February 22, 2012

Best Travel Deals Online

Old North Church, Exterior #1

Image by timsackton via Flickr

If you love travel, travel deals, and Boston, Massachusetts, take out your calendar and schedule a vacation there this year. If you plan ahead and look for good deals, you’ll be able to plan an affordable trip to this great city.

People who enjoy historic areas can check Canada 411 for information about the Freedom Trail. You can follow this red line on the ground to be sure you don’t miss any of the most important sites, including the monument to Bunker Hill, the Old North Church, and the Paul Revere House. An internet search is all it takes to find a great deal on these spots. Type in targeted keywords like “hot travel deals” or “Boston vacation deals” in the search bar to find great savings.

Sometimes vacations can become hectic, and weary travelers may long for a little peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Boston offers many parks suitable for picnicking, including the Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston Commons, Garden of Peace, and others.

Guided tours are available to people who do not wish to find their own way around town. You can find deals on a variety of guided tours that visit many historical sites. The Boston Harbor Walk leads visitors around Boston Harbor. Samuel Adams Brewery lets visitors see how their beer is made and people of age may even sample some of the varieties.

With so many exciting destinations in store, and so many deals to snag, what are you waiting for? Plan a trip to Boston today!

5 Things You Must See in Boston Massachusetts

Boston - Freedom Trail: Old South Meeting House

Image by wallyg via Flickr

Boston, Massachusetts is a great city rich in history and culture. History buffs will love it there; fashionistas will love it there; kids and adults will love it there. Boston has something for everyone. Here are five things you must see in Boston Massachusetts

Boston Common
Boston Common is the oldest park in the country and is almost 50 acres big. Until 1830, cattle grazed the park and through 1817 public hangings took place at Boston Common. This was also the site where British troops camped out prior to the Revolution. Now, there are beautiful flower gardens, playgrounds, statues, and the famous frog pond.

Duck Tours
This is a unique tour of Boston aboard a “DUCK”, which is a WWII amphibious landing vehicle. You’ll go by famous Boston landmarks like the state house, Bunker Hill, and Quincy Market. And, just when you thought that was it, the Duck boat will drive right into the Charles River for magnificent Boston views.

Prudential Center
The Prudential Center is the shopping hub of Boston. There is over 75 stores and restaurants in the building. At the top of the second tallest building in Boston there is the Prudential Center Skywalk, giving a bird’s eye view of Boston and The Top of the Hub restaurant.

The Freedom Trail
This is a walking tour of historical Boston, easily spotted by the red line painted on the sidewalk. There are 16 official sites on the Freedom Trail, including Boston Common, Granary Burying Ground, Old South Meeting House, site of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, and the USS Constitution. You can walk the trail on your own, or go with a group on a guided tour.

The New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium is home to 20,000 animals, including penguins, sharks, sea turtles, barracuda, stingrays, eels, crabs, star fish, and much more. The highlight of the aquarium is the 200,000 gallon cylindrical tank that simulates a Caribbean coral reef that is open at the top and has a spiral walkway that goes all the way down to the first floor.

Coffee Shops in Boston

Boston, being the center for finance and commerce that it is, is a city fueled by coffee. Late night projects blur into early morning board meetings with little more than a quick coffee run to keep the bleary, red-eyes awake and alert. Because of this Boston is a city full of coffee shops. But Bostonians don’t just settle for your ordinary, run of the mill, chain coffee shops, many Boston coffee shops are destinations in and of themselves and feature premium, small-batch coffee that is roasted right on the premises.

One such coffee shop is the Boston Common Coffee Company. Located in the heart of Boston Commons, the BCCC has developed a loyal customer base since their opening in 2004. Now, The Boston Common Coffee Company roast all their coffee in small-batches in their private roasting facility to guarantee not only that their coffee is the freshest available but that it is fair-trade certified. All pastries are made on site by an acclaimed pastry chef who bakes everything from scratch. There are four locations to buy both small-batch and wholesale.

