BOSTON
February 28 - March 3, 2024
Written by Candy Monarrez
February 28 - March 3, 2024
Written by Candy Monarrez
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Boston bears repeating. And so we did.
Just Nestor and I. A long weekend to eat, drink, interact with people, walk, absorb some history, and get cozy. Cozy was important considering we traveled at the end of February, early March. At this stage of my life, winter has become is my favorite season.
We had THE BEST time and now I think I’d like to make it a thing. Maybe we can’t do it every year, but maybe every 18 months or so.
We stayed at The Bostonian. That choice was all about the location! And I chose it perfectly. We stayed in one of their King Bedded Jr Suites with a fireplace. We never did use the fireplace - that’s another story. During better weather, the step out Juliette balconies would be a real plus.
Walk the Freedom Trail. Boston's iconic 2.5 mile-Freedom Trail connects 16 nationally significant historic sites, each one an authentic treasure. Thanks to preservation efforts, these cultural assets are still intact, which makes Boston truly unique as one of the few places in America to experience the actual sites and learn the history they tell while walking through modern city streets.
Follow the red lines, red bricks, if you’re downtown, you can’t miss it.
Just Nestor and I. A long weekend to eat, drink, interact with people, walk, absorb some history, and get cozy. Cozy was important considering we traveled at the end of February, early March. At this stage of my life, winter has become is my favorite season.
We had THE BEST time and now I think I’d like to make it a thing. Maybe we can’t do it every year, but maybe every 18 months or so.
We stayed at The Bostonian. That choice was all about the location! And I chose it perfectly. We stayed in one of their King Bedded Jr Suites with a fireplace. We never did use the fireplace - that’s another story. During better weather, the step out Juliette balconies would be a real plus.
Walk the Freedom Trail. Boston's iconic 2.5 mile-Freedom Trail connects 16 nationally significant historic sites, each one an authentic treasure. Thanks to preservation efforts, these cultural assets are still intact, which makes Boston truly unique as one of the few places in America to experience the actual sites and learn the history they tell while walking through modern city streets.
Follow the red lines, red bricks, if you’re downtown, you can’t miss it.
The Historic North End should not be missed - Paul Revere House, Italian restaurants and cafes, Maritime Museum at Battery Wharf, the Old North Church and Mikes Pastry.
We spent a bit of time each day in the North End. It was an easy walk from our hotel. On Saturday morning, we noticed everyone carrying “the white and blue boxes”. What were those about? I had to know.
Mike’s Pastry! The lines were out the door. Once you were inside, there were like ten lines. CASH ONLY very important to know! I thoroughly enjoyed THE BEST cannoli ever! Pistachio-even better. Mike’s Pastry, is not to be missed.
We spent a bit of time each day in the North End. It was an easy walk from our hotel. On Saturday morning, we noticed everyone carrying “the white and blue boxes”. What were those about? I had to know.
Mike’s Pastry! The lines were out the door. Once you were inside, there were like ten lines. CASH ONLY very important to know! I thoroughly enjoyed THE BEST cannoli ever! Pistachio-even better. Mike’s Pastry, is not to be missed.
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We also had the best Italian food at Antico Forno Ristorante. Talk about cozy! This was the place to be. I enjoyed every minute we were there. The other patrons. The food. The service. The bar while we waited for our table. Our little table for two, by the window on a rainy Friday night.
Reservations recommended, not required.
Reservations recommended, not required.
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The other four places to mention, for food and libation if you’re staying downtown,
Bell in Hand Tavern, America’s oldest continuously operating tavern, Est. 1795
Samuel Adams Taproom
Union Oyster House, America’s oldest restaurant, Est. 1826
Rose Town Kitchen & Bar, great for sunset, even though it faces the opposite direction, the city skyline and pastel colors in the sky were lovely.
Bell in Hand Tavern, America’s oldest continuously operating tavern, Est. 1795
Samuel Adams Taproom
Union Oyster House, America’s oldest restaurant, Est. 1826
Rose Town Kitchen & Bar, great for sunset, even though it faces the opposite direction, the city skyline and pastel colors in the sky were lovely.
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Side note and a thumbs up, many of the bars and taverns have live music, Wednesday thru Saturday.
I shall give Buttermilk & Bourbon an honorable mention. It’s quirky. The food fun, but this is the place we walked for hours to find. I believe it’s in what would be called the Back Bay area of town.
