Boston

February 5th, 2024. – February 12th, 2024.

I experienced Boston as a city where life is relatively uncomplicated. Throughout our stay, it was fairly calm and quiet, which was particularly surprising, as we were expecting busy American lifestyle. The streets were notably quiet due to many electric cars. It seemed like the only sounds on the streets were the sirens of emergency vehicles when necessary.

Getting around Boston was straightforward, thanks to its well-connected subway system where tickets could be purchased at station entrances. I chose to explore most of the city on foot, taking advantage of the time I had as I wanted to experience Boston to the fullest.

We spent a week in Boston, during which we took a day trip to New York on Saturday. With neither of us on vacation, our mornings were occupied with work, leaving the afternoons free for sightseeing.

As Tin was on a business trip, we stayed at the Intercontinental hotel, where he had events and workshops with his company.

Rather than providing a day-by-day itinerary, as our trip was not a typical tourist excursion, I’ll describe the places we visited and what particularly impressed us at each place.

Boston offers a City Pass priced at $79, providing discounts on admission to the city’s top museums and attractions. The pass includes four tickets, with access to the New England Aquarium and the Museum of Science, along with a choice of two among Boston Harbor City Cruises, the Boston Observation Deck at the Prudential Center, Franklin Park Zoo, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History. I visited the Aquarium independently, and Tin and I explored the Museum of Science together, as well as enjoying the Prudential Observatory and embarking on a Boston Harbor City Cruise. We heard that the zoo is quite small there, so we crossed it off our list.

Tips and recommendations

• If you’re planning to stay in Boston for more than two days, it’s advisable to purchase the City Pass. After making a purchase, it’s required to download the mobile app. Once that’s done, everything becomes fairly straightforward. Reservations are needed for some activities, while for others, it is sufficient to present the QR code.
• I’d highlight the New England Aquarium and the Boston Observatory Deck at Prudential Center as the most stunning and memorable spots.
• The city park is breathtaking and definitely worth exploring to its fullest.
• It’s important to recognize that dining expenses can add up quite quickly.
• When it comes to buying American food to take back home, Trader Joe’s offers the best value as their prices are lower compared to other grocery stores. However, it’s worth noting that they stock their own brand items rather than well-known branded products.
• I’d suggest skipping the Museum of Science as there’s not much you’d miss by not visiting. Of course, then it’s necessary to calculate whether the City Pass is worth it, but I think it’s already worth it for 3 attractions.
• Boston appears to be a safe and secure city, making it perfectly safe to explore its streets on foot.

Locations and activities

• New England Aquarium
• Boston Observatory at Prudential Center
• Boston Harbor City Cruises
• Museum of Science
• Harvard and MIT
• Boston Common Park and Public Garden
• Acorn Street
• Newbury Street
• Quincy Market
• Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
• Food and Restaurants
  • Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
  • Emmets
  • State Street Provisions
  • Sorelle Bakery & Cafe
• Groceries

New England Aquarium

I went to the Aquarium by myself since Tin had visited it the previous year. I arrived around 2 p.m. without knowing about the scheduled penguin lecture at 2:30 p.m., followed by feeding, which was open for all visitors to watch.

The lecture about penguins was both informative and engaging, and I would definitely recommend attending it if you get the chance. It’s fascinating to see how penguins gulp down whole fish from the keepers in one go. Some of the penguins eat more, some less, but they all manage to swallow their meal in a single gulp—it’s quite amusing!

In addition to the penguins, the Aquarium is home to a variety of marine species. In the largest tank, there are also three sea turtles that can no longer survive on their own in the wild. I heard that one of them is completely blind, and another has orientation issues. Unfortunately, I missed the details about the third turtle since I arrived late for the lecture about them (3 p.m.).

I also found interesting to watch the staff members in their diving gear feeding the fish and cleaning the tank, including the shells and heads of the turtles. It was really sweet, and I couldn’t help but wish I was the one petting the turtle’s head.

Overall, I spent about three hours at the Aquarium, observing and enjoying all the marine life it had to offer.

Before leaving the Aquarium, there’s a gift shop offering a wide range of items.

However, what caught my attention were the bracelets designed to support organizations aiding specific animals.

Turtles, being my second favorite animals after guinea pigs, and having a long wanted wish to contribute to their protection, I decided to purchase one of these bracelets. Each bracelet comes with a QR code allowing you to track an individual animal. This led me to start following a turtle named Pringles, who roams around Florida.

The donations and tracking are managed through the Fahlo app, of which I’ve now become a member. Starting from Pringles, I now assist and track four different animals. I’m pleased with my decision to engage in this initiative.

Boston Observatory Deck at Prudential Center

When searching for Boston images, one probably comes across photos taken from the observatory offering a panoramic view of the city. Since we had chosen the Boston City Pass, skipping the opportunity to experience this view would have been regrettable. I was surprised to learn that very few of Tin’s colleagues were familiar with the observatory, and just few of them visited it.

