Boston Gay Bars and Clubs...
gaynewen...@gmail.com
The Alley Bar
The men of 119 Merrimac are back! This is a no attitiude, leather-levi
crowd. Located at 14 Pi Alley in Boston, near downtown crossing. Tel.
#617-263-1449
Randolph Country Club, Randolph, Ma--Located south of Boston, the staff
here is nice and friendly. Great lesbian/gay ratio of clients. (They
have a pool in the summer!)
Some additional listings...
ALEGRIA NIGHT CLUB, 277 South Main St.,Fall River, MA (508) 646-2600
ARIA- Lust Wednesdays, 246 Tremont St
(below the Wilbur Theatre)
AVALON, 15 Lansdowne Street, Boston, 617-262-2424.
Fabulous Boston mega club, lots of crazy party boys here with a huge
dance floor, giant light show and immense crowds. Sunday night is GAY
night. Cover varies, open till 2am.
AXIS-Static Monday's **Site is down, 13 Lansdowne Street, Boston,
617-262-2437
Young, hip, slightly edgier than your usual club. Monday is the only
Gay night here, with a showcase of drag queens and club kids that
cannot be missed. 18+, cover varies, open till 2am.
BUZZ, 51 Stuart Street, Boston 617-267-8689
Two dance floors (one on each level), shirtless bartenders and the best
looking muscle boys Boston has to offer. This is Boston's Saturday
night destination! Cover varies, open till 2am. --Hello WOMEN: Every
friday night there is Twist at Buzz/Europa. It is located at 67 Stuart
and is on the second floor. The cover is $10 and it is a 19+ ladies
night. The Dj is msladyj and she spins and eclectic blend of hip hop,
rnb, dance, reggae, salsa and more. We attract a younger female crowd,
but are open to the gay public.
CHAPS**(Formerly Vapor).101 Warrenton Street, Boston, 617-695-9500
--Open on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Sunday nights tea dance is
still one of Boston's longest running and fun filled events. Cover
varies, open till 2am
CHEF'S HOWIES HOBO LOUNGE AND LAVENDAR CAFE,5 Broadway
Salisbury, Massachusetts 01952
978-465-4626
CLUB CAFE, 209 Columbus Avenue, Boston 617-536-0966
Trendy restaurant, bar and video lounge for both men and women.
Thursday night is the best night, standing room only. No cover, open
till 2am.
Club Hollywood
41 Harrison Ave
Boston, MA --Boston's premier Women's Night Out!
CLUB CENTRAL, 649 Lynn Way Route 1A
Lynn, Massachusetts 01901
781-599-6012
CLUB HOLLYWOOD BOSTON, 41 Essex Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02118
617-417-0186
Dedo (Formerly Luxor)
69 Church Street, Boston, 617-423-6969
Similar to Club Cafe but easier to talk and mingle. The owners
obviously spent some money to make the bar more accessible and
enjoyable. Cute bar tenders also make the place a great place to grab a
drink. Like Luxor, the upstairs is divided into two bars, unlike Luxor,
the smaller second room has a baby grand piano which is used. If you
are looking for a relaxing place, centrally located it is a great place
to check out. Also called Upstairs at Dedo.
DOWNSTAIR'S CAFE,160 Merrimac Street
Lowell, Massachusetts 01852
978-937-3333
EAGLE
520 Tremont Street, Boston, 617-542-4494
Small neighborhood cruise bar that gets progressively more crowded as
the clock approaches closing time. (I wonder why?) Although the name
indicates leather, more of a jeans and t-shirt crowd. Say hello to Jack
for me! No cover, open till 2am.
FRAN'S PLACE
776 Washington Street
Lynne, Massachusetts 01901
781-598-5618
FRIENDS LANDING, 85 Water Street, Haverhill, MA 978-374-9400
The "north of the city" favorite. Bar and Dance Club. We have heard
this place is fun and plan on visiting real soon!
FRITZ, 26 Chandler Street, Boston 617-482-4428
A gay sports bar (yes, you heard me right!) The crowd here can be mixed
in terms of age, shapes, size, and friendliness. Brunch is served on
Sundays. Sunday afternoons from 4 pm till 6 pm for "Happy Hour", this
is the place to be! No cover, open noon to 2am. Chandler Inn Hotel
located above.
Jacques
79 Broadway Street, Boston, 617-426-8902
"Drag Shows" by some of Boston's best! Check out site for details, and
get their early for a table! Cover varies, open till midnight.
JOSEPH'S
191 Oxford Street
Lynn, Massachusetts 01901
781-599-9483
LE PLACE
20 Kenyon Street
New Bedford, Massachusetts
508-992-8156
MACHINE, 1256 Boylston Street, Boston, 617-536-1950
Below the Ramrod, this fabulous nightclub has a fun pool hall, video
screens, and a lounge area. The dance club brings you into a big dance
floor with state-of-the-art lighting and a Friday night that should not
be missed! Cover varies, open to 2am.
MANRAY-CAMPUS, 21 Brookline Street, Cambridge, 617-864-0400
Thursdays (think young college boys!) and Saturdays draw a great crowd
at this Central Square location. Two dance floors for varying tastes.
Cover varies, open till 2am. A younger crowd, so be prepared.
PARADISE, 180 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 617-494-0700
Male strippers and adult videos make for a cruise scene upstairs.
Downstairs has a dance floor open on weekends. Mixed crowd from local
college boys, to fine older gentleman. Open till 1am Sunday thru
Thursday and 2am on Friday and Saturday.
PUZZLES, 428 North Front Street, New Bedford, MA 02746, (508) 997-0466
RAMROD, 1254 Boylston Street, Boston, 617-266-2986
Boston's premier leather bar open seven days a week. The back room has
a leather dress code enforced on Friday and Saturday nights. Do not
bring your Mom here!No cover (usually), open from 12 noon to 2am.
