Boston Pride

Activities for The Kiddos

Something I will always remember doing in elementary school were the Duck Tours. For some reason, every year one of our field trips would be riding on the duck tours. No matter how many time we went, I always enjoyed it (maybe because I was a kid and I didn’t know any better). Listening to the tour guide was educational and all but being able to travel on water and then go on land and drive on the streets like it was nothing was pretty cool to me. It still is.

In high school, the older you get the less field trips you take. But one field trip I remember going to in high school senior year was the New England Aquarium. I want to clarify that I went to the aquarium for my psychology class. Yeah I don’t see the connection either but obviously no one complained. I felt like I was six years old again looking at the fish and participating in the exhibits. I actually loved it. If I at that time, was very happy to be there then I know a child would have a blast there.

One place I didn’t go as a child or for any field trip was the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. I don’t know why that wasn’t a thing in middle school or high school even though we learned about the Boston Tea Party in pretty much every grade but it’s fine. I feel like that would be so cool for a kid to go there especially if they learned about it in school to physically be on a ship that is similar to the Boston Tea Party ships. If you are traveling with kids and need activities to keep them busy and entertained , these are your places.

Arts and Museums

Okay so I’m going to be honest. I’m not really a fan of museums or going to art galleries. It’s not my thing and frankly I just think they are very boring. Don’t get me wrong I will go to these places but it’s not something I see myself choosing to go to those places and having a great time. But I will say the Museum of Science is my favorite museum. In middle school, we would take these trips to that museum and spend the night there. As a kid, that was the best part about being in the middle school, sleeping at the museum. I have very fond memories at the Museum of Science and it’s very nostalgic to me. I would definitely check that it especially if you traveling with kids, they would love it.

My friend Maya is very into looking at old paintings made a long long time ago. When she looks at a painting, she will interpret it many different ways and explains what she thinks it means in just a few seconds but I would literally look at for 30 minutes and still will have no idea what it means. She recommends for anyone who likes to look at paintings and analyze it in every possible way to go to the Museum of Fine of Arts. They have a ton of paintings for you to do all that but I will pass.

Sweets! :)

I haven’t met one person that said they didn’t like sweets. Whether it’s chocolate, candy, ice cream, etc. Whatever, everyone has some sort of sweet tooth where they like to indulge in some food that they know isn’t healthy but will eat it anyways because they deserve it in some way or another. Lucky for you, Boston has many bakeries throughout the city. Mike’s Pastry is an Italian bakery located near Faneuil Hall Marketplace, so while you’re shopping, take a little break and enjoy the sweet Italian treats Mike’s Pastry has to offer.

Bova’s Bakery is also a delicious Italian bakery. Known for it’s homemade tiramisu, you can chose from countless amount of authentic goodies. they have desserts like cannolis, fresh Italian Bread, warm cookies, must I go on? They also pride themselves on using the healthiest ingredients, so go ahead, use this as your cheat day. Treat yourself!

Another bakery I recommend is Flour Bakery and Cafe. Yup you heard it right bakery and cafe. I know walking down the streets of Boston can be tiring and you just want a little boost of something. And maybe you are on a diet and don’t want to fall into temptation. I think you should go to this little cafe. Not only does it have those sweets you are trying to stay away from it has a healthier option. From wholegrain sandwiches to smoked salmon and black quinoa salad(if your into that).

Our Finest Education

When I was younger, I had this belief that I was going to be a genius (yeah ik cliche right) and go to Harvard and become the world’s first female president. And well, that obviously didn’t happen so I can just visit Harvard and pretend like it did. I don’t think I need to explain what Harvard is, but for those that don’t know. It’s an ivy league school, which means you need to be extremely smart to be accepted or be really good at a sport or activity. And if you are not, let me just say good luck.

Alright that sounded a little negative, you can do whatever you set your mind to. Don’t let me dissuade your goals at all, I can be negative Nancy sometimes, I’m sorry. Anyways while you’re visiting Harvard, I suggest also stopping by at Boston University and Boston College.

These aren’t Ivy League school but they are very prestigious and are top ranked in the nation as well. Even if you don’t plan on applying to these schools, I really suggest visiting them because they are historically significant to our past and a lot of historically important people from our past attended these schools and to see it evolve from how it was back then to now is pretty interesting me at least.

City of Champs

It’s no secret that Boston is known for wining championships in all professional sports. Our teams include the Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots, and Revolutions. In my opinion, these are the best teams in the world. Don’t believe me read this article by Bleacher Report. And yes I might be a little biased, but facts are facts. Sports in my family has always been a big deal. I have four older siblings and all of us have played basketball all our lives. And honestly coming from a city that is so successful in their different franchises makes me very proud to be a “Bostonian”.

With that being said, I very much suggest going to see any of the teams I mentioned. The TD Garden is an arena where the Celtics and Bruins play. Both teams are very fast paced and I don’t see how you can get bored watching these sports. I’ve been watching the Celtics way before I can remember but I will never forget the night they won the championship in 08.

The pats and the revs play at Gillette Stadium. A lot of championships were won there, very recently especially. Probably the most controversial and successful team in the NFL has to be the pats. Everyone knows whether they want to admit it or not Tom Brady is the GOAT and I’m just going to put it out there. Definitely, especially if they are in season, check out a game. You won’t regret it. And finally there is the Red Sox, I’m not the biggest baseball fan but if there is any baseball team I would watch it would be the Red Sox. They play at Fenway Park. If you want to buy any tickets to any sports games you can visit Acetickets, and you will find whatever you are looking for.

