Boston Half-Day Trip

This June will be 4 years since I moved down to Florida from Boston. I still never miss out on a chance to visit. Last weekend was one of those chances. I even brought a friend along for the ride!

I'm not sure how many of you have been to Boston, but it is certainly not a "day trip." So I had to show my friend, Laura, some of my favorite parts in only a few hours before we needed to head to my family's place in Cape Cod for the rest of the weekend-- WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Here's what I decided on:

1) Chinatown. We took the Silverline from the airport to South Station to drop off our heavy luggage, so we were already so close! Many cities have a Chinatown, however in Boston, I love the decor, seasonal celebrations, culture and of course, pho. YUM.

2) Downtown Crossing (aka Downtown XING). You'll usually find local vendors, musicians and bustling commuters here at lunch time. Of course, there are plenty of places to grab souvenirs and eat.

3) Granary Cemetery. You need to visit at least one wicked old cemetery during a Boston visit. We decided to visit the grave of Samuel Adams.

4) Boston Common. There is a true lack of open greenery here in South Florida, as there are in the center of any city, but cities always manage to find that open space. Enter Boston Common-- playgrounds and playing fields, splash ponds and Frog Ponds to the famous Make Way for Ducklings sculpture.

The south commons are filled with gorgeous flowers and this Memorial Day Weekend, 37,000 flags were placed to represent those who have lost their lives fighting for our freedom. Beautiful memorial!

5) The Boston Marathon Finish Line. I read somewhere once that the Boston Marathon was the most watched marathon in the world. Now you might think that watching a marathon on TV is like watching paint dry- and you might be right! But growing up, all Boston and local families would pack a picnic and cheer on the runners somewhere along the 26.2 mile route. It was a hoot!

6) Copley Square and the Green Line. Now this one is a given. If you come to Boston, you need to ride the T (aka train line). The green line is quite an experience-- especially last week when it was rush hour and the AC wasn't working. Now you're a local!

7) Faneuil Hall. So much variety here. On the way, we passed by the oldest school in America (no longer there, but there's a seal on the ground), the site of the Boston Massacre and City Hall (which was voted one of the ugliest buildings in the world- Go Boston!) On a serious note, there is a eye-opening Holocaust Memorial that you do not want to miss.

8) The Waterfront. What would Boston be without water? Not much! It was a major military and shipping port at different times in the past and the waterfront is still bustling with activity. Be sure to see the free

harbor seals outdoor exhibit outside the New

England Aquarium and grab a Ben and Jerry's (VT made) ice cream to replace all those burned walking calories.

Did we do all of this and more in a half day? You bet! Did we miss a million things- we sure did!

Until next time Laura!