June 26, 2025 • 43 mins
In this episode, we’re talking all about Boston, Massachusetts. Laura interviews our local Boston creator, Claudicet, about the city and how travelers should plan their visit.
They chat about the best things to do in Boston, day trips to take, how much to budget, Claudi’s favorite hidden gems, and so much more. Claudicet also shares mistakes she sees tourists make and how to avoid them.
Have a question about Boston? Drop it in the comments 👇
📰 Articles from Travel Lemming.com
-All Boston guides: https://travellemming.com/boston/
-All Massachusetts guides: https://travellemming.com/massachusetts/
-Where to Stay in Boston: https://travellemming.com/where-to-stay-in-boston/
-Best Time to Visit Boston: https://travellemming.com/best-time-to-visit-boston/
-Boston Itinerary: https://travellemming.com/boston-itinerary/
-Day Trips from Boston: https://travellemming.com/day-trips-from-boston/
-Things to Do in Boston: https://travellemming.com/things-to-do-in-boston/
-Safety in Boston: https://travellemming.com/is-boston-safe/
#Boston #BostonTravel #TravelTips #Massachusetts
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
If you're visiting Bostonsoon, this episode is for you.
But first, here's a 32ndpreview of the episode.
(00:33):
Welcome to the Travel Emmy podcast,where we talk all things travel with our
team of local and expert travel writers.
I'm your host, Laura McFarland.
My guest today is cla Set ourlocal writer based in Boston.
She's written tons of guides for travel,living all about the best things to
do in Boston, neighborhoods to stayin restaurants to eat at and more
she's also a mom to her 10-year-olddaughter, a yoga instructor,
(00:54):
an art aficionado, and anexpert on Boston Hidden Gems.
CLA set.
Welcome.
Thanks so much for having me, Laura.
I'm super excited to share more aboutthe city and what I love most about it.
Amazing.
Can you tell us a little bit moreabout your knowledge of Boston?
Like what makes you our Boston expert?
Yeah.
Well I was born and raised inMassachusetts, a little city called ha.
(01:15):
It's about an hour drive north of Boston.
And as a kid, I took art classesat the Museum of Fine Arts.
So every Saturday, me, my momand my sister would head out to
the city and, after class, my momwould kind of make a day out of it.
So we would explore different areaslike North End, back Bay, or Fenway.
And this was like pre-internet,pre-social media, pre podcast.
(01:37):
So with the little resourcesthat she had, she still made,
like just an adventure out of it.
And we got to explore thecity as little tourists.
And I think it kind ofcultivated a little ulus.
Spirit in us.
I did move away to Atlanta in 2005 toattend university, and then I lived
in Dominican Republic for a coupleyears, so I've been back in Boston.
(01:58):
Yeah, little moving around,but I've been back in Boston
for about five years now and I.
A lot has changed since I've lived here.
So I've just been exploring the city withmy daughter and, soaking up the vibrant
culture and really appreciating itshistory once more and, kind of exploring
it through a different pair of blends.
(02:18):
Maybe not so much as a local,but as a curious traveler.
So it's been a lot of fun.
That's so awesome.
I have the same thing.
I grew up in the SanFrancisco Bay area and then.
Now live there as an adult and Ifeel like growing up near a city as
a kid and then living there as anadult are two completely different
Oh yeah.
Oh yeah.
And it's fun, especiallybecause I have my little one.
(02:38):
It's fun to see the city through her eyes.
So I get to see it throughlike a different perspective.
awesome
that's awesome.
And I'm sure that you have such agood perspective on like fun things
to do for adults and young adults,but then also fun things to do if
you have a family and if you're
Oh yeah, for sure.
For sure.
Amazing.
Well, I mean, my history withBoston, I've actually visited the
city about four or five times now.
(02:59):
I really like it.
I have a ton of friends from high schoolthat ended up going to college there,
and Boston is a huge college town.
So I would go and visit themevery spring break and hang out in
Boston and just explore the city.
And then I've gone back a few times.
In recent years to visitfamily and friends there.
And I just, I love it.
It's such a compact city.
It's so walkable.
(03:19):
There's beautiful architecture, there'sso much history and you have these
incredible waterfronts because youhave the river running through the
city, but then you also have the ocean.
And like that to me is just so uniquein terms of, of American cities.
I feel like you don't see ariver and an ocean in a lot of
big cities anywhere in the us.
it is, we're really, we're reallylucky to have that exposure to like
(03:39):
the most stunning waterfront views
I know, and you don't really thinkof Boston as like a beach city by
any means, but I think that someof the beaches there, I mean,
you can probably attest to it.
Some of the beaches are really nice.
they're really stunning.
Especially in the summer when you get totake advantage of the really hot summer
days and kind of cool off in the water.
They're really great.
that sounds awesome.
So let's just jump right inand say why visit Boston?
(04:02):
Like what makes Boston special?
Yeah.
Like you said, Boston is a complexcity, but it's a huge melting
pot of things to do and see.
So it is rich in history and it played aleading role in the American Revolution.
There's also those stunningwaterfront, views and just
beautiful architecture to take in.
It does have a lively and diverseculture, which, with so much to do
(04:23):
again, from museums to sporting events,music festivals, and just so much more.
Oh, that's amazing.
What type of travelersshould visit Boston?
Oof.
Boston is a city for history, buffs,sports fanatics, foodies, music lovers,
museum goers, culture travelers,and I mean, the list can go on.
Boston is truly a greatdestination for anyone really?
(04:45):
Yeah.
You mentioned some of that like AmericanRevolution history, and I can just
imagine that if you're someone whois into visiting historical places,
Boston should be like number one on
it's the place to be.
Yeah.
So if you had to narrow down what are themost essential first timer things to do in
Boston, like someone just landed in Bostonfor the first time, what are like the
different things that people should do?
(05:06):
I think for our history buffs,they should definitely check
out the Freedom Trail that's.
Top on the list, it's a walkin tour.
You could do it, guided or not.
That takes you through the historicalstites of Boston's Revolutionary War.
Sports fanatics who are visiting Bostonshould definitely head to Fenway Park.
It's the oldest baseball stadiumin the nation and it's home
(05:27):
to the Boston Red Sox team.
If you're not able to experience theiconic energy of a live game, then you
should definitely schedule a guided tourto learn the history of the stadium.
Now, I know Boston Red Soxfans could be rowdy, right?
Like what's the energy like insideFenway Park during a baseball game?
Oh, it's, it's very lively.
It's rowdy.
Sports.
(05:48):
The sports fanatics here are diehardfans, like it runs in our blood.
The last game that I went to wasactually a Red Sox against Yankees
game, and that was the first timethat I experienced this, rivalry
live, and it was the most fun.
And, you really get into the,the Boston Red Sox spirit.
awesome.
What, what about for people thataren't into sports or maybe aren't
(06:11):
into history, what should they do?
Yeah, of course.
There's, definitely a food scene here.
So the foodies should head tothe North end neighborhood for
some authentic Italian food.
I love heading there to just likeroam through the Italian markets.
There's a ton of fine dining restaurants,gels and bakeries, indulge in the pizza,
the pasta, the seafood, the gelato, andmy personal favorite is the cannolis.
(06:34):
There's a little bakery in the north endcalled Bobas, and it's open 24 7, and
I always go in there to get cannolis.
There's usually always a line,but it moves fairly quickly.
But just seeing the line can, testifyto how delicious their cannolis are.
Yeah.
I think the best cannoli I've ever hadin my life was in Boston's North End.
I forget what bakery it wasat, but I remember that was
(06:56):
when I was like, oh, this is
Yeah,
to taste like.
exactly.
Exactly.
Let's see.
For those who love to be innature, the public garden is a gem.
There are plenty of green spaceshere for scenic strolls, and a ton
of different plants from weepingwillow trees to roses and tulips.
There's a cute lagoon at the centerof the park, and you can even take
(07:19):
the iconic little swan boat ridearound the lagoon in the summer.
That sounds so lovely, and especiallyemphasis on doing that in the
summertime when the weather is nice.
I don't think that you wanna visit thepublic garden in the winter, correct.
I mean, I've, I've strolled through ita couple times on a warmer winter day,
which is great 'cause you have your hotchocolate in hand or hot latte in hand.
(07:41):
And you could just take in the, theviews of the architecture in the
buildings that surround the park.
But the summer is justthe dreamiest experience.
What about any museums?
For anyone who
Oh, for sure, for sure.
So, for cultural travelers, Irecommend my personal favorite,
which is the Museum of Fine Arts.
I've always been in awe of themuseum ever since I was a kid.
(08:02):
I just, I feel like it's somajestic and grand and it's still,
it's true for me now as an adult.
It's one of the most comprehensiveart museums in the world.
It has over a hundred galleries tosee, and they house art from Asia,
Africa, ancient Egypt and Europe.
Wow.
Okay, so just to summarize, your topfive places to visit in Boston for first
(08:24):
timers are the Freedom Trail Fenway Park.
The North End neighborhood, the PublicGarden, and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Right.
Yes, those would be my top on the list.
What about most essentialBoston experiences?
I think that coming into Boston you reallyhave to appreciate its history and explore
the historic neighborhoods around Boston.
(08:44):
They all have beautiful architectureand cobblestone streets.
While you're here, you definitelyneed to eat as much as you can.
So there are incredible restaurants allover the city and in every area of Boston.
So not just the North End, but also theBack Bay Area, south End and the Seaport
District have amazing restaurants.
I would highly recommend that you reserve.
(09:06):
In advance at a restaurant 'causethey book up fairly quickly.
The last thing that I wouldrecommend that you do is visit
as many museums as possible.
Boston alone has over 40 museums,so there's a ton of museums to
kind of stroll through and take in.
That's a lot of museums forone kind of smaller size city.
Yeah, yeah.
so if you wanna get a quickoverview of the city, I would
(09:28):
definitely recommend the duck tour.
What is a duck tour?
the duck tour is a quick andfun, informative, guided tour
that's both land and on water.
I never did it as a kid, but I'vedone it twice already as an adult
since I've been back in the city.
And you go through the cityin an amphibious vehicle, and
then along the Charles River,it's historical, educational,
(09:51):
entertaining, and family friendly.
It's a different experience eachtime that you get on the duck tour.
And it's a great introduction tothe city for first time visitors.
Wait, so like you're in a carand then that car just drives
from the road into the river?
yeah, that's right.
You go through the city roads on theamphibious vehicle, and then you go
in through the Charles River water.
