things to do
COME AND EXPLORE WHERE WE LIVE AND FIND OUT WHAT MAKES BOSTON AN AMAZING CITY!
CAMBRIDGE
Felipes
Fast Casual Mexican restaurant with a rooftop bar, Bri and Ron will be getting a burrito here after the wedding. Will you join them? Wink. Wink.
21 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138
alden + harlow
Romance? I think yes! Visit the spot of Ron and Bri’s first date. An upscale restaurant with twists on conventional classics. Longfellow Bar above is the perfect place for a nightcap.
40 Brattle St #3, Cambridge, MA 02138
Brattle theater
Here ye all Cinephiles! A good spot for a rainy day or waiting for flight. The Brattle is an independent art house that recently went over a restoration. They are playing ‘Kwaiden’ a japanese horror film during the weekend of October 3rd. Watch if you dare!
40 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138
harvard art musuem
Take a stroll through the Harvard Yard and enjoy the oldest college in the United States. Inside you will find the Harvard Art Museum. A fantastic collection of art and archelogy from Harvard’s archives. I call it MFA abridged, when you want to go to an art museum but don’t want to sacrifice your whole day.
Free Admission to all
32 Quincy St, Cambridge, MA 02138
walk along the charles
Enjoy some of Boston’s fantastic scenery and some early leaf peeping along the Charles River. A great place for a morning or afternoon stroll.
Start at the Weld Boathouse
971 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02138
Local coffee shop and bakery by Joanna Chang. Coffee, Pastries and sandwiches. The smokehouse turkey is Bri’s favorite sandwich. Perfect place for breakfast or lunch.
114 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Flour
harvard museum of natural history
Another museum? Yes! This one is a little different, taxidermy (yes), glass flower collection and a rare collection of rock and mineral specimens. Its a unique experience and well worth your time
$20 Admission. Free to Massachusetts residents every Sunday morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
26 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA 02138
pizza pizza!
somerville
bow market
There is more to see at Bow Market than just our welcome party. Local shops, bookstores, custom embroidery shops, and a pin ball arcade!
1 Bow Mkt Wy, Somerville, MA 02143
wild child
Wine shop and cookbook book shop. Find something special to sip in your hotel room and a cookbook to inspire on your way home. They should still have canned pizza wine. A fun little treat
30 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143
back bar
Wine shop and cookbook book shop. Find something special to sip in your hotel room and a cookbook to inspire on your way home. They should still have canned pizza wine. A fun little treat
7 Sanborn Ct, Somerville, MA 02143
vera’s
A little spot for evening dancing and drinks after hours. It has a sunken speakeasy type of vibe
70 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143
Small ice cream shop great for a sweet treat! They are a small shop and only carry a limited amount of flavors at a time. Cross your fingers they have a fluff flavor!
22 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143
grace’s ice cream
vinyl cafe and general store
A little local spot, the bakery sells english muffin sandwiches in the morning and the General Store has sandwhiches and soft serve in the afternoon. Hours are odd, but the food is worth the timing.
Bakery: 8am - 1pm
General Store: 11am - 4pm
220 - 222 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143
boston, we want boston places!
Beacon hill
To get from Beacon Hill from Harvard Square to Charles MGH on the Red Line.
Beacon Hill is historic Boston with gas lamps, brick buildings and shops. Grab a coffee, and walk the shops and antique stores and find something to take home with you. JP Licks is a local Ice Cream Shop that also sells coffee, Tatte’s are scattered around the city and are always delicious. If you are ready for a hike to walk through the hill. Head to Acorn Street the most photographed street in the area. [Extra credit if you can re-create our engagement photos]
Map to The Whitney Hotel to start on the North Side
170 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
boston commen + the public garden
When exiting Charles Street you will land between the Boston Common and the public garden.
Boston Common to the left is the oldest public park in the United States established in 1634. The park features a carousel and a Soldiers and Salors Monument in the center. Travel over to view ‘The Embrace’ a new sculpture in honor of MLK [Who went to BU Ron’s Alma Mater.] which happed to be placed in front of Suffolk University [Bri’s Alma Mater].
The public garden established in 1837 is America’s first botanical garden. Check out the Make Way for Ducklings bronze status, enjoy the gardens, and see George Washington on horseback
Intersection of Beacon Street and Charles Street Boston, MA
comm ave + newbury street
If you exit The Public Garden on the Arlington Street side you will have the option of walking through Commonwealth Avenue Mall or Newbury Street. Comm Ave is a center park filled with trees and some of the most expensive real estate in the city. Statues and monuments are included along the length of the park.
If you are tired of bronze statues, Newbury Street is an outdoor street dedicated to everything shopping. Pop in and out of the stores. Check out RH which is the former Natural History Museum. Good places to stop for food: Thinking Cup, Dirty Water Dough, Saltie Girl, Saloniki Greek, Sonsie, Trident Bookstore and Cafe. Something in the mix for everyone!
