shoes, take out your
THE FREEDOM TRAILcamera and breathe in the scenery... its fine.
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile easy-to-follow redTHE CENTER OF LEARNING
brick line that links 16 historical sites together around theBoston has a strong traditional in universities. With MIT
streets of Boston... and it's free. It's starts from Bostonand Harvard perhaps the best known worldwide, but
Common and winds its way through Boston landmarkswith other great colleges such as Tufts, BU, Boston
such as the State House, Boston Massacre Site, PaulCollege, and of course Northeastern.
Revere's House, USS Constitution, before ending up atMIT and Harvard are just a short train ride across the
the Bunker Hill monument in Charlestown.river. Take the Red Line to Harvard Square and
If you do the whole walk, plan on at least 2-3 hours forhang-out in the Harvard campus and stroll the grounds,
distractions - nice ones though - or better still take theand if everything seems familiar to you, it probably is.
whole day.Many movies - including Love Story - where filmed
The trail also takes you through Boston's famed Northhere.
End, where you'll be sure to return during your BostonAnd come back and visit at night when on a summer's
vacation to sample the superb Italian restaurants orevening street performers are everywhere and you
stroll around this little corner of Italy.don't have to pay a nickel for some of the best
THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUMentertainment on your Boston vacation.
As San Diego has its world famous zoo, then BostonAND THERE'S MORE...
has the New England Aquarium.Other places to visit on your Boston vacation are THE
New England and its coastline have a history of fishingJ.F.K Library and Museum at Columbia Point in South
and whaling. But today instead of harpooning whales,Boston - and the Boston Harbor Islands, tours to the
New Englanders spend most of their time saving them.islands leave from Long Wharf and Rowes Wharf,
And the aquarium is a vital link in the area's oceanboth located near the aquarium.
preservation movement.