While Boston is a thoroughly modern city, during your visit you'll often feel as if you've stepped back in time. So much of the city remains unchanged -- the gaslit and cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill, the narrow alleyways of the North End, the ducks waddling at your feet in the Public Garden -- its romantic side is just below the surface. You'll find it in not only in the obvious places, but also in fleeting moments as you open the time capsule of Boston.
The quintessential "walking city," Boston provides unlimited opportunities for wandering hand-in-hand with your sweetie. Add a romantic dinner for two with a spectacular view or a ride on a swanboat and you're well on your way to a Boston vacation teeming with romance.
Amazing Freebies Worth Pursuing: Picnics in the Public Garden; dancing cheek to cheek at a concert at the Hatch Shell; crossing the Charles River to Cambridge via foot bridge; window shopping on Newbury Street.
Home Away From Home
The intimate Beacon Hill Hotel (12 guest rooms) is as romantic and charming as the neighborhood for which it's named. Located on the corner of Charles and Chestnut Streets, this neighborhood gem is conveniently located to the Boston Common and Public Garden. Its most outstanding feature is the private roof deck, perfect for sipping champagne before turning in for the night.
Jurys Boston Hotel: This newcomer on the Boston hotel scene has a great Back Bay location and posh digs in the former Boston police headquarters. The dual-floor lobby is sprinkled with stone fireplaces and cozy couches for curling up while the guest rooms feature pillow-top beds, 300-count linens and duvet covers, nightly turndown and 24-hour in-room dining. The Ireland-based hotel fits in nicely in the most Irish city in America -- you'll likely be greeted by Irish doormen and assisted by the Irish concierge.
Fifteen Beacon: This 60-room boutique hotel property sits perched atop Beacon Hill and is within walking distance of many of Boston's top attractions, but don't let that stop you from taking advantage of the complimentary in-town Mercedes chauffeured car service. Every room has a queen poster bed and a gas fireplace.
Day 1
On your first day in Boston, head for Back Bay, the home of the Boston Public Garden (adjacent to the less impressive but historically significant Boston Common, the oldest public park in the U.S.). The centerpiece of the perfectly manicured lawns and flowerbeds of the Public Garden is the lagoon that houses the Swan Boats. Enjoy a peaceful 15-minute ride on the swan-shaped paddleboats.
When you're ready to leave the tranquility of the Public Garden behind, exit at Arlington Street and make your way to the near end of Boston's most fashionable shopping and people-watching promenade: Newbury Street. The streets that run across Newbury Street are alphabetically arranged starting with Arlington, then Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth, Exeter, Fairfield, Gloucester and Hereford. As you stroll, you'll pass Chanel, Burberry, Armani and a variety of high- to mid-range clothing stores, shoe stores and art galleries. Check out Calypso (Newbury between Clarendon and Dartmouth) for funky, high-end beach attire.
If your feet need a rest, there's no place better to stop for a light lunch than at the patio at the Armani Cafe (about halfway down Newbury Street at Exeter). Enjoy the Northern Italian fare and sip your wine leisurely -- the much-coveted patio tables are prime real estate for the best people watching in all of Boston.
Head back to your hotel to change your walking shoes for dressy shoes -- you're off to dinner at the Top of the Hub restaurant. Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower, the views of the city are the best in Boston. The elegant decor, top-notch service and live jazz playing in the background are sure to set the tone for the remainder of your night. If you're in the mood for something less formal, head back to Newbury Street and to Tapeo. Sit outside on the patio or inside the dimly lit, tile-walled dining room and share a pitcher of to-die-for sangria and tapas.
Day 2
Beacon Hill is Boston's most romantic and most photographed neighborhood. It's adjacent to downtown and Back Bay and situated on a series of narrow, hilly streets overlooking Boston Common. This one-square-mile neighborhood's streets are lined with brick row houses, with scenery that includes perpetually burning gaslights, window boxes, hidden gardens and the homes of the city's wealthiest residents. The jewel in the crown of Beacon Hill is Acorn Street, a cobblestone passageway said to be the most photographed street in America. At the top of the Hill, you'll find the gold-domed Massachusetts State House, where free tours are offered daily. If you are a fan of the television show "Cheers", make sure you stop in at the Bull & Finch Pub (Beacon Street) -- it's the neighborhood bar that was the inspiration for the famously popular television comedy.
