Shipping Up To Boston

Five ways to spend two days before or after your cruise from Boston

- Sarah Diamond

A VIBRANT PORT FOR OVER 400 years, Boston is a marriage of the past and future, a place where you can trace America’s history through its cobblestone streets while across the river, students at MIT are developing the cutting edge of technology. Nicknamed the “Athens of America” for its cultural clout, this breeding ground for fine art and pop culture offers something for everyone, from the baseball and craft beer crowd to foodies and history buffs. Here are some suggestions for enjoying the best that Boston has to offer.

For a Budget

The Boston Common is a public park rich with American history and lore, but it is also one of the most popular community spaces in the city. Often the site of free festivals and concerts, the Common is the perfect place to take a leisurely stroll and admire the local colors, or buy a cheap and tasty lunch from a food truck. Across a walking bridge to the west is the Boston Public Garden, which in the warmer months comes alive with more than 600 variations of blossoms and trees. The central pond is framed by languid weeping willows and is the home to a famous pair of swans named Romeo and Juliet. A romantic ride in a swan-shaped paddle boat costs only $4, and there are discounts for students and seniors.

Another historically significant landmark is Copley Square, bound on one side by the stately Trinity Church and on the other by the Boston Public Library. The library’s main edifice, the McKim Building, was opened in 1895 as a “palace of the people” with stunning Renaissance Revival architecture and opulent murals on the ceiling. The library provides free walking tours daily, at various times of day.

Boston is blessed with a clean and well-organized public transport system, known locally as “The T,” so pick up a CharlieCard at any bus or subway station. A round trip to any spot in the Greater Boston area will cost you less than five dollars.