I'm not going to say you can't see Boston in one day...okay, yes I am.
We had one day to see all the things. All. The. Things. Not possible.
We did, however, have a great time with the attempt. Boston has made us believers in using those hop on hop off tour buses in larger cities. Not only are they educational and entertaining, they saved your poor legs.
We began our sightseeing adventure with a stop at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Incredible! Three floors of beautiful treasures surrounding a stunning atrium.
If we had more time, we would have inspected the antiquities closer but...onward!
Next came the mother duck and her ducklings statues which are very popular with the under 4 foot tall crowd. So popular in fact, the only photo of mama I was able to snap has a child riding on it so...enjoy the babies.
We wandered down Charles Street with its boutique stores and lovely buildings before heading off to what was my favorite sight the Mapparium in the Christian Science library building.
While tickets are normally $6, we lucked out with a free admission day. Photography is not allowed inside it so I've stolen an image from the internet which does not due it justice. If you ever want to realize how much of the world you haven't seen, or even how much has changed, come stand inside this three story tall, 30 foot wide, stained glass globe created in 1935.
It is truly awe inspiring.
We saw the Trinity Church, completed in 1877, the building used for TV's Boston Legal, followed by the famous twelve foot tall bronze Salada Tea Doors (installed in 1927) which depict the tea trade in bas-relief.
All of that before lunch!
If you're a fan of the 1980s show, lunch must be had at the Bull & Finch pub a.k.a. Cheers!
Try the Screaming Viking, it is a real drink and it's yummy.
Then it was off to see the oldest ship commissioned in the US Navy the USS Constitution, old Ironsides herself.
Launched in 1797 the USS Constitution, who still has naval officers and crew serving aboard her, now resides in the Charlestown Navy Yard. She may be over 200 years old but this fearsome lady will still sail occasionally through Boston Harbor, even if she does needs a little assistance from tugboats.
Sadly, by the end of our time here we knew we would never be pirates. We're too tall to survive in the lower decks.
After saying leaving the naval yard, we followed part of Boston's Freedom Trail to Bunker Hill, the Old North Church, the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House (there's a lot of "Old" buildings on this walk), and Faneuil Hall before deciding it was time to find dinner.
We attempted this while in the little Italy section of town where all of the restaurants had lines well out the doors. What's a hungry couple to do? Go to China town.
Built in 1903 (young by this city's standards?) the Empire Garden Restaurant was originally a theater, first for vaudeville then movies. The doors were shuttered in 1995 but eventually it re-opened as a restaurant. What a stunning one it is.
The former grandeur of its vaudeville days can be seen in the detail work throughout the main sitting area. The food was quite good, if a little expensive. However, Dave was finally able to try Peking Duck!
Boston is a beautiful city filled with a variety of things to do and see. We may not have seen it all, but we saw enough.
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