THINGS TO DO

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About 200 miles northeast of NYC, Boston takes around four hours to reach. Amtrak and Greyhound both stop at South Station, on Atlantic Avenue near Boston Harbor. The city is incredibly walkable and the subway, or "T" as it's called, is simple as can be. You can catch the Red Line T from the station into the center of the city, grab a taxi or go by foot—it all depends on how much you have in tow and where you plan on staying. You may be surprised how small Boston is. If you catch the T at South Station, in the far southeast corner of town, within three stops you'll have already reached the Charles River, Boston's end point.

Boston is divided into numerous districts, sprawls into communities like Brookline and Allston and sits just across the Charles from Cambridge, a city in its own right. In a nutshell, Boston's major neighborhoods include the North End, Boston's oldest, with narrow winding streets, Little Italy, Old North Church and the Paul Revere House. High­toned Beacon Hill, north of Boston Common, is lined with stately townhouses and scattered with antique shops and boutiques. West of Boston Common is Victorian Back Bay, filled with high-end shops, cafes, Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library. South End is diverse, increasingly chic and populated with row houses and trendy restaurants. Chinatown and the Theater District are side-by-side, south of Boston Common. Downtown is where you'll find the highest concentration of historical landmarks.

I'd recommend starting at Boston Common since it's centrally located and has a useful visitor information center. Take the Red or Green T Line to Park Street Station, and pour over brochures and maps in the park while developing a plan of attack. A good introduction to Boston's history would be a stroll along the Freedom Trail. The trail is an impossible-to-miss red brick line meandering 2 1/2 miles throughout the city, connecting 16 historic sites from Boston Common to "Old Ironsides" at the USS Constitution Museum. Guided tours are also available from the National Park Service, whose information center is at 15 State Street, across from the Old State House where the Declaration of Independence was first read.

By foot, bike, trolley and WWII vehicle, Boston has more tours than you'll know what to do with. Old Town Trolley Tours and Discover Boston Trolley Tours are just a few of the narrated options available. Trolleys stop and pick up at landmarks throughout the city. Boston Duck Tours takes a unique approach using WWII amphibious vehicles to transport you around town. After seeing the sights, the DUCK splashes into the Charles River for a grand finale. Board at the Prudential Center in Back Bay. For ghoulish fun, take a Ghosts and Gravestones "Frightseeing" tour and learn about Edgar Allen Poe and the Boston Massacre. If that's not enough, New England Ghost Tours provides a 90-minute walking tour that leaves from Boston Common's information center.

May through October, Boston by Foot offers in-depth walking tours of individual neighborhoods. Boston Bike Tours & Rentals runs guided bike tours of Boston and Cambridge, seven days a week, complete with bike, helmet, water and map. The company is located on Boston Common near the information center, though they also offer a hotel bike delivery service! The Museum of Afro American History Boston, in Beacon Hill, sponsors Black Heritage Trail guided walking tours by the National Park Service daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day. A self-guided walking tour map and guide are also available.

In the immediate vicinity of Boston Common, you'll find the Public Garden with amazing greenery, a pond dotted with swan boats, the Park Street Church where "My Country tis of Thee" was first sung and the Old Granery Burial Ground where John Hancock lies. At the northern border, on Beacon Street, sits the Bull and Finch Pub a.k.a. Cheers. If lines don't phase you, queue up for the opportunity to taste eNORMous burgers or Woody's garden goodies. I can't guarantee "everyone will know your name," but you can purchase a T-shirt bearing the catch phrase.

Another popular area is the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, across from the waterfront. Faneuil Hall once housed merchants and produce vendors, and also served as a stage for famous orators. Today, you'll still find food and shops, but it appears that speakers like Susan B. Anthony and Samuel Adams have been replaced by clowns and jugglers. Times change. In 1826, Faneuil Hall grew to include neighboring Quincy Market, and that's where most of the goodies are. You'll find a large food court, carts, kiosks and proper stores like Rockport Shoes, World Soccer Shop and the Museum of Fine Arts Store. During warmer weather, it's a big draw for people who just want to take a load off, grab an inexpensive bite to eat and people-watch. Around the corner you'll find Haymarket, an urban farmers market. On Fridays and Saturdays from dawn till dusk, vendors peddle their wares. It's loud, crowded and notoriously brusque, but there are bargains to be had and odds are items are fresher than at the boring ol' supermarket.

