Snapshot: Boston’s Neighborhoods

Boston has often  been called ” a city of neighborhoods.” Each neighborhood has fairly distinct boundaries and  its own character and appeal . To help you get acquainted with the city, the following primer of the city’s neighborhoods will  give you a fix on Boston’s major sightseeing areas.

Beacon Hill- Known affectionately as “The Hill”, this is the area where colonial Boston was founded; named for the beacon that stood here in the 1600′s. Today, the neighborhood is dominated by the Massachusetts State House . One of Boston’s most desirable neighborhoods , visitors are drawn to the quaint charm of the cobblestone streets ,gas lamps, and  brick townhomes and enjoy shopping int the antique stores and  boutiques.  Located just south is Boston Common- the nation’s oldest park-  which is the starting point for the city’s most famous attraction, the Freedom Trail.

Downtown- The skyscrapers and office buildings of Boston’s financial district are here -and are some great lunch-only dining spots . But there are a string of Revolutionary War sites here too, including the Old State House , Old South Meeting House and  the Granary Burying Ground. Have you visited Faneuil Hall? This is the site of tourist-magnet Faneuil Hall Marketplace,with tons of shops and restaurants and some of the city’s best people watching.

The Waterfront:Boston is a maritime city and a visit to Boston would be incomplete without visiting the city’s famous harbor. The waterfront is also the site of some of the city’s most  kid-friendly attractions- the New England Aquarium and  the Children’s Museum.

The North End -The Freedom Trail brings tourists straight down Hanover Street into the North End to see Paul Revere’s House and the Old North Church.  This  bustling neighborhood is  also an Italian-American enclave with dozens of great ristorantes and caffes. Don’t call this neighborhood “Little Italy” though- that neighborhood is in New York City!

Charlestown- Across from the North End and  the Charles River is the town of Charlestown, home of the USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument.

The Back Bay and Fenway:  Built on landfill in the 1800′s, this exclusive neighborhood derives much of its panche from the high-end boutiques of Newbury Street. Sightseeing attractions here include the Museum of Fine Arts , the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and Fenway Park.

The South End : Just  a short walk southeast of the Back Bay, this is where urban renwal’ s grit has turned to glam in recent years. Of late, the South End has become the city’s destination dining spot.

Cambridge: Known as Boston’s “Left Bank”, Cambridge is its own city. It ‘s  colorful, vibrant and multi-ethnic- and perhaps best known as the home of Harvard University and MIT. You will feel “smaat-er”  just for visiting Cambridge!

Image Credit: Greater Boston and Visitor’s Bureau, David Fox