Exploring Boston: Water Views, The Freedom Trail, The Boston Harbor Hotel & some great Clam Chowder!
Looking for a spot with water views, lots of history and tons of great places to explore? Boston checks all these boxes and is a wonderful spot if you are looking for a quick weekend getaway or an even longer stay. My husband Brian and I were looking for a fun area that we could explore in a short amount of time, and we landed on a 2-night stay at the Boston Harbor Hotel. It was an incredible trip and here are some of the highlights from our stay.
DAY ONE
Arriving at the Boston Harbor Hotel:
If you are looking for a 5-star hotel with a grand and elegant entrance, impeccable service, and a beautiful location right on the water, the Boston Harbor Hotel is the place for you.
We received a 2-night media stay at the Boston Harbor Hotel and it ended up being even more than what we were hoping for. Upon arrival we met with the concierge who gave us some wonderful suggestions for exploring Boston including some great restaurants and ideas for day trips if we wanted to venture out of the city.
Impeccable Views
Our room had incredible views of the harbor and I enjoyed sitting and looking out at the birds taking in the soothing and rejuvenating views. As someone who exercises regularly, I was quick to check out their health club and I was excited to see peloton bikes and a refrigerator with lavender scented single use towels to use post workout. They also had a beautiful indoor pool which I didn’t have the chance to use but there is always next time…
Time to Explore
The Boston Harbor Hotel’s location was a great starting point for exploring Boston and it allowed us to venture out on foot. Below are some of the great spots we visited.
The Freedom Trail:
We were blessed with great weather in February to be able to spend the whole afternoon outdoors walking and exploring the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail’s website says that it is a 2.5-mile line with stops at historic places including key sites from the American Revolution and more. We took our own path stopping at some of the sites on the trail and wandering a bit in between.
Boston Common
Our first stop was the Boston Common which is a grand park that seems like it would be a wonderful place to run around on a nice day.
Massachusett’s State House
Our next stop was the Massachusetts’s State House. It was filled with lots of history, statues, artwork, breathtaking ceilings as well as a look into the House of Representatives.
Paul Revere’s House
We wandered past some other spots on the Freedom Trail and finished at Paul Revere’s House. Then we continued on to explore some of the neighborhoods in Boston.
Below were a couple of our favorites.
Exploring the Neighborhoods in Boston:
Beacon Hill
I loved the cobblestone streets and the historic feel to this neighborhood. This was a wonderful place to wander, entering into boutique shops and finding a cute café for lunch and a cup of clam chowder.
The North End
We were told that visiting the North End, also known as Little Italy, was a must so we walked up and down this neighborhood during the day seeing tons of restaurants and cute bakeries. We ended up coming back here for dinner on the next night and decided to wing it and not make reservations. Word of advice, make reservations! The North End was extremely busy on Saturday night. The streets and sidewalks are narrower than what I am accustomed to and there were people everywhere when we returned for dinner. If you don’t have a reservation expect to wait with many lines out the door.
After checking out some of the neighborhoods in Boston we made one last stop before heading back to the Boston Harbor Hotel.
CHEERS
Growing up watching Cheers meant we had to visit the bar which was the inspiration for the TV show. We ordered a beer and bought a Cheers mug to bring home.
Dinner Time at the Rowes Wharf Sea Grille
After walking around Boston for about 6 hours we headed back to the Harbor Grand Hotel to enjoy a wonderful dinner at their restaurant, the Rowes Wharf Sea Grille. We were also able to enjoy breakfasts here during out stay, all of which were exceptional.
Day Two
On day two we decided to venture out of Boston and take a drive up to Portland, Maine. We took some detours but if you drive straight there it should take under 2 hours depending on traffic.
Lobster
We spent the day wandering into cute bakeries and stores in Portland and ended up at Luke’s Lobster on Portland Pier for some great lobster rolls. Overall, a wonderful time!
I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this Boston trip completely exceeded our expectations! We even found ourselves saying that we could see ourselves living out there at some point depending on where life takes us. It was filled with adventure, exercise, beauty and fun! All things I am looking for in a wellness getaway. I highly recommend it!
Disclaimer: Kristel and her husband received a 2-night complimentary media stay at the Boston Harbor Hotel including some meals. This content is meant for informational and educational purposes only and is solely based on the opinion of the author.