THE PUB AT 47 CENTRAL, 47 Central Avenue (Route 129), Lynn,
781-586-0551-Fun crowd of locals and curious out-of-towners. Dancing
Thursday thru Sunday nights, food available daily from 3pm to 8pm. Open
daily till 2am.
RISE - After Hours (Private Members Only Club.)
Toast-Thursdays
Toast Lounge in Somerville, MA
21+ 9PM-1AM (Ladie's Night!)
$5 Cover-DJ Gay Jim from Kiss 108
*Wednesday is men's night, and they're calling it "Tilt"!
If we are missing a gay Boston bar or gay Boston club, please let us
know! We want to make this the most comprehensive GLBT bar and club
listing in New England!
Boston's roots are steeped in civil disobedience and tolerance, so it
makes sense that the city boasts a large and active GLBT community. In
1971, Boston had one of the first-ever gay pride marches. Three years
later, Boston's Fenway neighborhood elected the state's first
openly gay person to office. The city also gave birth to the phrase
"Boston Marriage" -- a term first used to explain what all those women
from Smith and Mount Holyoke were doing living together back in the era
of Emily Dickinson.
Boston's South End, just south of Copley Square, has established itself
as the epicenter of all gay activity with eclectic restaurants and
shops. Although many straight young professionals and families began
moving into the renovated brownstones in the last few years, the
neighborhood bordered by Columbus and Massachusetts Avenues, and
Clarendon and Tremont Streets is a comfortable place where all are
welcome.
The nightlife is serious business in Boston's gay community, with the
most popular clubs concentrated in the Theater District and the Fenway
area. Club Café on Thursday nights, Buzz on Fridays and Saturdays,
ManRay on Thursdays and Saturdays and Machine from Wednesdays through
Sundays are full-on, all-out muscle-men parties. Vapor, Ramrod and
Paradise are perennial favorites. The Eagle on Tremont picks up steam
late night daily.
But like all communities, Boston's GLBT scene is diverse with many
different perspectives. Laid-back nightlife like Dedo's Lounge &
Bistro and the scrumptious Geoffrey's Café (relocated to the Back
Bay) are staples for the 30-something crowd. Locals say there are few
lesbian-only bars and clubs, but the South End's Delux, CityGirl
Caffe in Cambridge and Hollywood at the Ecko Lounge on Saturdays are
all lesbian draws.
Performances of the Gay Men's Chorus and Boston Women's Rainbow
Chorus always offer artistically innovative shows. Many gay athletic
clubs, with everything from basketball and bowling to rowing and
swimming, are also available. Pick up a copy of the Boston Phoenix,
Improper Bostonian or Bay Windows for current events, new hotspots and
ads and listings of other gay-friendly businesses.
Last but not least, it's only a two- to three-hour drive to
Provincetown, the country's largest gay and lesbian resort. Summer in
Provincetown is when gay people far outnumber straight people and
you'll see many couples of all types walking hand-in-hand down the
street!
Massachusetts - Boston
Boston has a fabulous and diverse collection of museums (perhaps the
best in America after New York and Washington), which will satisfy all
but the most specialized of tastes.
Among these, the Museum of Fine Arts is probably Boston's proudest
possession. One of the country's largest art museums, it has over one
million objects. With world-class collections of Asiatic art,
excavation material, musical instruments, decorative arts, silver, and
Impressionist paintings, visitors will not be disappointed.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a lavish three-story Venetian
Palazzo located next door to the Museum of Fine Arts, contains a
remarkable collection of Renaissance art. The indoor courtyard in the
center of the building has been rated one of the top gardens in America
by several gardening associations, and is a wonderful place to go
during the winter for a break from the cold.
The Museum of Science, featuring an array of educational and
interactive experiences, is the place to bring the kids. The
Planetarium and the Mugar Omni Theater frequently put on brilliantly
realistic shows.
Other notable places to visit include the Children's Museum, the
Computer Museum, the JFK Library and Museum, and Harvard University's
Fogg Museum, containing a fine collection of early European art and a
beautiful glass flower exhibit.
Boston is considered a very handicapped accessible city. Most hotels
have rooms to accommodate those with special needs.
All local buses are equipped to handle wheelchairs, and you can always
make reservations with a taxi service or car rental service for a
specially equipped car.
There are tours that are designed for disabled persons. But be aware,
some of the narrow cobblestone roads, coupled with the average city
crowds, may be a bit too much for a wheelchair.
English is the primary language spoken in Boston.
While Boston has its share of crime, which would be expected in any
major U.S. city, Police Department statistics show that crime is at its
lowest in almost thirty years.
Boston's Public Safety agencies such as the Police, Fire, and EMS are
leaders national leaders in emergency response.
But visitors should always be on guard and take precautions. Be wary
of pickpockets and try not to leave any of your belongings unattended.
It is pretty safe to walk in Boston, but stay out of parks and deserted
areas late at night.
There aren't very many choices close to Boston. The Blue Hills Ski
Area in Canton is about 30 minutes away by car, but it's pretty weak.
About an hour northwest of Boston sits Wachusett Ski Resort, which has
some challenging runs.
The best skiing in the area requires a minimum three-hour drive to
Northern New England, where the White Mountains of New Hampshire and
the Green Mountains of Vermont loom majestically.
More than any other city in America, with the possible exception of San
Francisco, Boston resembles a European city.
Strolling along Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay or Union Square in
the South End, you might believe you're on a different continent. The
rows of buildings feel as if they are from another time and place.
The layout of the Public Garden is reminiscent of the Champs de Mars in
Paris, or St. Stephen's Green in Dublin. In spring, when the trees
are reawakening after a somnolent winter, and in fall, when the leaves
bathe streets in brilliant shades of red and yellow, even the residents
will stop to reflect on the inherent beauty of the city.
Boston is extremely proud of its rich past, and Bostonians continue to
preserve it masterfully. Some of the oldest cemeteries in the nation
are in Boston: Copp's Hill in the North End dates back to 1660, and
King's Chapel Burying Ground in the downtown area was Boston's
first cemetery. There are many notables buried here including William
Dawes, who helped Paul Revere spread the alarm during the Revolution.
