They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and that holds true for my husband. A few years ago, I gifted him a tavern and pizza tour, and it was a huge hit. This past December, I decided to do it again. This time we are doing the North End Neighborhood Food Tour. We are going on Memorial Day weekend, and we can’t wait. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to research the Best in Boston Food Tours. Boston is full of history and great food. Here are the 8 Boston Food Tours that made the list.
This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
Boston’s Historic North End
Let’s start with Boston’s Historic North End. Before diving into the tours offered here, I would like to provide a bit of history. The North End is Boston’s oldest neighborhood, where people have lived since the 1630s. It is rich with history, some good and some not so good. The North End is known for its Italian population and restaurants. Not only do people come for the food, but see to Paul Revere’s house, the Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, and the old North Church. Remember, “one if by land and two if by the sea’? That all happened in the North End.
The Prince Macaroni Company and incredible organizations such as The Home for Little Wanderers were started here. There also have been some dark times. The Great Molasses Flood, whereby a 25 ft wave of molasses flowed down Commercial Street towards the waterfront, sweeping away everything in its path. One hundred fifty people were injured, 21 people were killed, and it caused damage of 100 million dollars in today’s money.
Today the North End is one of Boston’s most prominent tourist destinations and one of the best places to grab a meal, a coffee, and a cannoli.
Best in Boston Food Tours- North End Neighborhood Food Tour
This is the tour that Bill and I will be doing in May. The tour takes you to award-winning restaurants, stop by the Best of Boston winners to taste pizza, sandwiches, bread, and cannoli. You will visit an old-world salumeria shown on the Food Network. The tour includes a visit to the Old North Church (exterior only) and a walk through the North End, where history lovers will hear plenty about this part of Boston’s history. We end the tour with a pasta dinner at one of the North End’s famous award-winning restaurants and take a cannoli for the road.
How much is the tour? – $150.00 per person.
What’s included? – Price of all food, taxes, and server’s gratuities
What’s excluded? – Tour cost does not include drinks or tour guide’s gratuity should guests wish to consider.
Best in Boston Food Tours – Boston’s North End Group Walking Tour
If $150.00 a person is a bit steep, why not try Boston’s North End Group Walking Tour. Like the North End Neighborhood Food Tour, the guide will take you through the history of the North End as you sample authentic Italian cuisine. The tour includes a visit to a hidden bakery, samples of meats, cheeses, pizza, and pastries. Unlike the tour above, included is a visit inside the Old North Church, which is truly a thing of beauty.
How much is the tour? – $72.00 a person.
What is included?- samples of food, pastries, a drink, and entrance into the church.
What is excluded? -Tour cost does not include drinks or tour guide’s gratuity should guests wish to consider.
Best in Boston Food Tours – Boston’s Politically Incorrect Lunch and Dinner Tours
According to the description, these two tours take place in the North End, but this one will show you the REAL North End. Like the others, it is a walking tour where you will learn the North End history and visit hidden gems. There is both a lunch and a dinner tour.
Lunch Tour
The lunch tour is 3 hours long. It includes visits to historical sites, local hangouts, and samples of authentic Italian food. There is a visit to a Salumeria (Italian Deli), and you will learn to make Italian Panni. Take a stroll down Hanover Street and visit some of the best bakeries and coffee shops the city has to offer. Then, head over to the tour guide’s mother’s house for an authentic Italian lunch consisting of a homemade plate of pasta Bolognese, pizza or a Caprese salad, and a homemade dessert. Visit an 80-year-old spice and coffee shop and a 112-year old wine shop. Another highlight, see the headquarters of the alleged Boston Mob.
The wake for the infamous Sacco and Vanzetti was held out of a home in the North End. Fun fact, my great grandfather served on the jury of their criminal trial. Haven’t heard of the Sacco and Vanzetti case? Read about it here.
