The Boston area is home base for your Nomad in Chief so this posting is long overdue. If you choose to extend a business trip through the weekend, there are many things to do in this historic city — from museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner to the Freedom Trail to walking the Olstead-designed Emerald Necklace parks.
I’d like to share three lesser-known attractions with you. The first is a trip to the Boston Harbor Islands. This off-shore national recreation area is easily reached by ferry and offers a great escape from the hustle-and-bustle of downtown. Head out for a hike and picnic and take in both nature and history while you are at it. It is a perfect half-day excursion.
The second is a walking tour of Cambridge, just across the Charles River from Boston. Take the Red Line from the Boston side and you’ll be there in under 10 minutes. I suggest a walk in the Brattle Street neighborhood just outside of Harvard Square for a 60-90 minute urban hike rich in beautiful architecture and historic sites. The houses, now some of the most valuable real estate in the country, includes several that date back to the Revolutionary War period.
To trace one of my favorite routes, start in Harvard Square and head west on Brattle Street. Either side of the street offers much to see so take one side on the way out and the other for your return. Continue on Brattle until you reach your first traffic light at Fayerweather Street. Turn right on Fayerweather and walk until you see Reservoir Street. Take a right again. Take your next right on Highland Street. Go one block until you hit Appleton Street. Take a right. Now take your next left on Brewster Street. Just across from the intersection of Brewster Street and Riedesel Avenue you’ll see Robert Frost’s former house. Take a right on Riedesel and this will bring you back to Brattle. