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