Massachusetts: Thanksgiving in Boston
For Thanksgiving this year, we decided to visit family in Boston. Most of the time was spent celebrating with family, but we did get the chance to see a few things around town, as well.
Here are a few the fun things you can do indoors during the cold fall & winter months:
1. Quincy Market:
Quincy Market (sometimes called Faneuil Hall Marketplace because it is next to Faneuil Hall) is a building full of different shops and places to eat. There is a little bit of everything inside. Great place to wonder and pick up a few Christmas gifts. Also, if you like the show "Cheers", they have a replica of the bar inside with a giftshop.
During the Christmas season, they have a giant Christmas tree set up. If you wait until around 4, you can see a musical light show. They sync the lights on the Christmas tree with some holiday tunes. A nice way to get into the holiday spirit.
Make sure to try some of the awesome food. There are bakeries, sandwich shops, sushi, etc.
And there are the shops inside the Quincy Market building and more along the sides of the building next to it. So, depending on how much you like to shop, you could spend a few hours here.
2. New England Aquarium:
Beautiful aquarium located on the waterfront in Boston. I really love how it is laid out, it makes it really easy to see everything. There are fish, penguins, seals, turtles, rays, sharks, and everything in between. If you time it right, you can see some of the different educational shows/feedings throughout the day. We were able to see them feed the seals, turtles, and penguins.
It took us an hour or two to make our way through the whole thing. If you love aquariums, its a good one to check out. Cost was around $27 for base entry. Its also just down the street from Quincy Market, so we were able to check both out the same day.
3. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum:
The museum is the art collection of a woman by the name of Isabella Stewart Gardner. There are many different works of art there from paintings, to sculptures, tapestries, etc. All super beautiful. And its a small museum (compared to most art museums), so its easy to see it all in a few hours. Pictures are only allowed in the garden area. What I like about this museum, is that it really feels like you're walking through someone's private art collection. Most art museums are big, open, and white. This one is much cozier. $15 to get in. And its near the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, so you could make a day out of art museums.
4. Harvard Museum of Natural History:
The Harvard Museum of Natural History is a wonderful collection of different species of plants, animals, fish, and dinosaurs. It ranges from taxidermy to skeletons. Animals big and small. From dinosaurs to beetles.
After walking the whole museum, I was left wanting to draw a few of the animals in there. Its a huge collection and you could get lost in there for a few hours, especially if you are the kind of person who likes to read everything. $12 fee to get in. I super recommend it.
4. Harvard Square:
While you are in the Harvard area, you can walk around Harvard Square. Another place full of interesting shops and restaurants. Great place to do some window shopping or get a few more Christmas gifts.
We were treated to some awesome hot cocoa at L.A. Burdick Chocolate. So rich & delicious! Not a lot a seating inside, but worth the visit none the less. They also sell handmade chocolates that make great gifts.
Those are just a few of the things you can do around Boston in the fall and winter months. And the great thing about Boston is that all these places are really easy to get to via the train/public transit. We didn't have to drive to any of these places.