(10:13):
So they throw a ton of fun facts as you'regoing along about the city, about the
river, about Boston, and about Cambridge,which is on the other side of the river.
It's engaging, it's interactive, notjust with those who are taking the tour,
but even pedestrians on the street.
So I highly recommend the experiences.
Different each time you get on, 'cause youhave a different, conductor that's guiding
(10:35):
That sounds so incredibly fun.
I can't believe I haven't done this yet.
put it on your list nexttime you come to Boston.
I will.
I mean, okay, so speaking of things toput on a list for when you go to Boston,
what about any of your personal favorites?
I mean, you've lived inBoston almost your whole life.
What are some hidden gems thatother tourists might not know about?
(10:56):
Yeah, so I know that some ofthe most popular museums is, you
know, the Museum of Fine Arts.
But another great one that Irecommend is the Museum of Science.
I think it's a must visit.
I don't remember enjoying it muchas a kid, but now that I have a
daughter and we go, I mean, we'vegone back a handful of times.
It just has an extensive interactiveexhibits, a planetarium, live
(11:17):
animal presentations, and an imex.
Film.
So it's just a lot to see and do.
And what's cool is that theyrotate exhibits every so often.
So each time we come back it'slike we're seeing new things.
Oh, wow.
That sounds amazing.
A planetarium inside the museum.
Oh yeah.
It's definitely, an experienceto remember once you go in and,
and check out the planetarium.
(11:37):
Another hidden gem that is mypersonal favorite because I love
history and because I love art,is the Boston Public Library.
It's completely free to visit forthe public and it has a vast library
resources, rich art collection, andstunning architecture to just take in.
There's a Venetian style courtyardat the center and they host free
(11:57):
concerts during the summer months.
And it's just, you know, somethingthat you have to see in person.
so for the public library, arethere different branches or which
branch of the public libraryhas that Venetian courtyard.
Yeah, of course.
So it, it called the Central PublicLibrary, and it's in Coley Square,
so it's right next to, TrinityChurch, in, in that surrounding area.
(12:20):
Where is Copley Square?
For anyone who
Yeah.
Copley Square.
Copley Square is almost likean extension of the back bay.
So Copley Square is right off ofBoyleston Street and I, if you head
further down Boyleston Street, ittakes you right into the Back Bay area.
And we'll talk a little bitabout Back Bay later, as it's
one of your favorite places, mostrecommended places to stay in Boston.
Yeah.
So it's a great place tostay and even hang out in.
(12:41):
Nice.
One of my personal favorites fromwhen I've visited Boston is the
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
Can you talk a little bit about
that?
Oh my gosh, yes.
That's another amazing museumthat you have to check out.
The Isabella Stewart Garden Museum, isa museum where Isabella Stewart Gardner,
holds all of her private collection of.
Art furniture tapestries that shecollected over her travels, and part
(13:05):
of, her mission, especially after shepassed, was to make it accessible to
make art accessible to the public.
So she converted her livingquarters into a museum.
Something that's fascinating aboutthe museum and that many people
may not know about is that therewas actually this huge high.
That happened at the Isabella StewartGarden Museum back in the eighties.
(13:26):
Until this day, the art that wastaken from the museum and stolen
has not been found or recovered.
So it's fascinating because when yougo into the museum, they actually
still have some empty frames onthe wall of where that art would
be, if it was still there today.
There's a really, really cooldocumentary on Netflix about it.
So definitely check it out and go visitthe museum after you see the documentary.
(13:50):
That's so crazy.
I didn't know that.
I remember seeing empty frames on thewalls when I visited, but I had no idea
that there was a heist that took place.
Now you know why.
Now you know why they havethose empty frames on the wall.
Oh my gosh.
I mean, it's such a beautiful museum.
Like I, I have to be honest, I don'tknow who Isabella Stewart Gardner
is, but I know that she has anincredible taste based on her home.
(14:10):
yeah, yeah.
She has incredible taste.
She was just, she just had this lovefor the arts, so she always traveled
abroad in Europe and made greatfriendships with the artists and authors.
She even had some artists come to thehome herself and, you know, be residents
there to kind of work on their art.
So she really, really gave alot to the art community and
brought it back to the states.
(14:31):
Wow.
I mean, yeah.
When you go in, there's again,this beautiful courtyard,
tons of ferns and plants.
You could walk up multiple stories.
It just looks like you're in acompletely different country.
It's so, so spectacular.
I highly recommend it.
For sure.
It's almost like you're transportedout of Boston into another world.
speaking of transporting yourself outof Boston, what about any day trips?
(14:52):
Is it possible to take a day trip fromBoston when you're visiting the city?
Is there anything you'd recommend doing?
Yeah, of course.
I think Boston is in a primelocation because you can take day
trips to so many different places.
In Massachusetts, outside ofMassachusetts, it's only an hour to
two, maybe three hours away, dependinghow far and where you wanna go.
(15:12):
A recent day trip that I did.
Maybe a couple weeks ago, itwas to Newport, Rhode Island.
It was my first time there and itwas like the best coastal getaway.
It, I was able to enjoy the scenic closeline, the Newport Mansions, and there's
a ton of charming shops in the area.
There's just so much to do.
Some of the highlights from my trip wasexploring the Cliff walk along the coast.
(15:35):
It had the most.
Stunning views of the sea.
And then we also strolled down TameStreet, which is in the downtown area.
We did a little bit of windowshopping and had like the most
delicious ice cream before gettingin the car and coming back home.
Oh, that sounds amazing.
It's so funny to hear you say thatyou did a day trip to Rhode Island
because like I am on the West coastwhere if you wanna drive to another
(15:56):
state, it's like seven hours.
And so I always forget that beingon the East Coast you can visit.
probably three or four differentstates within like a one to
two hour drive from Boston.
for sure.
I mean, there's Vermont, there'sConnecticut, there's Maine.
And then even within Massachusettsthere's a ton of cool little
day trips that you can take.
What about, Cape Cod?
(16:16):
I feel like I always hearpeople going to Cape Cod.
It's one of the most famousareas of the East coast.
Is it possible to do thatin a day trip from Boston?
sure.
During the summer, we take daytrips to Cape Cod all of the time.
We leave the house fairly early though,like six or seven in the morning,
to kind of beat the traffic becauseeverybody goes to Cape Cod in the summer,
especially, especially on hotter daysto take advantage of their beaches.
(16:39):
The beaches in Cape Cod are stunning.
I mean, the sand is.
Soft and beautiful.
And the waters personally,I think are very warm.
So I actually go swimming in the waterin Cape Cod versus closer to home.
I'm not sure what it is about theCape Cod waters, but it's, it's so
nice to just kind of swim in it.
And it's, you know, lots to explore there.
(17:01):
The downtown in Cape Cod has alot of fun, cool little seafood
restaurants and ice cream shops.
So we'll actually be going to CapeCod this weekend to celebrate my
daughter's birthday, and we're goingto do a little glamping trip, rent
some bikes, and take them out to thebeach and do a little picnic there.
There's just a lot of.
Fun things to do by the water.
Oh my gosh, that makes mewanna go to Cape Cod this
(17:23):
Yeah, you have to.
So for someone who's planninga trip to Boston, how much
time should they budget in?
Like how much time in the city?
Should you add in a few days to do someof these day trips like we talked about?
What do you think?
Yeah, I think three days is plentyof time to visit and experience a
lot of what Boston has to offer.
If you wanna do a day trip, maybeyou can add another day or two,
(17:45):
but I think three to four days issufficient time to enjoy the city.
Oh, okay.
Nice.
And then what's your kind ofideal three day Boston itinerary?
Hmm.
So an ideal three day itineraryin Boston would be getting to
know Boston's history first.
So on day one, you can start inthe Historic Back Bay District.
Again, start at my favorite,the Boston Public Library.
(18:07):
It's in Coley Square, so youcan roam around the square.
After the library taking theTrinity Church, you can then head
down Boyleson Street and a. Crossover to Newbury Street, which
is the most famous, district orarea to go shopping and dining.
And further down, you can trickleinto Boston Common and start your
walking tour of the Freedom Trail.
(18:29):
So again, on the Freedom Trail, you'll seehistoric sites like the Old State House,
Quincy Market, the Paul Revere House, andto end your walking tour in Charlestown.
There you can grab dinner at WaverlyKitchen and bar, and call it a night.
I think I actually saw people takingmaybe the walking tour of the Freedom
Trail the last time that I was inBoston because there was a man dressed
(18:50):
in like full revolutionary war, getup leading a group of people and
pointing out different sites, andI was like, what is happening here?
that is definitely aguided Freedom Trail tour.
They do dress as historic charactersand they give accurate historical
information about the sites thatyou're seeing, along the way.
(19:11):
That's so cool.
Okay, so day one is about history.
What is day two of your Boston
Day two is taken in the culture.
So day two consists of a day at the Museumof Fine Arts, exploring the paintings, the
sculptures, the artifacts, instruments.
And so much more.
During my last visit to the MFA,I actually had the opportunity
to see the Rulon family portraitsthat were done by Vincent Vangogh.
(19:34):
And that was such atransformative experience.
On display were evenpersonal letters that, the.
The husband or the father of the Rulandfamily exchanged with Vincent Vangogh and
then also with Vincent Van Gogh's brother.
So you got to see a little peekof what Vincent Vangogh was going
through, especially with hismental health during that time.
(19:55):
My daughter actually found it fascinating'cause she loves his work, but she
actually got to see a little bitmore about who he was as a person.
so she was really takenaway by those letters.
And it was just such a treat.
After wandering around the museum,I would suggest that you had to
blue ribbon Brary, for dinner.
They have excellent, excellentsteak and fries, which I would
(20:16):
definitely recommend that you order.
Is that close to the Museum of FineArts or is that a, a drive away.
it's definitely within walking distance,but if you're tired of walking around the
museum and you wanna hop on an Uber ora Lyft, I definitely recommend doing so.
And then what about yourthird and final day in Boston?
So I think that for your last day inBoston, you should actually head across
(20:38):
the Charles River, into Cambridge.
I. Think that you should definitelyvisit the Harvard University campus
while you are visiting Boston.
It is the most influentialuniversity in the entire world.
So start in Harvard Square.
It is the historic center in that area.
It's full of a ton of shops,cafes, and restaurants, and then
head to Harvard University campus.
(20:59):
They offer guided toursthere done by students.
And the students take you aroundthe campus and they show you,
some of the iconic areas like.
