Liberty Hotel.
Explore one of America's most treasured cities
Springtime in New England — need we say more? This month,brwe're looking into what makes the Massachusetts metropolis of Boston thebrperfect location for your next getaway. The city is certainly rich withbrAmerican history, but it's also packed with modern splendors that are equallybras enjoyable. We think this trip is one the whole family will love, so read onbrto discover what highlights you should hit along the way.
Boarding in Boston
Like any big city, Boston is replete with hotels and inns withbrworld-class amenities. They dot the harbors and bays and extend throughoutbrdowntown and further inland into Cambridge, but we have the insider scoop on abrcouple that we know you'll love.
Situatedbralong the Charles River in Boston's West End district is the Liberty Hotel,brwhose building used to house many of Boston's most notorious criminals. Yes,bryou read that correctly. So, why should you stay here? In 2001, a developer wasbrhired to transform the jail into an upscale hotel while preserving many of thebrjail's original features. Its granite exterior and well-lit interiors remainbrmostly unchanged, its 90-foot-tall central atrium was preserved, and severalbrjail cells can still be found within the hotel's restaurant. What was once thebrjail's exercise yard is now a private courtyard with picturesque landscape design.brToday, the hotel's interior design features stylish, modern décor like thebrreception desk made of ebonized wood and richly colored carpets and tapestry. Thebrluxurious Liberty also offers sought-after services like 24-hour in-roombrdining, complimentary Saturday yoga and in-room private bars, plus unbeatablybrdynamic views of the city.
Located inbrthe heart of downtown Boston is the Omni Parker House, another historical hotelbrthat's been updated to offer old-world charm combined with modern elegance. America'sbrlongest continuously operating hotel includes more than 500 guest rooms andbrsuites as well as a restaurant that offers Saturday and Sunday brunch (and isbrthe home to the creation of Parker House rolls). Stay here, and you'll be inbrgood company — author Charles Dickens stayed at the Parker House during hisbrtour of America in the mid-1800s. More notoriously, John Wilkes Booth holed upbrat the hotel merely a few days before he assassinated Abraham Lincoln inbrWashington, D.C. LibertyHotel.com,brOmniHotels.com
The Freedom Trail
Whether you're a history buff or your kids are learningbrabout the American Revolution in school and you're in need of a refresherbrcourse, the Freedom Trail is a must-see during your visit to Boston — where itbrall began. The 2.5-mile, brick-lined route takes you to 16 different sites, eachbrhistorically significant in its own way, and you have the option to begin thebrtour at whichever point you prefer. If you're looking for magnificentbrarchitecture, we suggest starting at the Massachusetts State House, built inbr1798. The grand building features a magnificent golden dome adorned with abrgilded wooden pinecone that symbolizes the state's reliance on logging duringbrthe 18th century. Be sure to stop at the Old State House, where thebrDeclaration of Independence was first read to the public on July 18, 1776. Itbrwas also the site of the Boston Massacre, during which British soldiers killedbrseveral civilians on March 5, 1770, below the building’s balcony.
Another fascinating stop on thebrtrail is Paul Revere's house, which dates back to 1680 and is Boston's oldestbrbuilding still in existence — Paul lived here on the night he made hisbrfamous ride to Lexington. Also worth exploring is Park Street Church, whichbrfeatures a 217-foot steeple. It is well known for supporting Abolitionistbrcauses — the church hosted its first anti-slavery lecture in 1823 and was alsobrthe site of William Lloyd Garrison's 1829 speech he delivered about thebrAbolitionist movement. While the Freedom Trail covers a lot of ground and a lotbrof history, we advise spending as much time as you can at Boston Common,brAmerica's oldest public park. The land, which was once overcrowded with Britishbrsoldiers when they made camp during the British occupation of Boston in 1775,brnow comprises acres of lush foliage, beautiful flowers and gorgeous views ofbrFrog Pond. TheFreedomTrail.org
New England Aquarium
Nestled near the waterfront in downtown Boston, the NewbrEngland Aquarium boasts a plethora of activities to be enjoyed by young andbrold. This past summer, the giant ocean tank — handmade and painted by aquariumbrartists — reopened after an extensive renovation and now features a beautifulbrCaribbean coral reef plus more than 2,000 exotic animals like midnightbrparrotfish, yellow goatfish and moray eels. Exhibits with penguins, sea lionsbrand turtles are not to be missed, but particularly intriguing is the brand newbrBlue Plant Action Center, where you can discover more about the aquarium's rolebrin searching for solutions to challenges currently facing the oceans. Kiddosbrwill especially love the shark and lobster nurseries, where the animals arebrborn and raised to conserve their populations.
Lastly, don't forget to venture outbronto the water for a whale watch tour with the aquarium's partners at BostonbrHarbor Cruises. The three-hour adventure leaves from the aquarium's dock andbrmeanders through Stellwagen Bank, where you're sure to catch a glimpse of notbronly whales but also seals and various sea birds. Neaq.org
Frost Ice Bar
Although temps are now on the rise, there's a place inbrBoston where it's always 21 degrees. The Frost Ice Bar is New England's onlybrand the world's largest permanent indoor ice bar — meaning the entire barbr(walls, furniture, drink glasses) is made of ice. Featuring walls awash inbrconstantly changing bright colors, fun ice sculptures and unique drinks, thebrice bar is a place for everyone, including the kids. The under-21 menu offersbrconcoctions like sparkling blackberry lemonade and cider-berry splash as wellbras good ol' chocolate milk. For the adult crowd, sip on cocktails like the OldbrNorth Ender (vodka, lemon sorbet, sparkling wine and limoncello), the Lionbr& the Unicorn (gin, Pavan, Lillet and blue curacao) and many more. Andbrdon't fret about freezing — the bar provides insulated capes and gloves withbradmission. FrostIceBar.com
Garden Grandeur
One of the best things about Boston in the springtime is itsbrparks. You already know about Boston Common, created in 1634, but there's alsobrPublic Garden that was established nearly two centuries later. The first publicbrbotanical garden in the country, Public Garden comprises more than 20 acres featuringbrmeandering pathways, decorative elements and elaborate floral arrangements thatbrrender it a romantic setting suitable for weddings and other parties. Thebrgarden is also home to the Make Way for Ducklings bronze sculptures, based offbrof Robert McCloskey's famousbrchildren's book. Not-to-be-missed are the swan boat rides, which depart frombrthe Public Garden lagoon and take you on a relaxing 15-minute cruise on thebrwater. CityOfBoston.gov, SwanBoats.com