What to do in Boston: the American city with the greatest European influence
In this city the independence of the country was forged. We tell you what to do in Boston, a beautiful old city where the future is palpable.
What to do in Boston, a city that is characterized by a combination of impressive skyscrapers, beautiful and well-kept parks, a wide variety of universities, museums, and many other places of interest that will keep you busy and surprised.
Boston is a city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that is modern and surprising, but it also maintains parts of its vibrant past, to remind us of the history of this country. It is not for nothing that it is one of the oldest cities in the United States. An ancient city where the future is palpable.
History relates that Boston was founded on September 17, 1630 by colonizing Puritans from England, known as the Pilgrims. But at the end of the 18th century, Boston was the protagonist of the Tea Party or Tea Party.
Boston is the cradle of the American nation, where the country's independence was forged
Tea party
On the night of December 16, 1773, about 100 men boarded three ships in Boston Harbor. No one knows for sure who they were, or exactly how many were already there.
They had wrapped blankets around their shoulders and smeared paint and soot on their faces.
The history of tea
In two or three hours, 340 chests full of tea were brought up to the decks, hacked open with axes, and emptied of their contents. As the tide was out, large amounts of tea could be seen piling up alongside the boats.
There were 46 tons of tea valued at more than £9,659 (just over US$13,000).
At that time, a ton of tea cost the same as a two-story house.
That incident became a pivotal moment in American history, leading to the overthrow of the British imperial government, an eight-year civil war, and American independence.
But we will be wrong if we think that it is a city that only lives on its past. In Boston, the future is felt every day. The most advanced science of the moment is carried out in its prestigious universities, laboratories and hospitals.
In practice this translates into a very rich community intellectually, culturally and politically.
Things to do in Boston
To eat you do not have to hesitate and ask for seafood. The lobster is almost the official mascot of summer in New England and is prepared in delicious ways. The burgers are also usually very good and it is best to eat them at a bar, where Bostonians like to sit, accompanied by local beer.
In many good and expensive restaurants, you can also eat at the counter for less money and without the need to book. You don't have to wait for nightfall to order a good cocktail.
What to see in Boston
If you are one of those who likes to discover the city without hiring guides, we leave you here a list with everything that is essential to see and do in Boston, knowing that Boston is probably one of the easiest cities in the world to walk around.
Fredoom Trail in Boston
You will only have to follow the Freedom Trail, a tourist route that passes through 16 historical places that were crucial during the fight for the independence of the United States.
How to find it? Just look at the ground you walk on in the streets of the city center and follow the line. The road will take you.
Boston common park
The Freedom Trail begins at the Boston Common, the oldest urban park in America. It is the main park in the city where the inhabitants of the city go to lie on the grass when the sun rises.
Boston Massachusetts State House
Presiding over Boston Common is what is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic buildings in the city, which stands out for its enormous golden dome.
When you see the State House you will see that it served as the inspiration for the construction of the Washington Capitol and is the current seat of government for the state of Massachusetts.
Granary Cemetery in downtown Boston
This central cemetery is one of the oldest in the city. Several signers of the United States Declaration of Independence are buried in it.
Benjamin Franklin statue in Boston
In the space occupied by the first public school in the country, there is now what was the old town hall. Right at the entrance, almost going unnoticed, is the statue of Benjamin Franklin who passed through the classrooms of said school in his childhood.
Old State House in Boston
The events that happened in the Old State House are part of the process of the revolution that would change the history of the country. This is where the famous "Tea Party" meetings were held for tea prices, and where the massacre of the local population by English forces took place, which was the spark that triggered the process of independence from the United States.
The Old State House is surrounded by large skyscrapers in the financial district, forming one of the most classic images of Boston. Currently it is not uncommon to find dramatized visits at its entrance in which people in period costumes represent those crucial days for the United States
Old South Meeting House in Boston
This beautiful exposed brick building is one of the most important places in the history of the United States. It was a meeting point from where the strategies that gave way to the events that led to the country's independence were forged.
Boston Financial District
The Financial District is where some of the tallest and most expensive buildings in the city, headquarters of large companies, are located.
A completely rebuilt area with a lot of atmosphere, especially in the evenings with the famous afterworks.
Waterfront in Boston
A few meters from the aforementioned financial district, in Waterfront, the houses are low with their own piers, that is, just as expensive or more. It is an area with a very high standard of living reserved for great fortunes.
In the Waterfront Departures area are most of the cruises that can be hired to see the skyline at sunset in Boston.
There are two cruises that leave from this area of the port, one to watch orcas, and the other are actually speedboats to enjoy speed at sea
It is one of the neighborhoods with the most history in the city since it is the area from which the arrival of English ships was announced at the beginning of the War of Independence.
Cambridge neighborhood in Boston
Across the river, the Cambridge neighborhood is home to the area of private universities such as Harvard and MIT. From there you will have a great panoramic view of the entire historic area of Boston.
All the universities can be visited, you can even hire tourist tours where a guide explains the historical curiosities of these temples of knowledge.
Harvard is one of the most important and prestigious private universities in the world and several Nobel laureates and presidents of the United States have emerged from it.
It is possible to walk through its green gardens and see the beautiful brick buildings where some of the students who will mark the future of the country study.
MIT University in Boston
This university has 78 students who have won the Nobel Prize in one of its disciplines.
MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is undoubtedly one of the leading universities in the world in technological and scientific subjects.
Boston college
The most beautiful university of all that you can visit is Boston College. It is less well known, but during your visit you will have the feeling of walking through a model.
Perfectly cut grass, with its movie streetlights, historical buildings with precious decorations and trees that give a special atmosphere and color to the university.
Harvard square
After strolling around the Harvard campus, the most prestigious university in the world, take a walk around the square. There is always live music and a very good atmosphere. The average age is around 20 years and there are endless places to eat, drink and shop. The intellect does not have to be exhausted with the ludic and commercial.
Visits not to be missed
Some places to note on the list:
SOWA Flea Market: Every Sunday between May and October, this South End address below Washington Street (SOuth of Washington, hence its name) comes alive with a thrift market and local designer stalls. There is also a congregation of 'food trucks' (mobile food vans) that surprises with its quality and variety.
Harborwalk: A route along the Boston waterfront. You can start in Charlestown, go down through the North End, the Italian neighborhood, until you reach South Boston. If you like to do the route on wheels, Hubway, a 'bike-sharing' system with bikes throughout the city, allows you to rent bikes for one or three days.
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway – Stroll through 1.5 miles of parks and public spaces that were created after years of delays and construction to bury an interstate highway that ran through downtown Boston, the famous 'Big Dig.'
