Boston Skyline from Skywalk Observatory. Photo courtesy of Mike Richard.
It’s rare to find anything truly off the beaten path these days, especially in a big city like Boston. But travelers can look beyond Faneuil Hall and the Cheers bar for fun and interesting experiences that are entirely unique to Beantown. Here are just four of our favorites.
Watch a Red Sox Game From Bleacher Bar
Baseball is a religion in Boston, and the sanctity of Fenway Park may well be on par with any of the city’s hundreds of churches. Even outsiders know that catching a game at the park is a must-do bucket list experience for any sports lover. But locals know that Bleacher Bar takes that experience to a new level. Perfectly situated under the center field bleachers, the bar provides a select group of patrons with the opportunity to watch the game live from field level. The best part is, aside from being a paying customer, there is no additional cost required. The catch? You need to arrive around noon on game day before the bar is overrun with “Sawx” fans, all jockeying for the best seat in the house.
Visit the City’s Secret Gardens
You’d be forgiven for thinking of Boston as just another urban jungle of concrete and steel. But, since it opened the gates at Boston Common (the country’s very first park), the city has long been forward-thinking when it comes to providing green space for its citizens. Find solace and seclusion in one of Boston’s secret gardens. Most noteworthy is the Cambridge Center Roof Garden at the Marriott in Kendall Square.
Ride the Ghosts and Gravestones Train
Boston’s rich and storied past make it a prime destination for believers in the afterlife and the spiritual. Described as a “frightseeing experience,” the Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Tour takes visitors on a two-hour guided tour of some of the city’s most haunted spots, including two of its oldest burial grounds. The highlight of the tour is a visit to Copp’s Hill Burying Ground where Cotton Mather — famous for his role in the Salem Witch Trials — is interred.
Discover Secret Boston
It’s no secret that the best way to find out what’s really going on in a destination is through its locals. The Secret Boston Facebook group is run by one Bostonian in particular and contributed to by thousands of other young, cool, creative locals. The collective group shares information about the city’s best art installations, concerts and other unique events. This summer alone, they’ve revealed a new casting call for MTV’s Real World Boston, a bizarre art installation of giant inflatable white rabbits, and 47 great things to do in the city to celebrate July 4th weekend in Beantown.
- Contributed by Mike Richard
4 Uniquely Boston Things to Do This Summer from Boston Things to Do