For lunch, Beacon Hill offers a few options along Charles Street like Upper Crust (upscale and creative pizza), Paramount (brunch, burgers and salads) and Artu (Italian with emphasis on roasted meats and vegetables). If you're in the mood for something a little different, head over to Chinatown for dim sum. Once you pass under the Chinese gates, the streets are bustling with activity and lined with restaurants. Two of the best are Chau Chow City and China Pearl restaurants. If you don't know what to order, just pick what looks good to you off the constantly circling carts and the waitress will keep tabs on what you get.
After lunch, make your way to the Park Street "T" stop at the corner of Park and Tremont near the Boston Common (if you dined in Beacon Hill) or the Boylston Street stop at the corner of Boylston and Tremont (if you dined in Chinatown). Take the Green Line E-train to the Museum stop and walk two blocks to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Isabella Stewart's collection contains more than 2,500 objects including paintings, sculpture, furniture, textiles, drawings, ceramics and photographs. Treasures from ancient Rome, Medieval Europe, Renaissance Italy, Asia, and 19th-century France and America span three floors, all overlooking a stunning garden courtyard. Is your name Isabella? If so, you'll get to view the museum collection for free. Otherwise, admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for college students and free for those under 18.
If you have time, pay a visit to Isabella Stewart's most famous neighbor, the Museum of Fine Arts. Otherwise, get back on the Green Line, take it to the Massachusetts Avenue stop and head to Casa Romero for dinner. Tucked away in an alley off Gloucester Street (between Newbury and Commonwealth), this upscale Mexican restaurant's interior is as warm and inviting as a family home in Mexico, and the romantic patio out back is a hidden gem. Try the passion fruit margarita to start the evening off right.
Day 3
This is the day to check out two neighborhoods that couldn't be more different -- the South End and the North End. Start your day walking the streets of stylish South End that boasts the largest collection of Victorian bowfront row houses in the country. This neighborhood is constantly changing; what was once low-income housing gave way to a hip and trendy neighborhood and is even evolving again, attracting affluent families with young children. As a result, the South End is an eclectic mix of both people and places.
Take the Orange Line from the Back Bay/South End Station to the Haymarket stop and you're just steps from what many consider the country's most authentic and vibrant Italian neighborhood. The whole place smells like an old-world grandmother's cramped apartment on Christmas Eve, a tribute to the scores of excellent Italian restaurants that line the narrow streets.
There are two main streets in the North End: Hanover Street and Salem Street. Start with a stroll up Salem Street, lined with specialty grocery stores and restaurants galore. Keep your ears open for the residents speaking (and sometimes shouting) in Italian. At Prince Street, turn right and head up to Hanover Street. On Prince and Hanover, pick up the Freedom Trail (the red bricks imbedded in the concrete sidewalk) and follow it through the North End to several historic attractions such as the Paul Revere House, picturesque North Square, St. Stephen's Church (the last standing church designed by Charles Bulfinch) and the Old North Church, where in the steeple lanterns were hung to warn Paul Revere how the British were coming -- one if by land, two if by sea.
When the scents wafting from the restaurants become too tantalizing, grab a light lunch at Il Panino Express, a lunch-counter-style trattoria offering pizza, pasta and subs. Then, try and resist the temptation of all the pastry shops and cafes on your way to join the North End Market Tour. There you'll not only experience a sense of the neighborhood's history and Italian roots from a North End native, but you'll also get to sample treats from the Italian grocery stores and pastry shops all the while, learning how to recognize the ingredients that go into authentic Italian cooking.
After your tour, follow the Freedom Trail in one of two directions from the North End -- take it towards the waterfront and over the bridge to historic Charlestown or take it the opposite way to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Whatever you choose, make sure to follow it back to the North End into North Square for dinner at Mama Maria. This brick townhouse is known for showcasing New England ingredients in its Northern Italian-inspired dishes. The five dining rooms and city views give visitors the feeling they are sharing an intimate dinner in an exquisite Boston home.
After dinner stroll down Hanover Street to Modern Pastry shop for a sweet treat and a cappuccino; it's less crowded than and just as good as famous Mike's Pastry just up the street.
Related Links:
New England Message Boards
Boston Bargains
New England Bargains
Boston Journals
Boston Community
Top Ten Things to See and Do in Boston
Seniors in Motion: Three Days in Boston
Three Days of Family Fun in Boston
Photos appear courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Tourism.
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