Harvard Yard and thehistoric Harvard Hall.
After your tour, definitely stop bythe Harvard bookstore and you can
stock up on Harvard gear like crewnecks and hats and notebooks, you name
(21:21):
it, that have such cute merch there.
After that, spend your afternoon inHarvard Museum of Natural History.
This museum has historic exhibits anda huge collection of natural artifacts.
Finally, my favorite.
End your day in Cambridgeat La Fabrica Centra.
This has the most delicious SpanishCaribbean dishes and they offer
(21:45):
live music, so live ssa, and it'sjust, it's a vibe and a lot of fun.
So I definitely recommend thatyou end your day and your visit
there for some amazing drinks likemojitos, amazing dishes like Mofongo,
and then of course live music
That sounds so incredibly fun.
I haven't been to that restaurant, but Ihave walked around Cambridge many times.
(22:07):
I think Cambridge is actuallymy favorite area of Boston.
There's a lot of nice parks and reallybeautiful waterfront areas along the
river that you can go for a really longwalk or just hang out in the parks.
And then it, because it's a collegetown, there's such this youthful vibrance
and just this wonderful atmosphere.
It's so walkable.
There's so many little shopsand restaurants and cafes.
(22:29):
And then walk.
Yeah, the Harvard campus isjust absolutely stunning.
Gorgeous architecture there andso much history there as well.
So I love Cambridge.
Would definitely recommend.
Yes, for sure.
It's definitely something you haveto experience while you're in Boston
And I do wanna plug that you wrote a threeDay Boston itinerary and it's on travel
lemming and it pretty much matches thisitinerary that you've just given us here.
(22:50):
But probably with some more details,more in instructions on how to get
around, things to do, places to see.
So anyone looking to dive more into afull planned itinerary for your Boston
trip, definitely check out Travel LemmingClade Set has an article on there.
For places to stay in Boston,like when you're visiting, what
are some neighborhoods that youwould recommend tourists stay in?
(23:11):
Like where has the mosthotels, good restaurants safe,
So for first time visitors, Idefinitely recommend the Back Bay area.
It's a great place to stay, but it's alsoone of my favorite places to hang out.
It's a walkable neighborhoodand it's close to everything.
So you have access to shops,like boutique shops, but also
higher end luxury stores.
Definitely restaurants from littlecoffee shops to high-end dining, bars and
(23:32):
lounges, but then you also have access topublic transportation that will take you
to some of the city's top attractions.
Nice.
And the main street in back Bay is Newbury
Street.
Yes, it is.
Newbury Street is the hub of the back Bayarea, and that's where most of the shops,
dinings and lounges and bars are at.
So it's lively no matter what time ofthe day or night that you're there.
(23:54):
Yeah, and even if you don't stay in BackBay, I mean Newbury Street, you definitely
have to walk down it at least once.
It's got all thisincredible architecture too.
So like as you're walking down, yousee all these almost like brownstone
style homes around you and allthese beautiful trees, and it just
feels like, oh, I'm in Boston.
Yes.
Yes, for sure.
So I know that Back Bay has thisreputation for having like luxury shops.
(24:15):
Is it affordable to stay there oris it more of like the higher end
luxury hotels that are gonna be there?
I think you'll find more of the higherend luxury hotels in the back Bay area.
Another option that I wouldrecommend is the South End.
It's a cute, stylish neighborhoodthat I love to hang out in as
well, but I also love to eat there.
So it's family friendly andit's just a foodie paradise.
(24:37):
It's definitely walkable and it offersgreat restaurant options as well as parks.
So you'll find some coollittle smaller parks in the
area to hang out and relax in.
Nice.
Nice.
And would this be where peoplecan find maybe some more
affordable accommodation options?
Yeah, so South End, definitelyhas more budget friendly options.
One of the hotels that I wouldrecommend staying in the South
(24:59):
End is the Revolution Hotel.
So it offers a variety ofroom types and accommodates
different, options for travelers.
That's awesome.
What about, a hotelrecommendation for Back Bay?
Do you have any good hotels there?
Yeah, I think the best hotel tostay at in the back bay is the Four
Seasons Hotel, one Dalton Street.
It's a in prime location withcomfortable rooms and a ton of amenities.
(25:22):
Okay, nice.
So we have one kind of more luxuriousoption with the Four Seasons, and then
one very budget friendly option withthe Revolution Hotel in two great areas.
That's awesome.
And I know that you wrote a whole articleabout the best neighborhoods to stay
in Boston where you explore some otherneighborhoods outside of just back Bay and
you also.
Have a whole article aboutBoston neighborhoods in general.
(25:43):
Not just places to stay, but justhighlighting kind of the diversity
of the neighborhoods in the city.
So, definitely check thoseout on travel Loving.
If you're curious to learn more.
So for a trip to Boston, what shouldTravelers plan to budget like?
How much does it cost tovisit Boston for a few days?
Boston can be a pricey city to, travelto, but then also live in, so I would
(26:06):
definitely plan to budget anywhere froma hundred to $400 per day, or about
$800 per person for a three day trip.
This covers accommodations, food, localtransportation, and of course sightseeing.
Yeah, that is a little bit pricey.
Do you have any tips for saving moneyor anyone who's traveling on a budget?
(26:26):
Yeah.
As a single mom, I'm always kindof keeping an eye out on ways to
save while exploring the city.
So some tips for you is, that thereare actually a lot of free things
to do in Boston, believe it or not.
So we have the FreedomTrail, which is free.
If you're doing a self-guidedtour, we have the Boston Public
Library that's free to the public.
(26:47):
The Public Garden, BostonCommon Feno Harm Marketplace.
There's a ton of attractionsthat you could check out in
the city of Boston for free.
As I stated before, Boston isfull of museums and a lot of the
museums offer free admission.
So the Harvard Art Museum,which is in Cambridge, is free
to the public every single day.
The Museum of Fine Arts on HolidayMondays, such as Martin Luther
(27:10):
King, Jr. Day is also free.
And the Institute of Contemporary Art,which is in the Seaport District, offers
free admission on Thursday evenings.
So if you do a little research, alittle dig in, you can definitely
find a lot of free things to doaround the city while you're here.
That's awesome.
A lot of free busy days it sounds like.
and you mentioned fan,UEL Hall Marketplace.
(27:30):
I think that's where I had maybe someof the best clam chowder of my life.
There's just tons of food stalls there.
You walk through, people arelike throwing fish maybe.
I don't know if that happens, but likeit just feels so lively and you have
so many good smells all around you,and I think that you kind of have to
get clam chowder when you visit Boston.
Oh, for sure.
Yes, yes.
(27:50):
So Fenal Hall Marketplaceis in the downtown area.
It used to be back in therevolutionary times, like a
gathering area for the townspeopleto talk about whatever's happening.
And now it's just kind of likea hub to hang out, to eat, to
meet with friends and family, to.
Hit up some pubs and bars.
(28:11):
Quincy Market definitely has a bunch offood stalls that you have to check out.
So clam chowder needs to beon that list of things to eat,
and then also lobster rolls.
You cannot come to Boston withouthaving a lobster roll for sure.
Where is the best place inBoston to get a lobster roll?
Ooh.
Honestly, I think the best placeto get a lobster roll would be
(28:32):
outside of Boston personally.
I love to go.
Yeah.
I love to go Another day trip for you.
I love to go to Newburyport.
It's about 45 minutes north ofBoston and they have some of the
best seafood and I've had themost delicious lobster roll there.
Buttery bread with warmbuttery lobster inside.
So it's, it was Chef's Kiss.
(28:53):
That sounds, where did you say that is?
new?
Yeah, it's called Newburyport.
It's also on my, day tripguide outside of Boston.
So if you wanna learn moreabout Newburyport, you can
check out that article.
It's another day trip that I wouldrecommend doing outside of Boston,
that's still within Massachusetts.
for anyone who's looking tovisit Boston, what time of
year would you recommend going?
(29:14):
I know we talked a little bitabout Boston Winters being cold.
Can you talk more aboutwhen the best time to visit.
Personally, I think that the best timeto visit Boston is during the summer.
That's when I have themost fun in the city.
There's plenty of outdoor attractionsto do water activities, outdoor patio
dining, which is a great experience.
And then also local events to enjoy.
(29:35):
So summer usually runs fromJune through September.
Early June is a good time to visitBoston 'cause you can still enjoy
some of the warmer weather beforeit gets too crowded with tourists.
Once summer break hits . But thebest time to visit Boston looks
a little different for everyone.
The cheapest time to visit Boston, I,I would say, is in the winter months.
So after the holidays, it's cold, it'sdark, it's snowy, but the museum and
(30:00):
other attractions are way less crowded,so you can enjoy them a little more.
Yeah.
I have to say I've visited Boston.
In March, in May and inOctober, and I think March was
just a bit too cold for me.
I visited on, on my spring break at schooland while all of my friends were going
to warm spring break destinations, Iwas like, I'm flying to Boston and it's
(30:22):
gonna be 40 degrees and maybe snowy.
And but it was nice.
It was very cheap.
It was less crowded.
It was still beautiful.
Like you can still go outsideand do a ton of things.
It's not like depressing by anymeans, but I think in terms of if
you wanna experience really likeeverything that the city has to offer,
I loved visiting in the early fall.
I think that just for me was like, youget this East Coast fall foliage, you're
(30:46):
walking around, all of the trees arejust like yellow and red and orange,
and the weather's not too bad yet.
It's still pretty nice and lovely and youdon't really have the summer tourists.
So I think for me.
I really loved visiting in October.
Yes, October is beautiful again,the foliage is stunning to take
in and the weather is, the airis just like crisp and cool.
(31:09):
So you just throw on a few layers and youknow, head outdoors and enjoy nature a
little longer before winter rolls through.
so speaking of the best times tovisit Boston, are there any kinds of
festivals or events that take placeannually that people might want to
be aware of so that they can visitduring that time or maybe so that they
can avoid visiting during that time?
If it gets really crowded, like let'stalk about special events and festivals.
(31:33):
Yeah.
Boston has a ton of specialevents that they host.
Every year, some of the special events tolook out for, whether you wanna come and
experience it yourself or you wanna tryit to avoid, would be the Boston Marathon.
It does get very, verybusy hotels booked quickly.
It is one of the most prestigiousmarathons in the world.
It's held on Patriots Day, sothat's the third Monday of April.
(31:56):
So that's another one to look out forif you want to come experience the
Boston Marathon or if you kind of wanna.
