Boston, Massachusetts, is not only the capital of that state but is also considered the capital of New England. The greater Boston metropolitan area contains approximately 4.5 million, and is one of the richest cities on the east coast of the United States for both its history and culture.

In fact, the history of this area is the largest tourist draw, in my opinion. Because of Boston’s pivotal role in the foundation of the United States, it’s the leading player in the cast. Without Boston, the U.S. would not be what it is today.

A Brief History of Boston

All schoolchildren know that Boston was founded by the Puritans in the early 1600s, and began its leading role in the founding of the new nation in the latter 1700s. It was the location of the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and many of the major battles during the American Revolution. In other firsts, Boston had the first public school, the first college, and the first U.S. subway.

Over the millennia, Boston has become a cultural, historical, and educational center for the eastern U.S., and is an important world city. Although its various structures went into a state of decline in the mid-1900s, Boston has rebuilt much of its poor neighborhoods and failing buildings. Many hospitals were built or renewed, and it is now a leader in that discipline. It has been renewed as an important center of culture and history.

Why You Should Go to Boston

One of my favorite things about Boston is the architecture. I could go there on a tour of different neighborhoods and downtown areas once a year and never see all there is to see. From the historically preserved buildings to the beautiful Boston College, there is plenty to see there for a one week trip. The Boston National Historical Park is the entity that is primarily responsible for preserving most of the historic sites. If you like libraries, the Boston Athenaeum, the country’s oldest independent library, should be on your “must see” list.

Another great reason you should go to Boston is the arts culture. Lovers of the opera and playbill can find quite a few lovely old theatres in the town, among them the Boston Opera House, Cutler Majestic Theatre, the Wang Center for the Performing Arts, the Shubert Theater, and my personal favorite, the Orpheum Theater. Music lovers have the choice of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (and their sister group, the Boston Pops, the Handel and Haydn Society, and the Boston Lyric Opera Company to name a very few.

If you’re in the mood for fine arts, you will find plenty in Boston. The Museum of Fine Arts is a favorite of both the locals and visitors alike, as is the Institute of Contemporary Art. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is also very popular. Have kids with you? Don’t miss the Boston Children’s Museum.

Don’t feel like culture? How about sports? You can choose from college sports, in which Boston schools are very active, or one of these professional sports teams:

Boston Red Sox (baseball)
New England Patriots (football)
Boston Celtics (basketball)
Boston Bruins (hockey)
New England Revolution (soccer)
Boston Cannons (lacross)

Other Things to Do in Boston

Of course, one of the best things about Boston is the food. Rich in maritime culture, Boston has developed a reputation for great seafood and fine restaurants. One I always try to get to when I’m in Boston is the Atlantic Fish Company. It has undergone some internal retooling, and now looks more like the fine restaurant that it’s always been. However, the food has remained the same, as it should, and you should not leave without trying the shrimp cocktail.

No visit to Boston is complete without a trip to the Freedom Trail. Beginning at the Boston Commons, you walk to trail according to signs posted along the way, and read the historical studies as you go. You will see buildings like Paul Revere’s house, the Boston Massacre grounds, and Benjamin Franklin’s statue. The area is also tended by tour guides trained in-depth in the local history.

Throughout the year, several groups sponsor annual special events, and all are worthy of attendance. The New England Spring Flower and Garden Show has occurred annually for over a hundred years, and is usually held in March. The Boston Early Music Festival and Exhibition is held every other year, and is well worth the travel. If you prefer more contemporary musical forms, try the Boston Blues Festival and Bean Town Jazz Festival. There are doubtless many more small festivals throughout the year that might tickle your fancy as well.

Other invaluable tours include the New England Holocaust Memorial, the Boston Public Garden, the Arnold Arboretum, the New England Aquarium, and the USS Constitution Museum, which is the United States’ oldest commissioned warship. Regardless of your choices this trip, you will want to come back and see others the next time and should make plans to do so. Boston is one of those towns that you should make sure to see several times during your life.

Some Final Notes

As with any big city, Boston has its share of crime. Recent efforts to bring up quality of life and build a better social structure has been instrumental in reducing crime and other strife within the city, but the projects need more time. Boston is always working on improving something, though, so things get better every day.

While there, make sure you use hotel safes when they’re provided, and lock your car if you travel in the city. Don’t carry valuable items with you, and leave nothing in your car when you leave it for tours and visits. Also, make sure you have good traveler’s medical insurance--you never know when you’re going to need it when you’re away from home, so that goes for anywhere you might travel.