| A Boston vacation is a mesmerizing trip through the | | | | The centerpiece of the aquarium is the giant tank. The |
| nation?s past and a celebration of its future and center | | | | floors of the aquarium run around the tank and up four |
| of learning. Here in one city you can experience the | | | | levels. At the top you get to peer down into a coral |
| start of the revolutionary war, see a coral reef, take a | | | | reef and listen as the staff explains about the tank and |
| bus on a river, and experience the campuses of MIT | | | | the fish that live in it. |
| and Harvard - and all before dinner. | | | | You?ll get the answer to questions such as: "Why |
| You?ll find Boston vacations a refreshing mixture of | | | | don?t the big shark fish eat the little tasty fish?" or |
| historic and modern buildings. And what?s even better | | | | "How old are those huge sea turtles swimming around |
| is you can see it all - or most - by foot. That?s right | | | | down there?" |
| the ole soft shoe shuffle. You?ll save time and see | | | | Your ticket will include a visit to the Discovery next to |
| more by walking the streets of Boston. | | | | the main building, where you can see and learn about |
| But before you do that I highly recommend an | | | | sea lions during an amazing show. A few years ago |
| orientation tour first. | | | | the Aquarium opened an IMAX theater that shows a |
| THE FAMOUS DUCK TOUR | | | | mixture of sea-related and general science films. |
| One of the best and most unique tours is the Duck | | | | A word of warning - this is a favorite Boston |
| Tour ride. This is a popular 80-minute tour for first-time | | | | vacations attraction for families so it can get crowded. |
| Boston vacation visitors. But be warned, during the | | | | But you?ll always get in, even when the ticket line |
| summer tours are usually sold out by lunchtime - so | | | | seems to stretch for miles. |
| make reservations in advance. You can pick-up and | | | | BEACON HILL |
| buy tickets for the tour at two places: The Museum of | | | | Beacon Hill is a popular walk for people on a Boston |
| Science, and The Prudential Center in Boston?s Back | | | | vacation. Here just off Boston Common you can stroll |
| Bay. | | | | around Louisburg Square and admire the picturesque |
| The tour is done in a renovated World War II | | | | block of perfectly preserved residences. |
| amphibious vehicle. You get to not only experience | | | | This quiet and bewitching area is full of alleys and |
| Boston from the streets of the city, but also from the | | | | narrow red brick cobbled streets, where time has |
| Charles River... and without getting wet! | | | | stood still for the last century. It?s a sheer delight to |
| That?s right, during the tour, the bus you?re on will | | | | walk. You?ll find walled gardens and an authentic 19th |
| become a boat, and you?ll see the beautiful Boston | | | | century neighborhood feel. Even the original gas lights |
| skyline from the river that separates Boston from | | | | remain on streets lined with ancient elms. |
| Cambridge. | | | | While many tour buses and trolleys drive through |
| It?s a great tour and you?d have to be "quackers" not | | | | Beacon Hill, the only real way of experiencing it, is by |
| to do it! Sorry couldn?t resist it. | | | | foot. So put on some comfy shoes, take out your |
| THE FREEDOM TRAIL | | | | camera and breathe in the scenery... its fine. |
| The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile easy-to-follow red | | | | THE CENTER OF LEARNING |
| brick line that links 16 historical sites together around the | | | | Boston has a strong tradition in universities. With MIT |
| streets of Boston... and it?s free. It starts from Boston | | | | and Harvard perhaps the best known worldwide, but |
| Common and winds its way through Boston landmarks | | | | with other great colleges such as Tufts, BU, Boston |
| such as the State House, Boston Massacre Site, Paul | | | | College, and of course Northeastern. |
| Revere?s House, USS Constitution, before ending up | | | | MIT and Harvard are just a short train ride across the |
| at the Bunker Hill monument in Charlestown. | | | | river. Take the Red Line to Harvard Square and |
| If you do the whole walk, plan on at least 2-3 hours for | | | | hang-out in the Harvard campus and stroll the grounds, |
| distractions - nice ones though - or better still take the | | | | and if everything seems familiar to you, it probably is. |
| whole day. | | | | Many movies - including Love Story - where filmed |
| The trail also takes you through Boston?s famed | | | | here. |
| North End, where you?ll be sure to return during your | | | | And come back and visit at night when on a |
| Boston vacation to sample the superb Italian | | | | summer?s evening street performers are everywhere |
| restaurants or stroll around this little corner of Italy. | | | | and you don?t have to pay a nickel for some of the |
| THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM | | | | best entertainment on your Boston vacation. |
| As San Diego has its world famous zoo, then Boston | | | | AND THERE'S MORE... |
| has the New England Aquarium. | | | | Other places to visit on your Boston vacation are THE |
| New England and its coastline have a history of fishing | | | | J.F.K Library and Museum at Columbia Point in South |
| and whaling. But today instead of harpooning whales, | | | | Boston - and the Boston Harbor Islands, tours to the |
| New Englanders spend most of their time saving them. | | | | islands leave from Long Wharf and Rowes Wharf, |
| And the aquarium is a vital link in the area?s ocean | | | | both located near the aquarium. |
| preservation movement. | | | | |