Howcast

Visiting Cambridge Massachusetts

Howcast — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:14:59 +0000

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Just over the Charles River from Boston Proper is the city of Cambridge, part of Greater Boston. Cambridge is most popular for its two large universities — Harvard and MIT. Cambridge is a slightly less buttoned-up city, compared to Boston, and it’s a cool, diverse, quirky cultural spot filled with bookstores, small locally-owned shops, vintage boutiques, and multicultural foods and activities. Cambridge is easy to get to from Boston. It’s just a train or “T” ride away on the Red Line. When you visit, make sure you take a stroll through Harvard Square which is surrounded by Harvard University. The red line lets you right out into the square where you’ll be immediately surrounded by students, art and artists, street performers, locally-famous characters, and music. There’s no shortage of things to see and do in Cambridge — from plays at the American Repertory Theater to art house and foreign films at the Brattle, and of course the Museum of Science and the Harvard and MIT museums. Cambridge is also home to over 200 award-winning restaurants including Harvest, Ten Tables and Todd English’s Olives. Cambridge is really an essential stop on any trip to Boston.

How to Follow the Freedom Trail

Howcast — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:56:07 +0000

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The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile historical route through Boston marked by a red line and brick path. It winds through the city covering 16 historic sites from America’s colonial past and two and a half centuries of American History. The trail starts at Boston Common, a 50-acre park which is America’s oldest park. Cattle grazed there up until 1830, and until 1817 the park was the site of public hangings. The trail then heads north where it visits the site of the Boston Massacre, which got its name from patriots like Samuel Adams, who used the word to describe a riot between the colonists and British soldiers in 1770. The trail continues on to other sites including the Old State House, Fanueil Hall, and the Paul Revere House. The Paul Revere House is the oldest building in Boston and was the home of Paul Revere from 1770 to 1800. The trail ends at the Bunker Hill Monument on Breed Hill in Charlestown, the site of the first major battle of the Revolution. Maps for the Freedom Trail can be downloaded online so you can easily do the tour on foot without a guide. But there are also lots of official and unofficial tour guides who take visitors to the 16 exhibits by foot or trolley every day of the year.

Top 7 Boston Museums

Howcast — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:49:28 +0000

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As an educational and cultural hub, Boston and its surrounding neighborhoods are home to some of the best art, history and science museums in the world. Some of the best, biggest and most unique museums include the Museum of Fine Arts in Copley Square. The MFA is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive art collections in the world, which includes almost 450,000 works of art and one of the world’s largest Asian collections. Also, don’t miss the mummies at the MFA! For modern, interactive, cutting-edge art, visit the Institute of Contemporary Art, which is in an impressive modern building right on the waterfront.
And for a glimpse of art history in a unique setting check out the beautiful Isabella Gardner Museum which is housed in a 15th century Venetian-style palace complete with an inside courtyard garden. The collection includes work by Degas, Boticelli and Michelangelo and the museum was the location of one of the biggest art world coups — a heist in 1990 where priceless Rembrandts and Vermeers were stolen! History buffs won’t want to miss the John F. Kennedy Museum, the U.S.S. Constitution Museum or the Salem Witch Museum which walks visitors through the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. If you’re traveling with kids, and even if you’re not, the Museum of Science and the Boston Children’s Museum are great spots to visit. The Children’s Museum always offers fun educational activities for kids to really get their hands dirty with, and the Museum of Science is the most visited attraction in Boston for good reason — it’s home to fantastic animal exhibits, the first space capsule, a Planetarium and a Butterfly Hall.

How to Get around Boston

Howcast — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:38:02 +0000

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The good news is that Boston is a clean, walkable city with the nation’s oldest and most complete public transportation system.
The bad news is that unlike many other cities, Boston streets were not laid out in a grid so it can be easy to get lost. You won’t need a car if you’re planning to stay in Boston Proper and the surrounding neighborhoods of Boston, known as Greater Boston. The MBTA or the “T” as the locals call it, will most likely get you anywhere you need to go. The MBTA operates the subway, buses and the old streetcars, which date back to 1856. The subway is the most popular form of public transportation and is made up of 4 lines — the Red Line, the Green Line, the Yellow Line and the Blue Line. The cost of one ride is just a couple bucks and includes free transfers to city buses. If you’re going anywhere the T doesn’t run or you’d prefer alternative transportation you can easily find taxis or even rent a bike. The Hubway System allows users to grab a bike from one station, take a quick ride, and return the bike to their destination station. Three-day and 24-hour passes can be purchased all over the city, making bikes an easy, fun, green way to navigate Boston.

How to Plan a Trip to Boston

Howcast — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:29:16 +0000

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Boston is a great place for a weekend away or even a longer vacation. Boston is the 21st largest city in the United States. It’s a small city by area, but one of the most populated in the country.
Still, it has a great reputation for being easy to get around, clean, and safe. Summers can get quite hot in Boston and winters bring a good deal of snow. So visit in spring and fall for more moderate walking weather. Boston is a beautiful coastal city with the picturesque Charles River running through it, dividing the city proper from Cambridge. One of the most remarkable things about Boston is the number of universities and colleges it houses — over 100 – including Boston University and Northeastern University in Boston proper, and Harvard and MIT just outside the city, in Cambridge. With over 250,000 college students who call Boston home, it’s not surprising the city has a reputation as a young, innovative, progressive town. Boston is known as the birthplace of the Revolutionary War and there are key historical sites to visit dating back to the Revolution. There are old music venues that saw the birth of punk rock music, Michelin-starred restaurants, and historic pubs. There are significant museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Gardner Museum and Museum of Science. And of course, no trip to Boston would be complete without checking out Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox! Boston has a lot of diverse characteristics that make it a great spot for vacationers with varied interests from foodies to sports fans to music and history buffs.