Palmera GO Destination Highlight: Boston, MA

Where American history is found behind every corner, and the skyline is a combination of charming, historic buildings and sleek, modern skyscrapers, Boston, Massachusetts, is a vacation destination that allows visitors to explore at their own pace and soak in the fascinating blend between the old and new. The city doesn’t cater to just one type of traveler, as Boston truly has something for everyone throughout the year.

Frequently visited by history buffs wanting to learn more about the country’s history, Boston is home to many historical sites that are easy to find—you might even stumble upon a couple without even trying! If so, you might’ve landed yourself on the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile red walkway that connects 16 sites that include museums, parks, meeting houses, churches, a ship, and more. The trail itself is free, but visitors have the choice to sign up for a tour led by guides in 18^th-century costumes, or an audio tour.

Most of the sites on the trail are places of interest visitors have as stops on their trip’s itinerary anyway, so let’s go over a few:

Boston Common is the country’s first public park and is considered the beginning of the trail. Founded in 1634, this park has been the stage for many important pieces of America’s history. It’s definitely changed since its creation, and while military formations and public hangings are forever ingrained in its history, today visitors can enjoy the beautiful green space, play a game of tennis or baseball, or even go ice skating on the Frog Pond in winter.

Other landmarks include churches like Park Street Church, which was once the first thing travelers could see when approaching the city, King’s Chapel and Burying Ground, the oldest English burying ground, and Old North Church, Boston’s oldest church and the site that saw the launch of the American Revolution. Along the way, you’ll see the Massachusetts State House, Old State House, Old South Meeting House, the USS Constitution, and more. You’ll also get the chance to say “hello” to Benjamin Franklin’s statue and take a peek at the oldest remaining structure in downtown, Paul Revere’s house.

Another location on the Freedom Trail that’s also a popular spot for visitors, is the Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market. Built in 1742 by Peter Faneuil, a wealthy merchant, Faneuil Hall was a place to meet and have a central marketplace. Today, with the addition of Quincy Market and additional buildings, visitors can shop from over 80 retailers to find both local and nationally-known products, grab delicious bites to eat, and enjoy live music and entertainment.  

While Boston is a very walkable city, and you’ll be able to easily navigate the streets, there’s always the option of choosing to sign up for a guided tour. While tours of the Freedom Trail are popular, there are other tours you might be interested in. Boston is known for being a great foodie destination, and walking tours that show you the best eats are extremely popular. Look out for seafood plates like New England clam chowder, clams, oysters, lobster rolls, and of course, Boston Cream Pie. The North End neighborhood is known as, “Little Italy,” and is home to more than 100 restaurants, bakeries, and cafes, with the addition to the Boston Public Market.

Another way to see the sights is aboard a Boston Duck Tour. The only way to hit the streets as well as the water to experience all that Boston has to offer, this tour is great for all ages. If you’d rather stick to the streets, try purchasing a one-day ticket for the Old Town Trolley Tour. Found in many destinations, Old Town Trolley Tours are known to offer real-time narration, the ability to hop on and hop off at all of the stops, and additional discounts to other activities and museums like the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum and The Sports Museum.

Boston is known to have plenty of amazing museums to visit. Art enthusiasts will love the Museum of Fine Arts, the 20^th largest art museum in the world that houses more than 500,000 pieces ranging from ancient to contemporary periods. Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts is also known for its Art of the Americas Wing. Another art museum located nearby is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Whether you want to visit for the art, the interesting past of Isabella Stewart Gardner, or the infamous art theft that’s been memorialized in various pieces of non-fiction and fiction writing, you won’t want to miss a trip to this beautiful and intriguing museum.

Other interesting museums that you may want to look further into visiting are the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, JFK Presidential Library and Museum, Charles River Museum of Industry, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History. And while the Boston Public Library isn’t a museum, we’d be remiss not to recommend it as a stop on your must-see list, since this gorgeous library is actually the first municipal library in the United States and is a popular location for visitors who love to read!

Families traveling to Boston will especially love the Boston Children’s Museum, where kids can learn while they explore the many exhibits. There’s also the Museum of Science, which offers interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and a theater. You’ll also get to see life-sized dinosaur models, meet butterflies, and see other live animals.