Steer clear from the crowds.
Another event is the headof the Charles Regatta.
It's a world renowned rowing event,and it happens on the Charles River.
It's held in October every year.
And it's really cool to see becauseeverybody gathers over the bridge,
(32:17):
over the river, and they kindof see everybody rowing down the
Charles, which is really nice.
So the Boston Marathon and the head ofthe Charles, if you're not participating
in those events, are they free to goand watch or do you have to like buy
a day ticket to go, you know, watchthe marathon or how does that work?
No, I believe they're both free.
So you can go and just show support forthose who are participating in the event.
(32:39):
It does get crowded.
I know that they do block off somestreets, so you just have to do a
little bit of planning in advancein order to go and experience it.
Okay, cool.
What about any kinds of musicfestivals or anything like that?
Does Boston have any major festivals?
Yeah.
So a music festival that Bostonhosts every year is called the
Boston Calling Music Festival.
(33:00):
It is a large scale music festivalthat's held every Memorial Day weekend.
It's the, usually the whole weekend, so
s Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
and I believe Monday as well.
I had a friend recently go thisyear and she had so much fun.
She was there every single dayand she was wiped out come Monday.
So, it is, it is a lot of fun and it'susually a huge, huge crowd that goes in
(33:22):
and enjoys the music and the artists.
That's awesome.
And I think they get some pretty bigartists to perf to headline that festival.
Right.
There's some huge headlinersthat come to the festival.
That sounds so cool.
And I know we have to talk about Bostonsports while we're talking about events
and special things to look out for.
I mean, it seems like.
Boston sports teams and Boston Sportsfans are maybe the most passionate sports
(33:46):
fans maybe anywhere in the country.
What are some of Boston sports teams?
Let's talk about that.
Yeah, I can totallyagree to that statement.
I think that Boston Fanatics aresome of the most passionate fans
that you will ever come across.
Boston has some amazing sports teams.
We have the Boston Red Sox,which is our baseball team.
The Celtics, which is ourbasketball team, and the Bruins
(34:09):
as well, which is our hockey team.
And they offer really exciting games.
So whether you go for a majorgame or the playoffs, it's,
it's a very vibrant experience.
So those are also things to look out forwhen you're planning a trip to Boston.
Yeah, I think if I am in Boston again,I'm definitely going to try to go to
either a Celtics game or a Red Sox game.
(34:31):
It seems like an experience thatyou kind of just have to have,
you do, you do, the Celtics team is alsoa lot of fun to watch in the garden.
In terms of getting around Boston,would you recommend taking public
transportation or maybe renting a car?
Yeah, so I think Boston is aneasy city to navigate on foot.
It's very walker friendly.
You have access to public transportation.
(34:51):
So the T, which is the MBTA, it'sconnected to all major Boston areas.
You can also get an Uber and a Lyft.
They're always an option when you'retired of walking around the city.
I wouldn't recommend renting a car.
I don't think it's necessary.
The driving culture in Boston isa little bit aggressive and it.
There's tends to be a lot of traffic,especially during peak hours.
(35:13):
Also the city streets and thetunnels can be very confusing for
someone who's never driven in Boston.
So getting off the wrong exit could kindof set you back about an hour or so.
So I would just suggest, you know,using your feet, getting on the tee,
the train or just hopping in and outof an Uber, I think those would be
the best ways to get around Boston.
Yeah, and I think something thatpeople should know about taking the
(35:36):
tea, it has kind of a weird layout.
We have to talk about that.
It seems like all of the lines, like youcan get anywhere that you need to go,
but all of the lines converge in centralBoston, so you can't, if you're like.
In Cambridge and you're trying to getmaybe 15 minutes south, you actually have
to go all the way into Boston, switchlines, and then go all the way back
(35:57):
out just to get where you need to go.
So it can be a little bitconfusing, I think, navigating the
T, but I would say it's worth it.
It is definitely worth it.
And if you use Google Maps, I mean,you could just plug in the address of
where you're trying to go and it tellsyou exactly what, lines and colors
you need to hop in and off of when youtransfer in the center of the city.
But yeah, sometimes it's like if you'retrying to get just a little bit away,
(36:19):
it might be easier to take an Uber
Yeah.
than take the tea all theway back into the center of
Correct.
It might save you some timeversus getting on the t.
But the views from the T, I mean someof it's underground, but I remember
taking the T over the Charles Riverand just looking outside and seeing
these gorgeous views of the river andall the trees and the parks, and I
was like, wow, this is a, actually arelatively beautiful subway system.
(36:40):
Yeah, it really is.
I think it's kind of easy to navigate.
But you know, somebody who'snever used public transportation,
it could be confusing.
I find it a little easy and you know,I have a car myself and sometimes I
drive into the city, but dependingwhere I'm going, I just hop on the tee.
So, especially North End, 'causeit's so hard to find parking.
My daughter and I, we just hop on thetee and take the tee in and walk around
(37:01):
and it's just, you know, it's so easyand we make an adventure out of it.
So it's, it's a lot of fun.
I like taking the tea.
so I know.
You have a daughter and you're constantlywalking around Boston, how safe do you
feel when you're walking around Bostonby yourself or with your daughter?
Yeah, I've always felt safe wanderingaround Boston on my own or with my
daughter or if I'm with family or friends.
(37:23):
Of course there are safer areasthan others, like any major city.
Some desirable areas in Bostonthat offer safety and charm and
close proximity to the city centerwould definitely be back bay.
Beacon Hill is also a nicearea at the North end and.
Also the Seaport district, whichis, I guess like a newer developed
(37:44):
area that we have in Boston.
Some areas that I think require morecaution, some areas that I would
avoid walking around by myself atnight would be downtown Boston.
The Fenway Kenmore area, especiallyduring or after a Red Sox game, and
then also the West End neighborhood.
The bars and streets can getkind of rowdy, especially after
(38:05):
a Celtics game or a concert
Again with those rowdy Boston
yeah.
fans.
That's awesome.
Thank you for, for lettingeveryone know about that.
And I know that you go into a lotmore detail with your is Boston Safe
article that's up on travel le so foranyone that's concerned about safety,
definitely check that article out.
What about any common mistakesthat visitors might make
(38:26):
when they're visiting Boston?
Or like, do you have any tipsthat we didn't already talk about?
Yeah, I think some.
Tips would be to budgetfor your trip in advance.
Again, Boston isn't really a cheap city,whether you're visiting or living here,
so it's smart to kind of plan in ahead.
I'm gonna repeat, I think that youshould book accommodations, whether it's
dinner reservations or booking a hotelway in advance with plenty of time.
(38:49):
'Cause they do book very quickly in, inBoston, especially if there's an event.
Happening during the time of your stay.
I would also considerstaying near a T station.
Again, Boston is very wellconnected via public transportation.
something you should pack iscomfortable walking shoes.
Boston is a compact city in size and it's.
Easy to navigate on foot.
(39:10):
Again, I love exploring the cityvia foot and walking around.
So, definitely pack somecomfortable sneakers or shoes.
Another tip is to bring a day bag.
I never step outta myhouse without a day bag.
I, it's, you know, somethingthat I could just keep all of my
personal things together in oneplace while I'm exploring the city.
And it definitely comes in handyto avoid small fees for checkout
(39:31):
bags while shopping in the city.
Okay, Those are some great tipsand I just wanna second your tip on
booking accommodation in advance.
I just visited Boston a few weeks ago.
It was in May, and if you don't know,Boston has a ton of colleges and it
seems like everyone is graduating in May.
And so I went to book my accommodationand everything was so expensive.
(39:53):
So completely booked out forlike several week, all like
several weekends in a row in
in a row.
Mm-hmm.
just because all of thefamilies are coming in
in mm-hmm.
college graduations.
So that would be something to keep in mindas well, is that May and Boston can be
busy and expensive because of just likethe university graduations that happen.
Yep, this is true.
May is a very busy time in thecity because all of the graduates
(40:16):
are graduating and it's weekafter week after week after week.
It's one university after theother and you have friends and
family flying in from all over.
So even the streets themselvesare pretty crowded and busy
just walking around the city.
'Cause everyone's there to support
Which is so nice and sofun, but definitely pricey.
for sure.
Well this, I think we coveredpretty much everything.
(40:38):
I do have one question for you beforewe kind of conclude this episode.
What are your
your thoughts on
Donuts?
Ooh, hmm.
And the reason that Iask that, let me clarify.
The reason that I ask that isbecause I feel like I associate.
People, there's all these jokesabout people in Boston like loving
Dunking Donuts and like needinga dunking coffee every morning.
(41:00):
Is that true?
Like, are people in Bostonreally obsessed with Dunking
Donuts?
People in Boston are reallyobsessed with Dunking Donuts.
I am Dominican American, so coffeeis like a part of our culture.
We have coffee every day.
All hours of the day.
So we are almost coffee snobs.
So coffee is a big part of our culture.
(41:20):
And then, you know, dunking is abig part of the Boston culture.
So everyone who is a local here, whogrew up here loves their dunking.
You can spot a Bostonian here inthe city if they have an iced.
Coffee from Dunking Donuts.
They're wearing their shorts andit's still like 60 or 50 degrees out.
(41:41):
You know, they're justdiehard Dunking fans.
If it's your first time in Boston,definitely hit up Dunking Donuts.
I, I will say that Dunking Donuts inBoston is a lot better than, like, quality
than Dunking Donuts outside of Boston.
So I did live in Atlanta for along time, and Dunking Donuts in
Atlanta just not hit it, didn'thit the same way that it does here.
(42:04):
So I will say that.
So go and get an iced coffee on
for
degree day in Boston just for the
Just exactly to experienceBoston like a true local.
so Colette, if you could summarize ina few sentences why someone should take
a trip to Boston, what would you say?
yeah.
I think that Boston offers a rich blendof history, culture, and innovation.
(42:25):
All in one walkable city.
It is a destination that combines thepast and the present both seamlessly.
And, you know, Boston is just oneof those cities that has something
to offer for every traveler.
So whether you're into sports, art,academia, museums, seafood, or just a
scenic stroll along the Charles River,Boston is definitely a place to, to visit
(42:48):
and put it on your travel bucket list.
That's perfect.
Thank you so much for giving usall of your Boston advice today.
It's
you for having
to have you on the podcast.
was such a treat.
Thank you so much for having me, Laura.
Of course, and for anyone who'slistening and thinking, now I
have to plan my trip to Boston.
