Hello again! Welcome to part TWO of The Primary Party Guide to Boston! If you are looking for places to eat/drink, check out part one! If you are looking for sights to see or activities to do, this post is for you. There is SO much to do in this great city! Keep in mind, some of them may be seasonal. Also, as a disclaimer, I’m not a HUGE museum person, so I don’t have a ton to say about those. I will tell you about the ones I have been to, but we prefer a sports game, nice dinner, etc. as our things to do! Here we go:
Esplanade Views
-Walk through the SoWa Open Market: okay, my first recommendation is seasonal, but this is truly one of my favorite things that happens in the city. SoWa runs from May-October and is something we do almost every other weekend in the summertime. There are three parts to SoWa. They are: 1. The vendor market (so many wonderful local businesses – candles, hats, shirts, plants, jewelry, etc! Kev usually grabs a hat from NineFiveLtd and our friend Erica has some amazing artwork from The Blank Canvas Co.). 2. The farmer’s market (again, so many great spots to try a sample and pick up some delish local food) and 3. The FOOD TRUCKS. Okay, this is my favorite part. On any given weekend, there are about 5-8 local food trucks parked in this section with so many great options to choose from for lunch. Grab some bites and take them over to the beer/wine tent and listen to some live music while you sip and eat. Bonus for SoWa: lots of cute dogs.
-If it’s near the holidays, check out the SoWa Winter Market: in the winter, they bring SoWa inside the building for a smaller scale version. No food trucks or farmer’s market, but many vendors for holiday shopping!
-Visit Fenway Park for a Red Sox Game: this is a MUST do for me in Boston. Fenway is such a historic park. Even if you don’t like baseball, it’s an experience to be there! Don’t forget to have a Fenway Frank or an Italian Sausage while you’re there! Maybe even an ice cream in a Red Sox helmet. Or both, you do you. I won’t judge.
Fenway from the first base line. There isn’t a bad seat in the park here!
-Head to TD Garden for a Bruins or Celtics Game: you can’t go wrong with either one, but personally, I love a good hockey game! Tickets aren’t always cheap, but we usually try the GameTime app for last minute resale seats!
-Check out one of the many local breweries: Harpoon, Sam Adams, Downeast Cider House, Trillium, Nightshift, Lamplighter, the list goes on! Many of these breweries have pop-ups around the city in the summer (like down by the Esplanade!).
-See a concert at Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion: this is our favorite spot for concerts, particularly in the summer. It is an open-air pavilion with water views and a perfect atmosphere to see a show!
-Take a walk or picnic on the Esplanade: grab some snacks and a blanket and have a picnic by the Charles, or simply take a walk or run (or even rent a City Bike) around the many paths!
–Kayak on the Charles River: this is a great spring, summer, or fall activity. You can rent kayaks from a variety of spots along the river and enjoy an afternoon seeing the city from the water.
Kayaking makes for some great city views from the water
-Other concert spots: House of Blues Boston, the Wilbur, TD Garden (for bigger names)
-Grab tickets to a Boston on Broadway show in the theater district- so much fun and so many great shows come to town!
-Take a Duck Boat Tour: this is a quintessential Boston thing to do. The duck boat will bring you on a tour of the city by land, then take you into the Charles River!
-Walk the Freedom Trail: get ready for some walking, but again, this is a very Boston must-do! You will learn so much great history of the city and see sights along the way
-Grab a bite and wander around Faneuil Hall: walk through Quincy Market, a Boston landmark, and sample the many cuisines they offer. Then catch one of the street performers outside in Faneuil Hall. Beware, it’s very busy. A true tourist spot.
-Shop on Newbury Street: this street has it all! From H&M to Tiffany and everything in between. A perfect place to wander and shop or even eat on one of the great patios in the nice weather.
-Visit the Museum of Science: a super fun indoor activity, especially for kids! Lots to do and learn here! I have been on many a field trip to the Museum of Science as a Boston teacher. 🙂
-Check out the New England Aquarium: again, another hot field trip spot for my students, but also a wonderful place to spend part of your day, particularly when it isn’t too nice outside.
A typical Sunday at SoWa…yum!
-Wander through the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA): if you’re into art, this is the spot for you! (was that a great sales pitch? I told you I don’t do museums. I went here once in college, but that’s about it…)
–Public Garden/Boston Common – a pretty place to walk around and see the gorgeous views. Read a book, ride a swan boat, even ice skate on the Frog Pond in the winter!
–Jillian’s Lucky Strike: Jillian’s is an awesome way to spend a rainy day or an evening with friends! It is a bar/restaurant that also has an entire floor of arcade games and bowling on the top floor!
Copley Square
Well, there you have it, some of my favorite things to do in Boston! Just like the food and drink list, this is not ALL that there is to do in the city, by far! These are just some of my favorites to do on weekends or to suggest to those who are visiting. Pair them with some of the food spots from part one, and you are sure to have an amazing visit to the city I call home!
