I should have posted this upon my return at the end of May, but I forgot. IN any case, Boston is such a wonderful city. I can't believe I hadn't visited it in about 15 years. I had one of the best vacations of my life, and did everything I wanted to do.

I practically made the North End my home, being as it was a short walk from my hotel (Millenium). I only wish I had had Modern Pastry cannoli's earlier in my visit. They were phenomenal....I'm sure I won't find any better, even in NY. I had four meals in the North End, and they were all wonderful. The smells emanating on Salem and Hanover streets....wow!

The Freedom Trail is an amazing trove of historical sites; I only wish there hadn't been a truckload of kids at the Paul Revere house when I went. It's a small house, and it was nearly impossible to squeeze my way through, and read the placards, at the same time. Still, it's a great treat for kids, and it's to Boston's credit that they undertook something like this. In my pictures, it's surreal to see the Old South Meeting House plunked right in the middle of modern Boston!

The JFK Museum and Library blew me away. It was the best 4 hours I've ever spent in a museum, and everyone should go there once. I can't say enough about it....and the setting is gorgeous.

I toured Harvard, spent time in Cambridge, etc.......and I'm envious of people that live in Boston area.

I hope everyone that goes to Boston has as good a time as I did!

SHHHHH!

The traffic's bad enough as it is.

I loved Boston as well. I am not sure why it doesn't get the same attention as other cities. There was soooo much to see there. I can't wait to go back.

Betsy-
What restaurants in the N. End did you eat at?

Betsy:

My second favorite City! Great in the Fall,,,could be a tad tough in the Winter! But I love it all seasons!
Yummy seafood! People Great! Drivers..another story!!!
JOHN

Out of curiousity, what's your favorite city John?

BM, I ate at Monica's (last night, and my favorite restaurant in the North End.....a true find), Sage, Prezza.....actually, I think that's it. They were all wonderful.

One dish I had that I will long remember is the roast chicken dish at Hamersley's Bistro. It's their signature dish, apparently, and it's roasted with garlic and rosemary......yum! I only regret that I didn't dine there more than once, but I will go again.......

Certainly agree with this post Betsy!

We have visited Boston (usually sometime in the 2 weeks before Christmas) every year for the last 5 years. Its a wonderful city to visit! We are always given a great welcome and never get tired of seeing the Frog Pond on the Common (Children skating to Christmas music), Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the North End, the shopping, the great places to eat, Harvard Sqaure, the Christmas lights, .....the list is endless. Its a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit.

To keep my memories going, I bring home a calendar of Boston each year and hang it on the wall in front of my desk - July is a picture of the State House...on a bright summer day!

Can't wait until December and my next trip - Betsy, your post has made me exicted to be visting all over again!

Thank you!

I love Boston and this post just reminded me how much....

Thanks to all who posted positive things about Boston - in Boston it is recreation to complain about the city, but it is nice to get some reminders about how it really is a great place (after the Big Dig, high tax rate, impossible traffic, awful winters, etc.)

Gail,

Winter in Boston is an opportunity to dream about spring!

Well, I leave for Boston in one week. It will be my first time there and I'll be there with my wife and three kids.

You've all given it a high reputation to live up to. I can't wait!

RM

RM,

If you get the opportunity, go see a Red Sox game. Win or lose, the Sox play in baseball's temple.

I leave for Boston a week from this Saturday. It will also be my first trip as well as my husbands. I am so excited! I think I am just going to fall in love witht the place!

My husband & I loved Boston too. We especially enjoyed eating at Quincy Marketplace. Seeing the "Cheers" bar was fun too.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to go to a Sox game (Yankees were in town, and as a Yankee fan, I would have killed to go), but I did walk around Fenway and even took pics of the Citgo sign and the Green Monster!

I know it's touristy, and I'm not quite sure how locals feel about it, but I loved Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. As it was across from my hotel, I hung out there quite a bit, and it was fun people watching......not to mention shopping!

That's one of the great things about Boston, we have something for everyone.

For history lovers, we have the Freedom Trail, Harvard, Beacon Hill, and the JFK Library/Museum.

For sports lovers, we have several major-league teams.

For art-lovers, we have the MFA and the Gardner Museum.

For nature-lovers, we have the Public Garden and the rest of the Emerald Necklace as well as easy access to beaches, mountains, fall foliage, etc.

For food lovers, we have trendy restaurants and the whole North End.

And for people who love Disneyworld, we have Quincy Marketplace and Cheers.

Guys,
Take it easy on Quincy Marketplace.
I worked there before it was renovated, when it was the commercial fruit and vegetable market.
Trust me, it is a greater asset to the city as it is, than as it was.

But they had such great flea markets!

I'm a local and I do like Quincy Market, especially the restaurants, but it's a shame that it was allowed to develop in the direction of becoming just another mall. The "one of" eclectic shops that were more common when it first opened have been forced out by places like Ralph Lauren, The Gap, and their ilk. I've got nothing against those retailers, but it seems too bad that they've taken over so much of the place. There's another thread around at the moment discussing the Pike Place Market in Seattle - that's what Quincy Market could have become if things had been managed differently (though I have to confess I don't know how you can keep them out) and we all would have been better for it.