We walked to the Prudential Center and easily found our way to the ticket counter and elevator entrance.

After scanning our passes, we entered the elevator, finding it empty except for us. The elevator ride was truly remarkable. Its interior was one large screen, and as we ascended, the images changed, providing a dynamic perspective of the cityscape. With shifting angles, colors transformed, and additional visuals and text, the experience was brilliant.

Exiting the elevator, we arrived at an enclosed observation deck surrounded by glass panels. The sunny and clear day made the view truly breathtaking. We admired planes landing and taking off at the airport, traced our walking route, and I pointed out landmarks like Harvard and MIT to Tin. We fully soaked in the views of Boston.

It was only later that we discovered another outdoor level, also enclosed with tall glass panels but offering a different ambiance. During warmer months, it likely serves as a café area, allowing visitors to enjoy drinks with an amazing view. However, it was closed due to the chilly January weather.

We debated whether to grab a drink there but decided to snap a few photos and find a different spot to eat or drink. Since the café was indoors, we didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything, as we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy our drinks with a view.

Boston Harbor City Cruises

This excursion starts at the harbor next to the Aquarium and runs for exactly one hour. The boat travels for thirty minutes in each direction, offering passengers the chance to buy drinks and snacks on board. Throughout the hour-long journey, the guide speaks through a microphone, sharing insights into the various parts of the city visible during the cruise. The cruise passes quickly, showcasing beautiful sights and offering interesting facts about the city.

For example, the guide talked about the “historical” periods of building construction and the development of the airport. It’s fascinating to learn that a significant portion of modern Boston has been built on reclaimed land, with former hills flattened to create more land. As a result, many of the city’s high-rise buildings are relatively new, with most being no more than fifteen years old. The only remaining hill is the one where the State House is located.

These and many other facts are shared during this activity, making it both enjoyable and informative.

Museum of Science

We visited the museum, but it didn’t leave a strong impression on us. We both felt that the museum is more suited for younger audiences.

While it’s well-designed and the content is decent, we found it lacking in depth. For instance, each physical or chemical property is accompanied by a single general statement or idea, followed by a simple experiment showcasing that property. It feels like the concepts are presented superficially, with very few explanations provided for the “Why?” questions.

For children, that might be enough, as they are fascinated by trying things out and seeing results. However, personally, I would have appreciated more detailed explanations. Overall, I didn’t feel like I learned anything new from the museum. Instead, it served as a reminder of the knowledge I already have and the gaps in my understanding.

Admission is included in the City Pass, and it’s one of the two main included attractions, so we decided to visit. We spent about 3 hours there due to the museum’s size. While some aspects were interesting, overall, it didn’t leave high impression on me.

Harvard and MIT

In the city of Cambridge, there are two globally known universities, Harvard and MIT. At Harvard, there is also the Natural History Museum, but I decided to skip that museum, as I don’t believe it’s much different from others I’ve been to (in London, Vienna, etc.).

I walked from the hotel to Harvard, a journey of about an hour and a half.

When I arrived, I wandered through the main park where the John Harvard Statue stands, and then I made my way to Harvard Law School to snap a photo in front of the institution, pretending to be the main character in the movie “Legally Blonde” (what we colloquially in Croatia call a “Blonde from Harvard”). So, for that day, I became one more blonde at Harvard. The campus is charming, active with numerous young individuals heading in various directions towards their colleges. I love these campus settings, as they are always so lively and dynamic.

Following my visit to Harvard, I headed towards MIT, located by the river, which took me just under an hour to reach.

While MIT’s facilities are also intriguing, there seemed to be a smaller number of people moving around its campus.

Returning to Boston along the river, I crossed a bridge, enjoying the sunny weather, although the wind was quite strong. Despite wearing a hat, scarf, and gloves, I couldn’t escape the chill, with temperatures at 4°C. It’s important to be mindful of these coastal cities prone to windy weather.

Boston Common Park and Public Garden

The park was one of the highlights of our Boston trip, where we let go of all worries and responsibilities and transformed to carefree children, walking around, exploring, and feeding squirrels whenever we encountered them. Finding squirrels wasn’t too challenging, especially with a bag of pistachios in hand, which we bought specifically for them. One afternoon, we spent at least an hour in the park, enjoying the company of the squirrels. At one point, there were about 10 of them gathered around us, making it incredibly funny, enjoyable and relaxing.

Besides the squirrels, the park itself is stunning, offering a lovely view of the State House on one side, a beautiful architectural marvel. (While entrance to the State House is free, we missed the weekday opening hours and found it closed on weekends. We decided to leave it for our next Boston visit rather than exhausting ourselves on Friday, especially since it was the only available time during our stay.)