Newbury Street Boston, MA
Commonwealth Ave Boston, MA
North end
The North End is the Italian District of Boston settled in the northern part of the city. The tight streets weave around the buildings. It is the most famous for the number of Italian Restaurants on Hanover Street. The Paul Revere House is nestled in the neighborhood along with The North Church which lit the lanterns for his midnight ride.
Food Spots: Pizzarina Regina, Modern Pastry, Bova’s, and our favorite spot is on Tony and Elaine’s. I would ask the Bostonians for their favorite spot. Everyone has their pick!
The hack is if you want Mike’s Pastry and don’t want to wait is to visit the second Mike’s Pastry in Harvard Square
Map to 191 Hanover Street Boston, MA
This will put you at the top of the street!
fanuiel hall + the public market
Ron describes as the place that made him want to come to Boston, Bri describes it as a casual food hall. Its on every list because you have to check it out to feel like you came to Boston. The building is famed for the ‘Cradle if Liberty’ where colonist rallied against the British. These days its a food hall with food stalls to grab a quick bite.
Ron’s Pick: Wagamamm’s an asian food chain
Bri’s Pick: Take a look around Faneuil Hall for the history and cobble stones then head over to The Boston Public Market 1 block over. Local restaurant and food stalls from in and around the city. Did someone say Bon Me or apple cider doughnuts? Super yummy!
Faneuil Hall: 1 Faneuil Hall Sq, Boston, MA 02109
Boston Public Market: 100 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02108
boston harbor + seaport and boston duck tour
The harborside is a great way to travel along on the coast of the city. Exit Faneuil hall on Atlantic Ave and walk along the the Rose Kennedy Greenway a new park with art installations, and greener or chose to walk the harbor both beautiful views of the city.
Stop by the aquarium and take a look at the exterior seal tank. The Aquarium is one of launching points of The Boston Duck Tour - a semi-aquatic vestle that gives you a tour of the city form land and by water in the Charles River!
Then continue along the coast to the arch at the Boston Harbor hotel at Rowe’s Warf. Finish by stopping by The Seaport, Boston’s newest part of the city. It has outdoor beer gardens, nice shops and the ICA Institute of Contemporary Art. A nice way to finish off the day at the dozens of restaurants on the harbor. Davio’s or Wood’s Hill.
Boston Duck Tour at The New England Aquarium
1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
For Boston Harbor Map to:
Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110
fenway
Home of Fenway Park! This part of the city is the entrance to Boston University. Its fun to walk around the stadium. And take a tour! The area surrounding has great food stops. Hojoko at The Verb is a great Burger and Ramen Restaurant
4 Jersey Street Boston, MA 02215
mfa + isabella stwewart gardner
While in the Fens you should take a walk over to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum which is a private home turned into a museum. Enjoy the interior gardens, and view her collection of Singer Sargent paintings and artifacts. Try and solve the mystery of the missing Rembrandts from 1990. Drama!
25 Evans Way, Boston, MA 02115
https://www.gardnermuseum.org/
The MFA is considered to be one of the most prestigious museum in the country with over 500,000 pieces of art. With both contemporary and classical works of art, there is something that anyone can enjoy!
465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
Mapparium
A unique spot nestled in the Christian Science Center at the backside of Berklee College of Music. The exhibit is a three story glass globe of the world set in 1935. Travel along a bridge and view the world frozen in time. Some cool acoustic effects as well.
The Mary Baker Eddy Library
210 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115
https://www.christianscience.com/the-mother-church-in-boston/how-do-you-see-the-world-experience
copley plaza + boston public library
One street over from Newbury Street is Boylston Street which is home to Copley Plaza home of the Boston Public Library the first free municipal library in the United States. Wander through the historic library and the archival collections. Check out the renovation of the contemporary wing completed in 2016.
Copley Plaza also features fantastic views of Trinity Church. A fantastic representation of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. The Church sits on landfill and during the construction of the Hancock Tower by IM Pei the church almost collapsed due to the softness of the ground.
700 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116
The esplinade
The esplanade is one of the most scenic parts of the city. A public park that runs along the full perimeter of The Charles River. The park has multiple entrances along the River front. On the Boston side of the esplanade you can get fantastic views of Cambridge and the MIT campus. You might be able to catch some of the leaves changing as well! Grab a snack and coffee beforehand and walk the river and dodge the locals as they use it for a run or a biking path. Its one of Bri’s favorite routes in the city!
Entrance Points:
Arthur Fiedler Footbridge, Boston, MA 02108 (Arlington Street)
Dartmouth Street Footbridge Back St, Boston, MA 02116
Massachusetts Ave Footbridge (Over the water)