Essayist Oliver Wendall Holmes once described Boston as the “hub of the solar system”, and the Hub it is! This beautiful city on the bay is richly endowed with landmarks of historical significance and unlimited cultural and entertainment possibilities. Boston is a city of fascinating narrow streets and byways that invite exploration on foot.

The Freedom Trail (also known as the Red Line you see running along Boston's sidewalks) winds through a path of 16 of the historically significant sites associated with the beginnings of our Republic. The tour begins at the meadowlands of Boston Common and ends at the harbor in Charlestown Navy Yard, winding along the way for 2.5 miles through downtown Boston and the attractive North End. Sites along the trail include Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church, and Copp's Hill Burying Ground.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts house some of the world's most famous works by such greats as Singer Sargent, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Botticelli as well as a stunning three story garden atrium. Meanwhile, Fenway Park, one of the most vaunted in baseball, is home to the no longer cursed Red Sox, while football's Superbowl Champion Patriots reign supreme in Foxboro.

Harvard Square boasts bookstores, cafe chess players, street musicians and some of the most eclectic shopping in Boston. Harvard Square is where you might sit down for an afternoon with a cappucino and a thick novel, or where you might just walk around and let the crowds entertain you. There's no shortage of sights in this small, entertaining enclosed space.

Don’t miss visiting Boston Public Garden and the swan boats; Newbury Street with its boutiques and art galleries; the Italian North End with its old-world ambience; Beacon Hill, with its gas lamps and Yankee Federal architecture, Louisburg Square mansions and the gold-domed State House; and the South End, with its Victorian row houses.

If it's culinary excellence you desire, make a beeline for the fabulous French fare of Radius. Or meander through the campus of the country's preeminent university, Harvard, in Cambridge en route to celebrity chef Jody Adams's Rialto. For a hometown specialty, dine on fresh chowder at Turner Fisheries, then head to the Cask 'n' Flagon bar near Fenway for a cold pint and a chat with Boston's finest feature: its people.

Boston is a city of dreams and also a city alive and pulsing with energy. At all hours of the night,

Faneuil Hall and Harvard Square are well lit and filled with patrons of the many bars and restaurants. There is dancing, a game of pool here and there, and lots of music everywhere for every taste. Irish music, sounds of the Middle East, alternative rock, jazz, salsa, and meringue to name a few.

“Take a hike” in Boston can mean anything from a romantic stroll on The Charles River Esplanade to a try at winning the Boston Marathon. Wherever your hike takes you, there are incredible sights to see: Beacon Hill, with its old brick sidewalks and Federal bow-front architecture; Cambridge's Brattle Street, which runs from Harvard Square past stately Tory-era mansions; the Commonwealth Avenue Mall from the Public Garden to Kenmore Square; and the walking paths through the Arnold Arboretum.

Boston is a favorite with families. There is the New England Aquarium with its huge, two-story-high fish tank; the lowland gorillas at the Franklin Park Zoo; the interactive exhibits of the Children's Museum; the displays, the giant-screen Omni Theater, and the planetarium at the Museum of Science. Year round activities include skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. Spring and summer bring white water rafting, mountain climbing, hang gliding, kayaking, surfing, hiking, and windsurfing. Only a few miles outside Boston are some outstanding seaside spots that are clean, beautiful, and accessible.

Whether you are planning a vacation with the entire family, an intensive solo shopping expedition, a journey into history with a grandchild, an “escape from stress weekend for two”, or a myriad of other relaxing and enriching opportunities: Boston is the place to go.

Population: 577,100 in the city, 3.2 million in the metropolitan area

Elevation: 10 feet

Time zone: Eastern Standard Time; (daylight saving time is observed) When it is 12 noon in New York City, it is 12 noon in Boston and 9AM in Los Angeles.

Telephone area codes: 617 / 781 (Area codes are required for all numbers dialed, even if calling locally from within the same dialing code).

Average Annual Temperatures:

Average Annual Rainfall: 41.5 inches

National Public Holidays

1st January - New Year's Day

Third Monday in January - Martin Luther King Day

12th February - Lincoln's Birthday

Third Monday in February - Washington's Birthday

Third Monday in April - Patriot's Day (Massachusetts)

Last Monday in May - Memorial Day

4th July - Independence Day

First Monday in September - Labor Day

Second Monday in October - Columbus Day

11th November - Veterans Day

4th Thursday in November - Thanksgiving

25th December - Christmas Day

When to Visit

Boston's weather is changeable, so expect alternating sun and precipitation all year.  The summers (June to August) are usually bright and sunny, with some humidity. The winters (November to February) can be quite wet. Possibly the best times to visit are in the late spring and early fall (with spectacular autumnal colors throughout New England), when the temperature is warm and not too hot. Whatever the weather, there is always so much to see and enjoy in Boston.