Back Bay is a notable shopping district. Follow Boylston and Newbury streets west from Boston Commons all the way to Massachusetts Avenue for the full experience. The thoroughfares are crammed with restaurants, galleries and designer shops like Emporio Armani Boutique and Betsey Johnson's. Louis Boston is one sharp shop for men and women. If you fancy Prada, Helmut Lang and made-to-measure suits, this is for you. Harley-Davidson and the wonderful Avenue Victor Hugo Bookstore also call the strip home. More of a mall rat? Copley Place, a few blocks south of Boylston Street, is where you can find popular names such as the Gap interspersed with the likes of Hugo Boss. Loews Copley Place is also on site if you want to catch a matinee. Make like Ally McBeal and head to upmarket Beacon Hill for antiques ogling on Charles Street. Bargain hunters will want to visit Downtown Crossing at Summer and Washington streets. It's a decidedly more democratic shopping area with over 300 stores and pushcart vendors. People swear by the Filene's Basement. I know we have one in NYC, but discount divas may want to pay a visit anyway.

If you walk a few blocks west of Faneuil Hall, you'll hit Boston Harbor and various wharves. The New England Aquarium, at Central Wharf, will expose you to all sorts of water-loving creatures—you may even get kissed by a sea lion. Farther down the harbor, you'll find the Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum tucked under the Congress Street Bridge. If you've ever wanted to toss a crate of tea overboard, you should show up in December when they reenact the historic event. Cross the Congress Street Bridge and explore the Children's Museum of Boston right on the other side. Climb the walls in the Rock Gym or learn about other cultures and customs in the Japanese House.

Art buffs should head to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston on Huntington Avenue/Avenue of the Arts. Past exhibitions have included, "Edward Weston: Photography and Modernism" and "Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamen." The nearby Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is also worth a look. The building, designed in the style of a 15th-century Venetian palace by Isabella herself, contains three floors of galleries with an emphasis on Italian Renaissance art. The magnificent Symphony Hall, on Massachusetts Avenue, is also in the area. From October to April, you can catch the Boston Symphony Orchestra; meanwhile "America's Orchestra," the Boston Pops, plays from May through July. Take the E branch of the Green T Line to the Symphony stop, or ride two stops farther for the museums.

The few blocks of Tremont Street south of Boston Common make up the chock-filled Theater District. All in close proximity you'll find the Shubert Theatre where Boston Lyric Opera performs, Wang Theatre, home to Boston Ballet, and the Wilber Theatre. Also nearby are the Stuart Street Playhouse and Emerson Majestic Theatre.

LODGING

It's been said that Boston has the highest concentration of lodgings in the U.S. All the more choices for you, and as Boston is so compact, you'd almost have to go out of your way to book an inconvenient location.

Near Boston Common you'll find hotels like the Omni Parker House (pictured left), the "longest continuously operating hotel in America." Located on School Street, it's certainly a historic landmark—Parker House Rolls originated there. Rates begin at $99/night. If the sky's the limit, live it up at luxurious accommodations like the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons, also along Boston Common. Other great choices include the DoubleTree Hotel & Suites and the SpringHill Suites Boston/Andover.

The Midtown Hotel, on Huntington Avenue, is reasonably priced for the neighborhood. In historic Back Bay, the hotel is walking distance to Copley Place, the Museum of Fine Arts and shopping on Newbury Street. Rates begin at $119/night. The Clarendon Square Inn in the South End is also an option. Conveniently located near popular shops, cafes and restaurants, it's in the thick of things. The Bunker Hill Bed & Breakfast is in the center of historic Charlestown.

Save a little cash by camping out (not literally) in Cambridge or Medford. Many of the same chain hotels in Boston can also be found in Cambridge charging less. Literally minutes from downtown by subway or foot, the Harvard and M.I.T. region is more than accessible. The Radisson Cambridge, overlooking the Charles River, is an option. Rates start at $99/night. A Bed & Breakfast in Cambridge, on Cambridge Street, is in a comfy 1897 Colonial Revival home. Prices start at $85/night. Another great option is the Amerisuites Medford—just outside of Boston!

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DINING

Boston is certainly more culinarily savvy than its Beantown nickname belies. New England cuisine may evoke images of boiled dinners, pot roast and vegetables stewed into bland oblivion. Put it out of your mind, I didn't spy a single bowl of baked beans, and brown bread is an option, not a staple. Save the traditional, hearty fare for a crisp winter night.

Seafood is a must no matter the season. Head to popular places like Legal Sea Foods. As they say, "If it isn't fresh, it isn't Legal." Also consider No Name Restaurant on the pier along Boston Harbor. No name, no frills, but the fried seafood platters and clam chowder are big draws. And of course there's Union Oyster House, one block from Faneuil Hall. Not only do they have fresh fish and New England lobster, they're America's oldest restaurant, established in 1826!

Boston has more than its fair share of fine dining. If you're looking to experience the high life, you'll be in heaven. Splurgers may try Aujourd'hui at the Four Seasons Hotel. This is classic French cuisine in all of its rich, buttery glory. The Federalist, at the XV Beacon Hotel, is also a destination for travelers with deep pockets, and L'Espalier in Back Bay is reputed to be highly romantic, and suitably elegant.