Dinner Tour
Rather the dinner tour? The dinner tour includes all of the above, except instead of lunch, you eat dinner with Mama. Enjoy a traditional Italian Sunday dinner, which includes pasta with meatballs, sausages, and braciola. An antipasti course and dessert are also served.
What is the cost? – $69.00 for lunch $90 for dinner.
What is included? – Food, drink, and admission into historical sites.
What is excluded? Gratuity for tour guide.
Best in Boston Food Tours- Boston Chocolate Tours
A tour made just for me! LOL! If you have been reading long enough, you will know by now I love all things chocolate. This is a walking tour of the city that starts in the North End and ends in Beacon Hill. Beacon Hill is a neighborhood in Boston and at the top of the hill is the Massachusetts State House. Federal-style row houses, narrow gaslit streets, and brick sidewalks adorn the area, a desirable and expensive part of Boston.
This tour will bring you to six locations for chocolate tastings. Learn about this great city’s history, plus visit historical sites such a Patriot’s Corner and the Old North Church, pass by Boston Public Library and the famous Newbury Street. This is a private tour.
What is the cost? – $206.00 per person.
What is included? – All the chocolate and the pasteries, plus water.
What is excluded? – Gratuities for your guide.
Best in Boston Food Tours – Cocktails and Cannolis
Ahhh.. another tour made just for me. The tour is also located in the North End. Do you see a trend here? The best food is in the North End! The tour is approximately 2 hours and takes you through the North End, where you will have four desserts, including cannoli and gelato. It also includes three cocktails. Walkthrough the North End over to Paul Revere’s house, where you learn the importance of alcohol in Revolutionary Boston. Also, see where Paul hung the famous lanterns. There is a blind cannoli test, and the tour gains you access to two of the top cannoli shops in the city. The lines at these shops are usually down the street, so this is a real treat. I have waited in the queue for Mike’s Pastry and it is worth it!
What is the cost?- I could not find this information, but there is a number to call to request a quote.
What is included? – All of the above, plus a water bottle to carry with you.
What is excluded? – Gratuities for your guide.
Best in Boston Food Tours – Boston Brew Tours
Boston Brew Tours takes you behind the scenes of a craft brewery. Taste up to 16 different craft beers as you are driven around by a guide. You have access to 3-4 of Boston’s best local breweries, cideries, or distilleries, all of which include lunch and some snacks.
What is the cost? -Approximately $136.00 a person.
What does it include? – All the alcohol and food.
What is excluded?- Gratuity for your guide.
Best in Boston Food Tours- Beacon Hill and Back Bay Food Tour
This tour includes a three-course meal of a light lunch. It usually involves lobster. After lunch:
- Explore the historic Charles Street and enjoy tastings at multiple chocolatiers.
- Walk Beacon Hill’s Louisburg Square and visit Acorn Street, the most photographed street in Boston.
- Stroll past the Boston Public Library and visit an off the beaten path wine and cheese shop and bakery ranked 3rd in the country.
The tour ends with dessert at one of Boston’s top restaurants.
What is the cost? – $100 per person.
What is included? – All of the above.
What is excluded? – Gratuity for guides.
Best in Boston Food Tours – Bites of Boston
Bites of Boston has a few tours. One is the Sweet and Savory South End Tour. The South End of Boston is a neighborhood in the city. The South End has the largest intact Victorian row house district in the country and s made up of over 300 acres of parks. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
During the tour, you will visit 5-6 local eateries and hear the history of how the South End came to be.
What is the cost?- $71.50.
What is included?- Food and drink.
What is excluded? – Gratuities for the guide.
Are you hungry yet? Boston is a fabulous place to visit and eat! If you are ever in town, make sure to check out one of these terrific tours.
This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
Last September, we escaped to the lakes region of New Hampshire for a long weekend. It had been years since I had explored this area. I was just a child the last time I was here. We spent four days and three nights hiking a castle and browsing the towns along Lake Winnipesaukee.
What and Where is the Lakes Region of New Hampshire?
