My husband and I spent the past weekend in Boston to celebrate a friend’s birthday. I moved to Boston in 2004 to study at Boston University and the city had a strong hold on me; I ended up staying for 6 years. So, I always relish the chance to return to my old haunts. We couldn’t have picked a better weekend! The weather was fantastic and the city was buzzing with activity. The scars from the marathon bombing were still very fresh, but the phrase “Boston Strong” rings true! Here are some highlights from our jam-packed weekend:
Where to Sleep: XV Beacon
This boutique hotel is tucked away between Boston Common, The Capitol Building, Government Center and Downtown Crossing. It makes a perfect “home-base” for a weekend exploring the city. Our room, one of only 63 total, was a Classic (entry-level) and we loved the fireplace and complimentary wi-fi. The room was a little tight at just 300 square feet, but it was well decorated and comfortable and perfectly adequate for a short weekend stay. XV Beacon has a great rooftop deck and a house car that will take you anywhere within a 2-mile radius (this made our trips around the city super convenient!) We were so busy visiting all of our old favorite restaurants that we didn’t leave time to try the hotel restaurant, Mooo, but it is on the wish list for next time!
Morning Coffee: Thinking Cup
If you’re staying in a hotel just steps from Boston Common then you can’t help but spend some time walking through, people watching, and enjoying the fresh air. Walk to Tremont St. first and grab a delicious hazelnut latte and scone from Thinking Cup; it is the perfect accompaniment to the sights and sounds of the city. Of course, if you’re already walking through the Common, then you might as well keep going through the Public Garden and on to Newbury St. for some shopping!
More Walking: Cambridge
No visit to Boston is complete without a trip over to Cambridge. In fact, it is the first thing we did after dropping the bags off at the hotel! We took our time and walked the 2 miles across the “salt and pepper” bridge over the Charles River and through Kendall Square to Central Square. After working up our appetites on the walk, we stopped into Miracle of Science for some burgers and beers. Since we moved away from Boston, every return trip has included a stop at Miracle; we are loyal fans! We did the same walk back with a pit-stop at the Cambridge Brewing Company to try out some of their seasonal beers.
Paradise...Rock Club
Much of my time living in Boston was spent attending concerts at “the dise” and other music venues around the city. As fate would have it, one of our favorite reggae bands, John Brown’s Body, was playing while we were in town! Music lovers will have plenty to see in this city. In addition to the Paradise Rock Club, my other favorites are Wally’s Cafe, Cantab Lounge, Toad, TT the Bear’s, and Johnny D’s.
South End to North End: Double the Brunch!
Brunch is the perfect excuse to have a nice long meal drinking bloody marys and catching up with old friends. We were lucky enough to stumble upon two excellent brunch spots on this trip. On Saturday in the South End, we enjoyed Popover BLTs at Union Bar and Grille and on Sunday in the North End, we tucked into Lobster Benedict at Ferrara’s. YUM!