The Old North Church in the North End, where Revere's lantern was
hung that night, is Boston's oldest church.
The Freedom Trail leads visitors on a tour of the events of the
Revolution through these areas. Trinity Church, Emmanuel Church, and
the Church of the Covenant in the Back Bay are noteworthy for their age
and architecture.
Boston has no snorkeling opportunities.
Boston might get a lot of snow in the winter, but it's still a city,
and winter sports options are limited. You can, however, cross-country
ski across the Charles, if you have the inclination, and the river is
sufficiently frozen.
But about a three-hour car drive north of town lie the White Mountains
of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont, both veritable
winter wonderlands.
A bit closer to Beantown, the Blue Hills Ski Area lies about half an
hour away, but the choices there are limited.
The Pilgrims' legacy lives on in the overall lack of gambling options
around town.
There's horse racing at Suffolk Downs and greyhound racing at
Wonderland Park, both in East Boston, but for slots and card tables,
you'll have to head two hours south to a pair of gigantic Indian-run
casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, in Connecticut.
Unfortunately, children are limited, as are adults, with water
activities in Boston. Only during summer is the city warm enough to
enjoy water activities, and even then the choices are not great. Head
to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, or Nantucket in summer for a beach
scene.
While Boston is a large city, it is not hard to find a tranquil spot.
Relaxation in Boston takes on a refined character that manifests itself
in places like Marlborough Street in the Back Bay, a shady, cobblestone
stretch of beautifully preserved buildings and small gardens where you
won't find many people during even the busiest summer season.
There are many small parks dotted throughout Boston Common, the Public
Gardens, the South End, along the Charles River Esplanade walk, and
around Jamaica Pond. When summer rolls around and the college students
take off, there's a bit more breathing room for the locals and
tourists.
The Boston-Providence Skydiving Club and Pepperell Skydiving Center
operate skydiving classes and jumps, but they're both about an hour
away from the city.
Tourism has become one of Boston's largest industries, and as a
result the Boston Tourist Bureau has taken steps to provide visitors
with comprehensive, convenient information.
For those of you that like to plan ahead, writing to the Greater Boston
Convention Center & Visitors Bureau will provide you with a visitor's
kit.
Most Boston accommodations and tourist attractions will also give you
brochures and information once you are in the city. Local tourist
information is available at the Boston Common Visitor Information
Center on Tremont Street and the Cambridge Office for Tourism on
Brattle Street. Most major hotels will also be able to provide you
with the necessary information.
And don't be afraid to ask the locals; they pretty much know where
everything is and are used to tourists visiting their city.
In the wake of the success of Good Will Hunting, more young filmmakers
have been making waves in Hollywood, but that's not to say they've
lost their Boston roots just yet. With the large amount of film
students in the area you're bound to spot a flyer for a free showing.
You'll find more independent films showcased at the Nickelodeon
Theater and Kendall Square Theater in Cambridge. The Boston Public
Library and Museum of Fine Arts put on small cinema festivals
throughout the year. The Harvard Film Archive shows everything from
experimental to foreign films nearly every night.
For more mainstream fare, the city is home to myriad movie theaters
showing all the latest releases.
The restaurant scene is evolving in new directions, with vibrant Asian,
European and African eateries opening everywhere and shattering the
image of stolid New Englanders tolerating baked beans and cod night
after night.
Traditional Boston cuisine bears undeniable Native American and seafood
influences, the most famous dishes being Boston baked beans (adopted
from the Native Americans by the Pilgrims), lobster, scrod, and real
New England clam chowder. Durgin Park, alongside Quincy Market
downtown, is the best place to sample hearty Boston fare.
Certain neighborhoods each have their style of restaurants. The Back
Bay offers places that are typical bistro or trattoria style.
The South End is Boston's up and coming dining mecca, with many
excellent new culinary. If you want something different and artistic,
go there; you won't be disappointed. South End has also become the
brunch destination as of late. But beware-you'll have to wait for a
table no matter what time of year.
Due to immigrant waves over the years, ethnic cuisine is very well
represented in Boston. The North End serves up some of the best Italian
fare outside of Rome, while East Cambridge is full of Portuguese and
Greek diners. Chinatown has multitudes of cheap, delicious eateries.
Japanese, Vietnamese, and Ethiopian cuisine have recently become trendy
among fickle Bostonians.
Visitors should have no problem with the public services that are
present in Boston.
As with most American cities, Boston has payphones and ATM machines
everywhere. The main post office is open 24 hours a day and is located
on Dorchester Avenue, behind South Station. There are smaller branches
everywhere, including near Faneuil Hall, Government Center, Back Bay,
Boston Common, Harvard Square, MIT and the Freedom Trail.
Money can be changed at the airport or any of the banks located in the
city. The main American Express office is on Court Street, by the
Government Center.
There aren't as many cyber cafés to access the Internet as might be
expected in such a progressive, collegiate town, but it shouldn't be
too hard to find a couple clustered around Back Bay, Harvard Square or
MIT.
Many public libraries have free access. (You can call up and request an
hour access at The Boston Public Library in Back Bay, or at any of the
city branches dotted throughout town.)
There are consulates from many different countries in Boston, including
Germany, the U.K., Ireland, and France. Australia chimes in with an
Honorary Consul Office.
You'll have to head up the coast to Nahant and Lynn, about 30 minutes
away from Boston, to windsurf. You can rent equipment from a few shops
in town and Community Boating on the Esplanade.
During the busy summer months some of the most-touristed spots in
Boston can be quite crowded, like Hanover Street in the North End and
Newbury Street in the Back Bay.
The first few weeks of the fall semester in early September and the
last few weeks of spring semester in early June for college students
might seem like a small invasion.
But in general, for a large city, Boston is not nearly as crowded as
you would imagine. On average, it is quite manageable and you can
stroll without worry, especially after the college kids go home in late
spring.