One of the oldest and most famous coffee shops in Boston is Café Vittoria. Café Vittoria was founded in 1929 as a small Italian Café in the heart of the Italian-American community in Boston and has since become a popular tourist destination. Featuring vintage roasters and espresso machines, Café Vittoria is a place to bask in the ambiance of classic Italian café and savor what life used to be like.

Another classic coffe shop is Polcari’s Coffee located in the heart of downtown on Salem Street. Founded in 1932, Polcari has been a Boston staple for decades and features the finest premium roasts from around the world. Polcari’s is a popular local spot that has the old world charm and warmth of a neighborhood coffee shop from a bygone era.

No matter where you are in Boston there is bound to be a coffee shop nearby. Make sure you stop by one of these featured cafes next time you are in the area.

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Blooms in Boston

Dock for the Swan Boats in Boston Public Garde...
Image via Wikipedia

Blooms in Boston

As you think of sightseeing in Boston, most people don’t immediately envision a stroll in a park or garden as part of their experience. Museums, stately forefathers, history etc. generally dominate the mentality. However, in perusing “must see sights” one keeps coming up with rave reviews for young and old. That being the Public Garden in the Boston Common.

Established in 1837 it is the nation’s oldest public garden. It provides a serene quiet get-away in the midst of a bustling metropolis. There is a magnificent statue in the center of the garden of our nation’s first father, George Washington, mounted on his horse. Adjacent to it is the famous lake which affords spectacular photography, especially with the famous colors of New England’s autumn. To be enjoyed on the lake are the well known Swan Boats. These unique, bicycle powered boats are available to take you around the lake for a water front tour of the garden. Another lesser known monument is found here in the Public Garden, it is dedicated to the discovery and first use of ether as anesthesia in 1846. It is appropriately called the Ether statue.

Unlike the honored ether, the statues of the duck family (mother and ducklings) which are found in the garden as well, won’t put you to sleep. They were placed in the park to honor Boston’s place in the children’s book “Make Way for Ducklings.” Be sure to make way for them, especially if you have little ones, kids really love them and they make for terrific photo shoots!

Be sure you leave plenty of time for this gorgeous respite during your time in Boston. Better yet, plan to come here more than once to relax and see different parts each time you need a break from the busy modern day Boston.

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American History Museums along Boston’s Freedom Trail

Boston has been home to some of the most important events during America’s Revolutionary War. From the Boston Tea Party, to Paul Revere’s Ride, to the early key Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill, it is easy to say that the American Revolution was born in this early metropolis. Fortunately, there are a number of museums that are dedicated to preserving Boston’s storied past and presenting it to a new generation of inquisitive history buffs.

The first place to visit to relive Boston’s history and part in the American Revolution isn’t in a building or cased behind glass. Boston’s Freedom Trail is 2.5 mile a red brick trail that leads from Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument. Along the way the viewer can see 16 sites where American History happened. The trail leads past various cemeteries including the Granary Burying Ground and the Kings Chapel Burying Ground, as well the Old South Meeting House, Paul Revere’s House, and the USS Constitution Ship Musuem. The Freedom Trail is a great way to spend a day in Boston immersed in its history and role in the American Revolution.

Along the trail, Paul Revere’s House is a must see stop. Built in 1680, Paul Revere and his family lived here from 1770-1800, his famous midnight ride happened while he lived here. The Paul Revere House is one of America’s oldest house museums, it was dedicated for that purpose in 1908 by Revere’s great-grandson. Today the house is a replica of life in Boston during that time and showcases the Gregorian architecture style popular at the time.

Another unique stop along the Freedom Trail is the USS Constitution Ship Museum. The USS Constitution (known as “Old Ironsides”) is the oldest commissioned, fully staffed Naval Ship in the world. Located directly adjacent to the ship is the USS Constitution Museum which features a variety of interactive exhibits for the whole family.

Boston’s Freedom Trail has a variety of museums documenting the city’s role in the founding of America.

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