The Lakes Region is located south of the White Mountains in east-central New Hampshire. There over 270 lakes in New Hampshire, including Lake Winnipesaukee (the largest lake in the state), Squam Lake, Newfound Lake, Ossipee Lake, and Lake Sunapee. It is also home to two mountain ranges, the Belknap and Ossipee Mountains. A popular summer destination, the Lakes Region offers something for everyone, including boating, water sports, fishing, swimming, hiking, and more. However, there is no lack of activities during the other three seasons.
Lodging In the Lakes Region
There are plenty of places to stay in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. From campsites, Airbnbs, resorts, and boutique hotels, the possibilities are endless. We chose to stay at Steele Hill Resort in Sanbornton, NH. The resort sits on top of Steele Hill, overlooking Lake Winnespauske and Lake Squam. It has 500 acres of land consisting of hiking trails, a golf course, a private pond for fishing, and more. Accommodations range from two-bedroom suites to cozy rooms located in the original inn.
Amenities include:
- 2 Indoor Pools/2 Outdoor Pools
- Whirlpools & Saunas
- Free 9-hole Executive Golf Course
- Snowmobiling with access to state trails (bring your own machine)
- Fishing in our private pond (catch & release)
- Racquetball and Tennis courts
- Health Club
- Hiking/Snowshoe Trails
- Horseshoes
- Children’s Playground
- Ice Skating (weather permitting)
- Tobogganing & Sledding (sleds not provided)
- Wii U & PlayStation 4 Gaming Systems in Lobby
- The Market, an onsite convenience store
- Hilltop Restaurant and Tova’s Tavern
- Laundry Facilities
- Ice Machines
We stayed in a one-bedroom suite, which was plenty big for the 4 of us. We had a full kitchen, living room, with a pull-out couch, dining area, a full bath, and a master bedroom. Our suite overlooked the Belnap Mountains and the lakes. It was clean, comfortable, and moderately priced. However, I do think pre-covid, the prices would be slightly higher.
Living room 
Full kitchen 
View from the room 
Master bedroom 
Living room again 
Bathroom 
Main Inn 
Recreation Center 
Fitness center 
Arcade 
VIew from recreation center 
Indoor pool
Another bonus to the resort was its onsite restaurant. It was excellent. The resort is a bit hidden away, and it can be 20 mins or more to the nearest restaurant. Having the restaurant as an option was great. One of the days, our kids ordered take out from there so they could stay in and watch football, leaving my husband and I free to explore on our own without worrying about them.
Things to Do in the Lakes Region
For our first full day in New Hampshire, we headed to Castle in the Clouds. Castle in the Clouds is a mountaintop estate located in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. It is a 16-room mansion with 5,294-acres of land.
I had toured the mansion when I was a child, but a lot has changed. Or at least in my mind, it has! Castle in the Clouds is so much more than a mansion tour. There is a guided basement tour, an exhibit hall featuring the career of the original owner of the castle, Thomas Plant, a restaurant, cafe, gift shop, hiking and walking trails, winter activities, events, and more.
We chose to tour the mansion, grab a snack at the cafe, and then set out on one of their more picturesque hikes featuring seven waterfalls.
Tour of the Lucknow Estate
The tour starts with a trolly ride up the road to the estate once owned by Thomas and Olive Plant. From there, you meet a guide and receive a 10-15 minute orientation on the history of the estate. The tour of the mansion is self-guided, though there were plenty of guides stationed in each room to answer any questions. Due to COVID, admission was staggered, so at times it seemed we had the house to ourselves. It was quite lovely.
View from parking lot. 
Old stove 
Kitchen 
Formal Dining room 
Game room 
Old fashion intercom 
Home decor 
Thomas Plant 
View from inside 
Another view 
Bedroom 
Bedside table 
Bathroon 
Love the old products 
Interesting shower 
Another bedroom 
Tea anyone? 
Soap 
Hey, I know that company!
The inside of the house was impressive, but it was outside that caught my attention. The gardens, the grounds, and the views of the mountains were my favorite part of the tour.
