"Boston is what I would like the whole United States to be." - Charles Dickens

Boston was founded in 1630, only ten years after the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock. The city offers visitors first-hand views of many significant sites in American history.

Along the three-mile Freedom Trail, visitors will find Bunker Hill Monument, the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides, the oldest commissioned warship in the world); the Boston Tea Party Ship; and the Old North Church where Paul Revere saw the light.

Other landmarks include the site of the "Shot Heard 'Round the World," that began the battles of Lexington and Concord, Plymouth Rock and Plymouth Plantation where the Pilgrims landed, and Walden Pond, where Henry David Thoreau lived and wrote. The John F. Kennedy Library & Museum is a short ride from downtown Boston.

Boston is a city of many facets. History and high technology, a thriving downtown and flourishing neighbourhoods, great academic institutions and enthusiastic sports fans, irresistible ethnic restaurants and fine dining, a wide range of night clubs and world renowned symphonies and museums.

Boston is almost completely surrounded by water. The Atlantic Ocean is on two sides and the Charles River defines its northern boundary with Cambridge. As a result, sailing harbour cruises, whale watches, rowing, sunbathing, running, in-line skating and enjoying the parks are all popular activities with visitors and residents alike.

Bostonian culture can be found on every corner of the Boston city streets. The people of this great city have managed to maintain a small town pride when it comes to their history and legacy.

While the common language is English Bostonians have transformed the language into their own with a famous accent and words that lack the letter "r". "Tourists to our fair city say Bostonians sure talk funny. "They drop the "r" where it should be, and add one where there ain't any." - John Collins Bossidy.

For many people travelling to Boston for the first time, a number of locations will probably seem familiar, the city for many years has featured in a large number of internationally popular films and television series.

Compiled with the kind assistance of
The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

Places to Visit

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Faneuil Hall is the lively core of Boston's historic waterfront, and the nation's premier urban marketplace. Housed in 3 beautifully restored 19th century buildings, its 125 shops and 21 restaurants offer tantalizing delicacies & unique gifts in a festive atmosphere that spills onto cobblestone streets filled with an amazing variety of street performers.

Plimoth Plantation - The Living History Museum of 17th Century Plimoth

New England's roots are in Plimoth where you'll find Mayflower II, the Pilgrim Village and Indian Homesite and the past just waiting to be experienced. Plimoth Plantation is also pleased to offer a wide variety of dining experiences. Menus range from exciting and unique re-creations of 17th century cuisine at to the best of sophisticated contemporary fare.

America and The Freedom Trail!

The Freedom Trail Foundation celebrates Boston's history! Our spirited costumed historic characters lead visitors along our red brick line, The Freedom Trail. They reveal stories about the people, the places, the events and the drama of the American Revolution, and share lively anecdotes about the vitality of contemporary Boston. The Foundation promotes and helps to preserve the sixteen nationally significant historic sites along the red brick path, our country's cherished places where American patriotism and American democracy were born.

Museum of Science

The Science Museum is a world-renowned educational institution with over 400 interactive participatory exhibits featuring live animal and physical science demonstrations, courses, travelling exhibits, a computer centre, the Mugar Omni Theatre, and Charles Hayden Planetarium. 600 interactive exhibits let visitors explore the world around them, daily live presentations, science theatre and 15-foot lightning bolts. The Museum offers a number of special exhibitions & theatre shows throughout the year.

New England Aquarium

The Aquarium host colourful & educational exhibits featuring more than 8000 aquatic creatures. Highlights include a 4-story glass ocean tank that houses a coral reef display plus an outstanding variety of fishes, sharks & sea turtles.

Museum of Fine Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts offers one of the greatest gifts Boston has to give - Discovery. For young and old, for first-time visitor and familiar friends, every turn yields a new experience.

Minute Man National Park

Created in 1959, Minute Man National Historical Park preserves and protects the significant historic sites, structures, properties and landscapes associated with the opening battles of the American Revolution. Most importantly, Minute Man interprets the colonial struggle for natural rights and freedoms. Today, Minute Man consists of over 900 acres of land, which wind along original segments of the Battle Road for April 19, 1775.

Salem Witch Museum

"She afflicts me! She comes to me at night and torments me! She's a witch!" Words such as these struck terror into the Salem townspeople in the spring of 1692 as hysterical young girls called out names. By summer, hundreds had been accused and imprisoned - defenceless against accusations of witchcraft in a society driven by superstition and fear. The Salem Witch Museum brings you there, back to Salem 1692.

Compiled with the kind assistance of
The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

Boston - Regular events

February

Boston Wine Festival - held at the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf, includes a rare wine auction and the Anthony Spinazzola Gala, New England's premier culinary event.

March

St. Patrick's Day Parade - March 17th, big celebrations throughout Boston. Also Evacuation Day, commemorating the expulsion of British troops from South Boston by General Washington in 1776.

April

Patriot's Day

The Monday nearest April 19th, re-enactments of Paul Revere's famous ride from Hanover Street in Boston's North End to Lexington.

Boston Marathon

On Patriot's Day, the Boston Athletic Association fills the streets with runners from Hopkinton to the Back Bay.

May

Great Boston Kite Festival

In mid-May, this event is held at Franklin Park.

June

Boston Early Music Festival

In early June, this week-long event takes place biannually in odd-number years. It features dozens of lectures, classes and performance of a rare, fully-staged baroque opera.

Fourth of July celebration

In late June / early July, Boston's annual Harborfest includes a concert with fireworks over the harbor.

July

Boston Pops Concert and Fireworks Display

In early July, this is a wonderful musical extravaganza at the Hatch Shall.

Chowderfest

Sample New England clam chowder from Boston's best restaurants.

Civil War Battle Re-enactments

On the weekend closest to July 18, held at the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial on the Common.

Lowell Folk Festival

In late July, more than 100,000 music-lovers make their way to Lowell for this festival.

August

Dragon Parade

In mid-August, this parade through Chinatown is part of the August Mood Festival.

September

Cambridge River Festival

In mid-September, numerous events take place along the Charles River.

The Boston Arts Festival

At Christopher Columbus Park on Boston's waterfront on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10. The festival continues to grow each year as a custom-built artists' village in the centre of the park houses Boston's best visual artists over the period of two days.

October

Columbus Day Parade

In early October, this parade travels from East Boston to the North End.

November

Pilgrim's Stroll

The weekend before Thanksgiving, modern-day Pilgrims walk through Plymouth's historic homes.

December

Boston Tea Party Re-enactment

Mid-December, this event takes places at the Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum and also in Cambridge at Harvard's Sanders Theater.

Christmas Celebrations

General festivities, including music at Faneuil Hall, dance and folk plays from around the world.

New Year's Eve

This is a full day and night of outdoor and indoor concerts and festivities, culminating in fireworks over Boston Harbor.