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By Cliff Calderwood
A Boston vacation is a mesmerizing trip through the nation’s
past and a celebration of its future and center of learning.
Here in one city you can experience the start of the
revolutionary war, see a coral reef, take a bus on a river,
and
experience the campuses of MIT and Harvard - and all before
dinner.
You’ll find Boston vacations a refreshing mixture of historic
and modern buildings. And what’s even better is you can see it
all - or most - by foot. That’s right the ole soft shoe
shuffle. You’ll save time and see more by walking the streets
of Boston.
But before you do that I highly recommend an orientation tour
first.
THE FAMOUS DUCK TOUR
One of the best and most unique tours is the Duck Tour ride.
This is a popular 80-minute tour for first-time Boston
vacation
visitors. But be warned, during the summer tours are usually
sold out by lunchtime - so make reservations in advance. You
can pick-up and buy tickets for the tour at two places: The
Museum of Science, and The Prudential Center in Boston’s Back
Bay.
The tour is done in a renovated World War II amphibious
vehicle. You get to not only experience Boston from the
streets
of the city, but also from the Charles River... and without
getting wet!
That’s right, during the tour, the bus you’re on will become a
boat, and you’ll see the beautiful Boston skyline from the
river that separates Boston from Cambridge.
It’s a great tour and you’d have to be "quackers" not to do
it!
Sorry couldn’t resist it.
THE FREEDOM TRAIL
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile easy-to-follow red brick line
that links 16 historical sites together around the streets of
Boston... and it’s free. It starts from Boston Common and
winds
its way through Boston landmarks such as the State House,
Boston
Massacre Site, Paul Revere’s House, USS Constitution, before
ending up at the Bunker Hill monument in Charlestown.
If you do the whole walk, plan on at least 2-3 hours for
distractions - nice ones though - or better still take the
whole day.
The trail also takes you through Boston’s famed North End,
where you’ll be sure to return during your Boston vacation to
sample the superb Italian restaurants or stroll around this
little corner of Italy.
THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM
As San Diego has its world famous zoo, then Boston has the New
England Aquarium.
New England and its coastline have a history of fishing and
whaling. But today instead of harpooning whales, New
Englanders
spend most of their time saving them. And the aquarium is a
vital link in the area’s ocean preservation movement.
The centerpiece of the aquarium is the giant tank. The floors
of the aquarium run around the tank and up four levels. At the
top you get to peer down into a coral reef and listen as the
staff explains about the tank and the fish that live in it.
You’ll get the answer to questions such as: "Why don’t the big
shark fish eat the little tasty fish?" or "How old are those
huge sea turtles swimming around down there?"
Your ticket will include a visit to the Discovery next to the
main building, where you can see and learn about sea lions
during an amazing show. A few years ago the Aquarium opened an
IMAX theater that shows a mixture of sea-related and general
science films.
A word of warning - this is a favorite Boston vacations
attraction for families so it can get crowded. But you’ll
always get in, even when the ticket line seems to stretch for
miles.
BEACON HILL
Beacon Hill is a popular walk for people on a Boston vacation.
Here just off Boston Common you can stroll around Louisburg
Square and admire the picturesque block of perfectly preserved
residences.
This quiet and bewitching area is full of alleys and narrow
red
brick cobbled streets, where time has stood still for the last
century. It’s a sheer delight to walk. You’ll find walled
gardens and an authentic 19th century neighborhood feel. Even
the original gas lights remain on streets lined with ancient
elms.
While many tour buses and trolleys drive through Beacon Hill,
the only real way of experiencing it, is by foot. So put on
some comfy shoes, take out your camera and breathe in the
scenery... its fine.
THE CENTER OF LEARNING
Boston has a strong tradition in universities. With MIT and
Harvard perhaps the best known worldwide, but with other great
colleges such as Tufts, BU, Boston College, and of course
Northeastern.
MIT and Harvard are just a short train ride across the river.
Take the Red Line to Harvard Square and hang-out in the
Harvard
campus and stroll the grounds, and if everything seems
familiar
to you, it probably is. Many movies - including Love Story -
where filmed here.
And come back and visit at night when on a summer’s evening
street performers are everywhere and you don’t have to pay a
nickel for some of the best entertainment on your Boston
vacation.
AND THERE'S MORE...
Other places to visit on your Boston vacation are THE J.F.K
Library and Museum at Columbia Point in South Boston - and the
Boston Harbor Islands, tours to the islands leave from Long
Wharf and Rowes Wharf, both located near the aquarium.
Boston has tons of things to do and see, and I’ve really just
started to scratch the surface for you. The rest is yours to
discover and for more ideas check out my website at
www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/
About The Author: For more details on these and other Boston
vacation attractions and to pick up your free travel reports
go
to Cliff Calderwood's Guide to New England Vacation site at:
www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/
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