Acorn Street

The street has a truly cinematic appearance. The ground is paved with old irregular stones, and the older brick houses, though aged, are charmingly well-kept. It’s definitely worth taking a walk down the street and snapping a few pictures. A complete contrast to the towering skyscrapers in the center, this street has a sense of warmth that’s hard to describe.

Newbury Street

When we headed towards the Prudential Center, we walked along this street, which begins right after the city park, taking about 15 minutes to walk through. Lined with designer stores, we didn’t venture into any, but enjoyed window offers.

The only shop we entered was the Harry Potter Shop, an essential visit for me as a big fan of the series. Although relatively small, the shop had interesting merchandise. We bought Butterbeers, candies, and some delicious chocolate.

Quincy Market

We visited Quincy Market on Sunday morning and found it to be quite busy. Also, it was Chinese New Year, so it was pretty loud and festive.

This expansive building is packed with shops and stalls. Inside, there are food stalls and small restaurants, with a seating area in the middle for enjoying the meals. On either side of the indoor area, away from the restaurant section, there are stalls selling various handmade crafts and souvenirs. It’s a convenient spot to grab a meal and pick up some gifts for home.

Ultimately, we decided not to take anything from the stalls, as everything seemed too much like fast food. Instead, we decided to have lunch at the Wagamama restaurant on the side, where we enjoyed delicious food and excellent freshly squeezed juices.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

This is the location that everyone comes across when searching for “What to see in Boston?”. We chose not to visit, so I can’t offer a feedback. We’ve heard it’s not overly remarkable, so we just walked by, took some photos, but didn’t go inside. We dedicated the rest of our time to exploring outdoors, enjoying the lovely sunshine that enhanced our experience.

Food and Restaurants

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

While making our way back from the Observatory, we noticed a fast food restaurant conveniently nearby. Feeling hungry and curious to try their fast food options, we decided to step in and ordered a chicken meal. The chicken and salad were delicious, but we were disappointed by the service.

Despite informing the staff that we intended to dine in, like everyone else, our food was served in disposable plastic containers, bundled in a plastic bag. This seemed unnecessary, and witnessing such excessive plastic waste saddened us.

This experience left us feeling somewhat foolish, especially because Europe practices sustainability and recycling on such a large scale.

Unfortunately, this was not the only place we noticed it; we observed similar unnecessary plastic usage elsewhere, such as at a bagel restaurant in the Boston airport, where every bagel was served in its own plastic container, even for dine-in customers. Quite terrifying!

Emmets

We stumbled upon this restaurant based on its pretty high Google rating, and it didn’t disappoint. The servings were incredibly generous, a fact the waitress amusingly mentioned. She “warned” us that we might struggle to finish our meals.

While I couldn’t manage my three tasting bowls, Tin surprised us both by polishing off both his and mine. The waitress even congratulated him, as she hadn’t been sure we’d finish everything. Besides the size of the portions, the food itself was delicious. I really liked my trio of dishes, with the chicken in béchamel sauce standing out as a favorite. The other options, including the shepherd’s pie and beef stew, were also tasty. Tin thoroughly enjoyed his sausage with mashed potatoes as well.

Beyond the food, we were pleasantly surprised by the beverage options. Tin chose a standard beer, while I opted for a coffee with whiskey. It exceeded my expectations, offering a delightful balance of flavors without the whiskey overpowering the coffee.

We also had a good laugh at the water we ordered, which comes in a creatively designed can with a clever name.

Overall, we had a wonderful experience at the restaurant. It’s worth noting that dining in Boston can be pricey, and we spent around $80 on our lunch, inclusive of taxes and tip.

Sorelle Bakery & Cafe

We decided to grab breakfast at this café. Everything we ordered turned out to be delicious. I opted for the avocado toast, while Tin went for a sandwich. This spot was particularly convenient for us because it was located very close to our hotel where we were staying.

Groceries

During the week we spent there, we visited various grocery stores, including Target, CVS pharmacy, 7eleven, and Trader Joe’s. All stores except Trader Joe’s are more expensive but carry popular brand-name groceries. Unlike them, Trader Joe’s is much cheaper, but the groceries are specific to their own brand.

It’s worth mentioning that Trader Joe’s tends to be crowded, sometimes resulting in long checkout lines. In one Trader Joe’s store, the line extended throughout the entire shop, so people immediately queued up upon entering and started adding items to their baskets as they moved towards the checkout.

One item we particularly enjoyed from Trader Joe’s was their peanut butter, which was not only the most affordable but also had a delicious flavor and a good composition. We regret not purchasing more of it.

We also observed notable differences in the flavors of familiar sodas such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Fanta compared to their European counterparts. Tin especially disliked the taste of Fanta. I highlight this because it’s interesting to try some familiar drinks or foods and notice how the compositions vary for different markets.