I will plug that we have a few otherpodcast episodes about visiting
some major east coast cities.
(43:09):
So we have an episode where we chat withsome of our New York locals about how to
plan the perfect trip to New York City.
We also have an episode with one ofour Washington DC locals about how to
plan a trip to dc So if you're visitingBoston and you wanna extend your trip
and visit some other major cities alongthe East coast, that's just a few short.
Hours of a train ride away.
Definitely take a look at those podcasts.
(43:31):
Well, thank you Claudia for being on.
Thank you everyone for listening.
This is The Traveling Podcastand we'll see you next time.
Thank you.
If you're visiting Bostonsoon, this episode is for you.
But first, here's a 32ndpreview of the episode.
(00:33):
Welcome to the Travel Emmy podcast,where we talk all things travel with our
team of local and expert travel writers.
I'm your host, Laura McFarland.
My guest today is cla Set ourlocal writer based in Boston.
She's written tons of guides for travel,living all about the best things to
do in Boston, neighborhoods to stayin restaurants to eat at and more
she's also a mom to her 10-year-olddaughter, a yoga instructor,
(00:54):
an art aficionado, and anexpert on Boston Hidden Gems.
CLA set.
Welcome.
Thanks so much for having me, Laura.
I'm super excited to share more aboutthe city and what I love most about it.
Amazing.
Can you tell us a little bit moreabout your knowledge of Boston?
Like what makes you our Boston expert?
Yeah.
Well I was born and raised inMassachusetts, a little city called ha.
(01:15):
It's about an hour drive north of Boston.
And as a kid, I took art classesat the Museum of Fine Arts.
So every Saturday, me, my momand my sister would head out to
the city and, after class, my momwould kind of make a day out of it.
So we would explore different areaslike North End, back Bay, or Fenway.
And this was like pre-internet,pre-social media, pre podcast.
(01:37):
So with the little resourcesthat she had, she still made,
like just an adventure out of it.
And we got to explore thecity as little tourists.
And I think it kind ofcultivated a little ulus.
Spirit in us.
I did move away to Atlanta in 2005 toattend university, and then I lived
in Dominican Republic for a coupleyears, so I've been back in Boston.
(01:58):
Yeah, little moving around,but I've been back in Boston
for about five years now and I.
A lot has changed since I've lived here.
So I've just been exploring the city withmy daughter and, soaking up the vibrant
culture and really appreciating itshistory once more and, kind of exploring
it through a different pair of blends.
(02:18):
Maybe not so much as a local,but as a curious traveler.
So it's been a lot of fun.
That's so awesome.
I have the same thing.
I grew up in the SanFrancisco Bay area and then.
Now live there as an adult and Ifeel like growing up near a city as
a kid and then living there as anadult are two completely different
Oh yeah.
Oh yeah.
And it's fun, especiallybecause I have my little one.
(02:38):
It's fun to see the city through her eyes.
So I get to see it throughlike a different perspective.
awesome
that's awesome.
And I'm sure that you have such agood perspective on like fun things
to do for adults and young adults,but then also fun things to do if
you have a family and if you're
Oh yeah, for sure.
For sure.
Amazing.
Well, I mean, my history withBoston, I've actually visited the
city about four or five times now.
(02:59):
I really like it.
I have a ton of friends from high schoolthat ended up going to college there,
and Boston is a huge college town.
So I would go and visit themevery spring break and hang out in
Boston and just explore the city.
And then I've gone back a few times.
In recent years to visitfamily and friends there.
And I just, I love it.
It's such a compact city.
It's so walkable.
(03:19):
There's beautiful architecture, there'sso much history and you have these
incredible waterfronts because youhave the river running through the
city, but then you also have the ocean.
And like that to me is just so uniquein terms of, of American cities.
I feel like you don't see ariver and an ocean in a lot of
big cities anywhere in the us.
it is, we're really, we're reallylucky to have that exposure to like
(03:39):
the most stunning waterfront views
I know, and you don't really thinkof Boston as like a beach city by
any means, but I think that someof the beaches there, I mean,
you can probably attest to it.
Some of the beaches are really nice.
they're really stunning.
Especially in the summer when you get totake advantage of the really hot summer
days and kind of cool off in the water.
They're really great.
that sounds awesome.
So let's just jump right inand say why visit Boston?
(04:02):
Like what makes Boston special?
Yeah.
Like you said, Boston is a complexcity, but it's a huge melting
pot of things to do and see.
So it is rich in history and it played aleading role in the American Revolution.
There's also those stunningwaterfront, views and just
beautiful architecture to take in.
It does have a lively and diverseculture, which, with so much to do
(04:23):
again, from museums to sporting events,music festivals, and just so much more.
Oh, that's amazing.
What type of travelersshould visit Boston?
Oof.
Boston is a city for history, buffs,sports fanatics, foodies, music lovers,
museum goers, culture travelers,and I mean, the list can go on.
Boston is truly a greatdestination for anyone really?
(04:45):
Yeah.
You mentioned some of that like AmericanRevolution history, and I can just
imagine that if you're someone whois into visiting historical places,
Boston should be like number one on
it's the place to be.
Yeah.
So if you had to narrow down what are themost essential first timer things to do in
Boston, like someone just landed in Bostonfor the first time, what are like the
different things that people should do?
(05:06):
I think for our history buffs,they should definitely check
out the Freedom Trail that's.
Top on the list, it's a walkin tour.
You could do it, guided or not.
That takes you through the historicalstites of Boston's Revolutionary War.
Sports fanatics who are visiting Bostonshould definitely head to Fenway Park.
It's the oldest baseball stadiumin the nation and it's home
(05:27):
to the Boston Red Sox team.
If you're not able to experience theiconic energy of a live game, then you
should definitely schedule a guided tourto learn the history of the stadium.
Now, I know Boston Red Soxfans could be rowdy, right?
Like what's the energy like insideFenway Park during a baseball game?
Oh, it's, it's very lively.
It's rowdy.
Sports.
(05:48):
The sports fanatics here are diehardfans, like it runs in our blood.
The last game that I went to wasactually a Red Sox against Yankees
game, and that was the first timethat I experienced this, rivalry
live, and it was the most fun.
And, you really get into the,the Boston Red Sox spirit.
awesome.
What, what about for people thataren't into sports or maybe aren't
(06:11):
into history, what should they do?
Yeah, of course.
There's, definitely a food scene here.
So the foodies should head tothe North end neighborhood for
some authentic Italian food.
I love heading there to just likeroam through the Italian markets.
There's a ton of fine dining restaurants,gels and bakeries, indulge in the pizza,
the pasta, the seafood, the gelato, andmy personal favorite is the cannolis.
(06:34):
There's a little bakery in the north endcalled Bobas, and it's open 24 7, and
I always go in there to get cannolis.
There's usually always a line,but it moves fairly quickly.
But just seeing the line can, testifyto how delicious their cannolis are.
Yeah.
I think the best cannoli I've ever hadin my life was in Boston's North End.
I forget what bakery it wasat, but I remember that was
(06:56):
when I was like, oh, this is
Yeah,
to taste like.
exactly.
Exactly.
Let's see.
For those who love to be innature, the public garden is a gem.
There are plenty of green spaceshere for scenic strolls, and a ton
of different plants from weepingwillow trees to roses and tulips.
There's a cute lagoon at the centerof the park, and you can even take
(07:19):
the iconic little swan boat ridearound the lagoon in the summer.
That sounds so lovely, and especiallyemphasis on doing that in the
summertime when the weather is nice.
I don't think that you wanna visit thepublic garden in the winter, correct.
I mean, I've, I've strolled through ita couple times on a warmer winter day,
which is great 'cause you have your hotchocolate in hand or hot latte in hand.
(07:41):
And you could just take in the, theviews of the architecture in the
buildings that surround the park.
But the summer is justthe dreamiest experience.
What about any museums?
For anyone who
Oh, for sure, for sure.
So, for cultural travelers, Irecommend my personal favorite,
which is the Museum of Fine Arts.
I've always been in awe of themuseum ever since I was a kid.
(08:02):
I just, I feel like it's somajestic and grand and it's still,
it's true for me now as an adult.
It's one of the most comprehensiveart museums in the world.
It has over a hundred galleries tosee, and they house art from Asia,
Africa, ancient Egypt and Europe.
Wow.
Okay, so just to summarize, your topfive places to visit in Boston for first
(08:24):
timers are the Freedom Trail Fenway Park.
The North End neighborhood, the PublicGarden, and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Right.
Yes, those would be my top on the list.
What about most essentialBoston experiences?
I think that coming into Boston you reallyhave to appreciate its history and explore
the historic neighborhoods around Boston.
(08:44):
They all have beautiful architectureand cobblestone streets.
While you're here, you definitelyneed to eat as much as you can.
So there are incredible restaurants allover the city and in every area of Boston.
So not just the North End, but also theBack Bay Area, south End and the Seaport
District have amazing restaurants.
I would highly recommend that you reserve.
(09:06):
In advance at a restaurant 'causethey book up fairly quickly.
The last thing that I wouldrecommend that you do is visit
as many museums as possible.
Boston alone has over 40 museums,so there's a ton of museums to
kind of stroll through and take in.
That's a lot of museums forone kind of smaller size city.
Yeah, yeah.
so if you wanna get a quickoverview of the city, I would
(09:28):
definitely recommend the duck tour.
What is a duck tour?
the duck tour is a quick andfun, informative, guided tour
that's both land and on water.
I never did it as a kid, but I'vedone it twice already as an adult
since I've been back in the city.
And you go through the cityin an amphibious vehicle, and
then along the Charles River,it's historical, educational,
(09:51):
entertaining, and family friendly.
It's a different experience eachtime that you get on the duck tour.
And it's a great introduction tothe city for first time visitors.
Wait, so like you're in a carand then that car just drives
from the road into the river?
yeah, that's right.
You go through the city roads on theamphibious vehicle, and then you go
in through the Charles River water.
(10:13):
So they throw a ton of fun facts as you'regoing along about the city, about the
river, about Boston, and about Cambridge,which is on the other side of the river.
It's engaging, it's interactive, notjust with those who are taking the tour,
but even pedestrians on the street.
So I highly recommend the experiences.
Different each time you get on, 'cause youhave a different, conductor that's guiding
(10:35):
That sounds so incredibly fun.
I can't believe I haven't done this yet.
put it on your list nexttime you come to Boston.
I will.
I mean, okay, so speaking of things toput on a list for when you go to Boston,
what about any of your personal favorites?
