Boston Snapshot: Highlights of the Hub

Attractions

No matter the season, you should follow The Freedom Trail, which leads to 16 essential historic sites, including the Old North Church, the Paul Revere House and Faneuil Hall.

Those visiting in spring or summer should take a ride on the iconic swan boats on the lagoon in the Public Garden, a charming, bucket-list-worthy attraction. And if it’s winter, strap on some ice skates and take a spin on the frozen Frog Pond rink in Boston Common, just across the street from the garden.

Stroll through the Rose Kennedy Greenway, an urban park filled with gardens, artwork, fountains and even a Boston-themed carousel (cod, lobster, etc.), which kids, and maybe even adults, will clamor to ride.

I always tell people to make sure to visit the main Boston Public Library in Copley Square. Besides books, it’s home to world-class artworks and murals, as well as its stunning 218-foot-long reading room with a 50-foot-high barrel-arch ceiling. On the second floor, look for John Singer Sargent’s mural series, the Triumph of Religion, and don’t miss the beautiful Renaissance-style courtyard, an exact replica of the one in Rome’s Palazzo della Cancelleria.

Museums

Plan on at least half a day to explore the enormous Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which houses nearly half a million objects, ranging from ancient Egyptian artifacts to modern-day artworks. There is a free guided tour, which helps keep visitors from being overwhelmed by the massive attraction.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a gem that shouldn’t be missed. Built by the eccentric and wealthy Stewart in the early 1900s, the stunning Venetian palazzo is home to her incredible collection of art, including Titian’s Rape of Europa, Giotto’s Presentation of Christ Child in the Temple and John Singer Sargent’s El Jaleo. The museum is exactly as she left it, which she stipulated in her will. Other museums not to miss include the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Boston Children’s Museum and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.

Sports

Boston is a huge sports town, and of course, Fenway Park is world-renowned as America’s oldest Major League Baseball stadium. If you can’t catch a game, you can always book a comprehensive behind-the-scenes tour, which takes you all over the ballpark.

For more sports history, head to the TD Garden North arena, where you’ll find the Sports Museum, where you can take a one-hour guided tour (the only option). Highlights include a tribute to the “Impossible Dream” 1967 Red Sox and Boston’s most recent sports champions, the 2024 Celtics. At the end of the tour, you’ll end up in the Boston Bruins Heritage Hall, which offers an immersive look into the 100-year history of one of the NHL’s flagship franchises.

Boston has a plethora of excellent food halls, which allow visitors to try lots of different foods, many from some of Boston’s top chefs, but with a lower price tag. The original is Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market, but High Street Place, Time Out Market, Hub Hall and Boston Public Market all have tempting food outlets.

The North End is Boston’s Italian neighborhood, with more restaurants than you can imagine on its narrow streets. You can simply twirl in a circle and pick one and not be disappointed. Mike’s Pastry and Modern Pastry, famous rival bakeries, make equally delicious cannoli, so it’s best to try one from each and see which you prefer.

Another thing I love to do in a new city is a food tour, an excellent, and tasty, way to get to know a city guided by a local. Boston has several companies that offer them.