Early snow in New England is signaling favorable ski conditions in the Northeast. If you are planning to hit the slopes of Vermont, might I suggest a pit stop at a well-known coastal city, referred to by some as Beantown, where you’ll find the BEST chowda EVA, a wicked good lobstah roll, and a truly fabulous city experience.
If you’ve never been to Boston, it is a must-do, and if you have, there is no better time to return than in 2026, the 250th anniversary of America’s independence. A clean, walkable, and vibrant city, Boston is home to many American Revolution landmarks and is filled with incredible restaurants, theatre, museums, charming neighborhoods, including the new revitalized Seaport District, and shopping that rivals Manhattan. And then there’s the kind of local sports pride that any Philadelphia fan can appreciate.
Boston is a mere six-hour drive, and there is so much to do. As a South Jersey native who has lived in a Boston suburb for 30+ years – and I’m still told that I’m the one with the strange accent – here are a few suggestions if you’re here for a weekend.
Stay in Back Bay
There are great hotels throughout the city, but I recommend staying in Back Bay, which is centrally located and walkable to many attractions. (If the weather is inclement, the T will take you most anywhere) Look into the historic Lenox Hotel, which has a lively, elegant bar in the lobby, the Mandarin Oriental, which is connected to the iconic Prudential Center skyscraper, or the Fairmont Copley Plaza, a landmark Boston hotel that opened in 1915.
The Back Bay neighborhood is known for its beautiful residential streets lined with Victorian row houses that run parallel to the Charles River, including the grand, tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue, which was inspired by Parisian design, and Newbury Street, known for its shopping. In the morning, grab a coffee and walk along the Charles River Esplanade, where you’ll take in views of MIT and Harvard across the river. You can cross the river via the footbridge and spend some time touring Harvard Square, the campuses, and other sites in Cambridge.
If you’re a fan of art and architecture, do yourself a favor and take a walk through the majestic Boston Public Library on Copley Square, the first free municipal public library in the country, and spend a quiet moment in its serene courtyard. It was purposefully built as a “palace for the people” in 1848. Nowadays, there’s much more going on here than reading. Check out the BPL event schedule online.
Photos by Sandy Sardella White
Beacon Hill
To get to Beacon Hill from Back Bay, you’ll cross the lovely Public Garden, a 24-acre Victorian-style botanical garden that is home to the famous Make Way for Ducklings statues, installed to pay homage to the 1941 children’s book by Robert McCloskey. The Public Garden is known for its collection of exotic trees, and in the spring, it is bursting with color. It’s a great family attraction as kids love to interact with the sculptures and during the summer months, take a ride on the famed Swan Pontoon boats that cross the beautiful pond populated by ducks and swans.
Photos by Sandy Sardella White
Beacon Hill is just beyond the duckling sculptures. Follow Beacon Street, and you’ll pass the golden-domed Massachusetts State House, built in 1798, that sits on the Boston Common, where you can ice skate on Frog Pond or stop for lunch or a beer at Cheers, originally the Bull & Finch, renamed after the famous TV show filmed here.
The historic Beacon Hill neighborhood is known for its meticulously preserved Federal style brick rowhouses with elaborate doorways, gas lamps, and railings. Charles Street is a hub for antique stores. Be sure to visit favorites Upstairs Downstairs and Fabled Antiques. Consider brunch or tea at Beacon Hill Books & Café. You must reserve ahead of your trip.
Beacon Hill and North End neighborhoods
Dine in the North End
Boston is known for its excellent restaurants, but I always bring newcomers to the North End, an Italian American neighborhood, known for its authentic Italian restaurants. My favorites are Massimino and Nicco. After dinner, head to Café Vittorio for dessert and a cappuccino. Stop in at Mike’s Pastries for delights to go.
The North End is home to major American Revolution sites. You can tour Paul Revere’s house, the beautiful Old North Church, and see its steeple, where the famed “one if by land, two if by sea” lantern signal hung to warn colonists that British Troops were coming.
It also marks the start of the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile red-lined walking path that connects 16 historically significant sites, including museums, churches, and burying grounds. Among them, you’ll wind through Faneuil Hall Marketplace, a great place to take the family, as it is a hub for street performers. If the food court is not what you had in mind, you are a short walk from the Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in Boston, and, the owners say, the oldest continuously running restaurant in the USA.
