courtesy of Tim Grafft/MOTT
With so much to do and see around the city, it’s easy to look like a tourist in the fast-paced city of Boston if you’re not familiar with the area. But if you’re eager to go to this one-of-a-kind vacation destination with a little bit of background knowledge up your sleeve, check out these insider tips for how to walk and talk like a real Bostonian.
1. Plan your visit for fall or spring.
Traveling to Boston is most enjoyable during the fall and spring months, even if only for the colorful foliage and cool temperatures (of fall) or the budding blossoms and the warm breezes (of springtime) alone. One of the favorite attractions for visitors during both fall and summer months is Boston’s Public Garden, where a variety of gorgeous flowers, trees and other vegetation are either changing to rich fall colors or just blossoming into soft spring colors. Both seasons require just a light jacket and are ideal for traveling with children.
2. Chow down on some chowder at a local favorite restaurant.
Sure, Boston might be known for its delicious New England clam chowder. But for non-locals, you might not know that there are some places that serve up some of the best you’ll ever taste! Find the top-shelf stuff at places like Neptune Oyster, Boston Chowda Co., Boston Sail Loft Restaurant, Atlantic Fish Company, Legal Sea Foods, Island Creek Oyster Bar and more. And paired with a couple of fresh Main lobster rolls or crunchy oyster crackers, you’ll be sure to come back for seconds.
3. Get a Boston City Pass for discounted (or free) museum admission.
For museum frequenters or even those just seeking some inexpensive ways to see some of the city, getting a Boston City Pass is a great, affordable option for you. The pass gets you approximately 50 percent off combined prices for admission to attractions, like the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Science, the Skywalk Observatory and more.
4. Check out the many kid-friendly attractions nearby.
If you’re traveling with children, there are quite a few places to take them to release some energy and play. Of course, there’s attractions like the Boston Children’s Museum, the Franklin Park Zoo and Blue Man Group—which are all great for little ones. But if you want to have some fun yourself with the kids, try some exciting activities for the whole family, such as: riding a swan boat at The Swan Boats of Boston, learning about the city on a trolley ride with Old Town Trolley Tours, tasting some of Boston’s finest sweets with Boston Chocolate Tours, and more.
5. Venture out of the city a little.
If you’ve done all the major tourist attractions within the city, if you don’t want to be in the middle of big crowds, or if you’re just dying to see what’s in the surrounding area, head out to some of the beautiful little New England towns nearby. You can head out to see one of the eerie witch museums of Salem (about 17 miles away), the iconic and historic Plymouth Rock in Plymouth (about 40 miles away), the sandy beaches of Cape Cod (about 70 miles away), and more. You might even enjoy visiting Provincetown (about 116 miles) if you’re OK with the drive, where you’ll find picturesque sand dunes and an exciting downtown area with a variety of options for shopping and dining.
Use these helpful insider tips for your next trip to “Beantown” and make your visit that much more enjoyable. Additionally, you can find even more travel resources from E-Z Rent-A-Car online, including exclusive E-Z discounts, travel-related blog posts, special coupons and more.
courtesy of Ian Britton
