A SHARED appreciation for the humble cup of tea is just one of the many things Boston has in common with Ireland. In fact so strong was Bostonians' affection for tea that it sparked a number of events which led to the American Revolution.
And as you visit historic locations such as the Boston Tea Party and Ships and the Old State House, where the Declaration of Independence was read in 1776, you can’t help make links between Irish and American fights for independence.
Since 2015 Belfast has been an official sister city of Boston and reminders of Ireland are never far away as you walk through the vibrant capital of Massachusetts.
As well as a plethora of Irish bars and a sprinkling of Irish accents, there is an official Irish Heritage Trail and memorial in Washington Street, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine, which resulted in 100,000 Irish people emigrating to Boston. At The Christmas Shop in Quincy Market, half of a room is dedicated to Irish ornaments and there is even an Irish Christmas tree.
One thing it doesn’t share with Ireland is its four distinct seasons and, during our visit in August, hours of glorious sunshine.
Boston is the epitome of the historical and the contemporary; in its buildings, its cuisine and its entertainment, from historical trails to fringe theatre. My husband remarked that "if you stand still long enough something will come along to entertain you".
Round every corner there is something to make you go 'Wow' – the architectural beauty of historic churches, outdoor yoga classes, music festivals, street entertainers or outdoor cinema screenings.
One special find was The Lawn on D – an urban oasis of fun and recreation in the seaport district of the city. Adult-sized colourful solar-powered LED swings, ping-pong, giant Jenga and boccee (a relative of bowling and boules) combine with live music, food and drink for a perfect evening out. In winter the park transforms into a snow playground.
By far the best way to enjoy this compact and friendly city is by foot, wandering the cobblestones of Beacon Hill, the Harborwalk or taking a stroll around the gorgeous grounds of Harvard University.
Our visit to the famous university coincided with the return of the students, giving the city of area a real buzz. We even saw the college band and the fresher initiation games on the green outside the Harry Elkins Widener library – named after the 27-year-old Harvard graduate who perished on the Titanic, returning from a book-collecting expedition in Europe.
We took a highly informative and entertaining Hahvahd tour with current scholar Ted, who conducted the entire tour walking backwards so as not to lose eye contact with his tourists – now that's a sign of intelligence.
He pointed out the former dorms of Facebook founder and Harvard 'drop out' Mark Zuckerman, Microsoft giant Bill Gates, actors Natalie Portman and Matt Damon as well as US presidents Obama, Bush, Roosevelt and John F Kennedy.
Another must by foot is a walk through history along Boston's 2.5 mile Freedom Trail. Marked by a red brick path or a painted red line, the trail leads to 16 of America’s most significant historical landmarks, revealing the role they played in the country’s rebellious beginning and growth as a nation.
While you can enjoy the walk yourself, we took a Walk Into History 18th Century costumed guided tour. Our former history professor guide shared many interesting facts, had us singing sailor songs and chaperoned us around 12 of the freedom trail sites, including the Granary Burying Ground – the final resting place of many prominent Bostonians including Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
Facing the Atlantic and fringed by the Charles and Mystic rivers, Boston offers many opportunities to take to the water. You can explore the 30 harbour islands, go whale watching, take a gondola ride on the Charles River or go on a day trip to Cape Cod.
We took the plunge in a 'duck'. These WW2-style amphibious vehicles each with a unique name and colours ply the city and the Charles River with colourful drivers narrating the history of the city as you ride.
Also on our busy trip we took the opportunity to catch breathtaking views of Boston and beyond at the 749ft Skywalk Observatory, saw the splendour of the Boston Public Library and witnessed an indoor lightning storm at the Museum of Science.
We also dived into New England Aquarium where we gazed into the eyes of the intelligent giant Pacific octopus, enjoyed the huge Caribbean coral reef teeming with more than 100 animals and watched seals getting their teeth cleaned. Though I must admit that after watching Disney’s Finding Dory movie before my visit, about a fish trying to escape from an aquarium, I did feel sligthtly guilt as I stroked the smooth skin of a cownose ray in the touch tank.
Boston is a foodie dream, especially when it comes to seafood. Being gluten-free myself, eating out can be daunting, but there were plenty of options. I even found my ideal bakery in Boston public market and they couldn’t have named it better – Jennifer Lee’s allergy free bakery.
Our visit to the city coincided with Dine Out Boston, a twice-yearly dining programme where restaurants serve fixed-price lunches and dinners at exceptional value. We availed of the offer on a number of occasions, sampling Boston’s diverse restaurant scene. This included Bar Boulud in the Mandarin Oriental where I tasted the nicest ever gluten free bread and possibly my tastiest ever steak too, and dining at sea with Odyssey Cruises, where we ate, danced and enjoyed the sun setting across the city.
For a quick bite and some unique retail therapy, a visit to historic Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market is a must, with more than 100 restaurants and retail outlets.
For somewhere to rest our weary feet, The Boston Harbor Hotel was the perfect location. Situated on one of the nation's oldest wharfs just a short trip by water taxi from Logan Airport, the waterfront theme of the hotel’s location is carried throughout the rooms which feature a coastal feel as well as tablets offering newspapers and streaming international radio stations.
The hotel's tagline is 'Beyond compare' and you certainly know you are staying somewhere special when the spare toilet roll comes wrapped in ribbon.
During the summer months the hotel becomes one of the city's hottest outdoor entertainment venues, with complementary live music three evenings a week and a Friday movie night on the hotel’s floating barge.
FACTFILE
For more information on Boston visit bostonusa.com
Aer Lingus have scheduled daily flights from Dublin to Boston (aerlingus.ie)
The next Dine Out Boston will be held on March 5-10 and 12-17 (dineoutboston.com)
The Boston CityPASS saves travellers 43 per cent off regular combined admission to New England Auarium, Museum of Science, Skywalk Observatory, Museum of Fine Arts or a Boston Harbour Cruise (citypass.com)
The Boston Harbor Hotel offer a range of packages and promotions (bhh.com)
