Boston Beyond the Freedom Trail: A Travel Guide

Anyone who has ever been to Boston probably has some experience traveling along the city's famous Freedom Trail. But visitors should know that there is much more to Boston than its Freedom Trail. Boston Harbor and the city's waterfront has been revitalized and is slowly becoming a must-see for visitors. And then there are the hidden treasures that the locals have been enjoying for years, but for some reason, out-of-towners have not managed to notice.

Institute of Contemporary Art Located directly on Boston's waterfront in the Seaport District, the Institute of Contemporary Art is Boston's newest major museum, having just opened in December, 2006. Because the ICA is just beginning to gather a permanent collection, this museum can be perhaps better called the Museum of 21^st Century Art because its art is more than contemporary, it's brand new! Architecturally, the ICA has been hailed as the most exciting new building in Boston in the last thirty years. Overlooking the Boston Harbor, the museum's glass clad upper level literally hangs out over the harbor, providing some of the best views of the water in Boston. Interestingly, the elevator is also a real treat. The elevator is actually a room in the museum that can hold up to fifty people. One of its walls is glass and looks out over the harbor. It is quite interesting to have your perspective of the water change as you go up and down on the elevator. Admission is $12.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library and Museum Located directly on the waterfront adjacent to the University of Massachusetts at Boston campus, the JFK Museum will truly take you back to the era of Camelot. There are brief films that cover Kennedy's "early years" and the Cuban Missile Crisis. All of the major aspects of his Presidency are covered as are many of the minor ones. That said, the Campaign of 1960 exhibit is probably the most interesting. There are also separate exhibits dedicated to Robert Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy. There is ample parking on site, but getting there by subway is easy. The stop is simply called UMASS/JFK on the Red Line. Outside the station, there is a small bus terminal. Take the bus labeled JFK, and it will drop you at the museum's doorstep. The bus is free. Admission to the museum is $10.

Fenway Park There is nothing like Fenway Park; it is a true original, often copied but never replicated. Home of the Boston Red Sox, it is the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball today, dating to 1912. Getting a ticket to game, however, can be a little tough, not to speak of costly. But regularly scheduled tours of the ballpark are offered. Tours are approximately 90 minutes long. And yes, you will be allowed to touch the Green Monster in left field. Fenway Park is located near Kenmore Square. The Kenmore subway station is on the Green Line. Admission is $12.

Forest Hills Cemetery As the older burying grounds in what is today downtown Boston began filling up, an alternative was needed. And in 1848, this 275 acre preserve was established in the "garden cemetery" style that would become the norm in Victorian America. Forest Hills Cemetery was intended to be more than a mere place for burying the dead. The idea was to create a botanical garden, sculpture park, nature preserve, and resting place for the dead. It's a lovely change of pace from the hurly burly of the city, which exists right outside its gates. Among the well known buried here at Forest Hills are Anne Sexton, e.e. cummings, and Eugene O'Neill. The cemetery is located adjacent to the Forest Hills subway station on the Orange Line.

Arnold Arboretum Located across from Forest Hills Cemetery, the Arnold Arboretum refers to itself as a "living museum dedicated to the study and appreciation of woody plants." That's a bit of a dour description of what is one of the most beautiful areas in Boston. Its 265 acres are owned by the city of Boston, but managed by Harvard University, which uses the arboretum for teaching and research purposes. That said, it is open to the public, and it is common to see local Bostonians going for walks through the Arboretum. On the weekends, from April thru the end of September, free ninety minute tours of the arboretum are given.

Boston Harbor Islands There are more than one hundred islands in the harbor off of Boston, but basically there are only five that are convenient for the visitor. Spectacle Island is probably the most popular one. It includes a life-guarded swimming beach, five miles of walking trails, and some of the most dramatic views of Boston. Georges Island is home to the historic Fort Warren, of which guided tours are offered. Peddocks Island is environmentally the most interesting, offering hiking trails that lead you past marshland, a pond, and coastal forests. Lovells Island provides miles of hiking trails, dunes and woods, the remains of Fort Miles Standish, and permits overnight camping. Grape Island is considered a wildlife haven. It offers camping, trails, and guided walks. Access to the islands is by boat only; Public water transport can be found down near the docks in downtown Boston.

Castle Island Located in the neighborhood of South Boston, Castle Island is no longer an island, so you can get there by car. If you flew into Boston in a window seat, you may have wondered what that peculiar looking structure was down there on the water as your plane was making its final approach into Logan Airport. That's Fort Independence on Castle Island. It's a Civil War era fort, which during its history, was never fired upon. That said, it is believed that a sailor was murdered at the fort and then entombed behind a freshly made masonry wall in order to hide the body. Edgar Allen Poe was at one time stationed at the fort, and it is believed that this real life incidence inspired Poe to pen his story "The Cask of Amontillado." The real lure of Castle Island however is its proximity to the water; every boat and ship that goes in and out of Boston Harbor has to go right past Castle Island. It's a nautical version of people watching. Also, because it's directly across from the airport, there is a constant flow of aircraft flying right over your head.