What To Do, See, and Eat On Your First Visit To Boston

I love showing off the city of Boston to visitors. Not only do I love it, but I live for it. There's no happier time for me than when I'm given the chance to proudly flaunt the best sites, experiences, and tastes of my favorite city.

Much like Edinburgh, Boston is a highly underrated city that often gets outshined by larger US cities. While Boston may always live in the shadow of it's bigger, badder (but decidedly younger) brother, New York City, that doesn't mean we can't quietly surpass them as the greatest city on earth. I'm not biased here, I'm just speaking the truth.

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be able to show one of my good friends just how extraordinary Boston can be. My Scottish blogging pal Hayley decided to include a visit to Boston as part of her big North American summer holiday, which meant she was stuck with me as her tour guide for a three-day whirlwind tour around the city.

But, you see, this isn't my first time at the rodeo. Last summer, I had one of my running buddies from Edinburgh join me in Boston for an impromptu round of sightseeing. And this past winter my boyfriend endured the freezing temps to tour the city as a part of the full Boston experience. And with my mom being a published Boston travel-writer, well let's just say I've walked the Freedom Trail approximately 17 times.

So I thought I would share this "expert" knowledge of this city with you by compiling the best things to do, places to go, and things to eat while on your first visit to Boston. This is by no-means an encompassing list, nor is it one that goes super off-the-beaten-track. But, if you've never been to Boston before this list will definitely serve as a helpful guide for the "must-dos" on your first trip.

To Do: 

To get your bearings when you first arrive in Boston, take a tour of the Freedom Trail. This way, you'll have a general idea of where the big sites are, as well as the history of the city. Boston is steeped in history- from it's beginnings as a puritan colony to it's involvement in the American Revolution, the city was (and continues to be) pivotal in shaping history. If you don't mind spending a few extra bucks, take the fun-for-all-ages guided tour with a costumed character with the Freedom Trail Foundation (book in advance for a discount). And if you'd rather save your pennies you can always book a free tour with the National Park Service.

Once you've had your fill of American history, head over to the New England Aquarium to have a photo-op with penguins, and marvel over Myrtle the sea turtle, all while supporting one of the world's leaders in marine conservation. You can't miss the Giant Ocean Tank (seriously, you actually can't miss it because it's the centerpiece of the building!) which boasts hundreds of fish, as well as eels, sharks, and reefs. Don't leave without stopping by the touch tanks where you can get up close and personal with starfish, horseshoe crabs, and even stingrays.

Take a detour from your run-of-the-mill art museum and pay a visit to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. This gem of a museum sits just around the corner from the expansive Museum of Fine Arts, but paints a much more intimate picture of how art can be viewed. You'll feel just like the aristocratic lady of the house, Miss Gardner herself, traipsing around her ornate home, which hasn't been touched since her death (bar a few stolen paintings). The museum provides a sensory explosion from the moment you walk in, where you're greeted by an tropical indoor garden in the courtyard, to the moment you leave, awestruck by Titian's Europa.

To See: 

A trip to Boston definitely isn't complete without appreciating our beautiful public spaces. While the Boston Common may be the most comfortable spot for an afternoon picnic, The Boston Public Gardens can't be outdone in terms of it's floral splendor and neatly manicured lawns. You can always stroll through the gardens by foot, but the Swan Boats, which run from April to September, provide a new way of seeing the gardens by water. And at only $3.50 per person, how could you possibly resist?

Boston is irrevocably academic. It's safe to say that we pride ourselves in being a hub for higher education, with some of the most prestigious universities sitting just in our backyard. Even though it's technically not in Boston, it's worth it to pay a visit to Harvard and the Cambridge area in general if you're looking for a change of pace from the city center. Of course, Cambridge is always bustling with students, street-performers, and tourists, but you'll find it has more of a hipster vibe. You can walk the Harvard campus in all it's red-brick glory, or even stop by the MIT campus if you're feeling a bit science-y.

Whether you're in search of a book or not, The Boston Public Library is a must-see when visiting Boston. They offer art tours once a day at varying times, but if you just can't fit a tour into your schedule, just wander into the beautiful rooms of this stunning space on your own time. Make sure to have a quick peek in the reading room, with its rows of iconic green lamps.

To Eat:

There's no shortage of fantastic restaurants in Boston. But if you can't decide on what type of cuisine you're in the mood for, head over to Trident Booksellers and Cafe for anything from burritos to burgers to all day breakfast all in the comfort of a bookstore.

If you're hanging out in Back Bay and want a quick lunch on the go, stop by Flour Bakery and Cafe. With it's award-winning sticky buns and creative sandwich combinations, you're sure to find something tasty (and instagram-able).

You can't leave Boston without having some proper seafood. I'm actually ashamed to admit that I didn't get Hayley to try a lobster roll when she was here (I guess she'll just have to come back!). Every Bostonian has their opinion on lobster rolls and where to get the best one. For me, my favorite lobster roll comes from Legal's Harborside (the best restaurant of the Legal Seafoods family). Perfectly sweet lobster, with just the right amount of mayo, all served on a toasty bun- it's everything I love about New England all wrapped into one.

If you're in the Cambridge looking for some truly student-friendly fare, then check out Border Cafe which serves up hefty portions of tex-mex food to the "starving student" population. Border has been an old standby in my family for years (seriously, my parents went on date nights there when they were in college at Northeastern), so trust me when I say that it's worth seeing beyond the kitschy decor. I mean, unlimited warm tortilla chips? It really doesn't get much better.

Any proper night in Boston is topped up with a little something sweet- namely, cannoli from the North End. Once again, Bostonians are deeply divided on the issue of where to get the best cannoli on Hanover Street. But let me tell you, the argument ends here. While Mike's Pastry may be the favorite of naive tourists, Modern Pastry is where you can experience the best, and freshest cannoli. Let me explain: While Mike's pre-fills their cannoli with ricotta, causing the crunchy pastry to go soggy, Modern fills their cannoli to-order, resulting in the perfect bite of Italian goodness. The jig is up everyone, Modern is 100% better than Mikes.*

There you have it, my definitive list of everything you need to do on your first visit to Boston. Of course, there's so much more to do and eat beyond what I've written here, but I hope this gives any first-time visitors a jumping off point from which to plan their trip.

And Bostonians- if I did miss anything crucial, please let me know!


*If you'd like to skip the enormous lines that often plague the storefronts of both Mike's and Modern, and not take a side in this heated debate, then head over to Maria's where you can get incredible cannoli without all the fuss.