| A Boston vacation is a mesmerizing trip through the | | | | The centerpiece of the aquarium is the giant tank. The |
| nation's past and to a celebration of its future and | | | | floors of the aquarium run around the tank and up four |
| center of learning. Here in one city you can experience | | | | levels. 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 campuses | | | | the 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 of | | | | the big shark fish eat the little tasty fish?" or "How old |
| historic and modern buildings. And what's even better is | | | | are those huge sea turtles swimming around down |
| you can see it all - or most - by walking. That's right | | | | there?" |
| the ole soft shoe shuffle. You'll save time and see | | | | Your 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 an | | | | sea lions during an amazing show. A few years ago |
| orientation tour first. | | | | the Aquarium opened an IMAX theater that shows a |
| THE FAMOUS DUCK TOUR | | | | mixture of sea-related and general science films. |
| One of the best and most unique tours is the Duck | | | | A word of warning - this is a favorite Boston |
| Tour ride. This is a popular 80-minute tour for first-time | | | | vacations attraction for families so it can get crowded. |
| Boston vacation visitors. But be warned, during the | | | | But you'll always get in, even when the ticket line |
| summer tours are usually sold out by lunchtime - so | | | | seems to stretch for miles. |
| make them reservations in advance. You can pick-up | | | | BEACON HILL |
| and buy tickets for the tour at two places: The | | | | Beacon Hill is a popular walk for people on a Boston |
| Museum of Science, and The Prudential Center in | | | | vacation. 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 II | | | | block of perfectly preserved residences. |
| amphibious vehicle. You get to not only experience | | | | This quiet and bewitching area is full of alleys and |
| Boston from the streets of the city, but also from the | | | | narrow 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 will | | | | walk. You'll find walled gardens and an authentic 19th |
| become a boat, and you'll see the beautiful Boston | | | | century neighborhood feel. Even the original gas lights |
| skyline from the river that separates Boston from | | | | remain 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 to | | | | Beacon 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 TRAIL | | | | camera and breathe in the scenery... its fine. |
| The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile easy-to-follow red | | | | THE CENTER OF LEARNING |
| brick line that links 16 historical sites together around the | | | | Boston has a strong traditional in universities. With MIT |
| streets of Boston... and it's free. It's starts from Boston | | | | and Harvard perhaps the best known worldwide, but |
| Common and winds its way through Boston landmarks | | | | with other great colleges such as Tufts, BU, Boston |
| such as the State House, Boston Massacre Site, Paul | | | | College, and of course Northeastern. |
| Revere's House, USS Constitution, before ending up at | | | | MIT 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 for | | | | hang-out in the Harvard campus and stroll the grounds, |
| distractions - nice ones though - or better still take the | | | | and 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 North | | | | here. |
| End, where you'll be sure to return during your Boston | | | | And come back and visit at night when on a summer's |
| vacation to sample the superb Italian restaurants or | | | | evening 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 AQUARIUM | | | | entertainment on your Boston vacation. |
| As San Diego has its world famous zoo, then Boston | | | | AND 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 fishing | | | | J.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 ocean | | | | both located near the aquarium. |
| preservation movement. | | | | |