I mean, you've lived inBoston almost your whole life.
What are some hidden gems thatother tourists might not know about?
(10:56):
Yeah, so I know that some ofthe most popular museums is, you
know, the Museum of Fine Arts.
But another great one that Irecommend is the Museum of Science.
I think it's a must visit.
I don't remember enjoying it muchas a kid, but now that I have a
daughter and we go, I mean, we'vegone back a handful of times.
It just has an extensive interactiveexhibits, a planetarium, live
(11:17):
animal presentations, and an imex.
Film.
So it's just a lot to see and do.
And what's cool is that theyrotate exhibits every so often.
So each time we come back it'slike we're seeing new things.
Oh, wow.
That sounds amazing.
A planetarium inside the museum.
Oh yeah.
It's definitely, an experienceto remember once you go in and,
and check out the planetarium.
(11:37):
Another hidden gem that is mypersonal favorite because I love
history and because I love art,is the Boston Public Library.
It's completely free to visit forthe public and it has a vast library
resources, rich art collection, andstunning architecture to just take in.
There's a Venetian style courtyardat the center and they host free
(11:57):
concerts during the summer months.
And it's just, you know, somethingthat you have to see in person.
so for the public library, arethere different branches or which
branch of the public libraryhas that Venetian courtyard.
Yeah, of course.
So it, it called the Central PublicLibrary, and it's in Coley Square,
so it's right next to, TrinityChurch, in, in that surrounding area.
(12:20):
Where is Copley Square?
For anyone who
Yeah.
Copley Square.
Copley Square is almost likean extension of the back bay.
So Copley Square is right off ofBoyleston Street and I, if you head
further down Boyleston Street, ittakes you right into the Back Bay area.
And we'll talk a little bitabout Back Bay later, as it's
one of your favorite places, mostrecommended places to stay in Boston.
Yeah.
So it's a great place tostay and even hang out in.
(12:41):
Nice.
One of my personal favorites fromwhen I've visited Boston is the
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
Can you talk a little bit about
that?
Oh my gosh, yes.
That's another amazing museumthat you have to check out.
The Isabella Stewart Garden Museum, isa museum where Isabella Stewart Gardner,
holds all of her private collection of.
Art furniture tapestries that shecollected over her travels, and part
(13:05):
of, her mission, especially after shepassed, was to make it accessible to
make art accessible to the public.
So she converted her livingquarters into a museum.
Something that's fascinating aboutthe museum and that many people
may not know about is that therewas actually this huge high.
That happened at the Isabella StewartGarden Museum back in the eighties.
(13:26):
Until this day, the art that wastaken from the museum and stolen
has not been found or recovered.
So it's fascinating because when yougo into the museum, they actually
still have some empty frames onthe wall of where that art would
be, if it was still there today.
There's a really, really cooldocumentary on Netflix about it.
So definitely check it out and go visitthe museum after you see the documentary.
(13:50):
That's so crazy.
I didn't know that.
I remember seeing empty frames on thewalls when I visited, but I had no idea
that there was a heist that took place.
Now you know why.
Now you know why they havethose empty frames on the wall.
Oh my gosh.
I mean, it's such a beautiful museum.
Like I, I have to be honest, I don'tknow who Isabella Stewart Gardner
is, but I know that she has anincredible taste based on her home.
(14:10):
yeah, yeah.
She has incredible taste.
She was just, she just had this lovefor the arts, so she always traveled
abroad in Europe and made greatfriendships with the artists and authors.
She even had some artists come to thehome herself and, you know, be residents
there to kind of work on their art.
So she really, really gave alot to the art community and
brought it back to the states.
(14:31):
Wow.
I mean, yeah.
When you go in, there's again,this beautiful courtyard,
tons of ferns and plants.
You could walk up multiple stories.
It just looks like you're in acompletely different country.
It's so, so spectacular.
I highly recommend it.
For sure.
It's almost like you're transportedout of Boston into another world.
speaking of transporting yourself outof Boston, what about any day trips?
(14:52):
Is it possible to take a day trip fromBoston when you're visiting the city?
Is there anything you'd recommend doing?
Yeah, of course.
I think Boston is in a primelocation because you can take day
trips to so many different places.
In Massachusetts, outside ofMassachusetts, it's only an hour to
two, maybe three hours away, dependinghow far and where you wanna go.
(15:12):
A recent day trip that I did.
Maybe a couple weeks ago, itwas to Newport, Rhode Island.
It was my first time there and itwas like the best coastal getaway.
It, I was able to enjoy the scenic closeline, the Newport Mansions, and there's
a ton of charming shops in the area.
There's just so much to do.
Some of the highlights from my trip wasexploring the Cliff walk along the coast.
(15:35):
It had the most.
Stunning views of the sea.
And then we also strolled down TameStreet, which is in the downtown area.
We did a little bit of windowshopping and had like the most
delicious ice cream before gettingin the car and coming back home.
Oh, that sounds amazing.
It's so funny to hear you say thatyou did a day trip to Rhode Island
because like I am on the West coastwhere if you wanna drive to another
(15:56):
state, it's like seven hours.
And so I always forget that beingon the East Coast you can visit.
probably three or four differentstates within like a one to
two hour drive from Boston.
for sure.
I mean, there's Vermont, there'sConnecticut, there's Maine.
And then even within Massachusettsthere's a ton of cool little
day trips that you can take.
What about, Cape Cod?
(16:16):
I feel like I always hearpeople going to Cape Cod.
It's one of the most famousareas of the East coast.
Is it possible to do thatin a day trip from Boston?
sure.
During the summer, we take daytrips to Cape Cod all of the time.
We leave the house fairly early though,like six or seven in the morning,
to kind of beat the traffic becauseeverybody goes to Cape Cod in the summer,
especially, especially on hotter daysto take advantage of their beaches.
(16:39):
The beaches in Cape Cod are stunning.
I mean, the sand is.
Soft and beautiful.
And the waters personally,I think are very warm.
So I actually go swimming in the waterin Cape Cod versus closer to home.
I'm not sure what it is about theCape Cod waters, but it's, it's so
nice to just kind of swim in it.
And it's, you know, lots to explore there.
(17:01):
The downtown in Cape Cod has alot of fun, cool little seafood
restaurants and ice cream shops.
So we'll actually be going to CapeCod this weekend to celebrate my
daughter's birthday, and we're goingto do a little glamping trip, rent
some bikes, and take them out to thebeach and do a little picnic there.
There's just a lot of.
Fun things to do by the water.
Oh my gosh, that makes mewanna go to Cape Cod this
(17:23):
Yeah, you have to.
So for someone who's planninga trip to Boston, how much
time should they budget in?
Like how much time in the city?
Should you add in a few days to do someof these day trips like we talked about?
What do you think?
Yeah, I think three days is plentyof time to visit and experience a
lot of what Boston has to offer.
If you wanna do a day trip, maybeyou can add another day or two,
(17:45):
but I think three to four days issufficient time to enjoy the city.
Oh, okay.
Nice.
And then what's your kind ofideal three day Boston itinerary?
Hmm.
So an ideal three day itineraryin Boston would be getting to
know Boston's history first.
So on day one, you can start inthe Historic Back Bay District.
Again, start at my favorite,the Boston Public Library.
(18:07):
It's in Coley Square, so youcan roam around the square.
After the library taking theTrinity Church, you can then head
down Boyleson Street and a. Crossover to Newbury Street, which
is the most famous, district orarea to go shopping and dining.
And further down, you can trickleinto Boston Common and start your
walking tour of the Freedom Trail.
(18:29):
So again, on the Freedom Trail, you'll seehistoric sites like the Old State House,
Quincy Market, the Paul Revere House, andto end your walking tour in Charlestown.
There you can grab dinner at WaverlyKitchen and bar, and call it a night.
I think I actually saw people takingmaybe the walking tour of the Freedom
Trail the last time that I was inBoston because there was a man dressed
(18:50):
in like full revolutionary war, getup leading a group of people and
pointing out different sites, andI was like, what is happening here?
that is definitely aguided Freedom Trail tour.
They do dress as historic charactersand they give accurate historical
information about the sites thatyou're seeing, along the way.
(19:11):
That's so cool.
Okay, so day one is about history.
What is day two of your Boston
Day two is taken in the culture.
So day two consists of a day at the Museumof Fine Arts, exploring the paintings, the
sculptures, the artifacts, instruments.
And so much more.
During my last visit to the MFA,I actually had the opportunity
to see the Rulon family portraitsthat were done by Vincent Vangogh.
(19:34):
And that was such atransformative experience.
On display were evenpersonal letters that, the.
The husband or the father of the Rulandfamily exchanged with Vincent Vangogh and
then also with Vincent Van Gogh's brother.
So you got to see a little peekof what Vincent Vangogh was going
through, especially with hismental health during that time.
(19:55):
My daughter actually found it fascinating'cause she loves his work, but she
actually got to see a little bitmore about who he was as a person.
so she was really takenaway by those letters.
And it was just such a treat.
After wandering around the museum,I would suggest that you had to
blue ribbon Brary, for dinner.
They have excellent, excellentsteak and fries, which I would
(20:16):
definitely recommend that you order.
Is that close to the Museum of FineArts or is that a, a drive away.
it's definitely within walking distance,but if you're tired of walking around the
museum and you wanna hop on an Uber ora Lyft, I definitely recommend doing so.
And then what about yourthird and final day in Boston?
So I think that for your last day inBoston, you should actually head across
(20:38):
the Charles River, into Cambridge.
I. Think that you should definitelyvisit the Harvard University campus
while you are visiting Boston.
It is the most influentialuniversity in the entire world.
So start in Harvard Square.
It is the historic center in that area.
It's full of a ton of shops,cafes, and restaurants, and then
head to Harvard University campus.
(20:59):
They offer guided toursthere done by students.
And the students take you aroundthe campus and they show you,
some of the iconic areas like.
Harvard Yard and thehistoric Harvard Hall.
After your tour, definitely stop bythe Harvard bookstore and you can
stock up on Harvard gear like crewnecks and hats and notebooks, you name
(21:21):
it, that have such cute merch there.
After that, spend your afternoon inHarvard Museum of Natural History.
This museum has historic exhibits anda huge collection of natural artifacts.
Finally, my favorite.
End your day in Cambridgeat La Fabrica Centra.
This has the most delicious SpanishCaribbean dishes and they offer
(21:45):
live music, so live ssa, and it'sjust, it's a vibe and a lot of fun.
