Boston is the perfect city for a weekend getaway. Steve’s work takes us there often. Usually we tack on a weekend to my tag-along trip to enjoy big city life before heading out to the suburban industrial town of Burlington, where the company Steve does work for is located. Our Boston weekend this past June included a romantic stay at a luxe hotel, a hilarious bit of theatre, great food, and some time in our favourite neighbourhoods. It was perfect.
The Intercontinental Boston
Now and again it’s worth the splurge to stay at an upscale hotel in a great location. The Intercontinental Boston is just that. This was a first-time stay for us and we loved the many small touches that made our stay great. The chocolates on our pillow each night definitely induced sweet dreams.
Our corner suite had a spectacular view of downtown Boston. The hotel is right on the waterfront and within walking distance of historic Freedom Trail, the Boston Tea Party Museum, and Quincey Market/Faneuil Hall. This makes it easy to be vehicle independent, always a bonus for us.
A big hit for us was the hotel’s rum and Champagne bar, RumBa. We are huge fans of rum and our minds boggled at the more than 100 brands available. The bartender generously allowed us to sample a number of them and we definitely found some new favourites.
Boston Waterfront
Run, walk, or stroll, we never miss the opportunity to enjoy Boston’s waterfront. We had a great Saturday morning run in the bright sunshine while admiring the many boats that were either moored or sailing in the distance of Boston Harbor.
Stroll the waterfront at sunset to take in the bustling patio restaurant activity while gazing at a skyline that draws countless photographers every evening. I should have asked one of them to send me a photo as the one I took with my iPhone here doesn’t do the view justice.
Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market
Every visitor to Boston ends up at Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market at some point. It’s been a market and meeting place since 1743. Teeming with shops, restaurants, and buskers, it’s a fun place to poke around and we did just that Saturday afternoon.
Rose Kennedy Greenway
A series of connected parks spanning a mile and a half, the Rose Kennedy Greenway is a lush oasis just steps away from Faneuil Hall. The organically-maintained gardens are serene and lush.
We loved the new carousel, which featured various animals inspired by the drawings of local school children. We were tempted to take a ride, but thought we might look a bit conspicuous without any children in tow.
Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare
After a full day of roaming the downtown, we were ready to take a load off and be entertained. We found the perfect show at Laugh Boston (also within walking distance of our hotel). Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare is an hour-long, condensed version of mainstay Shakespearian plays. We went to the performance of Midsummer Night’s Dream. The twist is that one of the performers in each show is said to have consumed a great deal of alcohol prior to the performance. During the show, selected audience members are given the power to compel the actor to have another drink by either blowing a trumpet or banging a gong.
Photo by Lara Woolfson / Studio Nouveau courtesy of Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare
The show made little sense and was great fun. Lines were blown, entrances were abrupt, and one lucky audience member had the responsibility of providing the “drunk” actor with a bucket should it be required (it wasn’t). The character Puck was completely outrageous (and he wasn’t even the drunk one!).
Showtime was 6:00, which initially seemed too early, but was actually great timing. It had us laughing and in a great mood for the rest of the evening. We had a cocktail and relaxed. It ended early enough for us to snag a spot on a patio for dinner before sunset.
Dinner at Committee
We were lucky to get seats on the patio at the hip and happening bar-cum-restaurant called Committee, located in the Seaport district. The menu offers Greek meze (small plates) and deliciously crafted cocktails.
This is definitely where Boston’s beautiful people gather to mix and mingle, which left me feeling that I could have dressed up just a touch more. An aside – white denim pants are really hot this season if the number of times we saw them here is any indication.
Anyway, we loved this spot. The five or six plates we had were scrumptious and our waiter was terrific. Highly recommend.
The totally sublime Pisco Thyme cocktail comprising Pisco Control, elderflower, fresh thyme, and fresh lemon juice.
Beet Taramosalata – Roasted beets, cod roe, balsamic glaze
Many Happy Returns
Every time we visit Boston it feels a bit more familiar. It’s nice to return to a place you’ve visited a number of times before because it frees you to simply enjoy being there. There’s no pressure to see all of the iconic sights or to make every moment “count.” It’s a privilege to travel that way.
If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe to Tag Along Travel? Twice a month, you’ll receive an email with links to recent posts.
Like it? Pin It
