Destination: Boston

The heart of New England, Bean Town.

Overview
Freedom Trail
Boston Commons
Cheers
Fenway Park
Sam Adams Brewery
Boston Harbor/Quincy Market
Prudential Building

Travel Locations

Thanks for reading my blog! Please let me know what you think, or if you have any questions. Here are blog entries from places I have been.

Washington D.C
Las Vegas
Chicago
Southern California
Myrtle Beach
Boston
New York City
Minneapolis
Paris~~Coming Soon
Gettysburg~~Coming Soon
Baltimore~~Coming Soon
Destin, Florida~~Coming Soon
Oregon Coast~~Coming Soon
Mount Rushmore~~Coming Soon
Green Bay~~Coming Soon
Madison~~Coming Soon
Aruba~~Coming Soon

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.

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.

Freedom Trail - Boston

Upon arrival, we wasted no time getting into the heart of Boston! We took public transit in from our hotel which was just outside the city. Public Transit is a fabulous way to get around in Boston. The trains are never full (unless it's after a sporting event or concert, etc), and they are always clean. The only downfall about the trains is that they shut down for the night at 1am. So, if you plan to be out after 1am, you should probably line up a ride home!

Being we went into Boston without a plan, we could really start anywhere. The stop we got off on happened to be along the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is a tour of famous historical sites and people, taking you all throughout the city. Our first stop along the Trail was the Old Granary Burying Grounds for historical people like Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and believe it or not, Mother Goose! Yes, Mother Goose was real, and not just a fictional character that you read about. In these Burying Grounds you can see the actual gravesites of these people and read about them on their graves.

Walking more along the Trail, we came upon the Old City Hall! This Hall was nestled within a bunch of old buildings that epitomize the thought of Boston. I just couldn't get enough!

There are plenty more sites to see along the Freedom Trail, such as Boston Commons and Faneuil Hall. Tours are available to those who wish to visit each site, but we chose not to, as we wanted to see these sites independently. I will describe these areas of Boston in my next bunch of posts! Keep reading!

Tips on the Freedom Trail:
-The Freedom Trail is marked by lines on the ground, so you will know when you are at a site, if you choose not to take the tour.
-The tour lasts 2+ hours, so plan accordingly if you decide that is what you want to do.

Boston

Boston is a place of excitement, a place of history, and a place where everybody knows your name, if you know what I mean! Prepare to instantly fall in love with Boston, as you take in its rich culture, its famed harbor, and its storied past.

Take a journey along with me as I bring you through Boston! Destinations will include: Boston Commons, breweries, Fenway Park, the "Cheers" bar, the Freedom Walk, and many more! Hop on and enjoy the ride!