Boston Harbor Getaway

Description:

The landmark Marriott occupies an unbeatable location a stone's throw from the New England Aquarium. It attracts business travelers with its proximity to the Financial District and families with its pool and easy access to downtown and waterfront attractions. The hotel's terraced brick exterior encloses a seven-story atrium that gives the public spaces an airy feel. Rooms, which were renovated in 2008, are large and decorated in upscale-chain-hotel style. They have cherry furnishings, either one king-size or two double beds (with pillow-top mattresses and down comforters), and a table and chairs in front of the window. Without any neighbors in the way, the building gets more natural light than any other downtown hotel. Rooms close to the water afford good views of the wharves and the waterfront; units closer to Atlantic Avenue overlook the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

Facilities: Restaurant (seafood); cafe and lounge; bar and grill; indoor pool; exercise room; Jacuzzi; game room; concierge; tour desk; 24-hr. business center; room service until 2am; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; executive-level rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobility.

Description:

America's oldest restaurant in continuous service, the Union Oyster House opened in 1826. The food is tasty, traditional New England fare, popular with visitors walking on the adjacent Freedom Trail and savvy locals. They're not looking for anything fancy, and you shouldn't, either -- simple, classic preparations account for the restaurant's staying power. At the crescent-shaped oyster bar on the lower level of the cramped, low-ceilinged building (a National Historic Landmark "where Daniel Webster drank many a toddy in his day"), try oyster stew or the cold seafood sampler of oysters, clams, and shrimp to start. Follow with a broiled or grilled dish such as scrod or salmon, or perhaps fried seafood or grilled pork loin. A "shore dinner" of chowder, steamers or mussels, lobster, corn, potatoes, and dessert is an excellent introduction to local favorites. For dessert, try gingerbread with whipped cream. Tip: A plaque marks John F. Kennedy's favorite booth (no. 18), where he often sat to read the Sunday papers.

Description:

There are other boat companies offering whale watches departing from Boston Harbor, but this one by the New England Aquarium is the only one run by an organization dedicated to preserving whales and the waters where they live. Trips last 3.5 to 5 hours. If no whales are sighted on your trip, you receive a voucher for a return free trip. All boats have a galley, souvenir store and interactive exhibits about whales.

Description:

Chef Daniel Bruce offers a seasonal, wine-friendly menu at this restaurant. It has an outstanding collection of 12,000 bottles of wine, with 1500 on display in sub-zero cases. With over 850 varieties to choose from, this place is a wine lover's haven. Specialty items such as Kobe Beef, Ostrich, Partridge, New York State Foie Gras, Nantucket Scallops and Vermont Pheasant are imported and only the finest of ingredients are used in all preparations.

Description:

Since opening in 1969, this waterfront landmark has become one of Boston's biggest tourist attractions. The most famous exhibit, the massive 200,000-gallon "Giant Ocean Tank," has a simulated Caribbean coral reef in which sharks, sea turtles, moray eels and tropical fish cruise by crowds of children pressed against the glass. Other marine galleries contain piranha, sea otters and three species of penguins. As if all that were not enough, the aquarium also offers whale watching cruises, seal shows, and its very own IMAX Theatre.

Description:

Boston Harbor is a beautiful retreat from the city in any season. It is also the departure point for ferries to Cape Cod and the South Shore, whale watches and moonlit cruises. The history of the harbor has not been forgotten; the Boston Tea Party took place here and is recreated annually. The New England Aquarium is located on the water's edge. As you walk by, peek at the large tank to the left of the entrance-sometimes there are harbor seals living in it.

Description:

Even if you think contemporary art isn't for you, the ICA is a blast. The city's first new art museum in nearly a century is a work of art in its own right. The cantilevered building -- designed by the New York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, whose work on this landmark project helped boost its growing reputation -- juts out above the harbor, affording dizzying views of the water, the waterfront, and the airport. Besides being an irresistible draw, the architecture reflects the institution's curatorial philosophy that art is inseparable from everyday life, rather than a singular experience reserved for special occasions and field trips. The ICA showcases 20th- and 21st-century art in every imaginable medium, including film and video, music, literature, and dance. Opened in 2006, the 65,000-square-foot museum gives the institution the space it needs to create a permanent collection for the first time since its founding (under a different name) in 1936. Visitors have already enjoyed works by Louise Bourgeois and Anish Kapoor that wouldn't have fit in (literally or figuratively) elsewhere in Boston, and the schedule of events, concerts, films, and other activities seemingly can't expand...

Description:

Tucked away in the South Boston piers, this little brewery is a blessing for beer lovers everywhere. Many travel considerable distances to appreciate the handcrafted beer made here. Every Tuesday through Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., visitors can take a free tour of the brewery. Tours last about 30-45 mimutes and close with a tasting of an authentic microbrew. Reservations are not required. The brewery's store sells everything from T-shirts and glasses to beer.

Description:

Fort Point Channel has become something of a hot spot for budding New England artists, and Fort Point Arts Community Gallery displays their work in its 1,093-square foot site. The gallery is located in the Artist Building on the mezzanine level. An example of the work shown here is the exhibit Our Pets/Our Selves, which highlights artists Paul Weiner, Anna Salmeron and Jim Head Clausnitzer. Admission to the museum is free.

Description:

The interior of this restaurant is as dated as the photos of proprietor Anthony Athanas with celebrities like Bob Hope and Dom DeLouise that hang on the walls. But there is no better place in Boston to enjoy fresh seafood in the summertime than on Anthony's patio, which has a view of Boston's inner harbor and skyline. If you like shellfish, order the clambake special, which gives you shrimp, steamed clams, mussels and lobster. This restaurant also prides itself on its steaks and wine list.

Description:

With an antique brick facade set among downtown skyscrapers, any passerby can pick this building out as a relic from an earlier time. Now a museum run by The Bostonian Society, the site has a long and distinguished history. The Boston Massacre, one of the catalysts for the American Revolution, took place just outside. The Declaration of Independence was first read to Boston here on July 18, 1776. The structure served as the new state's capitol until 1797.

Description:

There are more than 100 places to eat, shop and drink at this historic site. French merchant Peter Faneuil (pronounced FAN-you-wull) gave the hall that precedes the marketplace to his adopted home of Boston in 1742. It has been called the "Cradle of Liberty" because of the number of revolutionaries and abolitionists who delivered important speeches here. The hall is now a tourist center, but public meeting facilities are still available.

Description:

Running the length of Atlantic Avenue between Mercantile Street and Long Wharf, this waterfront park boasts some of the best views of the harbor and is the gateway to the North End. Children can play in the small park area, and benches provide a welcome respite from the hours spent walking and shopping. A popular place for local office workers to have lunch, you will usually find a few food vendors in the area as well. Free jazz and other performances often take place on summer weekend evenings.