Historic sites from the time of the Revolutionary War; modern skyscrapers; a leading medical, high-tech, and financial centre; museums and performance arts; more than 40 institutions of higher learning; and great shopping; Boston has it all. It also has a long list of the nation’s firsts; the first publicly supported library, public school, subway system, and the citywide First Night (New Year’s Eve) celebration to name a few. One of the oldest cities in the US, Boston thrives on diversity and being first as much as possible.
Everywhere you go in Boston there’s history. Colonial buildings downtown, brownstones in Back Bay and Beacon Hill, 19th-century mansions, and historic buildings adapted for reuse to house businesses and shops. To help you see Boston's attractions book at tour when booking your Boston flight. There are walking tours, trolley tours, Duck tours, and to choose from or visit the Prudential Center Skywalk Observatory and enjoy the 360 degree views of the city.
The first thing travellers coming off their Boston flights notice is just how much this compact city has to offer. On the high end, Boston is nearly as expensive as New York, but you can explore the city and dine on a student’s budget.
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The best time to fly to Boston is during the spring and autumn months. The weather is perfect, the city is in full swing and most of the tourists have gone home. You might not get the cheapest flight to Boston during this time, but you'll be experiencing the city at its best. Find flights to Boston in the autumn so you can take a drive through New England and watch the colours change. In the Spring flights are generally more expensive because the tourist season is ramping up. If you're looking for cheap flights to Boston, travelling in the winter is your best bet.
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Boston's transport consists of the country's oldest subway system, buses, trolley buses, ferries around the harbour and the commuter rail. For getting around the Boston-Cambridge area the subway, or the "T" as it is known, is the best as it is easy to use, cheap, fast and safe. It serves most of the city and on the whole visitors will have little use for the bus network, which is cheaper but more confusing for newcomers. Both operate from about 5am to 12.30am, but a Night Owl bus service has been introduced to provide transport along main bus routes and parallel to subway lines on Friday and Saturday nights until 2.30am. Different types of transport require different tokens, but various passes are available for unlimited travel on buses and the "T". Taxis are plentiful but expensive, although water taxis are a novel way to explore the city. Licensed cabs are best found at cabstands usually near hotels or can be reserved by phone; they are metered and provide receipts. Boston is a motorist's nightmare and there is no need to rent a car while in the city, unless planning excursions. Rental agencies require drivers to be 21 years old with additional surcharges for under-25s.
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- The Boston Common (the Common) is the anchor for the Emerald Necklace, five parks spread over 1000 acres and five miles. The Necklace is the only remaining intact linear park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. Next to the Common is the Public Garden, the country’s first public botanical garden. It’s also home to the bronze statues of Mrs. Mallard and her children from Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey.
- Walking the Freedom Trail takes you to 16 historic sites (only a few of which charge admission), including the site of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere House, Black Heritage Trail, Old North Church, and USS Constitution. The two and a half-mile walk can be done as a self-guided tour or with a tour guide dressed in period costume.
- Bostonians are fervent and passionate sports fans. With the Red Sox, New England Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, and Revolution, there’s always a game somewhere. Some consider catching the Sox at a night game at Fenway Park to be a spiritual experience. If you plan to go to a game while you’re in town, it’s a good idea to get your tickets online before you arrive.
- Finding a Boston address is no easy task; there’s no pattern to the layout of the streets, too few street signs, and, if the address is downtown, Big Dig detours. The best solution is to call and get directions. If the directions are for the subway, make sure to ask which exit to take as most stations have multiple exits that send you off in different directions.
- A Boston CityPass will get you to the head of the line at several of the more popular attractions, and, if you’re planning on using the T, a Boston Visitor Pass may save you money too. Another option is the comprehensive Go Boston Card that includes attraction, transportation, dining, and shopping discounts. You can purchase the passes online or at Boston locations specified on the respective web site.
- Smokers, be prepared to light up only when you’re outside. In Boston and Cambridge (and many other Massachusetts towns) smoking is banned in all indoor public and work places, including bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.
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