Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
4
Suggested Boston Itineraries
L
iving near the Freedom Trail, I meet
my beloved
Frommer's Boston
readers all
the time. After I assure them that I'm not
trying to pick their pockets or enlist them
in a cult (why so suspicious, readers?),
they usually make one of two comments.
They want to know where they can find a
public bathroom, or they want to praise
the topic's suggested itineraries.
Read on for strategies that can help you
organize your time. These itineraries
include sightseeing destinations, snack and
meal suggestions, and shopping pointers.
Two tips:
Wear comfortable shoes,
and
don't ignore the
breaks
built into each
itinerary, which can help you feel more
like a relaxed insider and less like a crazed
participant in a scavenger hunt.
Unless otherwise indicated, turn to
chapter 7 for descriptions of the recom-
mended attractions and activities. For an
introduction to Boston's
neighborhoods,
flip to p. 168. And see “Fast Facts:
Boston,” p. 284, for pointers on finding a
public toilet.
1 The Neighborhoods in Brief
These are the areas visitors are most likely to frequent. When Bostonians say
“down-
town,”
they usually mean the first six neighborhoods defined here; there's no “mid-
town” or “uptown.” The numerous neighborhoods outside central Boston include the
Fenway, South Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, West Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain. With
a couple of exceptions (noted here), Boston is generally safe, but you should still take
the precautions you would in any large city, especially at night.
Note:
I include some
compass points here to help you read your map, but that's not how the locals will give
you directions: They typically just point you on your way.
The Waterfront
This narrow area
runs along the Inner Harbor, on
Atlantic Avenue
and
Commercial
Street
from the Charlestown bridge
(on North Washington St.) to South
Station. Once filled with wharves and
warehouses, today it abounds with lux-
ury condos, marinas, restaurants,
offices, and hotels. Also here are the
New England Aquarium and embarka-
tion points for harbor cruises and
whale-watching expeditions.
The North End
Crossing the Rose
Kennedy Greenway as you head east
toward the Inner Harbor brings you to
one of the city's oldest neighborhoods.
Home to waves of immigrants in the
course of its history, it was predomi-
nantly Italian for most of the 20th cen-
tury. It's now less than half Italian
American; many newcomers are young
professionals who walk to work in the
Financial District. Nevertheless, you'll
hear Italian spoken in the streets
and find a wealth of Italian restaurants,
caffès,
and shops. The main street is
Hanover Street.
North Station
Technically part of the
North End but just as close to Beacon
Hill, this area around
Causeway Street