After touring the mansion and grounds, we headed back down and grabbed a snack from the Castle Cafe. Once we fueled up, we hiked on one of the many trails here at Castle in the Clouds.
Brook Walk Trail
Brook Walk Trail is a moderate hiking trail that has seven spectacular waterfalls. There are signs along the route providing descriptions of the waterfalls and photos of how the falls looked many, many years ago. The falls include Twin Falls, Whittier Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Falls of Song, a 40 ft plunge waterfall.
The hike was lovely, and the boys enjoyed seeing the different waterfalls. It would be a great place to go back to and hike in the evening. There are quite a few trails to explore.
Meredith, New Hampshire
The next day we headed out early to the town of Meredith, NH. Meredith is a major resort town located on the shores of Lake Winnespauke, the largest lake in the New Hampshire Lakes Region. Our first stop, Hart’s Turkey Farm.
Hart’s Turkey Farm was a restaurant I grew up going to when on vacation in New Hampshire. I have fond memories of it and wanted my kids to experience it as well. It did not disappoint! As you can probably guess, turkey is the specialty, but they have other menu items. After we ate, we stopped by their store, where I picked up some local maple syrup and candy for the kids.
After lunch, we headed into the town of Meredith. It has a picturesque downtown area, with lots of restaurants and shops. The kids hung out at a park along the lake while Bill and I walked around snapping photos and picking up a book at a local bookstore. We noticed around town were these sculptures. It is an annual exhibit called Meredith Sculpture Walk. You can learn more about it here.
Lake Winnipesaukee 
Nicholas hanging out. 
Memorial 
Sculpture 
Lake Winnipesaukee 
Beautiful day on the lake. 
Lighthouse 
Sculpture 
Another Sculpture 
Sculpture 
One more sculpture 
Bill being goofy.
A Morning Hike and Wolfboro, New Hampshire
On Sunday, the boys told us ahead of time they did not plan to leave the room all day. They wanted to watch football. They are certainly old enough to stay by themselves, and it gave Bill and me some 1-1 time, something we rarely get these days. We started the day with a hike around the property. The resort has three hiking trails totaling 5 miles. We hiked two out of the three trails. The trails are relatively flat, with some elevation toward the end of one of the trails. We passed through an open field, marshy areas, and even an old burial ground. According to the Steele Hill Resort website:
“The Joseph Leavitt Burial Ground is the largest of two cemeteries located onsite at Steele Hill Resorts, which dates back to the early 1800s. The oldest headstone in this particular graveyard is over two centuries old with the date 1818 engraved upon it belonging to Abner Kimball. The majority of the headstones at the cemetery are legible with the youngest to be buried at the location being only three months old.
A local man named John Douglas Crawford was sent to Germany in 1946 to be a liaison medical officer for the Office of Military Government. John, unfortunately, had to leave his pregnant wife, Caroline, home in the United States. After giving birth to their daughter Margo, Caroline had set out to visit John so he could meet his daughter for the first time. Unfortunately, he never got the opportunity to meet his daughter or the chance to see his wife again as their plane crashed into a ridgeline on a windy night departing from Newfoundland. Both Caroline and Margo share a headstone onsite.
The most recent headstone was added in 2014 and belongs to Lola Rose Cutillo. Her husband, Ralph Cutillo, former president of Steele Hill Resorts, has his tombstone sitting adjacent to Lola’s.”
Pretty interesting, right?
Great trail for hiking. 
Yes, I do appear in photos. 
Send help! 
Old burial grounds 
Old burial grounds 
Bill and I
After our morning hike, Bill and I headed to Wolfboro, New Hampshire. Located next to Lake Winnipesaukee, Wolfboro is the “Oldest Summer Resort in America.” Wolfboro has a cute downtown area with lots of little shops to visit. First stop, ice cream at the Yum Yum Shop.
Then we headed over to Cate Park, which overlooks Wolfboro Bay. It was a great place to stop and do some people watching.