Internet Access

Public libraries throughout the Boston area offer free Internet access (sometimes with time limits per user). Boston and Cambridge have numerous Internet cafes, especially in tourist-frequented areas, that offer Internet access at a fixed rate per hour.

Tax

The general sales tax in Boston is 5% and is applied to meals, durable goods and services. It is also added to the price of clothing in excess of US$175. Combined state and city taxes on hotel occupancy are 11.45%.

 Getting to Boston

By Air

Logan International Airport (BOS) is less than 3 miles from downtown Boston. The airport, the eighth-busiest in the U.S., is composed of Terminals B, C, D and E.

For information on airport traffic, parking availability and ground transportation, telephone toll-free 800-235-6426.

By Bus

Greyhound Bus Lines

The Greyhound Terminal is at South Station. Toll-free: 800-231-2222.

Peter Pan Bus Lines

Offers express service from South Station to many destinations in the northeastern U.S. and Canada. Toll-free: 800-343-9999

By Train

Amtrak

Amtrak serves both Back Bay Station and South Station in Boston. It provides connections south toward New York City and Washington, D.C., with other East Coast towns and west to Springfield, Massachusetts, with stops in Framingham and Worcester.

By Car

Unless visitors have plans that will require travel far from the city, it is best not to drive in the area.  Public transportation within the city and in the surrounding areas is excellent.   Parking, when available, is expensive, and street patterns are confusing.   The main deterrent, however, is known as “The Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project”, or the "Big Dig." This Federal multi-billion dollar undertaking is removing downtown's elevated North/South expressway and replacing it with an underground expressway. The newly opened third harbor tunnel (Ted Williams Tunnel) now connects directly to Logan Airport.

By Water Shuttle

The Airport Water Shuttle provides transportation from the airport to downtown Boston. From your airport terminal, take the free No. 66 shuttle bus to the boat. The water shuttle docks downtown at Rowes Wharf, behind the Boston Harbor Hotel.  During peak hours the boats depart every 15 minutes / off-peak and at weekends every 30 minutes.  617-330-8680.

MBTA

The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) operates subways, buses, commuter trains and commuter boats. It is the fourth-largest mass-transit system in the U.S., serving 1.1 million riders each weekday on its buses, rapid-transit and commuter-boat lines.

Boston's subway (the T) is the backbone of the city's transit system and is clean and reliable. Four color-coded lines:  Red, Green, Orange and Blue, span out from downtown Boston.

(Remember:  Inbound is always toward downtown)

Trains run Monday-Saturday approximately 5 am-1 am. On Sunday, service begins about 40 minutes later, and the last trains leave downtown at 12:45 am.

Commuter trains serve outlying areas as far as Worcester, Lowell, Rockport and Providence, Rhode Island (their routes are indicated by the purple lines on the MBTA map). Trains heading north connect to the subway system at North Station, trains to the south and west at South Station. Tickets may be purchased at North Station, South Station and Back Bay Station. Tickets also are sold onboard, but there is a surcharge. A Boston Passport Visitors Pass can be purchased which provides unlimited use of all MBTA transportation. One-, three- and seven-day passes are available

Ship

Cruise ships visiting Boston dock at South Boston's Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, which is 5-6 miles from downtown. Most ships provide transportation for their passengers from Logan Airport to dockside. Taxis are available at the port.

Taxis:  Taxis can be hailed on the street by waving (and yelling).  All cabs are metered. 

There is a wealth of historically significant attractions in Boston. Consider purchasing a 'Boston City Pass' and thereby pay half price for most of the finest attractions.

Freedom Trail: The Freedom Trail is one of the most popular walking tours in America. It covers approximately three miles and is very easy to follow. Park rangers give 90-minute guided walking tours of the Freedom Trail, which includes more than a dozen historic sites such as Paul Revere's house, the site of the Boston Massacre and the USS Constitution. The path is marked by painted red lines or bricks set into the pavement. Each site is identified by a marker or sign. The trail follows the original path set by the colonists in the early days of Boston. Most of the Trail is accessible only on foot for this reason. The Trail is best started either at Boston Common or at the USS Constitution (where there is free parking). The easiest way is to leave the car behind and take the subway (T) red or green line to Park Street.

