One Day Itinerary in Boston, Massachusetts
Hi, travelers!
Welcome to the Northeast section of our blog! This region of the U.S. is so much fun and has such character to it! Both Lillian and I have explored the Northeast, especially New York City, so stay tuned for NYC recommendations. However, a few years ago I took a trip to Boston and Salem, Massachusetts. I spent most of my time in Salem and we only had half a day in Boston to explore, so these were the things I enjoyed the most in Boston and what we’d like to see the next time we visit!
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Even though we weren’t there for long, I knew I had to stop at the Boston Public Library. This is such a grand and historic building that I believe every traveler should visit it while in the city. I did not check out any books, I did do a lot of browsing though, and the architecture was insane. You are welcomed by a massive marble staircase adorned with details of gold and stone. There are hand-painted pieces of art surrounding the marble arches making a perfect place to stop, take it all in, and of course take a picture or two.
Remember, this is also a functioning library with four floors of books, movies, computers, and a children’s area with an interactive theater. One of my favorite spaces is the courtyard and cafe! In between the two library buildings on campus, there is a courtyard and a reflection pond with tables and chairs. It is the perfect place to read while you sip on a coffee! Boston Public Library
BOSTON COMMON
Boston Common is the Central Park of Boston. It has so much greenery, a plethora of seating areas, and is the perfect place to just sit, walk, and relax. There are plenty of things to do, like see the many statues of historical figures, ride swan boats, visit the bandstand, or walk through the gardens. One thing that I love to do when traveling is finding a spot where a movie was shot and go to the location. If you are in Boston, make sure to stop at Boston Common since there is a park bench that overlooks a small lake. This is the same bench the very iconic scene in Good Will Hunting was filmed when Robin Williams’s character delivers a powerful monologue to Matt Damon’s character. This is such a memorable moment in cinema history and it is very cool to sit on the same bench and recreate the still from the movie.
Boston Common is also the home of one of the locations on the Freedom Trail. This historic landmark notes that Boston Common was the first park in what would become the United States of America. The puritans purchased this area in 1634 to be a common land and a place where livestock lived. There are also guided tours of the Freedom Trail available from several companies. This area has worn many different hats, most notably… redcoats (see what I did there?). When the British took control of Boston during the revolution, Boston Common became a camp for them. It was said to have housed over 1,000 British soldiers in 1775.
COFFEE AND TREATS BY BOSTON COMMON
Something that I recommend doing at the Boston Common is having a little picnic! If you are walking from the Boston Public Library, I have a few recommendations. The first would be coffee at Blank Street! They are a New York City based coffee chain that has locations across the globe in Boston, NYC, and London! You can’t go wrong with anything, but just looking at the menu, I want to try the Iced Strawberry Shortcake Matcha Latte . . . doesn’t that sound so good? Then, I would walk a block over and hit Levain Bakery. Levain is a staple if you have ever been to New York City or Boston. They are known for their enormous, perfectly crisp on the outside, gooey on the inside, chocolate chip cookies. I am still dreaming of these, I am not kidding! Then if you want snacks or other drinks, stop off at the Copley Square Farmers Market (if they are open for the season) or head to Trader Joe’s and pick up some goodies and head to the park! This is a great way to take a breather on your vacation and really slow down, take in the city, and enjoy your time!
BOSTON TEA PARTY AND SHIP MUSEUM
This is something I wish I had done when I visited Boston, but I did not have the time. If you are as chronically online as I am, then you’re probably aware of this experience. [insert tiktok here] You and other parties join together in a courtroom where you reenact the Boston Tea Party, an important part of history when Bostonians dumped loads of tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Tax the British imposed on them. After you start the uprising, you are led to a ship where you and your group can dump tea into the sea! The theatre kid in me wants to do this so bad. You get to yell to an entire crowd why you are fed up with the British and why we need to revolt. It looks like they have pretty consistent availability from 10am to 5pm. The pricing starts at $37 USD for adults and $27 USD for children.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Boston is one of the most historic cities in the United States, so there is so much to do and see. I hope this gave you some ideas of what to do if you only had one day in Boston. I really want to explore the downtown area more and I look forward to the day that Lillian and I can go there together! Make sure to check out some of our other posts so you can see more helpful tips and guides for your next adventure!
Happy travels,