ISSUE #11: Boston, Massachusetts

It’s no secret I love history, and Boston has plenty of it. The city has reinvented itself over four centuries. Only Native Americans inhabited this area until the Puritans arrived in 1630 and founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony. By the late 1600s most of the Native population was wiped out due to smallpox that European settlers brought across the Atlantic. Early post-European-settling leaders such as John Winthrop, Cotton Mather, and Anne Hutchinson helped to create this “City upon a Hill” spreading Puritan values in the New World. Harvard College and Boston Latin School were institutions initially founded to spread those values. How times have changed!

Modern-day Boston offers so much for visitors. The red brick charm, ivy-laced walls, scenic parks and maritime influences always stay with me. I recommend some pavement-pounding to take it all in. My must-sees:

• Fenway Park – Home of the Red Sox, where baseball was made great.
• Museum of Fine Arts – On the Avenue of the Arts, you’ll see collections and touring exhibits of some of America’s best artists.
• The Freedom Trail – Follow the Red Brick Road on this self- or tour-guided walking trail that passes by historical moments and landmarks.
• Boston Public Garden – A glimpse of serenity, this well-cared-for space contains a tree from each of the 50 states and a vibrant botanical garden.
• North End – Boston’s famous Little Italy district means food, wine and fun.
• Boston Public Library – This stately building’s art and architecture are amazing as is its collection of rare books dating back to the 15th century.
• Boston Tea Party Ships and Museums – A little on the touristy side, but still one of the most important parts of the history of Boston.
• John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library – Capture moments from this great American leader’s life and his impact on politics.