Stops Along the Freedom Trail

1. Boston Common

2. Site of the Liberty Tree (Washington & Essex Streets)

3. State House (Beacon & Park Streets)

4. John Hancock’s House

5. The Beacon (The Monument behind the State House)

6. Park Street Church (Tremont & Park Streets)

7. Old Granary (Tremont St., near Park Street Church)

8. King’s Chapel

9. King’s Chapel Burying Ground

10. Benjamin Franklin’s Statue

11. The Old Corner Bookstore (3 School Street, Corner of Washington St.)

12. Site of Franklin’s Print Shop

13. Old South Meeting House

14. Site of Benjamin Franklin’s Birthplace

15. Old State House

16. Site of the Boston Massacre

17. Faneuil Hall

18. Quincy Market

19. The Tea Party Ship

20. Paul Revere’s House

21. Saint Stephen’s Church (Hanover Street)

22. Paul Revere Mall

23. Old North Church (193 Salem Street)

24. Copp’s Hill (Hull and Snowhill Streets)

25. USS Constitution (Charlestown Navy Yard)

26. Bunker Hill (Charlestown)

Boston Common

This 40-acre area is the nation's oldest public park. The land was set aside for public use in 1634 (originally as a cow pasture and training ground. The Commons also has a longstanding tradition as a place where demonstrators can exercise their right to freedom of speech without having to obtain a permit. Admission Free.

Park Street Church

Free, seasonal tours. Call (617) 523-3383 to learn more.

This church is best known for its location at "Brimstone Corner" (named for its use as a gunpowder storage area during the War of 1812) and as the setting of William Lloyd Garrison's first anti-slavery speech.

Granary Burying Ground

The first of the three burying grounds on the trail, Granary is notable as the final resting place of John Hancock, Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.

King's Chapel and Burying Ground

Famous for its architectural beauty, King's Chapel became the first Unitarian Church in the U.S. after the American Revolution. Donations accepted. For more information, call (617) 227-2155.

Site of First Public School/Ben Franklin Statue

This Freedom Trail stop features a statue of Ben Franklin and the site of Franklin's alma mater: the Boston Latin School (built in 1635).

Old Corner Bookstore

This brick building, where legends like Longfellow, Emerson, Hawthorne and Thoreau gathered, was once the literary center of Boston.

Old South Meeting House

Much of the discussion and debate that led to the Boston Tea Party and other events connected to the American Revolution took place in the old South Meeting House. Call (617) 482-6439 to learn about the lectures and programs on American history and culture offered by the Old South staff.

Boston Massacre Site

A simple circle of cobblestones marks the site where five colonists were killed by British soldiers in 1770. The brutality of this incident helped spark the anti-British rage that ultimately led to the American Revolution. Free.

Old North Church

"Old North," Boston's oldest church building, is located in the city's Italian North End. The church played an important part in the American Revolution by acting as a signal (via two lanterns hung in its steeple) of British troop movement. Donations accepted. (617) 523-6676.

Copp's Hill Burying Ground

The last Freedom trail site on the south side of the Charles River, Copp's Burying Ground is the resting place of thousands of merchants, artisans and free blacks. Free. Not wheelchair accessible.

Bunker Hill Monument

(617) 242-5641

A tall granite obelisk commemorating the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill (which actually took place on Breed's Hill). You can climb this monument's 294 steps for a panoramic view of Boston. (No elevator). During the summer, visitors also can observe free musket firing demonstrations and "battle talks." Free.

New England Aquarium

Phone: (617) 973-5200

Located on the city's waterfront at Central Wharf off Atlantic Ave. (T: Aquarium).

Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 9-6, Fri.-Sun. and holidays 9-7, July 1-Labor Day; Mon.-Fri. 9-5, Sat.-Sun. and holidays 9-6, rest of year. Closed Jan. 1 until noon, all day Thanksgiving and Dec. 25

Admission charged.