Several ponds in the suburbs of Arlington (Spy Pond) and especially
Concord (Walden Pond) have been favorite summer swimming destinations
for generations. Unfortunately, they're pretty hard to reach by
public transportation.
Even though Governor William Weld bravely dove into the Charles River
several years back to show how much the river has been cleaned up, you
should not follow his example-it 's still just a bit too murky and
polluted to be any fun.
Boston's Logan Airport is conveniently located just 3 miles (5
kilometers) northeast of downtown, and is connected by subway, commuter
rail, water shuttle, bus, taxi, airport shuttle, handicap van and
limousine to all parts of the metropolitan area. From Logan to anywhere
downtown, count on an average of 20 minutes travel time.
There are no bungee jumping options in Boston.
Six Flags New England, newly opened for the year 2000, offers roller
coasters, stunt shows, and kiddie rides galore. The Superman roller
coaster, which climbs over 20 stories high and reaches a top speed of
80 mph, is the main attraction for daredevils, but small children and
acrophobic adults will find more than enough attractions to keep you
entertained for a day, from the exciting Batman stunt show to the
Looney Tunes playland.
Six Flags New England is located in Agawam, about two hours' drive
west of Boston.
Another major theme park in the Boston area is Canobie Lake Park in
Nashua, New Hampshire, just one hour north. Most teenagers head
straight for Canobie's Corkscrew roller coaster, but there are lots
of other things to keep people of all ages interested.
Whalom Park in Lunenberg, about one hour away from Boston, is also a
popular theme park destination. Whalom Park draws younger kids than
either Canobie or Six Flags.
Boston is a great town for shopping. Different sections of the city
offer different kinds of stores, so you really don't have to go far
to find what you want.
The Downtown Crossing area houses large department stores like
Filene's and Macy's as well as Marshall's.
In the center of the city are two fairly upscale malls, Copley Place
and the Prudential Center. This is a great place to shop year-round
because it's enclosed and connected with some major hotels by series
of skywalks.
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market have more specialty and gift items.
It's pretty touristy and can be extremely crowded during the
summertime.
One of the best places for shopping is Newbury Street, somewhat akin to
Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive. While it does have some designer stores
like Armani and Cartier, as you stroll down the following blocks it
changes to more boutiques and unique shops. Even if you can't afford
the merchandise, it makes for great window-shopping.
Charles Street on Beacon Hill is an excellent place to shop for
antiques but not for bargains.
Whether you're looking for books, clothes, music, or jewelry, Boston
has it all.
The South End, the traditional gay part of town, hosts a large Gay
Pride Festival every June, which offers lectures, discussions, parties,
a carnival, and one giant parade. Many organizations within the gay
community work on youth education, religion, politics, parenting,
health issues, and helping gays and lesbians cope.
There are no beaches in Boston proper. But you can find quite a few
beaches in South or East Boston, or to the north within 10 miles.
Most beaches are run by the Metropolitan District Commission, and are
open from the end of June until the beginning of September. There are
lifeguards on duty from 10-6 pm daily.
The Boston Harbor Islands, 31 in all, are now considered part of the
park system of Boston.
Boston belongs to Eastern Standard Time, same as New York.
With the thousands of new international students that make Boston their
home every fall, it's not surprising that the Metro Boston area has a
surplus of locations to take English-language classes. If you're
hankering to learn a foreign language, the Boston Language Institute
offers everything from Arabic to Zulu.
Taco Bell (only three branches in the city at last count), Hardees and
KFC.
Boston is one of the best places to understand American passion for
spectator sports.
Boston sports fans are relentless-New York-hating,
championship-deprived, and utterly faithful-the best kind of fans. They
will both cheer and jeer their favorite players, often in the same
game.
The Boston Red Sox baseball team plays in Fenway Park, one of the
oldest ballparks in the nation. While it's almost impossible to get
great seats unless you were born into them, you can usually get a
ticket in the bleachers, along side boisterous fans, a day or two
before the game (unless the Red Sox are in the thick of a pennant
race).
Fenway will probably see the jaws of a bulldozer in a couple of years,
so if you are visiting you should plan to see it while you can. Located
in downtown Kenmore Square, it is one of the few ballparks left that
you can actually walk to. Opening day is in early April and the regular
season runs through early October.
Both the Boston Celtics basketball team and the Boston Bruins hockey
team play in the new Fleet Center, which replaced the historic Boston
Garden in 1995. Both teams are enduring hard reconstruction periods
after better days in the 1980s, but they enjoy fervent local support
and strong coaching staffs. Located in the downtown area, the Fleet
Center is close to many sports bars, Irish pubs, and public
transportation. The Bruins' season runs from mid-October through
mid-April. The Celtics' season runs from November to late April.
The New England Patriots football team, AFC Champions in 1996, plays at
Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, about 30 minutes southwest
of Boston. Foxboro is easy to reach from Boston by public
transportation. The season runs from September through late December.
The New England Revolution soccer team also plays in Foxboro, and their
season runs from May to August.
Team sports are not the only spectator sports in Boston. You can watch
horse racing at Suffolk Downs, just 20 minutes away from downtown
Boston by subway. Located in East Boston, it has been open since 1935.
It costs only $2 to sit in the grandstands and $4 for the clubhouse.
The Downs is open January through early June.
The annual Longwood Open, held in early July, will sate tennis fans,
while running aficionados should check out the Boston Marathon,
America's oldest, held annually in mid-April.
All of Boston's large colleges and universities have strong sports
programs. Some can't-miss events include the Beanpot Hockey
Tournament, held during the first two Saturdays in February, where
Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, and Northeastern
University compete. Also check out Boston College football in the fall
or hockey in the winter. Harvard men's and women's hockey programs
are also strong.
Boston also plays host to many one-off sports championships throughout
the year. In recent years, it has hosted golf's Ryder Cup, the
women's World Cup soccer finals, and several ice skating
championships.