The main street of Wolfboro is lined with shops and restaurants. They had the cutest bookstore, and as an avid reader, I had to stop and browse.
We weren’t in any hurry, nor were we hungry for dinner, so we found a trail that started at the old Wolfboro Train Station, close to where we parked the car. The Cotton Rail Trail is a beautiful trail, following the old railroad tracks but occasionally veering off and winding through the woods before returning to the tracks for 11 miles. Along the way, we saw beautiful lakes, homes, and more. We walked for about a 1.5 before turning around and heading back into town. Once in town, we grabbed some dinner before going back to the resort to relax for the night
One Last Meal Before Heading Home
Who doesn’t love a good breakfast? I wanted to grab something hearty before we left for home. Plus, we had a couple of hours to kill before stopping by the bookstore at my son’s college before going home.
Heritage Farm Pancake House came highly recommended by the people at our resort. It serves a farm-fresh family-style breakfast. It is one price per person, and each person receives their choice of pancakes, fresh farm eggs, homegrown home fries, & bacon, and drinks. You can check out their menu here. The boys had chocolate chip pancakes, and Bill and I had blueberry pancakes. The food was delicious! As we waited for our food to be served, we walked around the farm visiting all the animals.
We will defintely be back!
Our final stop of the trip was to Southern New Hampshire University. Our son, Robbie, is a freshman studying sports management. Unfortunately, due to the virus, he is studying online from home. The campus is expected to open in the fall, and we all can’t wait for that to happen. In the meantime, we stopped at the bookstore to grab some swag and walk around a bit. Go, Penmen!
I hope you enjoyed this small glimpse into the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. It is definitely a beautiful place to visit regardless of the season.
Interested in learning more about New England? Check out my posts on the Berkshires, Provincetown, Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Refuge, and Chatham, MA.
This summer, we started on a quest to visit as many Massachusetts state parks as we could before the winter hit. I found that quite a few of the parks we wanted to see were a couple of hours away, in the Berkshires. With Columbus Day weekend only a few weeks away, we booked a trip “out west” and mapped out which parks we would try and squeeze in over three days. The Natural Bridge State Park made our list.
Before we get to the park, what is the Berkshires? Despite living in Massachusetts all of my life, I am ashamed to admit I had never been to the Berkshires. Now, I am looking forward to going back, mostly to hike and Christmas next year.
The Berkshires is a county in Massachusetts and refers to a portion of the Green Mountain Range that comes down from Vermont into Western Massachusetts. The region extends to Northwest Connecticut and includes the Taconic Mountains bordering the state of New York. It is approximately 120 miles west of Boston and 140 miles north of New York City.
The Berkshires is known for its picture-perfect mountain tops, lakes, rivers, and outdoor recreational activities. The county consists of quaint towns with eclectic festivals, museums, antique shops, farm to table restaurants, and quirky coffee shops.
Fun Fact: The Berkshires was named among the 12 last great places by the Nature Conservancy.
As I mentioned, the Berkshires is known for its outdoor recreational activities. The region is home to 15 state forests and six state parks. One of those state parks is the Natural Bridge State Park in North Adams, Massachusetts.
The Natural Bridge State Park is home to the only natural white marble arch in North America. The bridge is made up of 550 million-year-old bedrock marble. It was carved into its famous arch by forces of glacial meltwater 13,000 years ago.
The bridge spans over the Hudson Brook and tumbles into a steep 60-foot gorge. The hike around the chasm is approximately a quarter of a mile.
Also at the park is the only white marble dam in North America. The dam was built in the early 1800s to power the Hoosac Marble Mill. Unfortunately, the mill was destroyed in a fire in 1947.
After hiking the chasm and taking photos of the bridge, we set off on a 1/2 mile wooded hike on the property.
Nathaniel Hawthorne, the romantic novelist, visited in 1838 and wrote, “The cave makes a fresh impression on me every time I visit…so deep, so irregular, so gloomy, so stern.”
