On Wednesday we suggested some great places to eat in Boston, places that will fill your stomach without emptying your wallet. Now, a couple ideas as to how to get rid of those extra inches and expand your mind at the same time.
Boston is one of the most walkable cities in the country. The Big Dig notwithstanding, it was built for people, not automobiles. That’s fine, because it possesses a great transit system. It’s also good if you like to hoof it through history.
Here are some suggestions for the weekend of July 22 through 24:
Don’t try parking your car in Harvard Yard. It might just be booted. Instead take a historical walking tour of the Harvard Square area. It’s led by students, and it’s free. Call 617-495-1573 for a schedule. The walkabout takes in history and architecture from the Colonial period to the present. This time of year be sure to pack some bottled water and a hat. Despite its northern climes, Boston is both hot and humid in the summertime.
Bask in the Beacon Hill area. If you love architecture, and want an intimate glimpse into Beacon Hill’s fabled Federal Era, this $12 tour is perfect. Get an inside view of the people who set the pace in that point-in-time – both the wealthy and the working class. Tap into the city’s roots in a way that mere tour buses can’t touch. Saturday July 23 is the date, 11am until 1pm is the time, and Historic New England is the organization that conducts the walk. Their number is 617-227-3956.
Get an intimate insight into Old Ironsides at the USS Constitution Museum. Make your way to the Charleston Navy Yard for this perennially-popular attraction. Immerse yourself for a while in the ship that – to this day – defines a nation. This is one of those legitimate “don’t miss” deals the city has to offer all of us, and it’s free. The museum is open from 10am until 5pm. Call 617-426-1812 for details.
Take in a family flick for free at The Pru. Families do not live by history alone. Sometimes they just need to get silly. What better place than the Prudential Center in Back Bay? On Saturday, July 23 the Magic 106.7 Family Film Festival starts the entertainment at 6pm. The venue is outside and the film itself begins at sundown. The presentation this particular Saturday is Happy Feet.
Glimpse Jewels, Gems and Treasures at the Museum of Fine Arts. Over the years different folks have had different ideas as to just what constitutes a treasure. Used to be that Kingfisher feathers, tiger claws, and jet beads were the stuff against which worth was measured. Find out who valued what and why in this exhibit. The museum is located at 465 Huntington Ave. Their phone number is 617-267-9300.
See Fenway in a whole new way. Believe it or not, Red Sox Nation extends far beyond the boundaries of Boston Fenway Park. Take a tour of this singular ballpark for $12. Call 877-REDSOX9.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: David Salafia)