The aquarium displays more than 15,000 specimens representing more than 600 species of fish and aquatic animals. An outdoor seal exhibit features a raised tank for visitors to view the animals above and below the water's surface. In the west wing, a 6,000-square-foot gallery highlights changing exhibits. Rising from the center of the building is a four-story, circular glass tank containing a coral reef, more than 200,000 gallons of water and hundreds of tropical fish and marine life, including sharks, turtles and moray eels. A colony of penguins is on the ground level. “Edge of the Sea” lets visitors handle tide pool animals. Whale-watch cruises and “Science at Sea” harbor tours are offered April 1 to November 1 for a fee. An IMAX theater is on site. Food is available. Allow 2 hours minimum.

The USS Constitution

Charlestown Navy Yard

55 Constitution Rd, Charlestown, Boston, 02129

617- 426 –1812

Open: daily

The last stop on the Freedom Trail is Charlestown Navy Yard, home of the USS Constitution. The ship is the oldest officially commissioned warship in existence. It never lost a battle, and its victories during the War of 1812 are legendary. The ship is open daily 10 am-4 pm, with self-guided tours of the top deck available (sailors are on hand to answer questions). The adjoining museum is open daily 9 am-6 pm May-October, 10 am-5 pm November-April. Anchored at an adjacent pier is the World War II destroyer USS Cassin Young. Admission Free.

Boston Public Library

700 Boylston Street, Copley Square, Boston

617-536-5400.

(Copley T stop on the Green Line),

Monday-Thursday 9 am-9 pm, Friday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm; October-May, also open Sunday 1-5 pm. One-hour art and architecture tours daily, except Wednesday. Call for times.

America's first free municipal library offers visual arts, as well as books. This magnificent Italian Renaissance Revival building houses a John Singer Sargent Gallery on the third floor. The Bates Reading Room is a work of art with its impressive vaulted ceiling. Monday-Thursday 9 am-9 pm, Friday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm; October-May, also open Sunday 1-5 pm. One-hour art and architecture tours daily, except Wednesday. Call for times. Free Admission.

Franklin Park Zoo

1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, 02121

(617) 541 5466

This 72-acre site nestled in historic Franklin Park was founded in 1911 and recently underwent a period of expansion. Highlights include one of the world's largest indoor exhibits of western lowland gorillas, the Bongo Congo (zebra, ibex and ostrich), the Giraffe Savannah, Australian Outback (kangaroo, wallaby and emu), Franklin Farm (including a "contact corral" where visitors can pet goats, sheep and other farm animals) and, late May-September, a butterfly enclosure.

Old State House

206 Washington St.

(State T stop on the Blue and Orange lines, Downtown Crossing T stop on the Red and Orange lines, or Park Street T stop on the Green and Red lines)

Boston, MA 02109 USA

(617) 720-1713

Admission charged.

Hours: Daily 9-5.

The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Boston took place from the balcony of the Old State House in 1776. Two centuries later, Queen Elizabeth II delivered an address from the same spot during the U.S. bicentennial celebrations. The building overlooks the cobblestone circle that marks the site of the Boston Massacre. Built in 1713, this is the oldest public building in Boston and now functions as the city's history museum.

Paul Revere House

19 North Sq.

Boston, MA 02113 USA

Phone: (617) 523-2338

Admission charged.

Hours: Daily 9:30-5:15, Apr. 15-Oct. 31; daily 9:30-4:15, Apr. 1-14 and Nov.-Dec.; Tues.-Sun. 9:30-4:15, rest of year. Closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25

Paul Revere House, 19 North Sq. (T: Haymarket), was built about 1680 and is the oldest house in downtown Boston. The restored home, which Paul Revere owned 1770-1800, contains 17th- and 18th-century furnishings and Revere memorabilia including silver. A Colonial herb garden and Revere-made bell are on the grounds.

Faneuil Hall

4 S. Market St.

Boston, MA 02109

Phone: (617) 242-5675

Admission Free

Hours: National Park Service Rangers give historical talks every half-hour daily 9-5. Museum open Mon.-Fri. 9-3. Marketplace open Mon.-Sat. 10-8, Sun. 10-6, third Mon. in Apr.-Dec. 24; daily 10-6, rest of year.

(T: State Street or Government Center).

The 1742 building was given to the city by Peter Faneuil. It burned in 1761, was rebuilt in 1763 and was enlarged in 1805. The upper story served as a meeting hall, the scene of many gatherings during the Revolutionary movement. British officers used the building as a theater during their occupation of the city. Known for its grasshopper weather vane, the hall contains a military museum and paintings of notable battles.

