Last weekend we took a little trip up to Boston, Massachusetts. It was Todd and I’s first visit to the New England area and it most certainly won’t be our last. The rich history, beautiful architecture, delicious food and friendly people made Boston one of the most charming places I’ve ever visited. I once heard the city described as a mix of London, NY and San Fransisco and I think that’s the perfect way to sum it up!
While the FSU/Boston College game was our initial reason for making the trip, we also realized there’s not much time left with just the two of us, including the ability to pack up and leave on a whim. Soon we will be accompanied by a little traveler who will require a surprising amount of stuff – from toys to diapers and much more … and we absolutely can’t wait. But while it’s still the two of us, we decided to take advantage of Boston’s beautiful fall weather and experience all the city has to offer. As a former PR travel girl, I love planning and researching for a trip almost as much as the trip itself – so prepare for a comprehensive recap and list of recommendations below!
WHERE TO STAY
When I first began planning our trip to Boston, I knew we wanted to stay near the neighborhood of Beacon Hill. It’s one of Boston’s most picturesque areas with ivy steeped streets lined with Federal-style and Victorian brick row houses lit by antique lanterns. It also has a collection of small shops and eateries and is within walking distance of all the major attractions. I originally had my sights set on staying at the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro, but I waited too late and it was sold out by the time I went to book. However, it couldn’t have worked out more perfectly as it allowed me to stumble upon the beautiful Ames Boston Hotel, a contemporary boutique hotel set in a stunning historic building. It’s in the perfect location (across the street from the Financial District) and allowed us to walk to all the iconic Boston attractions, including the Boston Common, Boston Public Garden, the waterfront and the charming neighborhood of Beacon Hill. The Back Bay Area, Fenway Park, the Shops at Prudential Center, Copley Square, Newbury Street and Boston Logan Airport were all just a short Uber ride away. Our room was spacious with a beautiful view of downtown, and the bed was super comfortable. The staff were incredibly gracious and accommodating and gave us all the free water bottles we wanted (huge perk for this pregnant girl who requires LOTS of water). The only con was the traffic noise as you are right in the heart of downtown, but honestly we didn’t mind as that’s part of the experience/charm of staying in a big city.
WHERE TO EAT
Tatte Bakery: Before we went on our trip, I had received a handful of recommendations to check out Tatte Bakery. There are several locations around Boston and our hotel was just a few blocks away from the one on Charles Street in Beacon Hill. After arriving in the city on Friday, it was the first place we hit to grab a quick brunch and we quickly realized this was the place to be. With the line out the door, this totally “grammable” spot has a classic, light aesthetic, featuring white subway tiles, a collection of Edison bulbs and other industrial fixtures. The menu features Mediterranean-style fare like savory tarts and sweet baked goods, and most of their ingredients are sourced locally.
The Paramount: I discovered the Paramount while searching on Yelp for a good breakfast spot. It had TONS of stellar reviews so we decided to check it out. When we arrived around 9:30 a.m., the line was already out the door… and for good reason. This cozy little restaurant serves American comfort food in a “cafeteria-style” setting. Apple pancakes, fresh caramel French toast and malted Belgian waffles were being ordered right and left, but I opted for the huevos rancheros and they did not disappoint. It was a classic mexican breakfast of two fried eggs, black bean salsa, avocado, tomato chili salsa, grilled corn tortillas and cajun home fries. This place is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area, but make sure you get there early or be prepared to wait.
PRESSED: While strolling down Charles street in Beacon Hill, we popped into PRESSED to grab a quick drink. It’s a super cute spot serving health-conscious dishes, cold-pressed juices & superfood shakes. Todd ordered the Purify Smoothie and I got the Manganese green juice which included cucumber, green apple, green grape and kale. Both were delicious and the perfect fuel for walking the area (we walked more than 7 miles one day)!
sweetgreen: If you follow me on Instagram then you might have seen my Instastories where I indicated that we were first timers at sweetgreen. I used to do the PR for a hotel in DC, so I was familiar with the chain as it was started by two Georgetown students. There was a location just a block from our hotel so it was the perfect place for us to grab a quick lunch. During our weekend stay in Boston, we hit up sweetgreen THREE times. My creature-of-habit husband ordered the same thing each time, but I switched it up. I tried their Guacamole Greens, the Chicken + Brussels (a limited fall menu item) and then did my own creation with all sorts of fresh veggies and protein. I already can’t wait to head back north to have it again and am currently scheming to figure out how to get one to Tallahassee!
