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Boston, Massachusetts

Boston has always been one of my favorite cities, offering the variety of restaurants, cultural attractions and neighborhoods that I enjoy visiting when traveling. Boston is the origination point for one branch of the Lake Shore Limited, which terminates in Chicago, and for the Acela Express and Regional lines, which terminate in Washington, D.C. And now, it is also the origination point for Amtrak's newest line, the "Downeaster", which travels to Portland, Maine.

Boston has excellent public transportation, via the MBTA, or "T" as is it is commonly known, and this system will take you virtually anywhere in Boston, Cambridge and some surrounding communities.

Much of what is happening in Boston starts at Boston Common, the oldest public park in the United States. You may already be familiar with the 2½ mile long Freedom Trail, which begins at the Common, and rambles throughout the Government Center neighborhood and the North End. The self guided tour brings you to such famous sites as the Old North Church and Paul Revere's home. Pick up a map at the visitor center on the Common or call (617) 242-5642 for further information.

Also engaging is the Black Heritage Trail, which likewise begins at the Common and moves through the Beacon Hill neighborhood. You can get a map at the Museum of Afro-American History, which is about three blocks north of the Common.

Another tour, a very unusual one, is the Innovation Tour. This is a two-hour bus tour that winds itself through Boston and Cambridge, and highlights the progress made by Bostonians in the areas of medicine, technology and finance. Stops include Harvard University, Genetown USA, and the Pioneer Telephone Museum, to name just a few.

Boston's Theater District, south of the Common, is very lively these days. Theater companies offer a whole range of live performances, from the avant garde to the traditional, to the national touring companies of Broadway musicals and plays. The Colonial Theater (106 Boylston Street), Shubert Theater (265 Tremont Street) and the Emerson Majestic Theater are three fine theaters, offering first class entertainment. For theater, and other event information, pick up the Boston Phoenix newspaper.

Boston is home to many museums, not the least of which are the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum of Art and the Fine Arts Museum. However, if I had to choose one museum to visit on a brief trip, I would pick the Boston Museum of Science. This incredible institution has constantly changing exhibits that are really lots of fun, and informative too. Every time I go there, new exhibits have been created; plus, the place is so large that even in two or three trips you could not possibly cover it all.

Like other popular destinations, Boston offers many accommodation options. I have stayed at many excellent hotels throughout downtown Boston and the theater district, and have always paid prices that were significantly below advertised prices for rooms complete with all amenities. TurboTrip offers a full selection of these hotels.

Boston also offers a wide variety of dining opportunities in all parts of the city. A favorite is Hamersley's Bistro, on Tremont Street, about ten blocks from the theater district. Hamersley's offers a full bar, a cafe and a more formal dining room, with a varied menu of excellent dishes, cooked with seasonal produce and fish, and great cuts of meat.

Another favorite is Mama Maria's, in the North End. I discovered this restaurant when I was taking the Freedom Trail, as it is near Paul Revere's house. The pasta is wonderful and innovative, with many fish combo dishes, such as lobster tossed with linguini.

For additional dining ideas, go to the Savvy Diner.

This is just a very small sampling of things to do in Boston, so don't worry that you won't find enough to do. I have been visiting Boston for years, and have found that everything I see and do there just leads to one more thing to see, another thing to do, and on and on and on. That's clearly why I love this city.

Find out about city tours in Boston

Secret Boston
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!

Eyewitness Travel Guide to Boston
I love the Eyewitness books, published by DK Publishing. They are not only full of information, but also very visual, with excellent photography. The Eyewitness Travel Guide to Boston is no exception. This is the sort of travel guide that will be especially helpful to one who has not visited Boston before, since the visual images provided give the traveler a good sense of place, and make this guide as good for planning as it is for use during travel.