Next on our to-do list, Bash Bish Falls in Mt. Washington, MA. Bash Bish Falls is the highest single-drop waterfall in the state (60 feet). The park is adjacent to Mt. Washington State Forest and New York’s Taconic State Park. All of the streams that drain off the Taconic Mountains and the town of Mt. Washington flow into the Bash Bish Brook and cascade down the falls. The Bash Bish Brook joins Roeliff Jansen Kill, which empties into the Hudson River.
The park has two entrances, one is in Massachusetts, and the other is in New York. They are approximately one mile from each other. The hike to the falls from the New York parking lot is longer but a bit flatter. The one from the Massachusett parking lot is shorter but a bit steeper. When we went, the Massachusetts parking lot was closed for construction, so off to New York, we went. The drive was about 30 mins from our condo, and it was beautiful. I wanted to get there early, as I heard it can get quite crowded.
Fall in New York 
Small New York Town 
Colors exploding 
Gorgeous fall day
The parking lot is not that big and was already starting to fill up. The weather was in the 60s, so perfect for a hike. The hike is about 1.50 miles round trip and relatively flat. As we approached the falls, you could hear them before seeing them. Along the way, you can see the brook as it passes you by.
The falls have a bit of legend behind them. The tale is that a beautiful Indian maiden was accused of committing adultery. Her punishment was to be strapped to a canoe and sent over the falls. Before they could carry out her punishment, a mist surrounded the area with a ring of butterflies. This so transfixed her captors; they did not notice she took this opportunity to escape. Before they could recapture her, she threw herself over the falls. Her body was never recovered. This led to the belief that she was a witch. The legend further says that her daughter, White Swan, was adopted by this tribe. Once married, she realized she had infertility. Her husband was allowed to take on another wife. She was devastated and would often go up to the top of the falls to seek comfort from her mother’s spirit. One night she had a dream that her mother was calling for her to jump from the falls and thought maybe this was a prophecy. One night her husband joined her at the falls and gave her a butterfly. White Swan saw this as a sign and leaped to her death. Her husband, devastated, went after her. The tribe recovered his body, but her body was never found. Some believe that the Indian Maiden had been tossed over in a canoe from the beginning, which is how she died. No matter which story one believes, hikers have claimed to hear soft voices telling them to jump in the falls or falling water taking the shape of a woman. True or not, it is all very fascinating.
After our hike to the falls, we left to find a nice coffee and walk through the town of Stockbridge, MA.
Stockbridge was home to Norman Rockwell. His studio is still there today. Stockbridge’s picturesque Main Street is in his famous painting, Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas. It is the quintessential New England town. We visited a local coffee shop and had Pumpkin Chai Latte tea. We browsed through the general store, where I picked up a gift for my nephew. Then we stopped at a local chocolate shop for some treats. Afterward, we headed to the Norman Rockwell Museum. It had sold out for the day, but you could take a walk on the grounds. We saw his studio and took in the fantastic views.
Country store 
Old fashioned candles 
Love the theming 
Country store 
An old church
Later in the day, after a nap at the condo, we headed back out to the town of Lenox, MA. Lenox is known for the arts and the home of Tanglewood, the summer home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. We had dinner reservations at an Italian restaurant and had some time to kill before the reservations. We walked through the town square, saw some sculptures in a local park, and had ourselves an ice cream.
The restaurant, Prime Italian Steakhouse and Bar was delicious. My husband had chicken parm, our son had pizza, and I had pasta and meatballs. The chocolate martini was not bad, either!
Another great place we ate at was 51 Park Restaurant and Tavern, located in Lee, MA. It was only Bill and me, Nicholas wasn’t feeling well. Honestly, there was either basketball or football on tv, and he wanted to watch it! The weather was pretty mild, so we asked to be seated outside. They had a lovely patio area with patio heaters and lights. The food was excellent, and the Dirty Pumpkin Lattes were AMAZING!