Boston is a very family-friendly travel destination. Not only will your children learn more about the nation’s history, but they’ll get to see where significant moments in history were made first-hand, and remember their trip when they open their textbooks in history class. There are some activities and places that you’ll definitely want to include in your itinerary to enhance your trip, like taking a trip to the New England Aquarium. This impressive facility is located right on the harbor, and allows you to see thousands of aquatic animals from penguins to sea turtles and more.

Just setting out to explore the city and enjoy some time outside in one of the many city parks like Martin’s Park, Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, the Lawn on D, Charles River Esplanade, and more is definitely worth a day’s outing. These parks offer unique features that’ll keep everyone entertained; there’s even a carousel located within the Rose Kennedy Greenway!

There is one thing that can bring in visitors to Boston like nothing else can, and that’s the city’s sports teams. Locals and fans alike gather together to cheer on the Red Sox, New England Patriots, Celtics, and the Bruins. We couldn’t possibly decide which sport is the most popular—we’ll leave that to the Bostonians—we do know that the team spirit is strong throughout the city, and being able to catch a game in person is unmatched. If you’re not able to see a game while you’re in town, try signing up for a tour of TD Garden or Fenway Park. And just a pro tip: The Sports Museum is actually located within TD Garden. There will be plenty of opportunities to grab some gear and merch while you’re visiting, especially if you’re flying out of Boston Logan International Airport.

The city of Boston welcomes visitors throughout the year. Some might say that the best time to visit is in summer and fall when there’s plenty of beautiful weather to enjoy outdoor activities, or just being able to comfortably explore the city by foot. In summer, you will have a significant amount of humidity to contend with, so remember to slow down, stay hydrated, and enjoy all of that glorious AC while you can. Summertime brings lots of crowds to Boston, so while you’re planning your trip, try to reserve everything you’ll need in advance.

While fall brings some cooler weather to the city, it also brings beautiful fall foliage. While you walk through the streets, bright reds and oranges will pepper the green spaces, turning Boston into a beautiful, cozy fall escape. The city also offers plenty of festivals and events, and you might even see slightly fewer crowds than in summer.

I’m sure that this doesn’t come as a surprise, but it does snow in Boston during the winter. You’ll have to pack some warmer clothes and use ride-shares or other forms of transportation, as walking around might be too chilly. You’ll also have to keep travel insurance in mind; you won’t want snow to delay or cancel your flights and leave you in a tight spot! But hold on a second, we’re sounding like we’re anti-winter in Boston. With snow on the ground and festive holiday decorations up, Boston turns into a winter wonderland. There are plenty of indoor activities to enjoy during your trip, and don’t forget the ice skating on Frog Pond!

Winter might see the least number of crowds, but Spring still can be pretty quiet. Outdoor activities and events return to the calendar once more, and the city comes alive with colorful blooms and the green spaces become green again. You’ll probably find discounts on accommodations during this time as well.

Here are some annual events throughout the year that you should take a closer look at while planning your trip to Boston, MA:

Like many cities, Boston is made up of a collection of neighborhoods. Many of these neighborhoods are popular for visitors as they look for accommodations, as there isn’t one neighborhood that tops the rest. While we might not have time to do a deep dive into every neighborhood, click this link to check out Meet Boston’s interactive map that allows you to look closer at specific neighborhoods, and how they connect between different forms of transportation.

It’s worth noting that you’re going to find a bit of history wherever you decide to stay, but we’d recommend keeping transportation to ride-share services, public transportation, and even bike rentals and just walking to your destination. Boston is notorious for its hectic street layout and traffic, so it’s best not to rent a car and try staying as close as you can to the main landmarks and activities you’ll want to see and do while you’re in town.

As a Palmera Vacation Club Member, you can use the map function on Quest Travel Club to cross-reference where exactly you’ll be spending the most time to hotels that fit your group’s needs. Staying Downtown will get you closer to popular attractions like the Freedom Trail and Boston Common, while staying in the Seaport District will feel more modern and will be on the water. The Back Bay is known for its brownstones and great shopping, while Beacon Hill and Charlestown exude historic charm. Stay in the North End to wake up and grab delicious pastries from one of the many bakeries in Little Italy every morning, or choose to be close to Fenway if you’re in town for a game.

Here are a few randomly selected discounted hotels that we found on Quest Travel Club:

Prices, availability, and discounts are subject to change.