Only during summer is Boston warm enough to enjoy water activities, and
even then the choices are not great. Head to Cape Cod, Martha's
Vineyard, or Nantucket in summer to get your water sport kicks.
Boston has some decent cross-country skiing most of the winter. The
closest reliable cross-county skiing available to Boston is in
Stoneham, about 25 minutes away at the Middlesex Fells Cross-Country
Ski Trail. All Metropolitan District Commission reservations and parks
open their terrain to cross-country skiers.
After major snowfalls in town, many locals ski across the frozen
Charles River or in the parks for fun. But heading further away to the
Berkshires in Western Massachusetts or the White Mountains in New
Hampshire offers far better choices.
You won't find any immediate places to mountain bike within Boston,
but there are places in the northern, western, and southern suburbs.
The Fells, a piece of open country 10 miles north of Boston, Harold
Parker State Forest, about 25 miles north of the city, and Gilbert
Hills State Forest, about 30 miles north, all swarm with mountain
bikers in the summer. Bikes are easy to rent in the downtown area.
Wine connoisseurs with images of Boston as a cold, gray town need not
despair. While there aren't any wineries in the city or suburbs,
those willing to drive outside the city for a half an hour can find a
few wine-producing establishments.
An hour's drive to the north of Boston sits the Goodale Orchards.
The owners give a great tour of their winemaking facilities as well as
a chance to sample their product. Forty miles to the south is the
Plymouth Area where, along with all the other historic sites, there is
an opportunity to visit several wineries.
Historic Neighborhoods Association even offers tours based on the
famous story.
Good news-you won't have to ship that heavy jet ski to your hotel,
because there's no place to use it in Boston.
Boston has many public swimming pools scattered throughout the city,
open from late June until early September. For exact fees and
locations, contact the Metropolitan District Commission, the organizing
body.
The Greater Boston YMCA, a 25-yard heated indoor pool, is thought to be
the best swimming pool in the city-and at only $10 a visit for
non-members, it may well be the best value around.
Many sports and health clubs also have swimming pools that you might be
able to use if you purchase a one-day pass.
The curving streets of Boston, though once filled with molasses at the
turn of the century (from a factory incident), offer no possibilities
for high-speed rafting.
Despite Boston's reputation for having crazy drivers and narrow
streets, the city has a lot of trails for road bikers.
The Esplanade along the Charles River is the most popular trail within
the city, and probably the safest. The ten-mile long Minuteman Bicycle
Trail from Cambridge to the northern suburbs provides a picturesque
setting for cyclists. Franklin Park and the Emerald Necklace have many
trails of varying difficulty to try as well.
Don't worry if you're not bringing a bike. There are a large number
of shops in and around Boston that rent bicycles for around $20 a day.
Relaxing on the beach may not be the first thing that comes to mind
when thinking about visiting Boston, but with the Atlantic Ocean
nearby, there are plenty of beaches to enjoy.
Pleasure Bay, off of Castle Island, is one of the city's finest and
cleanest swimming beaches. Many of the residents enjoy walks along the
mile-long causeway.
The city's seven mainland beaches along William J. Day Boulevard also
provide beautiful shores for sun worshippers to lie on. While they
were considered unsavory due to harbor pollution years back, recent
harbor cleanups have made them safe.
And for those willing to drive outside the city, Revere Beach to the
north and Nantasket Beach to the southeast, across the harbor, are
great places to lay down a towel.
Real beach buffs can also tack on a few extra days and head to Cape Cod
in the summer.
With four large rivers within city limits, Boston has many canoeing
options to choose from. Centrally, you can rent canoes for reasonable
prices and often get free instruction if you need it. Visitors can
canoe right on the Charles River with great views of Boston and
Cambridge.
Along the Concord River, there are opportunities to canoe right by the
historical battlegrounds that opened the American Revolution. Canoe
rental outfits operate from early May through early October.
You'll have to head to Cape Cod for these activities. Boston has no
place to waterski.
Golf is very popular in Boston, even though many of the courses in and
around the city are private and member restricted.
Most of the good public courses are in the suburbs. Franklin Park
offers a challenging, public course just a few miles out of town. There
is also a great state-of-the-art indoor facility right in downtown
Boston called City Golf. A bucket costs only $7 and they offer private
and group lessons.
Golfing season is usually May through September in Boston. When the
cold weather hits, sometimes as early as October, some of the courses
close up shop until the spring.
Due mostly due to its dynamic college-age and Gen X population, Boston
has one of the liveliest and most varied contemporary music scenes in
the United States.
Rock aficionados migrate to the South End, where there are many mellow
clubs with bands playing. The Middle East, located in Central Square in
Cambridge, is also a well-known place to catch local bands. Jazz-lovers
should head over to Cambridge, where there are a number of small clubs
and larger hotels that showcase national touring acts, like the House
of Blues and Scullers.
There is also a strong acoustic music scene most prevalent in the
neighboring areas of Cambridge and Somerville. (Famous acoustic artists
like Tracy Chapman were discovered while singing on the streets around
Harvard Square.) Also in Harvard Square is Club Passim, which helped
launch Bob Dylan's career.
Complete listings are published on Thursdays in the Calendar section of
the Boston Globe and on Fridays in the Boston Phoenix.
There are a few nice places to fish in the Boston area. You can head to
South Boston and cast a line off from the pier or go to Jamaica Pond in
Jamaica Plain, located a few miles outside the city. They have a
77-acre freshwater pond stocked with trout and bass.
The Lynn Fishing Pier has striped bass and bluefish from June through
September. If you want to venture further outside the city, the Blue
Hills Reservation offers three different fishing areas.
Freshwater fishing in Boston requires a license; saltwater fishing does
not. Visitors can get a special seven-day license through the Division
of Fisheries and Wildlife, who also run a fishing hotline.
As for deep-sea fishing, there are a number of companies from Cape Cod
to New Hampshire that you can hire to take you out in the ocean for
fishing, but these are located at least an hour's drive from Boston.
