Exclusive Luxury Travel Weekend IGLTA Exclusive News / Historic Boston: A Walker’s Paradise — Your B Town Weekend / By Bill Malcolm* (he/him)

Historic Boston makes for a perfect weekend. The city is so walkable (and has such great public transit); you will have sore legs. The historic city is home to many universities, so it seems in part like a college town on steroids.

Founded by the Puritans in 1630, it grew due to its great harbor and fishing. And it is where America started. The Puritans were an independent bunch and didn’t take kindly to the British taxation schemes and heavy-handed tactics.

Massachusetts is a civil rights and LGBTQ+ rights pioneer. Massachusetts celebrates 20 years of legal same-sex marriage. Governor Maura Healey (she/her) was the first elected lesbian Governor in the nation while Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (she/her) is the city’s first Chinese mayor.

Getting there

I flew into convenient Boston Logan Airport and then I hopped on the free airport bus (the SL1) to my hotel in the nearby Seaport District (The Aloft). Once in Boston, you can walk, take transit, use the shared bike system to get everywhere.

What to do

Learn about the history of this city by taking a Boston by Foot Walking Tour. I took the history walk (aka Heart of the Freedom Trail Walk) which met in front of Faneuil Hall by the statue of Samuel Adams.

A guide tells you the history of Boston and how our country came to be thanks to the independent and freedom minded people that galvanized all the colonies to rebel against the British and form the U.S. This summer they will also feature a history of LGBTQ+ Boston walking tour entitled Boston by Foot Walking Tour: Boston’s LGBTQ+ Past.

Nearby Faneuil Hall is the Old State House, the oldest surviving government building of the old British Colonies which was built in 1713. It also served as the birthplace of the independent government of Massachusetts.

Make your first stop the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. You will find it at 700 Boylston Street. It’s really more of a museum that’s used as a library. Don’t miss the murals especially on the 3rd floor.

The murals surrounding the staircase hall are the only mural work outside France by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (he/him), a French painter who was considered one of the greatest muralists of the 19th century.

Other musts are the Boston Common and the Public Garden which are two great parks in the middle of the city. Then follow the 2.5 mile self-guided Freedom Trail with 17 revolutionary landmarks.

Take the Green Line subway out to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum near Northeastern University. This quirky museum has a plant filled courtyard and more. Enjoy the Raquib Shaw: Ballads of East and West. Nearby is the Museum of Fine Arts. And of course, Fenway Park.

Walk around the waterfront including the Aquarium which features sea lions.

Where to eat

I had dinner at the Boston Chops Urban Steakhouse Downtown which was great. If you don’t like steaks, try the salmon. You can even sit in an old bank vault.

Don’t miss the fast casual Eataly in the Prudential Center. Filled with Italian specialties, it also offers fast casual dining featuring everything Italian. You can’t beat their pizza, but they also have salads and more. Take home some gourmet pasta sauce or Italian cheese and wine.

The food hall behind Faneuil Hall (Liberty Market) has every type of Boston specialty dish you could imagine. I had a fresh carrot juice and salad while others enjoyed lobster bisque in a bread bowl.

The seafood in Boston is fresh and local – indeed it was one of the city’s first industries that supplied cod to Europe back in the day.
Boston nightlife

I loved the Club Café Bistro and Video Bar. Located in the Back Bay neighborhood, this was a fun multi-purpose bar. They had two cabaret shows the Saturday night I was there.

Plus they serve food, so dining is an option. There is something going on every day: drag brunches, karaoke, and more. Founded as a video bar in 1983, it has survived the retraction of bars in the city which some blame on gentrification while others note it is a nationwide trend. Other bars in Boston: Jacque’s Cabaret – the drag bar, Cathedral Station: the sports bar, Bar: In nearby Dorchester, and The Alley Bar – downtown.

Where to stay

I stayed at Marriott’s Altoft Boston Seaport at 401 D Street. The modern, new hotel has a Brazilian steakhouse in the Building and a fun WXYZ Bar. Nearby is a liquor store and a Dunkin Donuts. South Boston is just a half mile south which also has restaurant and retail options such as the Foodie’s Market at 230 West Broadway (which has a hot food and salad bar) and you can take the #9 bus into Back Bay. Best of all, the Aloft is a value and has no resort fees.

Helpful hints

Get around on the 5 subway lines or the bus system, known as the T, is a breeze.

South Boston is a different neighborhood from the South End.

Boston is a city of neighborhoods. Both South Boston and the South End are great as is Back Bay and Copley Square.

Spirit Magazine is your LGBTQ+ publication.

Bay Windows is the newspaper although it is down to just a few pages.

Plan your trip and get info on the scene at https://www.meetboston.com/plan/trip-ideas/lgbtq-boston/.

Special thanks to Meet Boston for their helpful travel tips and recommendations!

*Bill Malcolm (he/him) is a syndicated travel writer whose value travel column appears in publications and on websites throughout North America and on the travel blog at www.iglta.org.