Boston: college town, history treasure trove, food mecca

We traveled to Boston to visit a few colleges. It is the ultimate college town – from the urban Boston University and Northeastern (well known for its co-op programs) to the brainiac MIT and, a world of its own, Harvard university.

There is definitely a youthful feel to this town and the energy is palpable. City transportation is great and it’s very easy to get around. We, of course, were quick to master the city trains (the T). My advice here is to estimate how much you’ll be traveling daily and use the card that works best for that.

Whether you take the T or uber, there will be plenty of walking, because there is so much to explore in this town!

Let’s begin with its magnificent history.

Beacon Hill

If you want to travel back in time and see cobblestone streets, Victorian brick houses and historical monuments, make your way to Beacon Hill. You probably already know that Boston is one of the oldest towns in the US and its rich history is well preserved in neighborhoods like Beacon Hill. As the name suggests, there was once a beacon on this hill that warned of foreign invasions. There were a lot of notable figures that lived in this neighborhood, including Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath and John Kerry.

I loved seeing the flower boxes along the brownstone windows.

Make sure you take a stroll down Acorn street – the middle is the original cobblestones – which is like walking back in time to colonial history.

You can also find some TV history at Beacon Hill – the bar that inspired and is now called the Cheers bar. Stop there for a little slice of TV history!

Boston Common

This beautiful giant park at first reminded me of New York’s Central Park for its sheer size – an oasis in the middle of the city. Surrounded by a few college buildings (renowned art-strong Emerson is one of them) on one side and Beacon Hill on the other, it’s a very pleasant place to spend some time to play frisbee, walk the dog or just enjoy some fresh air.
In the winter time, the beautiful Frog Pond turns into a skating rink that locals and tourists love to glide on.

Boston Common looks modern, surrounded by tall buildings, you almost forget this is the oldest park in the US.

Make sure you walk up to the top of Flag Hill to see the Soldiers and Sailors monument and get a bird’s eye view of the park.

Just to the west of the park is an oasis in the middle of the city – Boston public garden. Walk down those pathways and enjoy some quiet.

Charlestown

From the oldest park we take a trip to the oldest neighborhood in Boston, Charlestown. It’s right across the harbor and it is a must stop in Boston, because of its crucial role in the American revolution. It is now a residential neighborhood, home to a number of historical monuments, notably the Bunker Hill monument (commemorating the colonists’ victory over the British army), USS Constitution and the Paul Revere park. Bunker Hill is at the end (or beginning) of Freedom Trail.
You absolutely need to walk the Freedom Trail. About 3 miles long, it takes you through historically significant landmarks in Boston. Walk the 16 historic sites, starting at Boston Common and ending at Bunker Hill. There is no shortage of guided tours and you can linger at each spot and learn a bit about Boston history. Or, take the public transportation and skip to the stops you are interested in the most. We enjoyed the walk, taking a deeper dive into American history.

North End

North End was one of our favorite neighborhoods in Boston, probably something to do with us being foodies. This area has a large collection of Italian restaurants, so we spent our evenings here. Some notables include Carmelina’s, Strega, Mamma Maria and Antico Forno. Many take reservations but a few restaurants were drop in only, with long lines outside the door.

Of course, the Freedom trail passes through this neighborhood, so find the time to walk it and see the notable historic spots along the way.

Back Bay

First, make your way to Newbury street for some street (or real) shopping and taste some of the best lobster rolls at Saltie Girl. Once you try that lobster roll, you’d be looking for more, I promise! Boston has some of the best seafood, probably because it’s right on the water.

Newbury street is framed by the same historical brownstones you’d see on many Beacon Hill or Charlestown streets but it also carries the upscale vibe and price tag, so it’s known as one of the most expensive streets in the world.

On the other side of Back Bay is Fenway Park. Being Cubs fans, we had to check out the friendly competitor. It is quite a sight! Stop by the nearby stores for some merch.

MIT and BU

Just steps away from Fenway park is Boston University. You can see the ballpark from many BU college buildings and dorms. Since we were here on a college visit trip, it was an important stop.

We enjoyed the proximity to the city (you are basically in the city) and the fun nearby – ball games and shopping. Of course, the iconic brownstones.

On the north side of the Charles river, there is a different vibe in Cambridge where MIT is located. We definitely enjoyed the spectacular views and unique stops and architecture on campus.

You can actually take the T between the 2 universities and they often match up for athletic competitions.

You can also take the T a little further, to Harvard yard.

Harvard Yard

We didn’t get a tour of Harvard University but it is a beautiful place to walk around on your own. You can also download the Harvard mobile app to get a more informed tour. Most colleges and halls are locked for student safety. As you can imagine, the crowd size is quite large here! You can definitely tell it’s an old school with a weighty history.

Make a stop at the Harvard library and explore the latest exhibits. You can find interesting books in the latest collection. Of course, you’ll see tourists congregating around the John Harvard sculpture but there is much to see around. Before you go, stop by the Zinneken’s Belgian waffles at Harvard square. We tasted 4 and they were all incredibly delicious. The place is small but it offers plenty of people watching.