Hi everyone! I hope you’ve all had a great break and a good New Year!
A few days ago I was informed that my country is going to the USA in March for the High School world debate (or something along those lines).
As someone who has never been to the USA before, I’m already going over all the things I’d like to try, like Chic Fil A, Wendys, Poptarts, and all those things that are foreign to a teenage girl from Denmark :))
The tournament is in Harvard, so our housing is around that area too (obviously), and I was wondering if you guys could recommend things I need to try, as I probably only have a few hours at max to explore, and I won’t be back until 2026 for the World Cup -\_-
Thank you all so much in advance!!
31 comments
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There’s some great restaurants in Boston. I wouldn’t go there just for fast food like Wendy’s or Chic-Fil-A. But if you want to, go for it.
As for what else, it depends what you are into. I like seeing historical things and taking tours. I also adore Boston cemeteries. And tasting the city, so finding different restaurants. And if any city has an art museum, you can find me there. Boston’s Fine Art museum is awesome.
I was just there for 2 days for the new year, and I spent my time shopping, eating, and people-watching in the common. And fed squirrels in the cemetery which was amazing for me.
>in March
This is potentially a really good time to be in Boston… which days?
Eat at Silk Road. It’s in Cambridge, where Harvard is.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WX7h1SzDaiEnW6EaA
https://youtu.be/fUSUxTIi_TM
If you come across a red line in the concrete, follow it. It’ll take you right by all of the famous monuments (Bunker Hill, USS Constitution, etc etc)
Boston has some of the best seafood in the country, especially lobster and specifically lobster rolls. I would highly recommend getting one at least once.
Boston Commons, Newbury St and Copley Plaza for high end shopping and great people watching, the North End for Italian food (Mike’s Pastry and Modern pastry for great Italian sweets, although they’re pretty popular with tourists these days so expect a wait), the South End for amazing food, Institute of Contemporary Art which is a beautiful building and often has great exhibits.
You will have plenty of interesting stuff around Harvard to keep you busy. Just use google map to identify them.
You can hit Chic Fil a and Wendy’s in Copley Square, they are near each other on Boylston St and you can go into the CVS there for Pop Tarts. While you’re in Copley, go to the old church in the square and check out Eataly in the Prudential Mall then walk Newbury St ending in the Boston Common (large park). Other side of the Common is Beacon Hill where the state capitol is and you can walk through the historic neighborhood which ends on the redline (train) which will take you back to Harvard Sq.
March may be a bit cold, and I don’t even know if they’ll be open yet, but a whale watch cruise is fun.
You’ll hopefully get to see a whale, but even if you don’t you will still get some great views of the city.
If a whale watch is out of the question, still stop by the New England Aquarium. It’s one of the top aquatic research/education centers in the world, and they always have something cool to look at.
Also, if you like engineering/science stuff, the Museum of Science is also an interesting visit.
If you like sports, you could try to go to a Celtics (NBA) game or Bruins (NHL) game. Both are having pretty good seasons, and ticket prices have been a bit ridiculous though.
Go to /r/Boston and read the sidebar wiki. We have a pretty extensive section for tourists
Skip Chick-Fil-A. The company doesn’t like women or LGBTQ.
If you’re going to Boston…
* Mike’s Pastries in the North End. It’s a cash only pastry shop that specializes in cannolis. Very busy.
* Chic Fil A is sort of a novelty up there. AFAIK, there’s only one in Boston. Not super convenient to Harvard, though it is at Copley square, which has some other things to do nearby.
* Honestly if you want a fast food burger, Mooyah or Shake Shake are both better choices than Wendy’s.
* Walking the freedom trail is a thing you can do in a few hours, and probably the best thing to do in Boston with a few free hours.
Faneuil Hall, Newbury St, and if you’re into baseball Bleacher Bar, it’s a bar/restaurant literally in the wall of Fenway and you can see right onto the field (although you might have to be 21 I forget).
Boston has a lot of great stuff, from history to sports to food to museums.
My absolute favorite museum in Boston is the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. It’s essentially just the art collection of an eccentric, wealthy lady who left her collection to be a museum. The Museum of Fine Arts is a great museum as well
If you like sports the two major sports that will be on in March are Basketball and Hockey. Boston really is a drinking city with a sports problem and going to a Boston sporting event is like none other. If you can get to a Bruins game I’d recommend that
We’re close to the water and you’ll find lots of great seafood in Boston. Being on the Atlantic coast we also have been a Melting pot of a lot of everybody who’s moved to the city over the years and have some great Italian and Irish food.
Lastly (but arguable most importantly) is the history. It will still be a little chilly here in March but some of the most important events in the actual founding of the US happened in this city. There is a path called the ‘Freedom Trail’ you can take to learn more about the history of the country and why Boston was so important in its founding.