For a younger, funkier vibe, try Pho Republique on Washington Street, in the South End. Sample the Vietnamese fusion fare and irresistible drinks like the coconut martini. The hopping bar and late hours are added plusses. Don't miss the Vietnam War chic waiters in camouflage and dog tags. Betty's Wok and Noodle Diner in Back Bay is also an option worth considering. Upscale, casual, Asian-Latino, '50s diner. Huh?! It all works in its own twisted way. Pick your sauce, noodle and protein and they'll stir-fry it up for you in an up-to-date take on the Mongolian grill concept.

Sure, you can get Italian elsewhere in town, but North Boston has that irresistible Little Italy appeal. Massimino's Cucina or Mama Maria's are great for classic Italian-American food. If you've had your fill of red sauce and meatballs, try Prezza instead. On Fleet Street, also in the North End, the newish place turns out Mediterranean and Northern Italian specialties sans the candles in Chianti bottles and red-and-white checkered table cloths.

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NIGHTLIFE

Evening is the perfect time to take a cruise. Massachusetts Bay Lines offers various musical options like Rock Cruises and Blues Cruises, June through September. Boats leave from Rowes Wharf behind Boston Harbor Hotel. The Spirit of Boston has three-hour Harborlight Dinner Cruises with music, dancing and buffet. Board at the World Trade Center in South Boston.

Imbibers have countless options. Delux Café, on Chandler Street in the South End, is an artsy-kitschy affair. Whiskey's on Boylston Street also draws a younger crowd. Fun or obnoxious? Well, that's up to you. A more subdued experience can be had at the Oak Bar, complete with live jazz, champagne cocktails, signature martinis and cigars. Located in the Copley Plaza Hotel, the bar exudes classic elegance. The Good Life, one block from Downtown Crossing, is a snazzy place serving oversized martinis and comfort food like meatloaf, mashed potatoes and Boston cream pie.

Dancers may want to pay a visit to Avalon on Lansdowne Street. It's a club, club. You know—long lines, bright lights, big space and flashy folks on the floor. Bands play earlier and DJs take over after 10 pm. Axis, down the street, is a little less mainstream. Both have gay nights on Sundays.

Laughter is the best medicine, so why not get a dose of local comedy. Beantown Madness, inside Remington's Restaurant across from Boston Common, showcases stand-up and improv acts. Comedy Connection, at Quincy Marketplace, hosts comedians seven nights a week.

Boston Bowl is family fun 24-7. The entertainment complex off I-93 features bowling, countless video games and billiards. Try Cosmic Bowling Friday and Saturday nights. Laser lights, dance music and fog machines only enhance the bowling experience. You can take the T Red Line to the JFK/UMass stop, where a courtesy shuttle picks up passengers by the ATM machine.

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TRANSPORTATION

BUS:
Greyhound leaves from Port Authority to Boston's South Station.

Travel Time: About 4 1/2 hours, but routes vary, some have layovers while others do not.

Call 800-229-9424 for tickets.

TRAIN:
Amtrak runs from Penn Station to Boston's South Station, on Summer Street at Atlantic Avenue.

Travel Time: 4 hours, 15 minutes (3 1/2 hours on Acela Express).

Schedule: Trains run at least once an hour.

Call 800-USA-RAIL for more information.

CAR:
Take the New England TRWY/I-95 N. Merge onto I-91 N. From there you get to CT-15 N which will become US-6 E. Stay straight to go onto I-84 E. Later you will merge onto I-90 E. Follow signs to Boston.

Travel Time: About 4 hours.

CAR RENTAL:
There are numerous rental companies in South Station. Thrifty Car Rental (617-330-5011) is just one.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

SUBWAY:
The MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) runs a subway system people refer to as the "T" and it's easy as can be. If you've ever ridden the NYC subway, Boston will be a snap. There are only four lines to choose from: Blue, Green (with four branches), orange and red (two branches). Keep in mind, the train doesn't run 24 hours a day.

TAXI:
There's a taxi stand at the Atlantic Avenue exit of South Station. You can also call Boston Cab at 617-536-2600.

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TRAVEL TIPS

*Boston is so small and walkable, it doesn't make sense to try to drive through the city. The tiny streets and lack of on-street parking mean that taking the T is a better option than dragging your car downtown—leave the car at home altogether.

*But be warned, the T doesn't run all night, and many trains stop around midnight. However, a new "Night Owl" bus service that runs till 2:30 am is being tested. If you're going to be out later than that, a cab may be in order.

*If you plan on taking in some local cultural offerings, you should track down a BosTix kiosk. They provide tickets and information for theater, music, dance, museums and more. Starting at 11 am each day, BosTix offers half-price, day-of-show tickets. Kiosks can be found at Copley Square and Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

LINKS

For more information:

www.massachusetts.com

MAP

For a detailed map of Boston, please click here.