About Boston, MA

Boston, MA

Boston is well known as a college town and a place of historical significance when it comes to American history. There's a lot of interesting and beautiful sights in and around the city that make it a very desirable place to live, especially for seafood and sports lovers. A few of the only drawbacks are the high cost of living and the cold winters.

Colleges

Boston is most certainly a college town. Both Boston itself and the surrounding suburbs are home to a number of well-regarded universities. There's Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), along with Tufts University, Boston University, Emerson College, Boston College, Northeastern University, and a variety of other higher education institutes.

Moments in History

Boston is filled with numerous historical landmarks and venues that pay tribute to some important historical moments. The city is closely tied to the colonial age and the American Revolution. The Pilgrims settled nearby, the Boston Tea Party helped spark the Revolution, and many of America's biggest names, such as Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, called Boston and nearby areas home. There are many sights that commemorate these important people and events, such as the USS Constitution, Faneuil Hall, Bunker Hill, and the site of the tragic Boston Massacre. Conveniently, the "Freedom Trail", marked by red brinks, guides visitors along a path that takes them to many of the best sites and sights.

Sightseeing

Whether you're a transplant new to town or a tourist looking to check things out, it is easy to get around Boston. Boston's downtown core is a compact and easy-to-walk area. Just pull out your smart phone (or a street map) and figure out where you need or want to go. Most of the time, it'll just be a short walk to where you'd like to go.

There are also a variety of great tours that can take you from site to site. These tours are great for people trying to see and learn as much as possible in a short time. The tour guides can often provide in-depth knowledge of the sites and make the tours themselves very entertaining. The Old Town Trolley Tour is fully narrated and can take visitors to a hundred of the most popular historical sites within less than two hours. The SEAL tour can take you to sites on land and water via amphibious vehicles so you can see both the city and the harbor!

It's not just easy traveling within Boston, but outside of the city as well. There are tons of great places to check out nearby. There's Martha's Vineyard, Newport, Cape Code, Nantucket, and the lakes and mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont. Even the rocky Maine coast and its many islands as well as Maine's Acadia National Park offer a great chance to escape to nature. These great getaways are just a short drive, train, bus, or ferry away.

The relatively small size of the New England states make travel relatively easy. People who love the outdoors will find a plethora of opportunities to go swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, camping, and numerous other activities. If your outdoor heart has a desire, you'll probably be able to fulfill it.

Weather

New England is known for its cold weather. There's no sugar coating it, winters can be tough. But cold and snow makes for fantastic ski country in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, all of which are nearby. Just enjoying drinks and food at the ski lounges around a fire offers a great way to both warm up and chill out.

Food

Looking for food around the city? Being a major seaside city, it should come as no surprise that Boston is well known for its fresh seafood. Fish is often delivered from the ocean straight to the docks, and then to your plate in short order. There's no need for long-haul trucks filled with coolers of ice. Catch fresh, eat fresh.

Sports

Sports fan? They call Boston "Titletown" for a reason. Data gleaned by Scarborough Insights in 2012 found that people around Boston are more interested in nine different sports than the average American. The Boston-area is also home to several professional and college teams participating in a wide range of sports.

Parks

The Boston Commons is the oldest city park in the United States. People head to the park for various recreational activities and events such concerts. The Boston Commons is the starting place for Freedom Trail, and is also home to various monuments and memorials. The park also hosts the Frog Pond, which is a great place to ice skate in the winter, and to engage in water activities during the summer.

Housing Costs

Boston is not a cheap city, especially if you're looking to own. The downtown has been undergoing a residential building boom, but it hasn't been enough to tame housing prices. Yet owing to the wide variety of local activities and the various opportunities scattered around New England, you get what you pay for in Title Town.

Whether you are considering a move to Boston or planning a short visit, there's a lot to see and do for history buffs, sports fans, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.