On our way to Buttermilk & Bourbon, we enjoyed our first ever walk through Boston Common and Boston’s Public Garden. Beautiful- even in winter. And we walked through the college area of town. Yes. We were wonderfully lost. We discovered that garbage collection is all done in bags, placed curbside. No multicolored cans like we have. It did look very odd to us.
I shall give Buttermilk & Bourbon an honorable mention. It’s quirky. The food fun, but this is the place we walked for hours to find. I believe it’s in what would be called the Back Bay area of town.
On our way to Buttermilk & Bourbon, we enjoyed our first ever walk through Boston Common and Boston’s Public Garden. Beautiful- even in winter. And we walked through the college area of town. Yes. We were wonderfully lost. We discovered that garbage collection is all done in bags, placed curbside. No multicolored cans like we have. It did look very odd to us.
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My three favorite interactions with people were the postman who saw us with our map, and offered to help. All he could say was “I’ve heard of it, but that’s a long walk from here.” Nestor’s eyes rolled.
Our two young shuckers at the raw bar at Union Oyster House. Those smiles and big personalities! Kudos to management, the perfect duo to work in this area of the restaurant. They knew their oysters!
And our waiter at Rosetown Kitchen & Bar, where we spent two evenings for our pre-dinner cocktail. You know when you get that feeling that someone in the service industry is really enjoying and appreciating you? Both evenings, that’s the feeling I received from our same waiter - that he was happy to see us and enjoyed our questions, company, and interactions. Frankly, everyone we came across in Boston, was pleasant and seemed happy about our visit.
Next time we’re in town, we’ve already got our list started; Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, walk the Black Heritage Trail, the Old Town Trolley tour, Hop on Hop off, and the ducklings - if you know, you know. I can’t believe we missed them. They were right there. They could not have been far from the frogs.
Other than the cost of hotel rooms, the cost of things in Boston, seemed similar to the cost of things in Modesto, versus the cost of things in our California touristed areas.
My recommendation for a City Stay over a long weekend; if there is a non-stop flight, even if it costs a bit more, take it!
My recommendation would be anything longer than a 3.5 hour flight - make it a four night City Stay. Anything shorter as far as flight time, a three night stay is doable. Remember this! When you stay somewhere four nights, you have three full days in location. Three nights, all you have is two full days.
Happy trails and travels.
Candy
P.S. Did you know there is a bar beneath Fenway Park’s bleachers with an unobstructed view of centerfield?
There is – The Bleacher Bar (yummy pub type food too)
It doesn’t require a ticket to the game either. You enter on the outside of the stadium. We discovered it during our last visit to Boston. Check it out!
Our two young shuckers at the raw bar at Union Oyster House. Those smiles and big personalities! Kudos to management, the perfect duo to work in this area of the restaurant. They knew their oysters!
And our waiter at Rosetown Kitchen & Bar, where we spent two evenings for our pre-dinner cocktail. You know when you get that feeling that someone in the service industry is really enjoying and appreciating you? Both evenings, that’s the feeling I received from our same waiter - that he was happy to see us and enjoyed our questions, company, and interactions. Frankly, everyone we came across in Boston, was pleasant and seemed happy about our visit.
Next time we’re in town, we’ve already got our list started; Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, walk the Black Heritage Trail, the Old Town Trolley tour, Hop on Hop off, and the ducklings - if you know, you know. I can’t believe we missed them. They were right there. They could not have been far from the frogs.
Other than the cost of hotel rooms, the cost of things in Boston, seemed similar to the cost of things in Modesto, versus the cost of things in our California touristed areas.
My recommendation for a City Stay over a long weekend; if there is a non-stop flight, even if it costs a bit more, take it!
My recommendation would be anything longer than a 3.5 hour flight - make it a four night City Stay. Anything shorter as far as flight time, a three night stay is doable. Remember this! When you stay somewhere four nights, you have three full days in location. Three nights, all you have is two full days.
Happy trails and travels.
Candy
P.S. Did you know there is a bar beneath Fenway Park’s bleachers with an unobstructed view of centerfield?
There is – The Bleacher Bar (yummy pub type food too)
It doesn’t require a ticket to the game either. You enter on the outside of the stadium. We discovered it during our last visit to Boston. Check it out!
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