The Faneuil Hall Marketplace includes North and South Markets, Faneuil Hall and the adjacent Quincy Market, a renovated 19th-century complex containing more than 125 restaurants, boutiques, produce stands and retail pushcarts. Street performers entertain continuously.

Museum of Afro-American History

46 Joy St.

Boston, MA 02114

Phone: (617) 725-0022

Admission charged.

Hours: Daily 10-4, Memorial Day-Labor Day; Mon.-Sat. 10-4, rest of year. Closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25

Museum of Afro American History is at 46 Joy St. The museum includes the African Meeting House, dedicated in 1806 and said to be the oldest standing African-American church building in the United States, and the Abiel Smith School. Changing exhibits are displayed in the gallery. Guided gallery tours are available. The museum's Black Heritage Trail walking tour links 14 historic sites; maps and guided tours are available

New State House

Beacon St. & Park St.

Boston, MA 02133 USA

Phone: (617) 727-3676

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-5; closed holidays.

Admission: Free. Guided tours by appointment.

The New State House is on Beacon St. at the head of Park St. (T: Park Street). The golden dome, which is one of the city's best known landmarks, marks the political center of Boston. Completed in 1795, the "new" State House was designed by architect Charles Bulfinch, who later planned the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The original brick front section, completed in 1798, remains almost unchanged. Statues, historical paintings, transparencies of battle flags and war relics are displayed inside. Across the street, Shaw Memorial, a bronze bas-relief of Col. Robert Gould Shaw by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, recalls the first black regiment to serve in the Civil War.

Museum of Fine Arts

465 Huntington Avenue

Boston

617-267-9300

The MFA is located in the Fenway area, one mile west of Copley Square. It is easily accessible via public transportation by taking the Orange Line to the Ruggles stop or the Green Line E trolley to the Museum of Fine Arts stop.

Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 AM to 4:45 PM; Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10 AM to 9:45 PM (West Wing only Thurs. and Fri. after 5); Saturdays and Sundays, 10 AM to 5:45 PM

The Japanese Garden is open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 AM to 4 PM

Admission: charged. Admission reduced by $2 on Thursdays and Fridays after 5 PM.

Boston's finest and most comprehensive art museum is a world unto itself: art galleries from all periods and cultures; three restaurants; two gift shops; lecture and film series; gallery talks; concerts all season ; and exceptional special exhibits. The museum is especially well known for its collections of European paintings, European and American decorative arts and furnishings, Egyptian sculpture, and Asian fine and decorative arts.

The Museum of Fine Arts is so vast and the collections so extensive that several visits are required to really enjoy and appreciate its wonders. The galleries are laid out in the shape of a two-story figure eight, with two courtyards in the middle.

The "period" rooms include an early 19th century mansion from Peabody thought to have been designed by Samuel McIntyre, and the wood carving in the rooms from Hamilton Palace, a Scottish castle.

First Church of Christ Scientist

175 Huntington Avenue

617-450-2000

Open Daily

No admission charge.

The world headquarters of the Church occupies 14 acres of Boston’s Back Bay and is a remarkable structure. Most notable is the Mary Baker Eddy Library and the Mapparium. The Mapparium, on the first floor of the extension, is a huge,brightly colored stained glass globe. By walking inside it, you can stand at the center of the world. It shows the political boundaries of the 1930s (the time at which it was constructed) . Each of the 608 panels making up this impressive structure, covers 10 degrees of latitude and longitude.

The church itself is a huge open space which seats over 3,000. It is dominated by one of the world’s largest organs, which is played at every service. The basilica- type, impressively domed structure is actually an extension of the original small granite building which was outgrown within a few years of the church’s founding in 1892.

Events

Mid-February

Chinese New Year festivities (Location:  Chinatown)

Mid-March

St. Patrick’s Day Parade and annual celebrations throughout the city.

3^rd Monday of April

Boston Marathon  As many as 1 million spectators may look on as the course roughly follows the T Green Line into town on Patriots' Day, a Boston public holiday. It is a free citywide celebration that dates back to 1897. Phone 617-236-1652.

Mid-May

Kite Festival (Location:  Franklin Park)

Early June

Early Music Festival in alternate years. 

1^st 3 weeks of August

North End Italian Feast Days and Processions. Boston's oldest neighborhood, the North End,  celebrates feast days of the Italian saints with weekend street fairs, processions, parades and Italian cuisine.

Throughout August

Roxbury Film Festival. This annual festival features works by minority and native New England filmmakers.  For information:  617-541-3900.

