Boston Attractions

"Cows used to graze" on this "sprawling lawn" "in the heart of Boston" that many call a "mini Central Park", complete with "colorful local characters"; in warm weather, "break out the picnic basket", "play Frisbee" or take in "free plays, movies and festivals"; come winter, head for the Frog Pond where "ice skating with the city lights around you is magical"; just "don't linger" "after dark", and note that both service and "bathrooms are scarce."

These "idyllic", "well-maintained" "formal gardens" "smack in the middle" of town, between the Back Bay and Beacon Hill, are "different in each season, intriguing in all": in spring and summer magnolias, tulips and other "gorgeous flowers" bloom and the "old-fashioned" "pedal-powered Swan Boat rides" that are "quintessential Boston" beckon; even in the colder months, "a stroll down the winding paths" lined with fountains and statuary makes for a "refreshing" breather.

Join the "teeming carnival" of "tourists", "street performers" and "outdoor vendors" at this "vibrant" Downtown marketplace set in three "historic" 19th-century buildings on "cobblestone streets"; in addition to "window-shopping and people-watching", there's a variety of restaurants and a "massive food court" serving everything from "fried clams and chowder to a five-course meal", but be prepared for "chaotic", "crowded" and "commercial" conditions.

"Nothing will say welcome to Boston" like this charmingly "anachronistic" shrine to the "great American pastime", where the Red Sox play for "dedicated" (verging on "rabid") fans amid cries of "get yah cold bee-ah hee-ah!"; while the stadium "ain't state of the art" and "facilities are lacking", the place has "style and intimacy" that "transcend sports", hence tickets are "expensive" and "tough to get."

"Experience history" and "get some exercise" simultaneously at this "remarkable urban museum", a two-and-a-half-mile self-guided walking tour between the Boston Common and Charlestown that features 16 historical sites including Paul Revere's house and the Bunker Hill Monument; whether you take a guided tour or just "pick up the trail randomly and see what adventures you'll find", be sure to "break up the trek with a tasty Italian lunch" in the North End.

Resembling a "15th-century Venetian palace" with a "magnificent courtyard" filled with "abundant flowers", this 1903 "architectural treasure" on the Fenway was "once the home" of a wealthy "socialite" and is now an "otherworldly" "sanctuary" for her "eclectic", "eccentric" art collection (Botticelli, Titian, Raphael); a "top-notch" cafe and "great concerts" on Sunday also help outweigh the "charming" museum's few downers – "gloomy lighting" and the "eerie and poignant" "empty frames" of stolen Rembrandts ("the mystery lingers").

At this "impressive" institution in the Fenway, one can "wander the vast halls for hours" taking in all the "amazing art and artifacts" – from "Monet to mummies", Chinese jade to Colonial silver – as well as "outstanding" special exhibits and a notable art-house film series.

"You don't have to be science-minded, just open-minded to enjoy" this "venerable" over-175-year-old "interactive" institution where the "eye-catching" exhibits – from the "musical piano steps" and "sensational kinetic sculptures" to the "stunning" Omni theater – take you "back to when you were a child", and the "ample food court" affords a "first-rate view of the Charles River"; a few sputter that the place "has seen better days" and "deteriorates" into "a zoo" "on weekends", but they're outvoted.

"Like the Guggenheim with a fish tank in the middle", this "mesmerizing" multilevel "circular" aquarium on the waterfront is a "must-see", housing more than 600 species of "aquatic life"; you can "press your face against the glass until a shark swims by", observe "penguins galore" or visit the "marine hospital" where ocean creatures get some TLsea; on the downside, the often "crowded" facilities "need renovating" and "updating", especially given the somewhat "pricey" admission.

"Rodeo Drive East" is how many view the Back Bay's eight-block "upscale shopping" strip teeming with "high-end" designer boutiques ("from Armani, Burberry" and Chanel to Zegna) along with specialty stores, salons, spas, galleries, "good restaurants" and "outdoor cafes" – all against a brownstone backdrop with a "true Bostonian feel"; sure, any area this "posh" and "prime for people-watching" is sure to be "pricey", but some say "the farther away you go from the Taj", the more "affordable" it gets.