Lolita Cocina and Tequila Bar: This vibrant, trendy lounge offers Mexican-inspired eats & a lengthy tequila list amid Gothic decor. While I wasn’t sampling any of the cocktails, I spotted a few at the table next to us that looked absolutely delicious. Since we were also there during Halloween weekend, all of the waitresses had the traditional Mexican “Day of the Dead” makeup on which made the experience even more festive. The food was all delicious and they offer some unique touches to the dining experience like a frozen grapefruit granita before the meal (to cleanse your palate), and a giant cone of house-made cotton candy comes with your bill after the meal. This was a great date night spot!
Eventide Oyster Co.: One of the top items on my “New England Bucket List” was to try a lobster roll. My friends who live in or have visited Maine all rave about Eventide Oyster Co.’s brown butter lobster roll so I was set on finding something similar in Boston. Much to my surprise, we stumbled upon Eventide after our tour at Fenway Park. It had just opened in Boston a month before our trip and I’m so thankful it did. While this sandwich comes with a steep price tag ($19), it was worth every penny. I also opted for the gluten free roll and it was ah-mazing. This sandwich lived up to the hype and was one of the best things I have ever eaten – and I’m not a big seafood person!
WHAT TO DO
Take a Duck Tour: These look and sound super cheesy, but it was one of the most fun things we did on our trip. A Boston Duck Tour provides high-energy fun with a unique perspective on the history of Boston. You explore the streets of Boston via a WWII vehicle, and then you’ll be taken to the edge of the Charles River and the vehicle will drive right into the water for a “ducks-eye” view of Cambridge and Boston. And if you happen to get Flo as your tour guide, you hit the jackpot. She was absolutely hysterical and had us laughing the whole time. If you go to Boston, this is an absolute must!
Stroll through Beacon Hill: Established in the early 19th century, Beacon Hill still maintains a historic aura, but with lots to see and do. We loved walking up and down the brick-paved sidewalks and admiring the picturesque buildings and homes. Acorn is known as the most photographed street in America, but Chestnut, Walnut and Phillips were some of my other favorites in the neighborhood. There’s also a collection of adorable shops and eateries on the main street (Charles) and we enjoyed popping in and out of these as well.
Tour Fenway Park: This was Todd’s top “New England Bucket List” item. He grew up playing baseball so to get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most iconic baseball parks was a dream come true for him. He was like a kid in a candy store and it was so fun for me to experience it with him. They offer one-hour walking tours of the park every hour on the hour seven days a week so it was really easy to fit into our schedule. Our tour guide was a quintessential Bostonian (thick accent) and his knowledge of Fenway and the players was unbelievable. I highly recommend the tour whether you are a baseball fan or not. It’s presented with lots of history and is very entertaining. The park has so much character and it was one of the highlights of our trip.
Get wicked smart at Harvard: Not only is Harvard one of the most prestigious universities in the world, but it’s also the oldest in the country (I had no idea! We actually learned this on our duck tour). Founded in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, walking around Harvard’s campus is like stepping back in time (or onto the set of a Harry Potter movie). When we toured the campus on Saturday, their football team happened to be playing Dartmouth so we decided to pop into the game for a quick quarter. This football stadium is unlike anything I had ever seen in before. It looks like an old Roman coliseum and the seats are concrete benches. I kept telling Todd I felt like we were at a quidditch match, not a college football game. The atmosphere was super laid back and family friendly, and it’s free to enter the game if you go after half-time.
Boston Public Library: Dating from 1852, the esteemed Boston Public Library is notable for its magnificent facade and exquisite interior art. Since it’s free to enter and a historic landmark, there are tons of visitors that make their way through the doors. Also surprising to us, was the amount of people that were there actually studying and reading books. Note the photo below I took on a late Saturday afternoon!
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