Fun Things To Do - Points Of Interest To Visit In Boston
Harvard Square
Over the Charles River lies Cambridge, home of Harvard University. There is a triangular brickwork plaza known as Harvard Square at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and JFK Street. This area is perhaps the only triangle-shaped square in all of the Northern Hemisphere. Harvard Square is known for boutiques and funky shops, a wide variety of restaurants serving up eclectic menus, street performers, and the arts.
Bicycle Tours
Tour de Cambridge Guided Bicycle Tour takes cyclists through one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US. This twelve-mile loop starts at Harvard University and ends at the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park.
The same outfit, Urban Adventours, offers two other bike tours. The Tour de Boston is thirteen miles of family-friendly cycling that follows the Dudley White Bike Path along the Charles River. Starting on Atlantic Avenue, at the Christopher Columbus Park on the busy Boston Waterfront, this tour will take you on a ride past the USS Constitution, The Hatch Shell, and other sites of interest before ending at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. You can choose to terminate your tour sooner by taking one of the many bridges to Cambridge to end at MIT.
The Emerald Necklace is the third city tour offered by Urban Adventours. Seventeen miles long, this tour follows the green splendor of 1100 acres of Frederick Law Olmstead’s Emerald Necklace park system. The Shattuck Visitors Center at 125 the Fenway offers activities and exhibits to promote conservancy in the city and its surrounding communities.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Since 1965, the Head of the Charles Regatta has drawn to Boston crew teams from across the country and worldwide. Watch the shells skim atop the Charles River and hear the coxswains command the rowers as they race toward victory. This two-day event in October draws more than 10,000 athletes to compete for bragging rights. Spectators enjoy the festival atmosphere where everyone is welcome.
Foodie Fun
Visitors who love to dine and meet new lovers of gastronomic delights will be over the moon with the selection of food tours offered by Off the Beaten Path Food Tours. Part mealtime, part history lesson, and part city explorations, multiple tours cater to every palate, making you wish you had more time to sample all the flavors that Boston offers. Special diets? Some tours include dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian options. Chocolate? Say no more. Street food? Check. Seafood? Oh, yes. What’s your pleasure?
Scavenger Hunts
Let’s Roam offers a variety of scavenger hunts for a day of fun in Boston and surrounding areas. Families love them, and they’re a favorite for bachelorette parties and corporate team-building. The searches extend between one mile and 2.5 miles and last up to two hours. Choose from themed quests like Boston Parks and Works of Art, the Story of America, or the Back Bay Beat Bar Crawl.
Greenway Open Market
Located nearby the Rings Fountain at Milk Street and Atlantic Avenue, the Rose Kennedy Greenway is the place to be! Here you will find artists and artisans, vendors and makers, food, fun, and festivities. Play in the Rings Fountain, stretch out in the grass and choose lunch from a great selection of food trucks. The carousel is a classic attraction.
Unusual Flood
Thicker than Molasses in January, you say? Boston has been there and done that. There is a plaque to prove it. In January of 1919, at the breakneck speed of 35 MPH, Commercial Street was overtaken by a flood of molasses (approximately 2.3 million gallons), killing 21 people. This mighty flood demolished buildings and dismantled the elevated train rails. The five-story tank which had held the sticky stuff buckled and shot shrapnel in all directions. The plaque is located at the Boston Harborwalk and commemorates what is perhaps the weirdest flood in recent history.
Tree Lovers and Flower Children, Rejoice!
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University “is a museum of trees teaching the world about plants.” Since 1872, the arboretum boasts nearly 17,000 specimens from across the globe. Educators and researchers come from far and wide to expand their understanding of the world around us; biology and the symbiotic relationship between the human world, the animal world, and the plant world is better understood through the research conducted here.
Harvard and MIT Swag
Founded in 1882, the Harvard Coop is the largest and oldest college bookstore in the US. It was founded by students who ran it out of a dorm room in Harvard Square; the Coop was a response to price-gouging by local retailers for campus necessities like books and firewood. Still owned by members, the store is open to the public and enjoys a reputation for supporting the collegiate community. Currently contained in five locations, the COOP also offers online shopping.
Thespian Incubator
The American Repertory Theater is a professional organization located on the Harvard University campus. You will find students from Harvard’s undergraduate performing arts programs, community workshops, enrichment programs, and projects. Since 1980 the A.R.T. has served as a venue for Tony Award-winning productions.
Take a Break
Find peace and tranquility at the Harvard Divinity School, located at 2-86 Museum St in Cambridge. The campus grounds feature a contemplative garden and labyrinth where people can get away from worldly demands, even if only for a short time.
Put on Your Walking Shoes
Boston City Walking Tours has one goal: they want you to love Boston. The tours average 2 miles and 2 hours. Enjoy a stroll through Back Bay or Little Italy while your guide offers lesser-known details about historic sites throughout the city. Jewish Cultural Tour and the Freedom Trail Tour highlight the diversity of the city. Enjoy a night stroll to Cambridge in a small group, or arrange a private tour. Depending on your interests, a custom tour might be just the ticket. Enjoy conversations and fascinating tidbits about art, culture, or history, all abundant in this amazing city.