Where To Stay

Long day? I bet. Now it’s time for you to rest. You’ve had an exhausting day of doing all these activities and walking. We all know that I’m not a fan of walking. I get it. You need arguably the most important thing for the body, sleep. I got you. Now I have some suggestions on where you can stay. The first hotel I suggest is economically friendly but still very enjoyable. It is called Constitution Inn, and it is very nice, it comes with a pool and a gym. And not to mention it’s very close to the Freedom Trail. If you want to stay on and or maintain a low budget, that’s the place for you.

Residence Inn by Marriott is the next hotel I suggest. It’s pricier than the first one I reviewed but you do get the bang for your buck. I especially suggest this hotel if you’re traveling with family or a larger group. There is space for everyone and it includes free breakfast (major plus) and a fitness center. I’m not going to lie. This hotel is a lot nicer and way more stylish and modern.

Now if you are like me and like to spend lots of money on the finer things(even if I’m broke), this hotel is for you. The bougie of bougie. They call it the “InterContinental”, almost 5 star hotel, with all the amenities you can think of. From it being animal friendly, free wifi, and full service laundry. Literally what else do you need. This hotel has it all, but it does come with price. But if you want the “ultimate”, “luxurious” Boston experience, there’s no other option for you.

Take the “T”

Don’t even think about driving around in Boston. It is probably the worst thing you can ever do. Finding parking is a hassle and having to pay the high prices to park in the parking lots can add up. And instead of paying those costs, I’d rather you spend that money where it really matters. According to Patch.com, “Boston is ranked #5 in the best public transit system in the nation”. I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds pretty good. We call our public transit systems the “T”, but it is actually called Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority(MBTA). It consists of buses, subway, commuter rails, and ferries.

Using these forms of transportation are definitely cheaper than using anything else. But if you still aren’t convinced with those types of transportation or any other reason why you don’t want to use those. I suggest using taxis or other car services such as Lyft and Uber. You won’t have to stress about parking or paying for gas and those extra expenses.

A Step Back in Time

When your think about the city of Boston, what do you think of? The food, the sports, the accent? Well some forget that Boston is a city of some of the major historical events that has happened in our country. From the Puritans colonizing there first and to the Boston Tea Party, there is a lot that you can see that shows the historical culture of the city. You can visit the Freedom Trail, where our founding fathers have walked. There you can visit the beautiful parks, churches, meeting houses, historical ships, etc. Visiting these site can also give you a sense of how life was during the American Revolution time.

After walking the Freedom Trail, you can visit Faneuil Hall. Faneuil Hall Marketplace in 1743, it was a place where meetings were held and people were able to trade and purchase good there. Now it is a shopping center where people can buy souvenirs, accessories, jewelry, etc. There is also a huge selection of different kinds of food you can eat, it is very culturally diverse.

If you really want to experience the ultimate historical site, probably the most important part of the history of Boston is the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. This activity is not only suitable for adults but for kids as well. Going to see the ships and the museum is perfect if you want to experience the events that happened in the American Revolution. Even if you aren’t really interested in historical stuff or history or anything like that it is still a really cool experience that you probably won’t ever forget.

Boston’s Cuisine

One of the many good things about Boston, is the fact that there are a lot of options for people with different taste. From seafood to burgers, we have it all! If you are in the city and in the mood for American food, I suggest checking out Joe’s American Grill. It is a family – friendly restaurant but also can be a nice place to go with your significant other. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner but my favorite time to go is the morning. I usually get the Breakfast Flatbread but the Corned Hash is very good as well. I think the prices are fair because you really get good quality food. So definitely check them out.

After breakfast, my friends and I would probably take our first nap of the day, but I don’t suggest that because of the numerous activities you can do in the city. Stay tuned because I definitely will be sharing the must do activities while you are here 😉 Anyways, back to food. It’s lunch time and you don’t know where to eat? Well that’s easy, eat at my go to spot for food I know will be good every single time. El Centro is my absolutely my favorite authentic Mexican Restaurant. Once you walk into the restaurant, the smell of tacos and quesadillas hits your nose and automatically your stomach growls. Not only that, the restaurant itself has character, not a lot of Mexican restaurants have, and also you think you are actually in Mexico because of its artwork, photography and just the homey vibe. You can honestly can venture out and try different foods because its just always delicious. My go to dish is of course the Carne Asada Tacos, which is just grilled steak and you can add whatever you prefer.

As the sun goes down, you and your company are slowly winding down and exhausted from all the wonderful ventures, you partook in, I can only imagine how hungry you would be. At this point of the night, I would probably be craving Chinese food. But not the type of Chinese food you can get at your local mall. The genuine, authentic Chinese Food. It is a little bougie, but nevertheless delicious. It is called Myers & Chang. When I go, I always have to get the Lemony Shrimp Dumplings. I am a big seafood lover, especially when it comes to shrimp. So if you are like me, I definitely suggest those dumplings.

I hope you enjoyed all the recommendations I provided about the best restaurants to go to in Boston and please make sure to comment about which restaurants you have tried and your favorite meal. Or just even feedback as to what I can do to make this blog better. If you found this blog helpful, don’t hesitate to share this with friends or family. As always have a blessed day and I will see you soon!

About

Welcome to Boston Pride! If you are interested in traveling to Boston or already have an upcoming trip, this is the best place for you. I currently reside in Washington D.C. but I was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. I know the ins and outs of the city like it’s the back of my hand. After school or on the weekends, my friends and I would explore the city, looking for fun things to do or even just finding the best restaurants to eat at. With that being said, I am very excited to share my personal opinions and recommendations of the best things to do in Boston. I hope you enjoy 🙂