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Introduction |
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Throngs of visitors converge on Boston every year and with good reason: It's partly a walkable historic park (especially the Freedom Trail ) and partly a modern waterfront metropolis (the "Hub of New England") with no lack of things to do once darkness descends. While the city has never stopped reaching for the future and welcoming high-tech companies, it has lovingly preserved the treasures of its past, cherishing its patriotic connections with the Boston Tea Party and Bunker Hill. It is a living symbol of the melting pot early residents fought to create, including lively ethnic neighborhoods, sophisticated centers of academia and sedate sanctuaries of old wealth. Each seems a world unto itself, yet each is an integral part of Boston's urban identity.
Even with so much to do and so many doing it, Boston is a relatively easy place to visit. Its historical sites are laid out in simple-to-follow walking tours, and its subway system efficiently whisks passengers around the city. (You won't need a car, which is good because driving in Boston is hair-raising, even for locals.) The most difficult part of your visit may be opening your credit-card bill: Boston can be expensive, but you'll find a lot to enjoy for each dollar spent.
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Top Picks |
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With many of the city's premier hotspots and attractions spread over an area of just five miles, Boston in the state of Massachusetts, is one of the most compact and walkable cities in the United States. Unlike many other cities, Boston has managed to keep its historic beauty and charm while simultaneously welcoming innovation and economic growth.
Affectionately known as 'The Cradle of Modern America', Boston is rich not only in industrial and economic terms but also culturally, spiritually and historically. The area has over fifty colleges and universities, Harvard in neighboring Cambridge being the most illustrious, and is a hotbed of sports, arts, entertainment and a place for those who love life.
Boston City Facts
Boston Population - 2,915,000 (Source: UN Population Division 2000 estimate)
USA Population - 277,825,000 (Source: UN Population Division 2000 estimate)
Currency - US Dollar ($) = 100 cents
Time Zone - GMT - 5 hours (Daylight Saving Time is observed)
Language - English
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Climate |
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| Boston's best season is May-October, with late spring and early autumn being most pleasant. The sea breeze keeps Boston cooler in summer (average mean temperature 71 F/22 C) and more moderate in winter than its latitude might indicate, but unseasonably hot or cold weather may occur at any time. In a word, Boston's weather is changeable, so expect alternating sun and precipitation all year. The ocean's proximity also means that Boston has fairly high humidity levels, which can make heat sticky and cold biting (humidity averages 56%-76%). Winters are damp and cold (average temperature is 31 F/-1C), with abundant rain, sleet and snow that often turns to either gray slush or ice. |
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Transportation |
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| Because of confusing street patterns, a lack of parking and the gigantic Big Dig construction project, our advice is to forget about driving yourself while in Boston: Take public transportation, use a cab or walk. The T -- the country's oldest subway system -- has occasional, inevitable fare increases, but it's still a bargain compared with most major U.S. subways and is efficient and fairly easy to use. Public buses are also convenient and inexpensive. Should you lose your way once you're aboveground, most Boston locals will be glad to take a minute and help point you in the right direction.
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Attractions |
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| Boston is situated on a magnificent natural harbor, opening onto Massachusetts Bay. This 250-year-old city is distinguished not only by its many fascinating historical sites, but also its thriving cultural heart, covering all aspects of the visual and performing arts. The Boston Ballet and Symphony Orchestra have achieved wide acclaim and are highly esteemed throughout the world. More surprisingly, Boston is 'America's Walking City', renowned for its many footpaths and trails, including the famous Freedom Trail. Many old and new attractions can be accessed from the trail, including some of the finest educational tours available in America. In the evenings, the best live music, sports, dancing, theater and food await in every nook and cranny of this vibrant, exhilarating city.
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Restaurants |
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Harborside Grill
Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel (Boston), 101 Harborside Drive, Boston, Massachusetts 02128
Tel: +1 617 568 1234 Fax: +1 617 567 8856
Spinnaker Italia
Hyatt Regency Cambridge, 575 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4896
Tel: +1 617 492 1234 Fax: +1 617 441 6489
Ritz Carlton Dining Room
Ritz Carlton Hotel, 15 Arlington Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Tel: +1 617 536 5700
Aujourd'hui
200 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Tel: +1 617 351 2071
Biba
272 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Tel: +1 617 426 7878
Julien
250 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Tel: +1 617 451 1900
Hamersley's Bistro
553 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Tel: +1 617 423 2700
L'Espalier
30 Gloucester Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Tel: +1 617 262 3023
Rialto
Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Tel: +1 617 661 5050
Olives
10 City Square, Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts 02129
Tel: +1 617 242 1999
The Oak Room
138 St. James Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Tel: +1 617 267 5300
East Coast Grill
1271 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
Tel: +1 617 491 6568
Legal Seafoods
35 Columbus Avenue, Park Square, Boston , Massachusetts 02116
Tel: +1 617 426 4444
Ambrosia on Huntington
116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Tel: +1 617 247 2400
Icarus
3 Appleton Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Tel: +1 617 426 1790
The Helmand
143 First Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142
Tel: +1 617 492 4646
Mamma Maria
3 North Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02113
Tel: +1 617 523 0077
Union Square Bistro
16 Bow Street, Union Square, Somerville, Boston, Massachusetts 02143
Tel: +1 617 628 3344
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Recreation |
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While historic sites and museums are abundant in the City of Boston and surrounding areas, recreation is also plentiful. Some sporting events and athletic buildings are woven into the history and architecture of this great, exciting city. Fenway Park - the oldest major league ball park in the country-offers baseball fans an experience like no other. The FleetCenter, although not an historic building, is a tremendous athletic attraction, which provides a new home to both the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins and carries on the legacy of the Boston Garden. There are also a number of spectator sports, including the New England Patriots and Wonderland Greyhound Park, located outside the city with easy public transportation access.
Boston provides numerous recreational experiences for the active individual or family. The city has several sailing clubs offering lessons and rentals for an afternoon of sailing on the Charles River or Boston Harbor. It also boasts more than 50 bike and walking paths. In-line skaters will find the Esplanade and Hatch Shell on the Charles River an ideal spot to strut their stuff. There are also a number of rental shops in the area that provide bikes, in-line skates and equipment.
Those with children will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of "kid friendly" recreational activities in the city and surrounding area. In the winter, there are ice-skating spots including Frog Pond on the Boston Common where both hot cocoa and rentals are made available at the Pond Cottage. Summertime offers special historic walking tours for "little feet." Parks both in the heart of the city and neighboring communities provide picnicking, kite-flying, and exciting playgrounds. The Franklin Park Zoo with its African Tropical Rainforest is only minutes away. Or take a hike up Blue Hills and visit a New England Trailside Museum located just 10 minutes south of Boston.
If you're in the mood for some offbeat theatre, try a mystery dinner at Three Cheers or the nation's longest running play, Sheer Madness. For even more maddening fun, take in the off-Broadway trio, Blue Man Group. There are community and improvisational theatres with Boston best-untapped talents at budget prices. Historic Boston has it all!
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