Sights and Attractions in Boston

Boston is a historic and cultural city with many attractions and sights that will surely amaze more than 16.3 million visitors each year. Boston has scores of historical sites, dozens of museums, thousands of restaurants and an abundance of live performances that is why it attracts so many people and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US.

Landmarks, Historic Sites and Skyscrapers

Boston has a lot of landmarks and historic sites since it is the seat of many events in American history. Among the many landmarks in Boston are the Massachusetts New State House which is situated on top of Beacon Hill and was built in 1795, and it still remains the home of the Massachusetts legislature; the Paul Revere House which is the oldest house in downtown Boston and is located in one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods; the Bunker Hill Monument which is a 220 feet high granite tower that honors the patriot’s bravery at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775; and Beacon Hill which has elegant townhouses and historical structures and is the most affluent neighborhood in the city.

More landmarks in Boston include King’s Chapel which is a notable structure which was built in 1754 and is adjacent to the city’s oldest cemetery the King’s Chapel Burying Ground where prominent citizens of Boston are buried; the old North Church which is a house of prayer built in 1723 and is nicknamed Christ Church; the Massachusetts Archives and Commonwealth Museum; and the New England Holocaust Memorial.

Aside from the notable historic landmarks, Boston has skyscrapers especially in the Back Bay neighborhood. Hancock Place which is the tallest building in the city and rises 790 feet; the Prudential Tower which is the 2nd tallest building in the city; 111 Huntington Place, the Federal Reserve Bank Building; One Boston Place and One International Place.

Museums

Boston has various museums which attract a lot of visitors from all races and all ages. Some of the notable museums in Boston are the Boston Museum of Fine Arts which houses the 2nd largest collection of artwork in the Western Hemisphere with collections varying from French Impressionist paintings to Japanese art; the Boston Children’s Museum which helps children understand and enjoy the world they live in by giving them a hands-on experience in a museum; the Harvard Museum of Natural History with is vast collections; the Harvard Art Museum, and the Institute of Contemporary Art.

Other noteworthy collections of sorts can be found in The Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments; the Museum of Science; the MIT Museum; the Warren Anatomical Museum; the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum; the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum; the Semitic Museum; the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

More interesting things can be found in the USS Constitution Museum; the Mapparium and the New England Aquarium.

Festivals and Events

Boston hosts a number of events that are held annually in various venues across the city. The most famous events in Boston are St. Patrick’s Day in March which is celebrated by one of the highest Irish populations outside of Ireland; the Boston Marathon which is the oldest marathon in the world takes place on every third Monday of April which is also known as Patriot’s Day; the Boston Pride Parade which is the 2nd largest event in Boston held every June to celebrate the city’s LGBT community; and the Fourth of July Independence Day is the oldest and largest public Independence Day celebration of the country.

Other events in Boston include the Feast of St. Anthony in late August is the biggest of several fests on the North End of the city; the Head of the Charles Regatta which occurs during October is participated by more than 8,000 rowers form all over the world in a 2-day rowing event; and First Night which happens on New Year’s Eve is the oldest public New Year’s Eve Party in America and has been copied by cities from all over the planet.

Food

Boston has delectable seafood available from the nearby New England coast. Some of the specialties in local cuisine include cod, clam chowder, pastries, bulkie rolls and baked beans. Hot roast beef sandwiches with sweet barbecue sauce is also popular in Boston and its surrounding area. You will not have trouble searching for dessert in Boston since it is one of the top ice cream consuming cities in the country. It is also home to Boston crème donuts and other kinds of pastries. If you want to try ethnic delights, restaurants offering different types of cuisine from Italian to Chinese can be found across the town.

Shopping

One of the top reasons why people visit Boston is shopping. Boston has a wide range of shops, boutiques, department stores, malls and outlets that sell almost anything from shoes, clothes, jewelry, books and food. Newbury Street which is located in the Back Bay area and is one of the most renowned shopping destinations in the city has shops that cater every taste and it stretches at the length of 8 blocks and is the first stop for an enjoyable Boston shopping experience. The next stop for avid shoppers is Downtown Crossing near Boston Common, is a pedestrian-friendly place and is the home of Filene’s Basement, a city attraction for its stylish bargains. If you want to shop for souvenirs, go to Faneuil Hall Marketplace which has tourist-friendly souvenir shops, charming stores and an incredible food court. Other shopping districts in Boston include Charles Street and Harvard Square.