around town
AROUND TOWN
Restaurants
Click to see G's pick of restaurants on Google Map | Cambridge | Allston/Brookline | Boston
Local favorite chains | Flour Bakery and Tatte Bakery (Pastry and sandwiches) | J. P. Licks (ice cream) | Rod Dee (Thai food)
Activities (use this map as a guide for the following walks)
Walking tour of Boston and Cambridge | Dim sum brunch at Hei La Moon -> walk to ICA -> waterfront walk to North End -> grab cappuccino from Caffe Vittoria and cannoli from Mike's/Modern Pastry (equally good) and take a break on the Esplanade -> Boston Common -> Boston Garden -> Charles River Esplanade or Commonwealth Ave Mall/Newbury St. -> Take #1 Bus to up Mass Ave (passing through MIT and Central Sq) to Harvard Sq
Shorter walking tour | Brunch at Parish Cafe/The Paramount -> Charles River Esplanade OR Commonwealth Ave Mall/Newbury St. -> Walk up Mass Ave (passing through MIT and Central Sq) -> Turn left onto Western Ave -> Turn right on Putnam Ave for scone/pie/coffee (Petsi Pie) or turn left for lobster roll (Alive and Kicking Lobster) -> Walk up Memorial Dr. (Riverbend Park) for Dragon Boat Festival (see below; ends at 5 pm on Sunday)
Sunday river walk and Dragon Boat Festival | Brunch at Parish Cafe/The Paramount -> Charles River Esplanade -> Walk over Mass Ave bridge towards Cambridge -> Turn left and walk up Memorial Dr. for Dragon Boat Festival (see below; ends at 5 pm on Sunday)
Dragon Boat Festival | watch races and performances | June 9-10, 2018 | ends at 5 pm on Sunday
SoWa Open Market | Artisan market and food trucks in charming South End | Sundays 10 am - 4 pm
Kayak on the Charles | rent a kayak and see Boston/Cambridge skylines from Charles River | Paddle Boston (hourly rental; also offer guided tours) | Community Boating Inc. ($45 flat rate; also offers stand up paddle board)
Whale watching | boat leaves from dock close to the aquarium
Harbor Cruises | boat leaves from dock close to the aquarium
Harpoon Brewery | brewery tour and beer hall (also serves pretzel knots)
Museums
Boston Children's Museum
Museum of Science
MFA (Museum of Fine Arts)
ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art) | small collection housed in a waterfront building (free Thur nights)
ICA Watershed | take a boat to ICA's new space housed in a former copper pipe factory (summer 2018 opening; free admission)
Isabella Stewart Gardner | art museum housed in a Venetian-inspired building with gorgeous interior garden | Cafe G
New England Aquarium | watch ridiculously cute penguins swim, play, eat, poop...
Restaurants
Click to see G's pick of restaurants on Google Map | Cambridge | Allston/Brookline | Boston
Local favorite chains | Flour Bakery and Tatte Bakery (Pastry and sandwiches) | J. P. Licks (ice cream) | Rod Dee (Thai food)
Activities (use this map as a guide for the following walks)
Walking tour of Boston and Cambridge | Dim sum brunch at Hei La Moon -> walk to ICA -> waterfront walk to North End -> grab cappuccino from Caffe Vittoria and cannoli from Mike's/Modern Pastry (equally good) and take a break on the Esplanade -> Boston Common -> Boston Garden -> Charles River Esplanade or Commonwealth Ave Mall/Newbury St. -> Take #1 Bus to up Mass Ave (passing through MIT and Central Sq) to Harvard Sq
Shorter walking tour | Brunch at Parish Cafe/The Paramount -> Charles River Esplanade OR Commonwealth Ave Mall/Newbury St. -> Walk up Mass Ave (passing through MIT and Central Sq) -> Turn left onto Western Ave -> Turn right on Putnam Ave for scone/pie/coffee (Petsi Pie) or turn left for lobster roll (Alive and Kicking Lobster) -> Walk up Memorial Dr. (Riverbend Park) for Dragon Boat Festival (see below; ends at 5 pm on Sunday)
Sunday river walk and Dragon Boat Festival | Brunch at Parish Cafe/The Paramount -> Charles River Esplanade -> Walk over Mass Ave bridge towards Cambridge -> Turn left and walk up Memorial Dr. for Dragon Boat Festival (see below; ends at 5 pm on Sunday)
Dragon Boat Festival | watch races and performances | June 9-10, 2018 | ends at 5 pm on Sunday
SoWa Open Market | Artisan market and food trucks in charming South End | Sundays 10 am - 4 pm
Kayak on the Charles | rent a kayak and see Boston/Cambridge skylines from Charles River | Paddle Boston (hourly rental; also offer guided tours) | Community Boating Inc. ($45 flat rate; also offers stand up paddle board)
Whale watching | boat leaves from dock close to the aquarium
Harbor Cruises | boat leaves from dock close to the aquarium
Harpoon Brewery | brewery tour and beer hall (also serves pretzel knots)
Museums
Boston Children's Museum
Museum of Science
MFA (Museum of Fine Arts)
ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art) | small collection housed in a waterfront building (free Thur nights)
ICA Watershed | take a boat to ICA's new space housed in a former copper pipe factory (summer 2018 opening; free admission)
Isabella Stewart Gardner | art museum housed in a Venetian-inspired building with gorgeous interior garden | Cafe G
New England Aquarium | watch ridiculously cute penguins swim, play, eat, poop...