This year’s NFDA trip will be one for the books: Boston, Massachusetts! Explore the east coast in your every spare moment using this tiny travel guide as your outline!
Exploring
When we think of Boston, we think of America’s rich history and birth. First stop for us is the Freedom Trail, a self-guided tour that takes you through Boston’s most tourist-y historical sites and monuments. If you usually avoid the crowds, go early in the morning or on weekdays—you can’t miss this unique tour! For an authentic Boston experience, exploring some oldtown alleyways is a must. Our favorite suburb is Beacon Hill, a brick-layed and cobblestoned neighborhood with adorable tree-lined streets and distinguished doorways. Make sure you find your way to Acorn Street—it’s too cute to cut out! Take your camera with you: your Instagram feed needs these scenic sights. Consider touring a college campus while you’re in Boston; some of our country’s most prestigious educational institutions call Boston home, including Harvard, MIT, and Tufts University.
Relaxing
Take a load off and relax by enjoying the great outdoors, no matter the weather! Boston’s scenic central parks are Boston Commons and the Boston Public Garden, which are right next to each other. Hang out like a local by strolling around the square with a thermos of coffee in hand. Catch a show by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, or the Boston Public Library. Nothing helps us relax more than window shopping—no-stress strolling down street after street of boutiques, antique shops, and adorable markets. Take some time to search for souvenirs and shop for some guilty pleasures for yourself.
Consuming
Now we’ve gotten to the heart of the matter—the eats! If you’re thematic like we are, grab a slice of Boston Cream Pie at Quincy Market, a gorgeous brick building complete with the columns and vaulted ceilings you long for. Once your pie-hole has been stuffed, taste Boston’s Italian influence on the North End of the city to get some authentic Italian ciao (see what I did there?). For the history buffs, take a trip to America’s oldest restaurant: Union Oyster House, a traditional New England eatery with superb seafood and amazing atmosphere. If you’re looking to unwind after a long day of work, the Boston bar scene may be more your flavor. Boston is big on Irish pubs, and one of our favorites is JJ Foley’s. You can also try out the authentic Cheers bar, where everyone knows your name. Take an On Location tour to see more filming locations, including Good Will Hunting and Field of Dreams.
Get excited and get ready to soak in the storybook setting of Boston’s beautiful boulevards and historical haunts. This year’s NFDA trip will satisfy your wanderlust no matter your range of interests!