Mid-August

Fisherman's Feast of the Madonna Del Soccorso di Sciacca.  The feast dates to the 16th century in Sciacca, Sicily.  For information:  617-248-0343

2^nd week in September

Boston Arts Festival. Theater, dance and music performances from Boston's finest music ensembles and dance troupes, and a juried art show. (Location:  Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, North End). For information:   617-635-4447.

Early-Mid-October

Oktoberfest.  Free music, dance performances, street artists and children's entertainment on three stages, along with international cuisine. More than 200 regional artisans display crafts, jewelry, clothing and other gift items. (Location:  Harvard Square, JFK Street, Brattle Street and Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge). For information: 617-491-3434

3^rd weekend in October

Head of the Charles Regatta  (the “mini-Olympics of rowing”) on the Charles River.   More than 5,000 participants representing rowing-club teams or colleges from across the U.S. and Europe take part in the event. For information:  617-864-8415.

Throughout November

Thanksgiving at Plimoth Plantation. Plimoth Plantation re-creates Thanksgiving with 1627 theme -dining and other activities. New England Thanksgiving and Victorian Thanksgiving dinners feature period food and song.  Workshops and lectures on customs of the time. 137 Warren Ave., Plymouth (Location: 40 miles south of Boston). For information:  508-746-1622.

Early December

Holiday Tree Lighting on Boston Common.  The public garden is also illuminated, and the night is celebrated with family-oriented festivities. (Location:  Tremont Street). For information:  City of Boston Department of Parks and Recreation:617-635-4505.

New Year's Eve - concerts and festivities, with fireworks over Boston Harbor to bring in the New Year.

Arts and Entertainment

 Boston Symphony Orchestra/Boston Pops

301 Massachusetts Ave.

(Symphony stop on the Green E Line), Boston.

617-266-1200.

One of the best and most-recorded orchestras in the world, performing in a pitch-perfect concert hall. The orchestra is thriving under the direction of new musical director James Levine. Symphony performances run October-April at Symphony Hall. (In summer, the orchestra plays at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts, three hours' drive west of Boston.) The Pops, made up of BSO musicians and led by popular conductor Keith Lockhart, play at Symphony Hall May-July and give free outdoor concerts at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River in July.

Berklee College of Music

136 Massachusetts Ave. (Hynes/ICA T stop on the Green Line), Fenway

617-266-1400.

The world's largest independent music college. Famous alumni include producer Quincy Jones, rock singer Melissa Etheridge and saxophonist Branford Marsalis. Its performance center hosts many big-name jazz and pop artists. Student and faculty performances in recital halls (at 921 and 1140 Boylston St.) are free.. For information about student and faculty concerts, phone 617-266-1400, ext. 8820.

New England Conservatory of Music

30 Gainsborough St.

(Symphony stop on the Green E Line), Boston

617-585-1122.

During the academic year, the NEC's symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, solo recitalists and opera groups perform frequently in another of Boston's acoustical gems: Jordan Hall. Frequent free performances.

Boston Lyric Opera

Performances at the Shubert Theater, 265 Tremont St.

(Boylston T stop on the Green Line), downtown, Boston.

617-542-4912 for information

Varied repertoire with world-class singers, designers and directors. Season runs October-May.

Boston Ballet

19 Clarendon St., Boston

617-695-6950

The city's preeminent dance group. Its annual production of The Nutcracker is among the city's top attractions. Performances are primarily at the Wang Center. Season runs mid September-mid May.

Wang Center for the Performing Arts

270 Tremont Street (Boylston T stop).

617-482-9393

The Wang Center frequently hosts plays, musicals, ballet, concerts and individual performances.

Sports

Baseball

Boston Red Sox

617-267-1700

Fenway Park has been the home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912 and a must-see for baseball fans.  With or without a championship, enthusiasm runs high and most games sell out.

Basketball

Boston Celtics

1 FleetCenter (North Station T stop on the Orange and Green lines), Boston.

617-523-3030

The NBA's Celtics play at the new Fleet Center. Good seats are usually available. The Celtics' season runs October-April.

Football

New England Patriots

CMGI Field

Route 1, Foxboro, MA

Toll-free:  800-543-1776

Special commuter trains and buses operate on game days. Call MBTA for details at 617-222-3200

The New England Patriots, two-time Super Bowl champions, play home games in Foxboro (about an hour south of downtown Boston). Dress warmly:  this is not a domed stadium. The season runs September-December. Individual tickets are usually very hard to come by.