Outdoor decor 
Heaters & lights 
Dirty Pumpkin Lattes 
Truffle Fries 
Pork Chops 
Ice cubes made of espresso 
Maple Creme Brulee
The town of Lee is also where we stayed for the weekend. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Vacation Club at the Berkshires. We had a two-bedroom, two-bath condo. It had a balcony with a table and chairs. The amenities included an indoor and outdoor pool, mini-golf, basketball, hiking trails, and more. It was clean and had excellent safety procedures in place. Though this part of the state had seen very few cases of the virus, they were still very cautious, and we appreciated that. Here are some photos of the condo.
Kitchen 
Living Space 
Nicholas’s room 
Nicholas’s bathroom 
Master Bed with bath 
Coffee Table 
Balcony
We enjoyed our time at the condo and were looking forward to hiking the trails at the resort, but it was raining pretty hard that Monday, so we grabbed some breakfast and drove home.
Our time in the Berkshires was great. There is still so much more to see and do. I started making a list, so we will know where to go next time. Until then, here are a few more shots from our weekend.
This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
Winter in Boston can seem never-ending. March can be a long month, leaving most Bostonians itching for spring. However, this winter has been relatively mild. It is the second warmest winter on record. With the mild winter and warmer weather on the way (fingers crossed), it got me thinking about all the fun things there are to do in the city this time of year. The city of Boston comes alive starting in March with the St. Patrick’s Day parade, opening day at Fenway Park, the Boston Marathon, and more. Spring is a fantastic time to visit Boston. Hotel rates are decent, except for one week in April, the kids are still in school, and crowds are low. Whether you are a local or a tourist, here are seven fantastic things to do in Boston this Spring.
South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Everyone is a little Irish on St. Paddy’s Day! Did you know Bostonians were the first to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in North America? Back on March 17, 1737, as a sign of solidarity, new Irish immigrants and Boston’s Irish community joined together to celebrate their homeland and to honor St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. In the early 1900s, the parade moved to South Boston, where a sizeable Irish population lived and still resides today. It is also the site of Dorchester Heights. If you recall from American history class, this is where the evacuation of British troops from Boston on March 17, 1776, was made possible and is commemorated. March 17 is not only known as St Patrick’s Day but in the city of Boston, it is Evacuation Day. The parade celebrates Irish heritage and military service. This year’s parade will be held on Sunday, March 15.
The Boston Marathon
Held the 3rd Monday in April each year, the Boston Marathon is the oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the best-known road races in the world. After the bombing in 2013, this race became a symbol of the city of Boston. We were all #BostonStrong, and in 2014, the runners took back the finish line. To have an American win the race, was the icing on the cake.
The day of the race happens to fall on Patriot’s Day, a Massachusetts state holiday. Schools are off all week and many companies throughout Boston close for the day. It is a great time to head into the city to watch the race. Runners love and need crowd support. 26.2 miles is a lot of miles, so grab a cowbell, make a sign, pick your spot and give everyone a word of encouragement.
Fenway Park
If you are a baseball fan, one can not come to this great city without visiting the oldest and most beloved ballpark in America. Pick up tickets to a game and experience first hand why RedSox Nation loves this ballpark and their Sox. Sox not in town while you are here? No fear, take an hour-long tour of the park. Feel the presence of Ted Williams, Yaz, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek, and Big Papi. Sit on top of the famous Green Monster. Tours are available year-round and depart every hour.
Boston Public Garden
TThe Boston Public Garden was the first botanical garden in America. It contains 80 species of plants and is home to the beautiful swan boats. Since the 1800s, the swan boats have sailed around the park’s lagoon and become a symbol of the city of Boston. Robert Paget invented this style of boat, and four generations later, the Paget family still owns and operates the Swan boats. The boats open for the season on April 18th and will remain open through Labor Day. The cost is $4.00, an adult, $2.50 for children 2-15, and under two are free. It is one of my favorite things to do in the city.
