Home » Book Reviews

Secret Boston

In my column about Chicago, I recommended a book entitled "Secret Chicago." There is now an equally interesting and useful travel guide called "Secret Boston," published by the same folks and written by travel writer Laura Purdom, with beautiful black and white photos by Linda Rutenberg.

Presenting information grouped by categories, "Secret Boston" is a treasure box of fascinating facts, places to visit and things to do in and around Boston. Under the letter B, for example, you will find Bad Art, Bakeries, Barbecue, Beaches, Big Dig, Birds, Bocce, Bookstores, Boston Harbor, Brahmins, Breakfast, and Brewery Tour. And that's just B!

I thought I knew Boston, but was unprepared to find out how much I do not know. For example, those candy treasures of my childhood, NECCO wafers, are made in Cambridge. The NECCO plant also makes other popular candy, such as sweethearts and you can get some of those little hearts printed with your own saying on them.

If you've visited Boston, you've probably walked along the Freedom Trail. But how about the Immigrant Heritage Trail? Have you ever seen the "Make Way for Ducklings" statute? Do you know where to play bocce ball in Boston? How about the Warren Anatomical Museum or how to get out to Concord to visit Walden Pond, where you can swim, canoe and walk the nature trails? Are you up for a tour of the Big Dig or the Museum of Useful Things? The author's in depth and detailed research will give even a native Bostonian a new slant on the city.

"Secret Boston" contains useful information about public transportation into Boston and throughout Boston and the surrounding communities. No maps are included.

"Secret Boston" is a must for anyone contemplating a visit to Boston. And if you are not planning to visit there, you will be after reading this book.

Back to the main books page