Staying in Boston for a long weekend or school break while your friends are making waves in the tropics? Fear not! There are plenty of things to do in and around Boston. Here are just seventeen of the many things to do during your staycation in Boston.
1. House of Blues, Middle East, or Paradise Rock Club
TONS of artists come through Boston every week. It’s practically a must-stop destination while on tour. The House of Blues, Middle East, and Paradise Rock Club all offer smaller, intimate settings to see your favorite artists. Even better, all of them offer general admission tickets, which are usually cheaper than the tickets you’ll find for bigger venues, such as Gillette Stadium.
2. Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Faneuil Hall Marketplace consists of Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market, and South Market. This historic marketplace is always lively and offers many places to eat and shop. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to see some street performers when you visit.
3. Museum of Science
The Museum of Science boasts many fascinating permanent exhibits, temporary exhibits, Planetarium shows, IMAX films, and more. Check out the museum’s website to find out what events are going on each day. Regardless of when you go, there are always the permanent exhibits like the Butterfly Garden, Live Animal Care Center, the Light House, and To the Moon.
4. New England Aquarium
Who doesn’t love penguins in Boston? Let’s be honest, the New England Aquarium is fun at any age. With tons of aquatic animals to look at and maybe even interact with, the aquarium is an essential place to visit.
5. Freedom Trail
Whether you’re walking it alone, or with a tour group, the Freedom Trail tells an important story about America’s past. The 2.5 mile walk has 16 stops, each with a significant, historical background story.
6. Newbury Street
If you’re looking for more of a low-key and relaxed day, Newbury Street could be for you. With plenty of designer shops and restaurants, it’s easy to spend a few hours walking down Newbury Street. For a more scenic experience, go at night when the trees lining the streets are lit up with white lights.
7. North End
The North End is a perfect place to visit for an Italian lunch or dinner. With plenty of restaurants, cafes, and pastry shops, you can’t go wrong in the North End. To top it all off, the area is rich with cultural history that will enchant you as you stroll down the streets.
8. Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts is the place to go if you want to spend the day exploring your artistic side. Even better, admission into the museum is free if you’re a college student with a valid school ID. New exhibitions are always coming and going from the museum, so make sure you catch your favorite artists’ masterpieces when they come around.
9. Boston Duck Tours
If you haven’t seen a Duck Tour bus drive by you while in Boston, have you ever actually been in Boston? These tours are a classic and bring you by 32-36 iconic Boston destinations depending on where you start your tour. At the end of the tour, the bus plunges into the Charles River and gives you the best views of the Boston skyline.
10. Top of The Hub
If you’re really feeling fancy, put on your nicest clothes and grab dinner at the Top of the Hub. The views from this restaurant are one of a kind, and the food lives up to the hype too. However, this is more of a one-time splurge, so check the menu to make sure it’s in your price range before you go.
11. Running Tour
A running tour of Boston is the perfect mix for those who love fitness and beautiful cities. City Running Tours offers personalized individual tours and group tours that let you run at your own pace with a guide who will help you along the way. What better way to familiarize yourself with Boston and get your workout in for the day?
12. Segway Tour
Let’s be real, not all of us are up for a run through Boston. If you’re not comfortable with your running abilities, there’s still another option for you. Segway tours offer similar routes as running tours, but without all of the sweating and panting.
13. Whale Watching
If you don’t think much of whales, your mind will certainly change after a whale watching tour. These huge, intelligent creatures will blow your mind when you see them breach just yards away from the boat.
14. Franklin Park Zoo
If you’re an animal lover like me, not having any pets to interact with in college can be hard. Luckily, the Franklin Park Zoo is only around 30 minutes from Tufts and houses over 100 different species of animals. Even though the zoo is still open in the winter, the best time to go is probably on a fall or spring day.
15. Max Brenner
Attention all chocolate lovers: Max Brenner should be the next stop on your staycation itinerary. With eight different types of hot chocolate, it’s obvious that this restaurant has a thing for chocolate. You’ve probably even already seen their chocolate chunks pizza on Instagram. One visit here could satisfy your sweet tooth for a month.
16. Food Tour
If you haven’t already noticed, food is a reccurring theme in this post. Dining can be a big part of a vacation experience, but sometimes it’s hard to pick the right place to enjoy a meal after a long day of exploring. If you’re having doubts about where to stop for your next entrée, try partaking in a food tour. This way you’ll be guided to restaurants pre-selected for their cuisine, and you’ll be able to try a little bit of everything in the area.
17. Spa
Exploring the city is bound to leave you feeling tired. On the last day of your staycation, look into the possibility of visiting a spa. There’s nothing like a massage to cure your sore back after walking all over a city for a few days.
If exploring all of Boston is a little too time consuming for your schedule, try exploring these five cafes in Davis Square.
Sources:
http://www.newurbanarchitect.com/
http://futureboston-wp.s3.amazonaws.com/
https://www.weddingstylemagazine.com/
http://old.bostonducktours.com/
http://www.myteapartyclub.com/