Duckling Day Parade
The Duckling Day parade, held every Mother’s Day, celebrates the classic book “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey. Families gather at the Boston Common, dressed as characters from the famous book. The parade is led by the Harvard Marching Band and ends at the Public Garden by the Make Way for Ducklings statue.
Food Tour
Boston has some fantastic food tours. One year my best friend and I, along with our husbands, took a Historic Pizza and Taverns Tour. It started in the North End, went to Charlestown, and back to the Faneuil Hall area. It was a lot of fun and yummy. There are so many to choose from. You can see the top ten food tours in the city listed here.
Boston Duck Tours
One of the best sighting seeing tours in Boston is the Duck Tours. It is a fully narrated historic tour of Boston that is seen by both land and sea! Well, the Charles River, but you get the point. These boats are a W.W.II style amphibious landing vehicle that travels on land and water. A
It is truly one of best tours out there. I highly encourage you to purchase your tickets ahead of time. You will not want to miss out.
As much as we love being around our children, especially on vacation, it is nice to take a break or two. The last few cruises that we went on, Bill and I made sure to have some adult time. This includes the option of adult-only dining. Our boys are old enough to either head to the dining room by themselves or grab a quick bite to eat on deck. This past week Bill & I enjoyed not just one but two meals at Palo, one of two adults-only restaurants on Disney’s Dream.
Palo, named after the long poles used with the gondoliers in Venice, is an elegant, intimate adult-exclusive venue serving Italian fare. Surrounded by floor to ceiling windows, the view serves as a romantic place for two. There is live music played during dinner that adds to the experience. Proper dress is required. Bill wore a collared shirt and dress pants. I wore dress pants and a sweater for both the dinner and brunch. Note, this is a highly sought after reservation, so make sure to book it the same day you book all your other excursions. There is also a charge for both the dinner and brunch. However, we felt it is well worth the price, and in fact, a bit underpriced for the quality of service and food one receives.
Dinner
Dinner is served nightly on the ships. The cost is $40.00 per person, or if you add a wine pairing, it is $65.00 per person. We are not big wine drinkers, so we passed on that.
The menu is a perfect size—just enough variety for everyone. We started the meal off with an appetizer each. Bill chose the heirloom tomato buffalo mozzarella caprese with basil pesto and aged balsamic vinegar.
I had the
Between courses, we had some sorbet to cleanse the palate.
For entrees, Bill chose the grilled prime beef tenderloin with pancetta potatoes, sautéed spinach with gorgonzola cheese sauce. It was cooked to perfection. I had my all time favorite meal on the ship. Butternut squash filled with buffalo mozzarella, amaretti with sage brown butter and basil. OH MY! I could have had two plates full.
However, knowing what was to come, there was no way I could have ordered a second plate. Palo is known for their chocolate soufflé. It takes about 20 minutes to bake, and it is by far, one of the best things I have tasted. It comes with a vanilla and chocolate sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It melts in your mouth. Unfortunately, my photo did not come out. You will have to google it to see for yourself.
Brunch
As much as we love dinner at Palo’s, brunch is in a class of its own. Brunch is offered on sea days, so again make sure you grab those reservations. The cost is $40.00 per person.
The buffet is divided into four sections. Set back in the restaurant, is a section that every pastry imaginable. We highly recommend the hot cinnamon rolls. They melt in your mouth. Next is the seafood section. There are king crab legs, shrimp, sushi, herring, and more. The shrimp cocktail was delicious. Next, are your meats and cheeses. My husband enjoyed this section of the buffet. Finally, dessert! Oh my, so many yummy things to choose from, so be sure to save room.
In addition to the buffet, we each ordered an item off the ala carte menu. Bill had pizza, and I had lasagna. This was real lasagna, just like we had in Italy. No ricotta cheese for this girl. This delightful dish is made with bechamel sauce. Delicious!
So, are you hungry yet? If you find yourself on a Disney Cruise, please make time to visit Palo. You will not be disappointed.