With its wide sidewalks and pleasant charm, Boston is easily one of
America's most café-friendly burgs, especially in spring and summer
when the tables spill out onto the sidewalks.
The café culture is so developed that different neighborhoods harbor
different types of cafés.
The trendy spots are mostly in the South End, or behind the long lines
you'll see on Newbury Street, Boston's version of New York's
Fifth Avenue.
If you're looking for more family-oriented cafés with less
ostentation, head down to the North End, the Italian neighborhood,
where trattorias and old world ambience abound.
Wherever you go, you'll often find large windows to watch the people
strolling by. Unfortunately, during the busy summer months, you will a
long wait to get a table.
Outside of the city, you can snowmobile at the Blue Hills Ski Area and
Wachusett Ski Resort, as well as the Middlesex Fells Cross-Country Ski
Trail. The Berkshires and White Mountains still offer the best snow
sports in the area, though.
Boston parks are ubiquitous and lovingly maintained. The designer of
New York's Central Park, Fredrick Law Olmstead, created Boston's
Park System more than 100 years ago.
Aptly named the Emerald Necklace, the park system is the largest
continuous urban green space in the United States. A five-mile series
of beautifully maintained parks and gardens, the Necklace starts at the
Boston Common and Public Garden, runs through the Victorian Back Bay,
then along the Esplanade (which follows the Charles River).
>From there, the Necklace heads south into the Harvard-affiliated Arnold
Arboretum which contains several thousand species of plants, and
Franklin Park, home to Boston's zoo.
Many neighborhoods within Boston have also set aside small spaces for
urban respites. The Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and the South End each host
garden tours in the summer.
Even though Boston is one of the largest cities in the United States,
it still has plenty of small-town charm.
>From the sidewalk cafés along Newbury Street, to the pockets of
greenery dotted around town, Boston offers many relaxing spots for
tourists and locals alike. Summertime in Boston is especially relaxing,
after the hordes of college students have skipped town.
While Boston is on the water, the beaches and activities affiliated
with the water are not great. Due to the colder weather almost eight
months of the year and cold temperatures of the water for even longer,
activities in the water are slim.
The closest place for SCUBA Diving is in Brookline, just outside of
Boston. They offer lessons, rentals, PADI certification, and will help
you plan and book dives.
Boston has a variety of facilities catering to many other recreational
activities, including gyms, fitness clubs with short-term memberships,
basketball courts, bowling alleys, and pool halls.
You can ice skate on both the pond in the Public Garden and the Frog
Pond on the Boston Common. Both have excellent atmosphere and are free
with your own skates. Rentals are cheap and the experience is
wonderful. They open after the first cold spell, usually after
Thanksgiving, and stay open until spring arrives.
The Metropolitan District Commission operates 19 rinks in and around
Boston. They're open from mid-November to mid-March and are
accessible by public transportation.
Candlepin bowling is one of the great activities of New England, a kind
of primitive, miniature version of tenpin bowling. Wherever there's a
regular bowling alley in or around the Boston area, candlepin lanes
will be there, most notably at Lanes and Games near Alewife.
New England, the region in which Boston is located, is brimming with
excursion options year-round. Driving in any direction out of Boston,
you're bound to hit upon something unique within a couple of hours.
A trip up the north shore will bring you to quaint seaside towns like
Rockport and Marblehead. Salem, infamous for the 17th century witch
trials, offers the fascinating Salem Witch Museum.
Places like Lexington and Concord are perfect for American Revolution
history buffs. Many of the most important 19th-century American writers
hailed from Concord, like Henry Thoreau and Louisa May Alcott. You can
still visit their houses around the famous Walden Pond.
Whale watching is also quite popular and is offered by many groups
right in Boston Harbor.
All of these places are less than an hour outside of Boston and can be
reached both by car and public transportation. Beyond Boston's
suburbs, there are even more places to visit. These places are best
reached by car, as public transportation is sparse in many areas.
Some parts of Cape Cod, the seaside playground, are reachable in a day,
but you would have to stay overnight if you wanted to travel to the tip
of the Cape at Provincetown.
The only surfing to be done in Boston is on computer waves on the
Internet.
Boston is a wonderful place to bring children at any time of the year.
Museums abound, with a few that cater specifically to kids. The
Children's Museum is geared towards kids from ages3 to 6. The Museum
of Science has many educational activities for children of all ages.
The Museum of Cultural and Natural History in Cambridge has a fabulous
dinosaur exhibit. The Franklin Park Zoo and New England Aquarium are
also fun options.
For some more active ideas, you can rent canoes and row along the
Charles River.
Boston is not on par with New York or London in performing arts, but it
still hosts a diverse set of music, dance, and theater. The Boston
Ballet, one of the best companies in the country, puts together a
world-famous rendition of The Nutcracker Suite before Christmas every
year. Their season runs from mid-November through early April.
In addition to the commercial theaters in the city, there are many
excellent repertory and college groups in both Boston and Cambridge.
Dance Umbrella in Cambridge is host to many local and touring groups.
The American Repertory Theater and Huntington Theater Company are both
well acclaimed.
Boston also has a dizzyingly beautiful array of well-maintained old
theaters, like Sanders Theater in Harvard University, a Victorian
wooden theater with excellent acoustics.
Complete listings of the performing arts are published on Thursdays in
the Calendar section of the Boston Globe and on Fridays in the Boston
Phoenix.
There is no hiking in Boston's city center. The closest thing may be
walking through the Emerald Necklace parks. (The Arnold Arboretum has
many trails throughout its 265 acres.)
For real hiking, you'll have to head out of town to the state parks
of Western Massachusetts or the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
For an urban location, Boston has some pretty good wildlife, bird, and
botany watching opportunities.
The Emerald Necklace, Boston's premier series of parks, offers great
bird and botany watching. The Arnold Arboretum, a 265-acre botanical
garden affiliated with Harvard University, was planned specifically for
this purpose. They have over 6,000 species of plants, clearly labeled
for the public.
The Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, about 30 minutes outside of
Boston, is a 3,600-acre reservation of wildlife, flora, and fauna. The
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation in East Boston has an abundance of
shorebirds, waterfowl, and herons. You can even see snowy owls during
the winter months.
Boston offers a few wonderful activities that defy categorization. In
October, you can go apple picking and see cider pressed in a suburban
orchard, or take a trip to view the fabulous fall foliage.
There are many noteworthy spas located in the heart of Boston, with
some of the best being located in top hotels, like the Rowes Wharf
Health Club in the Boston Harbor Hotel. You can also find many
full-service and trendy spas along Newbury Street in the Back Bay.
In Western Massachusetts, about two hours west of Boston, there are a
handful of spa destinations that many Bostonians visit for the weekend.
There is an abundance of celebrations, parades, street fairs, and
festivals in Boston. There is something different happening every
week.
Most weekends between April and October, there are street fairs or
ethnic festivals in one of Boston's distinctive neighborhoods (North
End, South End, Back Bay, Central Square, and Harvard Square).
Highlights include: the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in March; the
various Patriot's Day celebrations on the third Monday of April; the
Duckling Day Parade in the Public Garden in May; the Boston Pops Fourth
of July Celebration Concert and Fireworks; the Head of the Charles
Regatta in late October; and the original First Night Celebration on
New Year's Eve.
For the latest listings, check with the Boston Convention and Visitors
Bureau.
Some of the most notable and interesting festivals throughout the year
include the following:
Chinese New Year
Saint Patrick's Day
Patriots Day Parade
Boston Marathon
Recreations of the battles of Lexington and Concord
Walk for Hunger
Boston Brewer's Festival
Ducklings Day Parade
Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill
Lilac Sunday
Late May
Annual Street Performers Festival
Boston Common Dairy Festival (The first full week of June)
Dragon Boat Festival
Bunker Hill Weekend (Reenactment of the battle of Bunker Hill)
Boston Harborfest
Boston Pops Annual Fourth of July Concert And Fireworks
Bastille Day
Religious Festivals in Italian North End
Annual Festival Betances (Honoring Puerto Rican compatriot Ramon
Betances)
Annual Civil War Encampment
Caribbean-American Carnival
Cambridge River Festival
Art Newbury Street
Third Full Weekend of September
South End Open Studios
Fort Point Arts Community Open Studios
Head of the Charles Regatta
Annual Christmas Performances
Crafts at the Castle
Reenactment of the Boston Tea Party
First Night: New Year's Celebrations
Since college kids make up a quarter of Boston's population, it's
no surprise that Boston's club and bar scene are both great. The only
drawback is the early 2 a.m. closing time, a frightening thought that
sends many college kids scurrying off to New York for long weekends.
The most famous hot spot in Boston is Landsdowne Street, overloaded
with upscale pool halls and dance clubs. Other popular hangouts
include: The Alley, at Boylston Place, where you'll find rows of pubs
filled with white-capped college kids; Bulfinch Triangle, filled with
sports bars; Southie, the traditionally Irish part of town whose bars
still cater more to Dubliners than Bostonians; and Harvard Square, full
of college kids and high-schoolers who wish they were.
Many upscale hotels also contain bars or nighttime lounges that attract
an older, more sophisticated crowd.
The latest trend among Bostonians is to hang out in brewhouses. Samuel
Adams Brewhouse in Copley and John Harvard's Brewhouse in Harvard
Square are the most trendy.
There's no ice climbing in Boston.
The gently meandering Charles River is an excellent spot to learn
sailing, although experts might find it a bit boring.
To take sailing lessons, head down to Community Boating on the Charles
River Esplanade. They offer lessons and rentals from April through
October. You can sail right on the Charles and enjoy excellent views of
the city.
The Boston Sailing School, downtown near the Aquarium, is considered
one of the best sailing schools in New England; they claim that they
can teach you the ropes (pun intended) in a week.
Boston is not really suited for the adventure sports enthusiast.
Rollerblading down Beacon Hill is about as crazy as it gets. The great
outdoors of New Hampshire and Maine, however, are less than a
three-hour car drive away.
Boston is a very cosmopolitan city with a well-educated populace and a
large foreign-born student population always eager to catch up on news
from around the globe, in many different languages.
The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald are the two local papers that
are published daily, with comprehensive coverage of national and world
news. The New York Times is sold in newsstands and newspaper vending
machines all over Boston and Cambridge.
Newspapers in international languages can be found in several
newsstands, including one in the Copley Mall in Back Bay and Out of
Town News smack dab in the middle of Harvard Square.
As with everywhere, the Internet is the best way to get information
these days, and there are cyber cafés in Back Bay, the South End,
Harvard Square and other trendy areas. Most hotels will have full cable
packages that include all the national networks and most cable channels
as well.
Children can take advantage of many winter activities available in and
around Boston, and they're sure to receive good instruction from the
ski areas, although you will have to travel outside of town.
The skating rinks in Boston, notably the ones on the pond in the Public
Garden and the Frog Pond on the Boston Common, are wonderful
experiences right in the heart of the city. The rinks open after the
first cold spell, usually after Thanksgiving, and stay open until
spring arrives.
The Metropolitan District Commission operates 19 rinks in and around
Boston; they're open from mid-November to mid-March and are
accessible by public transportation.
There are some indoor climbing walls at local gyms in Boston, but other
than that, you'll have to head to New Hampshire or suburban Boston
for better options.
Boston is appropriate for all ages at all times of the year. A bad
winter may pose a few frustrating problems for older people in poor
health, or families with children trying to get around.
There is nowhere to ride a horse in the city of Boston, but one great
option is to go to the Boston Equestrian Center in the town of Revere
located 15 minutes away by car. The center offers trail rides, an
outdoor ring, and riding lessons at very reasonable prices.
Boston is a great jogging (and a good rollerblading) town. There are
many miles of jogging paths strewn throughout the Emerald Necklace, a
park area, and along the Charles River.
