Prudential Building - Boston

Some of you are probably wondering why I would write about a building in Boston. Well, the Prudential Building happened to have an observation deck at the top, and I was eager to go up to the top.

At the top, you have a choice of if you want a headset for a walking tour, but we decided against it because there are plaques telling you what you are looking at, and it cost extra from what you pay to get in. The view from the top is amazing, but you don't need me to tell you that twice!

From the north, your gaze will head straight to the Charles River. The Charles River runs through Boston and is an amazing sight to see! The day we went, there were sailboats on the river, and they looked like they just fit! To the east, the John Hancock Building rules the sky. I'll note that at the base of the John Hancock Building, there is a very cool photo opportunity with the reflection of church steeple shining off the surface of that building. Click here to see the picture. Back up on the Prudential Building, just beyond the J.H.B. is the beautiful Boston Harbor.

A southern view will mostly show you residential areas of Boston. The whole time we were there, I couldn't get over the fact that a bunch of residential areas were nestled right in the heart of the city. This made me feel like I wasn't in a big city, rather a quaint one. I really liked this aspect of Boston.

The western view was one of my favorites. This view looked onto the freeway, and more importantly, Fenway Park! Our particular view of Fenway included a game being played! The Red Sox were playing a day game, and with the binocular apparatus to use, we could actually see the players running around on the field. That was cool for me to see!

Going to Boston, we had no idea there was going to be a birds-eye-view opportunity, but much to my surprise, there was! I am glad we heard about the Prudential Building, and as a knowledgable source, I will highly recommend it!

Tips on the Prudential Building:
-Use the price discounts to your advantage. There is a student discount if you show your ID, and I remember sneaking in with the discount (without actually having one) by saying that I was in between college and grad school and my new ID was being made. It's worth a shot. :) I've done this in other places in the past as well, with child age limits when I was older than what the cut-off age was, and I got in as a child.

Boston Harbor/Quincy Market - Boston

Whenever my family and I go to a destination, we like to take a day or so and just walk the city. We do this because we get as much time as we want at a particular attraction, and we can stop along the way if we find a store, etc. that looks appealing. This is exactly what we did the day we visited Quincy Market and the Boston Harbor.

Quincy Market is like a farmer's market times 100. A popular tourist attraction, Quincy Market has everything from ice cream and sunglasses kiosks, to restaurants, to souviner shops. You want to be sure however, that you are getting the best bang for your buck. Try haggling. It may work. Quincy Market is also home to Faneuil Hall, and the other Cheers Bar. If you are just dying for a beer, go in and check it out, or even if you want to just peek in to see how different it really is. The further you walk along Quincy Market, the closer you come to the Boston Harbor.

The Boston Harbor is breathtaking! It is everything I thought it would be, and more! If you are lucky enough to go there on a clear day, you could spend all day there. The Harbor is a place for inspiration, a place for reflection, and a place for serenity. While my mom was watching planes take off on the other side of the water, my brother and I were goofing around with camera angles (we are photgraphy freaks). If you want to get away from it all in a bustling city, go to the Harbor.

Tips on the Market and Harbor:
-If you are looking for an original and authentic New England restaurant, head to the harbor. I never knew I could love crab as much as I did!
-Bostonites say Quincy Market is the biggest Boston rip-off. Don't believe everythng you see, or hear, price-wise.

Sam Adams Brewery - Boston

I'm from Wisconsin. I've heard of all the statistics that we are the #1 state of alcohol consumption. So what else is there to do while in Boston? Drink! On our second day, we set out to the Samuel Adams Brewery just outside the heart of the city. I remember it being a cold and dreary day, so this was the perfect stop to turn our moods around!

The brewery holds tours at different hours of the day, and it's free! All they ask for is a small donation! If there's anything Wisconsinites like, it's free beer! The tours take you all throughout the brewery, and the all-knowing guide tells you all about the history of Sam Adams, and the process of making barley into beer! A point in the tour took us to an area with 4 barrels all filled with different hops and malts they use to flavor the beer. They even pass it around for people to taste! Believe it or not, this brewery tour was my first, and surely not my last.

After the tour was finished, the guide led us into this huge room and told us to find a seat. As the room was in overflow, we were told that they were going to force beer down our throats! HA! We were loving it! We were given souviner Sam Adams glasses, and pitchers filled with unique flavored beers were passed around for us to taste-test. As we were doing this, the guide would tell us the proper way to drink a beer. There are 5 steps, not just chugging. Can you believe it?! The best beer I tested was a Chocolate Beer. They said that this beer would probably never hit the market, so I felt honored to have had it hit my lips!

As a Wisconsinite, this tour was definitely a memorable part of my trip! I will never forget the Chocolate Beer, and my souviner glass will remind me of it all the time! Sam Adams Rocks!

Tips on the Sam Adams Brewery:
-The Brewery isn't the greatest place to take young children. You can, but you won't be let in to the taste-testing room.