Hockey

Boston Bruins

1 FleetCenter

617-624-1500

(North Station T stop on the Orange and Green lines), Boston.

The Bruins play at the FleetCenter October-April.   

Soccer

New England Revolution

CMGI Field

Foxboro, MA

The region's professional soccer squad plays at Foxboro's April-September.

New England Aquarium

Phone: (617) 973-5200

Located on the city's waterfront at Central Wharf off Atlantic Ave. (T: Aquarium).

Hours:   Mon.-Thurs. 9-6, Fri.-Sun. and holidays 9-7, July 1-Labor Day; Mon.-Fri. 9-5, Sat.-Sun. and holidays 9-6, rest of year. Closed Jan. 1 until noon, all day Thanksgiving and Dec. 25

Admission charged.

The aquarium displays more than 15,000 specimens representing more than 600 species of fish and aquatic animals. An outdoor seal exhibit features a raised tank for visitors to view the animals above and below the water's surface. In the west wing, a 6,000-square-foot gallery highlights changing exhibits. Rising from the center of the building is a four-story, circular glass tank containing a coral reef, more than 200,000 gallons of water and hundreds of tropical fish and marine life, including sharks, turtles and moray eels. A colony of penguins is on the ground level. “Edge of the Sea” lets visitors handle tide pool animals. Whale-watch cruises and “Science at Sea” harbor tours are offered April 1 to November 1 for a fee. An IMAX theater is on site. Food is available. Allow 2 hours minimum.

 Children's Museum of Boston

300 Congress St.

Boston, MA 02210 USA

(617) 426-8855

Admission charged.

Hours:   Sat.-Thurs. 10-5, Fri. 10-9; closed Thanksgiving and Dec. 25. Phone to confirm schedule

Children's Museum of Boston is downtown on the waterfront at 300 Congress St. (T: South Station). Designed for fun and educational experiences for children through age 10, the museum offers three floors of hands-on exhibits featuring boats and water play; bubbles; a climbing maze; a Japanese house; Arthur's World; and KidStage, a children's theater.

Drumlin Farm Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary

208 S. Great Rd.

Lincoln, MA 01773 USA

Phone: (781) 259-2200

Admission charged.

Hours:   Tues.-Sun. and Mon. holidays 9-5, Mar.-Oct.; 9-4, rest of year. Closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving and Dec. 24-25 and 31

Drumlin Farm Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, on SR 117, .7 mi. e. of SR 126, has 232 acres of pastures, fields, woodlands and ponds. This center has animals representative of a New England farm including chickens, horses, sheep and pigs as well

as various species of such wildlife as deer, owls and pheasants. In the Burrowing Animal

Building visitors go into an underground passage to see part of the dens or burrows of animals, including those of foxes, woodchucks and opossums. Picnicking is permitted.

Mugar Omni, Planetarium and Lasers

1 Science Park

Boston, MA 02114 USA

Phone: (617) 723-2500

Admission (includes The Charles Hayden Planetarium and the laser show)

The Mugar Omni Theater has a five-story, domed screen that creates a wraparound effect. Allow 1 hour minimum.

Hours:   Films shown daily; phone for schedule. Closed Thanksgiving and Dec. 25

Reservations suggested.

Museum of Science

Science Park

Boston, MA

617-723-2500

Admission charged.  On the cutting edge with impressive exhibits that will amaze and instruct adults and children.  The Theater of Electricity demonstrates the world’s largest Van de Graaff  Generator.  In the Virtual fish tank, children can create a fish and then watch it interact with other creatures as they release it into the ocean.  There are many, many fascinating hands-on interactive exhibits as well as live stage presentations.

Boston Harbor Islands

National Park Service

408 Atlantic Avenue

Boston, MA 02210-3350

617-223-8666

Georges Island:

Daily Ferries May-mid Oct. (45 minute ride from Long Wharf in Boston Harbor)

Free water taxi to other islands.

Pick wild raspberries, picnic on the beach, enjoy the view of Boston’s skyline, visit Fort Warren where Civil War soldiers were imprisoned.  Study wildlife in the rock pools, salt marsh, and woodlands.  Most beaches are pebbled, but Lovells Island has a sandy, supervised swimming beach.  Bring a picnic lunch and water, as there is no drinking water available in the island parks (except at the concession stands on Georges Island).