Boston is an incredibly walkable city with great public transit so you can actually accomplish a lot in a day here
Felipe’s is a classic bar/burrito place, but if you’re looking for a more casual taqueria feel, El Jefe’s across the street is super good. Nice thing about El Jefe’s is they don’t charge for any extras, even guac. If you’re looking for a burger, there’s a Shake Shack nearby, it’s a fast food place, but a little bit nicer than most – you’ll see what I mean. I would recommend that over spending your trip to America just going to McDonalds or whatever. Those are just the first ones that come to mind, but if you have anything specific, lmk and I’ll use those filters to provide more tailored suggestions 🙂
You’ll be near some amazing historical sites. Granted, not your own history, but it’s fascinating regardless.
A lot of people will tell you to stay away but I would recommend Faneuil Hall. It’s a overpriced and touristy, but the food is pretty good and it’s fun to walk around.
As an American, I find it somewhat depressing that when foreigners visit the US the top thing on their bucket list is usually fast food restaurants.
I try not to judge people, but you should at least be informed of Chick-fil-A’s [history with regard to the LGBT+ community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick-fil-A_and_LGBT_people). If you still wind up eating there, you have the right to do so. Most people around you won’t care either way.
If you really want an American dining experience, consider The Cheesecake Factory. Huge menu, big portions, and a full day’s worth of calories in one meal. There are mixed reviews concerning the quality, but I’ve never been disappointed by their salads, and they’re generally considered much better than the other big general American dining chains (Applebee’s, TGI Fridays, or 99).
The JFK presidential library is nice.
r/Boston
Skip the fastfood chains and instead get yourself a warm lobster roll or a bowl of clam chowder. Admittedly, the latter you can get just about anywhere in the US, but in Boston, it will likely be made from scratch, rather than reheated from a can. Lobster rolls are fairly unique to New England, though.
Visit the USS Constitution. Maybe take one of the historical walking tours. Go to Chinatown for dim sum (brunch on weekends). I suggest Winsor Cafe. The Museum of Fine Art, the Atheneum (hidden gem), and the Science Museum are all awesome (especially the lightning show at the Museum of Science). The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is really cool too. It had a big art heist in the 90s that was never solved and so it still has empty frames for the paintings that were stolen per the owner’s wishes.
Get clam chowder somewhere. The fast food is fine but why, just why? I never understand the urge foreigners have to get chic fil a or whatever. Fast food is just average, nothing special worth remembering.
Avoid eating at Quincy Market (overpriced and there is better stuff elsewhere). Italian food in the North End is great. I recommend Monica’s Mercato in the North End for lunch if you have the time.
There are soooo many good restaurants in Cambridge and Boston proper. Go to those instead.
Also there is the Freedom Trail which goes by a ton of important historical places related to colonial Boston and the American Revolution. The historical walking tours go along it and provide extra information but you can also follow along on [an app from the non profit that maintains the Freedom Trail](https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/tours/freedom-trail-tour-app) for free.
Boston has some good pizza spots.. maybe seek that out for casual eats instead of Wendy’s
(Or for all I know, you’re getting similar pizza in yourCountry in which case, ignore my suggestion 😉
To reinforce what others have said, I’d skip fast food and especially Chick-fil-A. They donate to anti-LGBTQ and anti-women’s choice rights. Of course, it’s up to you if you’re comfortable with that, it’s just information you should have.
Boston has truly amazing food. If you want to experience good American cuisine, stick with local restaurants.
Boston has amazing clam chowder and lobster rolls.
If you want some great American food, go to Sweet Cheek’s Q in the Fenway area of Boston. It’s delicious barbecue, and located near a lot of Boston’s historic/tourist sites. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a beautiful and uniquely Bostonian institution located very close by.
If you like history, Boston has a ton of these little hold in the wall museums in the Beacon Hill and North End areas that you can check out in an hour or less and give you a glimpse into colonial Boston early American history. Want to see John Hancock’s pants? Old State House Museum. Robert Gould Shaw’s uniform? Museum of African American History on Joy St.
Finally, if you get good weather, Boston has done a great job of preserving and expanding public park space. Boston is home to the US’s first public park (Boston Common) and first botanical garden (Boston Public Garden), to complement the Charles River Esplanade and the Rose Kennedy Greenway. A walk in the park might beat a subway ride to get from A to B.
Oh, and get a coffee at Dunks. Will it be especially good? No, but at least you’ll look like a local.
The freedom trail is really awesome if you are into history
Easy! Rent a car and drive to New York.
The Science Museum and the aquarium will easily use up one of those days, possibly two depending on how you tend to visit these types of places.
I would go to a grocery store and get things that are not in your home country that look interesting. This is one thing I really like to do when I visit new places.
For Boston-specific things, The freedom trail which starts in Boston Commons and ends at Bunker Hill is nice to follow. I would not worry too much about trying to read or do everything. However, it will take you to the North End which is great and where you can find some excellent bakeries. Also, the Bunker Hill Memorial is lovely and in a very pleasant neighborhood.