Introduction
Beantown wears its impressive heritage on its sleeve. Calling this quaint and charming city the 'Athens of America' might seem a bit boastful, but the city's 19th century glory radiates through its grand architecture, its population of literati, artists and educators and its world-renowned academic and cultural institutions.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT -5
Area: 125
Coordinates: 42.375 latitude and -71.1029968262 longitude
Population: 600000
Area codes: 617
Getting There
Late May through June and September are the best times to visit. Everything's open, prices are moderate, days are warm and nights are cool. The busiest, most expensive times are high summer (July and August) and foliage season (late September to mid-October). During these popular times, many lodgings have restrictions about minimum stays, children, service charges, deposit refunds and payment; be sure to ask. The winters are often snowy and quite cold.
Amtrak trains will speed you to Boston (there's one from New York that takes only three hours - but it's pricey). The bus station is conveniently situated to give easy access to the city. Logan International Airport, Boston's major air hub, has good connections.
Getting around
Boston's 'T', one of the oldest subways in the country, is the best way to get around the the Boston-Cambridge area. If you're not in a rush, the city is made for walking, with urban heritage paths and lots of green. Ferries cross Boston Harbor, but it's more an excursion than an option for getting around. Cars are not really a great idea for within the city - it's a bit of a nightmare to navigate for out-of-towners.
Weather
Boston springs are ephemeral; blink and the leaves have turned from buds to full-blown shadow puppets. Summer can get a bit steamy at times but September and October are predictably pleasant, with clear blue skies, cool mornings and evenings, and warm afternoons. January and February bring harsh winds and punishing temperatures, but snowfall accumulation is measured in inches rather than feet. Air masses from the Great Lakes and Canada collide with moderate Gulf Stream currents, making for sudden and frequent weather changes. Dress in layers and be ready for anything. Surprisingly, Boston is windier than Chicago and gets more rain than Seattle.
Related cities: Aspen, Atlanta, Alaska City, USA Country
Beantown wears its impressive heritage on its sleeve. Calling this quaint and charming city the 'Athens of America' might seem a bit boastful, but the city's 19th century glory radiates through its grand architecture, its population of literati, artists and educators and its world-renowned academic and cultural institutions.
Time zone: GMT -5
Area: 125
Coordinates: 42.375 latitude and -71.1029968262 longitude
Population: 600000
Area codes: 617
Late May through June and September are the best times to visit. Everything's open, prices are moderate, days are warm and nights are cool. The busiest, most expensive times are high summer (July and August) and foliage season (late September to mid-October). During these popular times, many lodgings have restrictions about minimum stays, children, service charges, deposit refunds and payment; be sure to ask. The winters are often snowy and quite cold.
Boston's 'T', one of the oldest subways in the country, is the best way to get around the the Boston-Cambridge area. If you're not in a rush, the city is made for walking, with urban heritage paths and lots of green. Ferries cross Boston Harbor, but it's more an excursion than an option for getting around. Cars are not really a great idea for within the city - it's a bit of a nightmare to navigate for out-of-towners.
Boston springs are ephemeral; blink and the leaves have turned from buds to full-blown shadow puppets. Summer can get a bit steamy at times but September and October are predictably pleasant, with clear blue skies, cool mornings and evenings, and warm afternoons. January and February bring harsh winds and punishing temperatures, but snowfall accumulation is measured in inches rather than feet. Air masses from the Great Lakes and Canada collide with moderate Gulf Stream currents, making for sudden and frequent weather changes. Dress in layers and be ready for anything. Surprisingly, Boston is windier than Chicago and gets more rain than Seattle.
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