Make your vacation complete with a visit to Boston attractions

Part of the charm of Boston is its historical heritage combined with modern amenities. Boston attractions offer a myriad of things to see and do, whether you're looking to fill an hour or a day. With choices as varied as museums, theaters, and historical sites, you'll never have a dull moment during your visit to Boston. So let us show you some of our favorite places to play.

Boston

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Boston Harbor Island National Recreation Area consists of 34 islands. Fort Warren on George's Island and Boston Light on Little Brewster Island are both National Historic Landmarks. Fort Warren is supposedly haunted by a "Lady in Black" which also attracts thrill-seekers to the landmark. Fishing and bird-watching are popular activities on the various islands. Park passenger ferries, shuttle boats, and tour boats are all ways to experience the harbor islands. Contact Boston Harbor Cruises at (617) 223-8666 for ferry fare information and a schedule of activities.

Boston Public Gardens
The Boston Public Gardens, adjacent to Boston Common, is a beautiful place for walking, picnicking, duck feeding, and people-watching in downtown Boston. The Swan Boats are the most popular attraction within the gardens. Visitors have been riding the Swan Boats around Swan Lake for more than a century. Other visitors enjoy the natural beauty of the gardens as they walk over its bridges. The Boston Public Gardens are located on Beacon, Charles, Bolyston, and Arlington Streets.

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Come see this internationally acclaimed symphony orchestra perform in its hometown. The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Chamber Players, and Boston Pops play in two Boston locations throughout the season - Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall. Symphony Hall, which is located at 301 Massachusetts Ave., can be reached at (617) 266-1492. Call (617) 536-2412 to contact Jordan Hall, at 30 Gainsborough St.

Cheers
Cheers, formally known as the Bull & Finch Club, was the original inspiration for the television show "Cheers." The bar and restaurant remains a popular tourist attraction even though the television show was never actually shot there. The original Cheers is located at 84 Beacon St., but a replica has also opened in Faneuil Hall. Both restaurants are open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and a full menu is served until 11:45 p.m. For more information on the Beacon Street location, call (617) 227-9605. For more information on the Faneuil Hall location, call (617) 227-0150.

Fenway Park
An excursion through Boston would not be complete without a trip to Fenway Park. Baseball greats such as Cy Young, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Carl Yastrzemski have all played at Fenway Park since its opening in 1912. Today, baseball fans can purchase tickets to watch Boston's beloved Red Sox play. Visitors, even during the off-season, can experience Fenway's rich history and famous Green Monster through its year-round tours. For more information on tours, call the Fenway Park Tour Information Line at (617) 236-6666. For ticket information, call (877) REDSOX9 (733-7699). Fenway Park is located at 4 Yawkey Way in Boston.

Newbury Street
Newbury Street, in downtown Boston, is known for its upscale shopping and dining. The street's eight blocks teem with one-of-a-kind boutiques and hard-to-find designers. Likewise, trendy restaurants, art galleries, jewelry stores, spas, and salons populate the famous street. After a day of shopping, relax and people-watch at one of Newbury Street's outdoor dining areas. Be prepared to pay for parking because spaces are limited.

The Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail offers visitors a view of 16 historic sites throughout its 2.5 mile walking tour. The trail runs through Beacon Hill, downtown Boston, the North End, and Charlestown. Each site is individually significant and should be explored inside and out. Tours are offered with character guides dressed in colonial costumes. Self-guided audio tours, trolley tours, and sea tours are also available. The Freedom Trail leads sightseers to the Boston Common, State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King's Chapel/King's Chapel Burying Ground, Benjamin Franklin's Statue (site of the first public school), Old Corner Bookstore building, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Boston Massacre site, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Copp's Hill Burying Ground, U.S.S. Constitution, and Bunker Hill Monument. For more information, contact The Freedom Trail Foundation at (617) 227-8800.

Cambridge

Harvard Square
Harvard Square, which is surrounded by the historic buildings of Harvard University in Cambridge, is filled with interesting shops, restaurants, bars, and small parks. It is especially notable for its amazing selection and quantity of book stores, and for its street performances. Its eclectic mix of people, some intellectual and some just unusual, makes this an excellent place to people-watch. Visitors driving to Harvard Square will most likely have to pay for parking in a garage. It is also accessible through public transportation. Harvard Square encompasses a 4-mile radius in Cambridge, including parts of Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard and J.F.K. streets.

Longfellow National Historic Site
The Longfellow National Historic Site, located at 105 Brattle St. in Cambridge, was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's home from 1837 to 1882. Gen. George Washington planned the Siege of Boston in this same house from July 1775 to April 1776. The site's impressive museum collection includes a 10,000-volume library and a 500,000-item collection of papers belonging to the Longfellow, Appleton, Dana, and Wadsworth families. Letters from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles Dickens, and Abraham Lincoln are highlights of this fabulous collection. Call (617) 876-4491 for information about the site's operation hours.

North of Boston

Minuteman National Historic Site
The Minuteman National Historic Site - located in the Boston suburbs of Lexington, Concord, and Lincoln - spans more than 900 acres and receives more than 1 million visitors annually. Visitors can hike, bike, or drive to historically significant sites associated with early American Revolution battles. One such site is the North Bridge, where the "shot heard round the world" occurred. Minuteman National Historic Site is also home to Wayside, the residence of literary greats Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, and Margaret Sidney. Various ranger-guided programs are a great educational supplement to the site and most are available at no cost. Contact the Minute Man Visitor Center in Lexington at (781) 862-7753 or the North Bridge Visitor Center, 174 Liberty St. in Concord, at (978) 369-6993 for more information about the site's attractions.

Cape Ann Whale Watch
Cape Ann Whale Watch, located at 415 Main Street--Rose's Wharf, guarantees a whale sighting or a free season's pass. The Cape Ann Whale Watch has been operating for 24 years with over 460,000 participants. The humpback is the most frequently sighted whale, but sightseers could be treated to a right whale or finback as well. Dolphins are also frequently sighted. Cape Ann Whale Watch is open May through October. Call (800) 877-5110 for more details.

Eastern Point Lighthouse
The Eastern Point Lighthouse is located at the eastern entrance to Gloucester Harbor. It is owned and operated by the Coast Guard, but visitors are permitted. The Lighthouse is made of white-painted brick and stands 36 feet high. It was built as a replacement for another lighthouse in 1890, making it over 100 years old. Access the lighthouse by following Eastern Point Boulevard.

Rocky Neck Art Colony
Rocky Neck Art Colony, located on Smith Cove in East Gloucester, is the oldest working art colony in America. Its stores, restaurants, and 30-plus art galleries are open from mid-May to mid-October. Notable artists such as John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer have painted here, but the area also attracts large numbers of amateurs. Visitors can witness free demonstrations, ranging from oil painting to poetry readings, every Wednesday in June and August. Gallery Walk in June and Beaux Arts Ball in August are two activities that visitors should not miss. For more information on artist demonstrations, call (978) 283-7978.

Schooner Adventure
Schooner Adventure is one of Gloucester's top attractions. The site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic places, is also a National Historic Landmark. It serves as a living memorial for the 5,000-plus fisherman lost at sea. The schooner, built in Essex in 1926, is one of the last Gloucester fishing schooners. Schooner Adventure is located at Gloucester Marine Railways Pier. For more information on schedules and summer programs, call (978) 281-8079.