So I definitely recommend thatyou end your day and your visit
there for some amazing drinks likemojitos, amazing dishes like Mofongo,
and then of course live music
That sounds so incredibly fun.
I haven't been to that restaurant, but Ihave walked around Cambridge many times.
(22:07):
I think Cambridge is actuallymy favorite area of Boston.
There's a lot of nice parks and reallybeautiful waterfront areas along the
river that you can go for a really longwalk or just hang out in the parks.
And then it, because it's a collegetown, there's such this youthful vibrance
and just this wonderful atmosphere.
It's so walkable.
There's so many little shopsand restaurants and cafes.
(22:29):
And then walk.
Yeah, the Harvard campus isjust absolutely stunning.
Gorgeous architecture there andso much history there as well.
So I love Cambridge.
Would definitely recommend.
Yes, for sure.
It's definitely something you haveto experience while you're in Boston
And I do wanna plug that you wrote a threeDay Boston itinerary and it's on travel
lemming and it pretty much matches thisitinerary that you've just given us here.
(22:50):
But probably with some more details,more in instructions on how to get
around, things to do, places to see.
So anyone looking to dive more into afull planned itinerary for your Boston
trip, definitely check out Travel LemmingClade Set has an article on there.
For places to stay in Boston,like when you're visiting, what
are some neighborhoods that youwould recommend tourists stay in?
(23:11):
Like where has the mosthotels, good restaurants safe,
So for first time visitors, Idefinitely recommend the Back Bay area.
It's a great place to stay, but it's alsoone of my favorite places to hang out.
It's a walkable neighborhoodand it's close to everything.
So you have access to shops,like boutique shops, but also
higher end luxury stores.
Definitely restaurants from littlecoffee shops to high-end dining, bars and
(23:32):
lounges, but then you also have access topublic transportation that will take you
to some of the city's top attractions.
Nice.
And the main street in back Bay is Newbury
Street.
Yes, it is.
Newbury Street is the hub of the back Bayarea, and that's where most of the shops,
dinings and lounges and bars are at.
So it's lively no matter what time ofthe day or night that you're there.
(23:54):
Yeah, and even if you don't stay in BackBay, I mean Newbury Street, you definitely
have to walk down it at least once.
It's got all thisincredible architecture too.
So like as you're walking down, yousee all these almost like brownstone
style homes around you and allthese beautiful trees, and it just
feels like, oh, I'm in Boston.
Yes.
Yes, for sure.
So I know that Back Bay has thisreputation for having like luxury shops.
(24:15):
Is it affordable to stay there oris it more of like the higher end
luxury hotels that are gonna be there?
I think you'll find more of the higherend luxury hotels in the back Bay area.
Another option that I wouldrecommend is the South End.
It's a cute, stylish neighborhoodthat I love to hang out in as
well, but I also love to eat there.
So it's family friendly andit's just a foodie paradise.
(24:37):
It's definitely walkable and it offersgreat restaurant options as well as parks.
So you'll find some coollittle smaller parks in the
area to hang out and relax in.
Nice.
Nice.
And would this be where peoplecan find maybe some more
affordable accommodation options?
Yeah, so South End, definitelyhas more budget friendly options.
One of the hotels that I wouldrecommend staying in the South
(24:59):
End is the Revolution Hotel.
So it offers a variety ofroom types and accommodates
different, options for travelers.
That's awesome.
What about, a hotelrecommendation for Back Bay?
Do you have any good hotels there?
Yeah, I think the best hotel tostay at in the back bay is the Four
Seasons Hotel, one Dalton Street.
It's a in prime location withcomfortable rooms and a ton of amenities.
(25:22):
Okay, nice.
So we have one kind of more luxuriousoption with the Four Seasons, and then
one very budget friendly option withthe Revolution Hotel in two great areas.
That's awesome.
And I know that you wrote a whole articleabout the best neighborhoods to stay
in Boston where you explore some otherneighborhoods outside of just back Bay and
you also.
Have a whole article aboutBoston neighborhoods in general.
(25:43):
Not just places to stay, but justhighlighting kind of the diversity
of the neighborhoods in the city.
So, definitely check thoseout on travel Loving.
If you're curious to learn more.
So for a trip to Boston, what shouldTravelers plan to budget like?
How much does it cost tovisit Boston for a few days?
Boston can be a pricey city to, travelto, but then also live in, so I would
(26:06):
definitely plan to budget anywhere froma hundred to $400 per day, or about
$800 per person for a three day trip.
This covers accommodations, food, localtransportation, and of course sightseeing.
Yeah, that is a little bit pricey.
Do you have any tips for saving moneyor anyone who's traveling on a budget?
(26:26):
Yeah.
As a single mom, I'm always kindof keeping an eye out on ways to
save while exploring the city.
So some tips for you is, that thereare actually a lot of free things
to do in Boston, believe it or not.
So we have the FreedomTrail, which is free.
If you're doing a self-guidedtour, we have the Boston Public
Library that's free to the public.
(26:47):
The Public Garden, BostonCommon Feno Harm Marketplace.
There's a ton of attractionsthat you could check out in
the city of Boston for free.
As I stated before, Boston isfull of museums and a lot of the
museums offer free admission.
So the Harvard Art Museum,which is in Cambridge, is free
to the public every single day.
The Museum of Fine Arts on HolidayMondays, such as Martin Luther
(27:10):
King, Jr. Day is also free.
And the Institute of Contemporary Art,which is in the Seaport District, offers
free admission on Thursday evenings.
So if you do a little research, alittle dig in, you can definitely
find a lot of free things to doaround the city while you're here.
That's awesome.
A lot of free busy days it sounds like.
and you mentioned fan,UEL Hall Marketplace.
(27:30):
I think that's where I had maybe someof the best clam chowder of my life.
There's just tons of food stalls there.
You walk through, people arelike throwing fish maybe.
I don't know if that happens, but likeit just feels so lively and you have
so many good smells all around you,and I think that you kind of have to
get clam chowder when you visit Boston.
Oh, for sure.
Yes, yes.
(27:50):
So Fenal Hall Marketplaceis in the downtown area.
It used to be back in therevolutionary times, like a
gathering area for the townspeopleto talk about whatever's happening.
And now it's just kind of likea hub to hang out, to eat, to
meet with friends and family, to.
Hit up some pubs and bars.
(28:11):
Quincy Market definitely has a bunch offood stalls that you have to check out.
So clam chowder needs to beon that list of things to eat,
and then also lobster rolls.
You cannot come to Boston withouthaving a lobster roll for sure.
Where is the best place inBoston to get a lobster roll?
Ooh.
Honestly, I think the best placeto get a lobster roll would be
(28:32):
outside of Boston personally.
I love to go.
Yeah.
I love to go Another day trip for you.
I love to go to Newburyport.
It's about 45 minutes north ofBoston and they have some of the
best seafood and I've had themost delicious lobster roll there.
Buttery bread with warmbuttery lobster inside.
So it's, it was Chef's Kiss.
(28:53):
That sounds, where did you say that is?
new?
Yeah, it's called Newburyport.
It's also on my, day tripguide outside of Boston.
So if you wanna learn moreabout Newburyport, you can
check out that article.
It's another day trip that I wouldrecommend doing outside of Boston,
that's still within Massachusetts.
for anyone who's looking tovisit Boston, what time of
year would you recommend going?
(29:14):
I know we talked a little bitabout Boston Winters being cold.
Can you talk more aboutwhen the best time to visit.
Personally, I think that the best timeto visit Boston is during the summer.
That's when I have themost fun in the city.
There's plenty of outdoor attractionsto do water activities, outdoor patio
dining, which is a great experience.
And then also local events to enjoy.
(29:35):
So summer usually runs fromJune through September.
Early June is a good time to visitBoston 'cause you can still enjoy
some of the warmer weather beforeit gets too crowded with tourists.
Once summer break hits . But thebest time to visit Boston looks
a little different for everyone.
The cheapest time to visit Boston, I,I would say, is in the winter months.
So after the holidays, it's cold, it'sdark, it's snowy, but the museum and
(30:00):
other attractions are way less crowded,so you can enjoy them a little more.
Yeah.
I have to say I've visited Boston.
In March, in May and inOctober, and I think March was
just a bit too cold for me.
I visited on, on my spring break at schooland while all of my friends were going
to warm spring break destinations, Iwas like, I'm flying to Boston and it's
(30:22):
gonna be 40 degrees and maybe snowy.
And but it was nice.
It was very cheap.
It was less crowded.
It was still beautiful.
Like you can still go outsideand do a ton of things.
It's not like depressing by anymeans, but I think in terms of if
you wanna experience really likeeverything that the city has to offer,
I loved visiting in the early fall.
I think that just for me was like, youget this East Coast fall foliage, you're
(30:46):
walking around, all of the trees arejust like yellow and red and orange,
and the weather's not too bad yet.
It's still pretty nice and lovely and youdon't really have the summer tourists.
So I think for me.
I really loved visiting in October.
Yes, October is beautiful again,the foliage is stunning to take
in and the weather is, the airis just like crisp and cool.
(31:09):
So you just throw on a few layers and youknow, head outdoors and enjoy nature a
little longer before winter rolls through.
so speaking of the best times tovisit Boston, are there any kinds of
festivals or events that take placeannually that people might want to
be aware of so that they can visitduring that time or maybe so that they
can avoid visiting during that time?
If it gets really crowded, like let'stalk about special events and festivals.
(31:33):
Yeah.
Boston has a ton of specialevents that they host.
Every year, some of the special events tolook out for, whether you wanna come and
experience it yourself or you wanna tryit to avoid, would be the Boston Marathon.
It does get very, verybusy hotels booked quickly.
It is one of the most prestigiousmarathons in the world.
It's held on Patriots Day, sothat's the third Monday of April.
(31:56):
So that's another one to look out forif you want to come experience the
Boston Marathon or if you kind of wanna.
Steer clear from the crowds.
Another event is the headof the Charles Regatta.
It's a world renowned rowing event,and it happens on the Charles River.
It's held in October every year.
And it's really cool to see becauseeverybody gathers over the bridge,
(32:17):
over the river, and they kindof see everybody rowing down the
Charles, which is really nice.
So the Boston Marathon and the head ofthe Charles, if you're not participating
in those events, are they free to goand watch or do you have to like buy
a day ticket to go, you know, watchthe marathon or how does that work?
No, I believe they're both free.
So you can go and just show support forthose who are participating in the event.
