Exploring Boston from the other side

Sights, culture and food

U.S. News & World Report named Boston the #1 Best Summer Vacation Destination in New England for its sights, culture and food. 

Boston is one of America’s oldest cities and lead the nation with the first public school, subway, and large free municipal public library. It is where the American Revolution began.

You can relive that history at places like Paul Revere’s House, Faneuil Hall and the Old North Church, all along the Freedom Trail. Sample the local fare at Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market.

The Boston Common, America’s oldest public park, was once the site of military training, hangings, and a duel. It  is now a delightful place for a stroll. Take an iconic swan boat ride in the Public Garden lagoon. In winter you can skate in the frog pond.

Enjoy historic architecture? After the tidal bay was filled in, Back Bay became the fashionable neighborhood it is today, with tree-lined streets and stately 19th century brownstones.

Step inside Trinity Church. It was named one of the nation’s top 10 buildings by the American Association of Architects.

You might think the Old South Church is ornate for a New England Congregational Church. It reflects the spirit and prosperity in the post- Civil War era when it was built. Take the free Art and Architecture Tour of the Boston Public Library, which, like Trinity Church is a National Historic Landmark.

Enjoy the art, gardens and water features along the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a rooftop to the highway tunnel below. Where else can you ride a cod or lobster than on the Boston-themed carousel? The Greenway is also a free wifi zone.

Children also enjoy the New England Aquarium and Children’s Museum, both along the waterfront. Add a side of history at the Boston Tea Party ships and Museum.

The vibrant arts and culture scene runs from the Museum of Fine Arts, the fifth largest museum in America, to artists’ Open Studios in neighborhoods like the South End. And don’t miss the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a gem of a museum in an Italian palazzo near the Museum of Fine Arts.

Boston allocates 1% of its budget to commissioning the public art found throughout the city. And Boston’s poet laureate selects the works written on city sidewalks with paint visible only when it rains.

Sports fans can catch a Celtics or Bruins game. Or root for the Red Sox at Fenway Park, a stadium on the National Register of Historic Places. If the team is not playing, take a tour. You can even sit atop the renowned Green Monster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And it is fun to enjoy Boston cream pie where it originated or to savor some of the historic North End’s renowned Italian cuisine. Create a picnic from your finds at a farmer’s market or choose from array of food trucks at the Rose Kennedy Greenway or by South Station.

Where Boston meets Cambridge

To enjoy the city from another perspective, away from the places that draw the summer tourism crowds, consider staying  on the other side of the Charles River, in Cambridge. The Royal Sonesta Boston is an outstanding option. It is the Sonesta Hotel group’s flagship property and is rated 4-Diamonds by AAA.

It is  right around the corner from Boston’s Museum of Science, where Boston meets Cambridge, and overlooks the river and city skyline. 

It is ideal for a weekend getaway for singles, couples or families. The salt-based pool is chlorine-free and one of the largest in Boston. Canine companions can enjoy a run along the river pathways. In 2017 the Royal Sonesta Boston was awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for its commitment to families.

This location is away from the hustle and bustle of the city yet within walking distance of many of its major attractions. Watch the tour boats and yachts in the river and trains going in and out of the city.

The riverside walkway just outside the hotel is a green oasis. It connects to Lechmere Canal Park, a lively restored area by the Cambridge Galleria Mall.

The park is centered on a tall jetted fountain and at the end of a canal built in 1895. Plexiglass panels describe the canal’s industrial history.

Each of the international group of Sonesta hotels are unique to their region in design and focus on world-renowned original contemporary art. 

The Sonesta name combines the first names of of businessman and hotelier A. M. “Sonny” Sonnebend and his wife, Esther. The Sonnebends were avid art collectors. The Royal Sonesta’s collection of contemporary art includes their acquisitions and pieces commissioned for the hotel.

The Royal Sonesta’s ArtBar, like the 400 guest rooms and event space, overlooks a panorama that includes the Charlesgate Yacht Club, the Charles River and the Boston skyline. Fire pits add warmth to the outdoor bar and patio area when there is a chill in the air. There is live entertainment on summer nights.

Executive  Chef  and  Director  of Food and Beverage Brian Dandro introduced an innovative menu for the newly renovated restaurant. The seasonal New England-inspired food and “liquid art” specialty cocktails are crafted with fresh local ingredients, creatively presented, and designed to indulge the senses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Royal Sonesta is one of the few hotels in Boston to have its own pastry shop. Executive pastry chef Christina Allen-Flores’ creations are specially priced during the 3 pm- 8 pm Sweet Hours.

Cambridge

Cambridge is a destination in itself. It is best known as home to two of the world’s most prestigious universities, Harvard and M.I.T., and for its resultant intellectual, high-tech, creative and literary scene. 

MIT’s Kendall Square Initiative has created what is called the most innovative square mile on the planet. More startups are housed in the Cambridge Innovation Center than in any other building in the world. Cafés and restaurants that serve international cuisine prepared from local and sustainable ingredients abound here.

Cambridge is a place to browse the bookstores or sip a coffee as you people watch at Harvard Square. You can stroll past 20th-century buildings designed by Eero Saarinen and I. M. Pei and enjoy the outdoor sculptures by artists like Picasso on the the MIT campus.

Another perspective

A Boston Harbor cruise is another way to enjoy the city from a different perspective. Classic Harbor Line’s vintage Northern Lights is styled like the motor yachts used by the ultra-rich during the Roaring 20s to travel quickly between Boston or Fall River and New York City.

Today’s leisurely brunch, sunset, harbor islands, or music cruises begin at Rowes Wharf and offer a great view of the skyline and historic sites.

Classic Harbor Line‘s private charters accommodate up to 149 passengers. For a special occasion, the 40 passenger 80’ historic schooner Adirondack III is the harbor’s most luxurious sailing experience.

For cosmopolitan culinary and cultural experience, it is about a twenty minute walk from the Rowe’s Wharf to City Winery. In keeping with its North End location, the restaurant and wine bar feature Mediterranean focused food. Check the City Winery schedule for its wine tastings, wine dinners, or live musical entertainment in the concert venue. 

A collection of work by Thomas Connors was on display. Connors was a close associate of Henry Schwartz, a teacher at the Museum of Fine Arts and one of the most important Boston Impressionist painters.