Joggers never let freezing temperatures stop them. The ice does tend to
slow the rollerbladers down, however.
The Esplanade along the Charles River is the best place to jog. For
serious runners, the Boston Marathon, said to be one of the most
difficult of marathons, is held annually in mid-April.
The Minuteman Bicycle Trail, beginning in Cambridge and finishing in
the distant suburbs, is popular with more advanced bladers. You can
rent rollerblades easily in town from various sports shops.
No ballooning options arise in Boston.
The newly renovated and expanded New England Aquarium, complete with a
six-story central Giant Ocean Tank, home to several hundred marine
species, is one of the USA's best-loved aquariums.
Other than this, the Boston area is not on anyone's list of major
theme park or zoo destinations, although Six Flags New England, two
hours west of town, offers high-speed roller coaster thrills and kiddie
rides alike.
Franklin Park Zoo is good, but not among the country's finest.
As one of America's oldest and most European-influenced towns, Boston
teems with art exhibitions, cultural options, performing arts, street
fairs, and historical attractions.
Unlike so many American cities, Boston has not forgotten its rich
history. It has preserved more monuments to its heritage than any other
American city per capita.
The results show all over the city, from the well-kept three-mile
Freedom Trail that showcases pre-Revolution sights, to the stately rows
of Victorian brownstones that line Commonwealth Avenue in the upscale
Back Bay. Boston is America's past and future, caught in a snapshot.
Most downtown hotels go for at least $150-200 a night, especially
around the Financial District. It's possible to stay here on a
budget, but you may have to sacrifice downtown convenience to do so-and
you'll probably end up a little further outside of the city than you
were expecting.
A good option for those wanting a unique experience is to stay at a bed
and breakfast.
Boston has a long-standing and well-deserved reputation for a lively
classical music scene. The Boston Symphony was founded in 1881, and has
played at their current location since 1900. They perform from October
through April each year. (During the summer they play at Tanglewood, a
resort in Western Massachusetts.)
The Boston Pops, a lighter version of the Symphony, perform during May
and June and at Christmastime. They are famous for their concerts on
the riverside Esplanade and, most of all, their concert in the Hatch
Shell (a riverside concert hall) preceding the fireworks on the Fourth
of July.
The Handel and Hadyn Society is one of the oldest companies in the
country, probably most known for their performances of The Messiah each
Christmas since 1854. (They also perform with period piece
instruments.)
The New England Conservatory of Music is also an alternative, with over
250 performances each year by students, faculty, and guests.
Boston's opera scene, which had been languishing for quite a while,
is seeing a revival. The Boston Lyric Opera is trying to spur interest
in the art. The Charlestown-based Boston Academy of Music is another
new group that has recently performed, and to rave reviews. Prism Opera
of Malden was launched in 1995, and during their first season performed
The Magic Flute to sold-out audiences.
There are many concerts at local museums and churches as well. Check
local listings, or for a complete listing of events, check Thursdays in
the Calendar section of the Boston Globe and on Fridays in the Boston
Phoenix.
In general, Bostonians pursue most recreational activities with fervor
similar to the passion they hold for watching spectator sports. Boston
is an especially great place for jogging, canoeing, children's
activities, shopping, biking, and golf in the summer. In the winter, it
frequently gets cold to do anything but go to the gym or go skiing in
the mountains.
You can play tennis in Boston, but the courts are strewn through many
different neighborhoods and are usually busy during the warm weather
season.
They range from Tenean Beach in Dorchester to Dilboy Field and Foss
Park in Somerville. The Parks and Recreation Department maintains 103
tennis courts in the city.
Pharmacies are also easy to find in the city. CVS and Walgreen's are
the main chains. (The CVS in the Porter Square Shopping Center is open
24 hours a day, for midnight emergencies.)
The only hunting in Boston is bargain-hunting in the shops.
The children will have to find other outlets for their energy-there
aren't any adventure sports for them in Boston.
With its bounty of colonial-era historical sights and small land area,
Boston is one of America's most enjoyable sightseeing cities.
In a one-mile radius, it's possible for visitors to admire many
pre-Revolution edifices, like the Old State House, the Old South
Meeting House, Old North Church (starting point of Paul Revere's
famed Midnight Ride), Paul Revere's house, Trinity Church, Faneuil
Hall, the Old Customs House, and more.
The Freedom Trail, a 3-mile red line that snakes through the city,
links these sights in an easy to follow format, ending at the U.S.S
Constitution, the oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy. It gets
taken out into the harbor once a year, usually on the Fourth of July,
to great pomp and regalia.
Many visitors come to Boston just to admire the architecture, which
spans a variety of styles, from the stately pre-Colonial Harvard Yard,
to the neo-Federal Beacon Hill and the Gothic Emmanuel Church, to
Victorian Back Bay and the futuristic New Hancock Tower, designed by
I.M. Pei.
While not as good as the selection in New York or Washington,
Boston's choice of museums will satisfy all but the most specialized
of interests. The Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardener
Museum, and the Fogg Museum contain some of the finest collections of
Impressionist paintings and Asian art in the country.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Boston led America's way in coming to grips
with urban decay. Quincy Market, a thriving marketplace that is now the
city's top tourist attraction, was built from a mélange of faded
seaside warehouses. This revitalization project was crucial in
inspiring many other metropolises from New York to San Francisco to
rebuild the inner city and promote racial harmony in city politics.
One of the first big cities in the New World colonies, Boston was built
as a port destination, and slowly came into its own, developing into a
complex metropolis as well. It remains today in both a seaside, and a
city and urban environment.
One of the greatest things about Boston is the broad array of excellent
walking tours. Rangers lead free tours along the Freedom Trail, the
Black Heritage Trail, and various neighborhood tours. The volunteer
organization Boston by Foot leads various neighborhood and seasonal
(like Halloween) tours. Tour programs are seasonal, so it is advised to
call ahead.