(32:39):
It does get crowded.
I know that they do block off somestreets, so you just have to do a
little bit of planning in advancein order to go and experience it.
Okay, cool.
What about any kinds of musicfestivals or anything like that?
Does Boston have any major festivals?
Yeah.
So a music festival that Bostonhosts every year is called the
Boston Calling Music Festival.
(33:00):
It is a large scale music festivalthat's held every Memorial Day weekend.
It's the, usually the whole weekend, so
s Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
and I believe Monday as well.
I had a friend recently go thisyear and she had so much fun.
She was there every single dayand she was wiped out come Monday.
So, it is, it is a lot of fun and it'susually a huge, huge crowd that goes in
(33:22):
and enjoys the music and the artists.
That's awesome.
And I think they get some pretty bigartists to perf to headline that festival.
Right.
There's some huge headlinersthat come to the festival.
That sounds so cool.
And I know we have to talk about Bostonsports while we're talking about events
and special things to look out for.
I mean, it seems like.
Boston sports teams and Boston Sportsfans are maybe the most passionate sports
(33:46):
fans maybe anywhere in the country.
What are some of Boston sports teams?
Let's talk about that.
Yeah, I can totallyagree to that statement.
I think that Boston Fanatics aresome of the most passionate fans
that you will ever come across.
Boston has some amazing sports teams.
We have the Boston Red Sox,which is our baseball team.
The Celtics, which is ourbasketball team, and the Bruins
(34:09):
as well, which is our hockey team.
And they offer really exciting games.
So whether you go for a majorgame or the playoffs, it's,
it's a very vibrant experience.
So those are also things to look out forwhen you're planning a trip to Boston.
Yeah, I think if I am in Boston again,I'm definitely going to try to go to
either a Celtics game or a Red Sox game.
(34:31):
It seems like an experience thatyou kind of just have to have,
you do, you do, the Celtics team is alsoa lot of fun to watch in the garden.
In terms of getting around Boston,would you recommend taking public
transportation or maybe renting a car?
Yeah, so I think Boston is aneasy city to navigate on foot.
It's very walker friendly.
You have access to public transportation.
(34:51):
So the T, which is the MBTA, it'sconnected to all major Boston areas.
You can also get an Uber and a Lyft.
They're always an option when you'retired of walking around the city.
I wouldn't recommend renting a car.
I don't think it's necessary.
The driving culture in Boston isa little bit aggressive and it.
There's tends to be a lot of traffic,especially during peak hours.
(35:13):
Also the city streets and thetunnels can be very confusing for
someone who's never driven in Boston.
So getting off the wrong exit could kindof set you back about an hour or so.
So I would just suggest, you know,using your feet, getting on the tee,
the train or just hopping in and outof an Uber, I think those would be
the best ways to get around Boston.
Yeah, and I think something thatpeople should know about taking the
(35:36):
tea, it has kind of a weird layout.
We have to talk about that.
It seems like all of the lines, like youcan get anywhere that you need to go,
but all of the lines converge in centralBoston, so you can't, if you're like.
In Cambridge and you're trying to getmaybe 15 minutes south, you actually have
to go all the way into Boston, switchlines, and then go all the way back
(35:57):
out just to get where you need to go.
So it can be a little bitconfusing, I think, navigating the
T, but I would say it's worth it.
It is definitely worth it.
And if you use Google Maps, I mean,you could just plug in the address of
where you're trying to go and it tellsyou exactly what, lines and colors
you need to hop in and off of when youtransfer in the center of the city.
But yeah, sometimes it's like if you'retrying to get just a little bit away,
(36:19):
it might be easier to take an Uber
Yeah.
than take the tea all theway back into the center of
Correct.
It might save you some timeversus getting on the t.
But the views from the T, I mean someof it's underground, but I remember
taking the T over the Charles Riverand just looking outside and seeing
these gorgeous views of the river andall the trees and the parks, and I
was like, wow, this is a, actually arelatively beautiful subway system.
(36:40):
Yeah, it really is.
I think it's kind of easy to navigate.
But you know, somebody who'snever used public transportation,
it could be confusing.
I find it a little easy and you know,I have a car myself and sometimes I
drive into the city, but dependingwhere I'm going, I just hop on the tee.
So, especially North End, 'causeit's so hard to find parking.
My daughter and I, we just hop on thetee and take the tee in and walk around
(37:01):
and it's just, you know, it's so easyand we make an adventure out of it.
So it's, it's a lot of fun.
I like taking the tea.
so I know.
You have a daughter and you're constantlywalking around Boston, how safe do you
feel when you're walking around Bostonby yourself or with your daughter?
Yeah, I've always felt safe wanderingaround Boston on my own or with my
daughter or if I'm with family or friends.
(37:23):
Of course there are safer areasthan others, like any major city.
Some desirable areas in Bostonthat offer safety and charm and
close proximity to the city centerwould definitely be back bay.
Beacon Hill is also a nicearea at the North end and.
Also the Seaport district, whichis, I guess like a newer developed
(37:44):
area that we have in Boston.
Some areas that I think require morecaution, some areas that I would
avoid walking around by myself atnight would be downtown Boston.
The Fenway Kenmore area, especiallyduring or after a Red Sox game, and
then also the West End neighborhood.
The bars and streets can getkind of rowdy, especially after
(38:05):
a Celtics game or a concert
Again with those rowdy Boston
yeah.
fans.
That's awesome.
Thank you for, for lettingeveryone know about that.
And I know that you go into a lotmore detail with your is Boston Safe
article that's up on travel le so foranyone that's concerned about safety,
definitely check that article out.
What about any common mistakesthat visitors might make
(38:26):
when they're visiting Boston?
Or like, do you have any tipsthat we didn't already talk about?
Yeah, I think some.
Tips would be to budgetfor your trip in advance.
Again, Boston isn't really a cheap city,whether you're visiting or living here,
so it's smart to kind of plan in ahead.
I'm gonna repeat, I think that youshould book accommodations, whether it's
dinner reservations or booking a hotelway in advance with plenty of time.
(38:49):
'Cause they do book very quickly in, inBoston, especially if there's an event.
Happening during the time of your stay.
I would also considerstaying near a T station.
Again, Boston is very wellconnected via public transportation.
something you should pack iscomfortable walking shoes.
Boston is a compact city in size and it's.
Easy to navigate on foot.
(39:10):
Again, I love exploring the cityvia foot and walking around.
So, definitely pack somecomfortable sneakers or shoes.
Another tip is to bring a day bag.
I never step outta myhouse without a day bag.
I, it's, you know, somethingthat I could just keep all of my
personal things together in oneplace while I'm exploring the city.
And it definitely comes in handyto avoid small fees for checkout
(39:31):
bags while shopping in the city.
Okay, Those are some great tipsand I just wanna second your tip on
booking accommodation in advance.
I just visited Boston a few weeks ago.
It was in May, and if you don't know,Boston has a ton of colleges and it
seems like everyone is graduating in May.
And so I went to book my accommodationand everything was so expensive.
(39:53):
So completely booked out forlike several week, all like
several weekends in a row in
in a row.
Mm-hmm.
just because all of thefamilies are coming in
in mm-hmm.
college graduations.
So that would be something to keep in mindas well, is that May and Boston can be
busy and expensive because of just likethe university graduations that happen.
Yep, this is true.
May is a very busy time in thecity because all of the graduates
(40:16):
are graduating and it's weekafter week after week after week.
It's one university after theother and you have friends and
family flying in from all over.
So even the streets themselvesare pretty crowded and busy
just walking around the city.
'Cause everyone's there to support
Which is so nice and sofun, but definitely pricey.
for sure.
Well this, I think we coveredpretty much everything.
(40:38):
I do have one question for you beforewe kind of conclude this episode.
What are your
your thoughts on
Donuts?
Ooh, hmm.
And the reason that Iask that, let me clarify.
The reason that I ask that isbecause I feel like I associate.
People, there's all these jokesabout people in Boston like loving
Dunking Donuts and like needinga dunking coffee every morning.
(41:00):
Is that true?
Like, are people in Bostonreally obsessed with Dunking
Donuts?
People in Boston are reallyobsessed with Dunking Donuts.
I am Dominican American, so coffeeis like a part of our culture.
We have coffee every day.
All hours of the day.
So we are almost coffee snobs.
So coffee is a big part of our culture.
(41:20):
And then, you know, dunking is abig part of the Boston culture.
So everyone who is a local here, whogrew up here loves their dunking.
You can spot a Bostonian here inthe city if they have an iced.
Coffee from Dunking Donuts.
They're wearing their shorts andit's still like 60 or 50 degrees out.
(41:41):
You know, they're justdiehard Dunking fans.
If it's your first time in Boston,definitely hit up Dunking Donuts.
I, I will say that Dunking Donuts inBoston is a lot better than, like, quality
than Dunking Donuts outside of Boston.
So I did live in Atlanta for along time, and Dunking Donuts in
Atlanta just not hit it, didn'thit the same way that it does here.
(42:04):
So I will say that.
So go and get an iced coffee on
for
degree day in Boston just for the
Just exactly to experienceBoston like a true local.
so Colette, if you could summarize ina few sentences why someone should take
a trip to Boston, what would you say?
yeah.
I think that Boston offers a rich blendof history, culture, and innovation.
(42:25):
All in one walkable city.
It is a destination that combines thepast and the present both seamlessly.
And, you know, Boston is just oneof those cities that has something
to offer for every traveler.
So whether you're into sports, art,academia, museums, seafood, or just a
scenic stroll along the Charles River,Boston is definitely a place to, to visit
(42:48):
and put it on your travel bucket list.
That's perfect.
Thank you so much for giving usall of your Boston advice today.
It's
you for having
to have you on the podcast.
was such a treat.
Thank you so much for having me, Laura.
Of course, and for anyone who'slistening and thinking, now I
have to plan my trip to Boston.
I will plug that we have a few otherpodcast episodes about visiting
some major east coast cities.
(43:09):
So we have an episode where we chat withsome of our New York locals about how to
plan the perfect trip to New York City.
We also have an episode with one ofour Washington DC locals about how to
plan a trip to dc So if you're visitingBoston and you wanna extend your trip
and visit some other major cities alongthe East coast, that's just a few short.
Hours of a train ride away.
Definitely take a look at those podcasts.
(43:31):
Well, thank you Claudia for being on.
Thank you everyone for listening.
This is The Traveling Podcastand we'll see you next time.
Thank you.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com