Bradshaws Take Boston!

For the past year or two, little man has spent a lot of time at school learning about American history. I'm an enthusiastic supporter of such efforts, hence our trip to Williamsburg in June. In the fall, I thought a nice next step in our tour might be Boston, home of the famed tea party and Paul Revere's midnight ride. Off we went!

Day 1 

Sargent murals at the Boston Public Library

We arrived late in the day and checked into our lovely AirBnB on Ringgold Street. On family trips, we've really enjoyed considering some of the options that AirBnB offers. Though sometimes we still book a traditional hotel or suite, it's wonderful to also evaluate lodging in a real neighborhood, with more space to spread out. Our basement apartment in Boston had one bath, one roomy bedroom, a generous living room with a fold-out couch for my son, a laundry room, and a full kitchen. And we loved the area around it - tons of little cafes and shops, and right across from a neighborhood park! 

It was a beautiful afternoon, so we decided to take a stroll. After being cooped up in planes and airports, it felt good to stretch our legs toward Copley Square and Trinity Church. Though we were too late for a formal tour, we enjoyed taking in the church's architecture and grounds.

Clay found the statues of the tortoise and the hare, which commemorate the fact that the Boston Marathon ends at this square each year. We also searched for (and discovered!) the Khalil Gibran plaque. Gibran, a Lebanese poet/philosopher/painter, educated himself at the Boston Library, which also sits on Copley Square. His quote there reads, "It was in my heart to help a little, because I was helped much." The plaque was erected when Gibran left a generous bequest to the library. (Plus, two Lebanese folks in the big city! Woo hoo!) 

Afterwards, we explored the Boston Public Library, which contains some gorgeous art and reminded me of both the NY Public Library and the Chicago Cultural Center (formerly a library). Beautiful mosaics, colorful murals, interior courtyards (We saw a wedding party!), and wood-paneled rooms make for an inviting place to learn! (The Sargent murals alone took the artist nearly 30 years to complete. The bright panels are perched airily at the very top of the building.)

Views from the Prudential Center Observatory

Visiting historic public buildings like this also always makes me wonder what we are leaving behind. What are we building today that will stand the test of time and cause future generations to marvel? An interesting thing to ponder. 

To finish up our first afternoon in the city, we walked to the Prudential Center Skywalk and Observatory. Often when I'm visiting a new city, I find one of these "high-point" attractions early in the trip and take it all in from above. It's an arresting perspective to start with, and I usually find that it helps me orient myself on the ground later in the visit. 

The views were amazing, and so were the exhibits on display. Many of them were interactive, and Clay and I enjoyed serving as game show contestants and getting quizzed on American history. I also really loved how the exhibits emphasized that the American story is an immigrant story. You could use interactive touch-screens to meet Bostonians who are immigrants from nearly every country on the globe! 

By this time, we were hungry for dinner. We were in the Prudential Center, and we'd heard great things about Eataly, an Italian food hall and market. In we went. 

It was so much fun! We sampled this and that from all sorts of vendors - bruschetta, wines, small slices of pizza - before settling into a table in the back for grilled meats and vegetables. I love eating this way - little bites of lots of different things. Plus, before we left, we loaded up on groceries for the apartment - breakfast breads, milk, etc. 

Then, we headed home, unpacked everything, and sank blissfully into bed.

Day 2

Boston Public Garden offers peaceful vistas.

The forecast was pleasant, so we opted to spend most of the day outside. After a quick breakfast at the apartment, we walked to the Boston Public Garden. So picturesque! The first public botanical garden in the United States, the green space features lovely statuary (George Washington astride his horse is very impressive, and children seem to love playing on the Make Way for Duckings statues!), carefully designed plantings, and a beautiful lagoon. Though we were too late in the year for the swan boats to be running, plenty of real swans and ducks glided about the water. We sat on different benches to take in the view from different perspectives, and we also walked across what's said to be one of the shortest suspension bridges in the world!  

Then, we headed across the street to Boston Common, with its wide-open spaces, gazebos, and lovely views of the golden-domed state house. (At one corner of Boston Common, you can also see Park Street Church, which is said to have one of the prettiest steeples in all of New England.)

Since we were so close, we decided to step over to the Granary Burying Ground. In this historic cemetery, you can find the graves of Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock, and other people critical to early American history. Though entrance into the cemetery is free, I recommend either bringing some sort of self-guided tour with you or taking a formal tour so that you'll know where to go and what to look for.

Boston Common

By this time of day, all of the tourists were out in full force, and the cemetery was a bit crowded for my taste. We spent about an hour here, and then decamped for lunch.

Luckily, we were very close to a great place to eat! We slipped into Parker's Restaurant in the nearby Omni Hotel. According to legend, both Parker House rolls and Boston Cream Pie were invented at this restaurant, and we intended to try them. Hubs ordered a giant lobster roll, Clay got a sandwich, and I had clam chowder. We also ordered a basket of rolls and, of course, Boston Cream Pie for dessert. The food was delicious, and our service was lovely. Prices are a touch spendy, but not more than you'd expect. We loved this place!

Bellies full, we popped outside and saw that clouds had begun to threaten. Nonplussed, off we went to an indoor attraction - the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. After getting our tickets, we explored the waterfront space. They have JFK's boat on display, and there are well-maintained trails for walking and running along the water. Then, we went inside, saw the introductory video, and started poking around. 

We learned so much here! Clay was relieved to learn that JFK was something of a mischievous little boy who got into scrapes frequently. Their displays of campaign materials were really interesting, and  the Jackie items were glittery and mesmerizing. This is a do-not-miss stop!

After touring the complex, we were ready for a break! We caught an Uber back to the apartment and cooled our heels for a bit before popping out later that evening for dinner at The Gallows, a restaurant near our apartment. I had the rabbit popover (because seriously, how many times can you really order something like that out?), and it was AMAZING! Delicious, filling, inventive, and perfect for chilly fall night. Hubs and Clay both had burgers. 

Then, it was back to the apartment for a well-earned night's sleep. 

More to come . . .