Things to Do in Boston
In the Neighborhood
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is at once an intimate collection of fine and decorative art and a vibrant, innovative venue for contemporary artists, musicians and scholars. Housed in a stunning 15th-century Venetian-style palace with three stories of galleries surrounding a sun- and flower-filled courtyard, the museum provides an unusual backdrop for the viewing of art. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's preeminent collection contains more than 2,500 paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture, manuscripts, rare books and decorative arts. The galleries house works by some of the most recognized artists in the world, including Titian, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Manet, Degas, Whistler and Sargent. The spirit of the architecture, the personal character of the arrangements and the artistic display of the enchanting courtyard in full bloom all create an atmosphere that distinguishes the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as an intimate and culturally-rich treasure. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is located at 280 The Fenway (enter on Evans Way).
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world; the collection encompasses nearly 450,000 works of art. We welcome more than one million visitors each year to experience art from ancient Egyptian to contemporary, special exhibitions, and innovative educational programs. Highlights from the past years include the opening of a new wing dedicated to Art of the Americas and a new Contemporary Art wing. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is located at 465 Huntington Avenue (Avenue of the Arts).
Fenway Park, Home of the Boston Red Sox
Visit the park where the Babe pitched, The Kid hit, Yaz dazzled and today's stars still thrill Red Sox Nation. Fenway Park Tours provide a 50 minute historic walking tour of the ballpark, guided by an official Fenway Park Tour Guide. Fenway Park is located within a 5-10 minute walk from Boston University and is located at 4 Yawkey Way. The neighborhood is filled with fun sports bars. The Red Sox have home games the week of the conference, so you can try to score some tickets.
The Emerald Necklace
It took civic visionary Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. almost twenty years (1878-1896) to create the six parks and waterways now known as the Emerald Necklace. The Arnold Arboretum, Back Bay Fens, Franklin Park, Jamaica Pond, Olmsted Park, and the Riverway stretch five miles from the Charles River to Dorchester and make up over 1,000 acres of parkland. The Emerald Necklace is the only remaining intact linear park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., America's first landscape architect. As such, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Green and open spaces, rivers and ponds, and a wealth and diversity of trees, shrubs, flowers, wildlife habitat, riparian life, bridges and other structures make up this urban jewel. Walking and jogging trails in the Back Back Fens area of the Emerald Necklace are located near the Boston University campus.
The Boston Pops
Affectionately known as "America's Orchestra," the Boston Pops is the most recorded and arguably the most beloved orchestra in the country, beginning with the establishment of the modern-era Pops by Arthur Fiedler and continuing through the innovations introduced by John Williams and the new-millennium Pops spearheaded by Keith Lockhart. According to Lockhart, “The Boston Pops Orchestra performs the best music of the past and present, appealing to the widest possible audience with a broad spectrum of styles, from jazz to pop, indie rock to big band, film music to the great American songbook, and Broadway to classical, making it the perfect orchestra for people who don't know they like orchestras!” Join the Boston Pops in Boston’s historic Symphony Hall, designed by McKim, Mead & White. Symphony Hall is located at 301 Massachusetts Avenue.
Further Afield
The Freedom Trail
Welcome to the Freedom Trail. There is no other place in the United States where you can take in the rich history of America’s Revolution — the events that led up to the historic break from Britain and the brave people who shaped our national government. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads you to 16 nationally significant historic sites, every one an authentic American treasure. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1958, when the wrecking ball threatened, the Freedom Trail today is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond.
Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market
There's a magical place in the center of Boston like no other - Faneuil Hall Marketplace. As alive today as it was in 1742 when our nation's fathers proclaimed it "The Cradle of Liberty," it combines the glories of Boston's past with the urban sophistication of the city today. Located in the heart of downtown Boston, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is the nation’s premier urban marketplace. It combines the glories of the past and vitality of the present, with 49 shops, 44 pushcarts, 13 full service restaurants, and 35 food stalls. Across the street from Boston’s waterfront, the Marketplace is comprised of three restored 19th century buildings. A blend of Neoclassic and Greek Revival architecture, the complex is a beautiful representation of old Boston, tastefully enhanced by urban contemporary additions. Ethnic foods, unique gifts and street performers are just a few elements that make the cobblestone streets of Faneuil Hall Marketplace such a festive and special restaurants and pubs feature varied menus, and are open for lunch and dinner. During the warm weather, the outdoor cafes are a perfect spot to relax and have a meal or appetizer and drink.
New England Aquarium
Take a trip to exotic waters and experience more than 70 exhibits featuring aquatic animals from around the world. Greet the African penguins as you enter, feel the smooth wing of a cownose ray and then wind your way around the four-story Giant Ocean Tank, home to a huge Caribbean coral reef. Go out back to see the Northern fur seals in action in their open-air exhibit, and be sure to visit the Atlantic harbor seals out front.
Boston Museum of Science
Long respected as a leader in science education, the Museum of Science promotes thoughtful participation in today's increasingly technological society. With over 700 permanent exhibits, and an ever-changing cavalcade of touring exhibits, films, and shows, groups can encounter the fresh and unfamiliar, ask questions, and actively address the provocative issues raised by innovations in science and technology.
Institute of Contemporary Art
The Institute of Contemporary Art strives to share the pleasures of reflection, inspiration, provocation, and imagination that contemporary art offers through public access to art, artists, and the creative process.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Located on a ten-acre park, overlooking the sea that he loved and the city that launched him to greatness, the Library stands as a vibrant tribute to the life and times of John F. Kennedy. Come tour our Museum which portrays the life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy, conveys his enthusiasm for politics and public service, and illustrates the nature of the office of the President.
Prudential Center Skywalk Observatory and the Shops at Prudential Center
Visit the Skywalk Observatory, Boston's only sky-high vantage point for sweeping 360 degree views of Greater Boston and beyond. Let your eyes and ears do the walking as you experience the exclusive state-of-the-art Acoustiguide audio tour detailing the city's many points of historic and cultural interest. Downstairs, you'll find unique shopping, including places like Vineyard Vines, Lacoste, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, and Arden B. Plus you'll find a variety of popular activities, and restaurants such as Haru and Wagamama, and it's all under one roof. The Shops at Prudential Center. Easy to get to, and easy to get anywhere from. It should be the starting point of every Boston visit.
Boston Duck Tours
You've never toured Boston in anything that comes close to Boston Duck Tours. The fun begins as soon as you board your "DUCK", a W.W.II style amphibious landing vehicle. First, you'll be greeted by one of our legendary tour ConDUCKtors, who'll be narrating your tour. Then you're off on a journey like you've never had before. You'll cruise by all the places that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts, from the golden-domed State House to Bunker Hill and the TD Banknorth Garden, Boston Common and Copley Square to the Big Dig, Government Center to fashionable Newbury Street, Quincy Market to the Prudential Tower, and more. And, as the best of Boston unfolds before your eyes, your ConDUCKtor will be giving you lots of little known facts and interesting insights about our unique and wonderful city.
Newbury Street Shopping
Boston's most enchanting street. Eight blocks filled with salons, boutiques, and fabulous dining. Located in the historic Back Bay, Boston's Newbury Street has something for everyone. Newbury Street shows an individuality and uniqueness that is lacking in so many other commercial districts. Broad sidewalks, storefronts that extend into the sidewalk and street vendors all encourage a wide mix of people to traverse the street. Ultimately, Newbury Street embodies a rich urban and retail environment not often found in American cities.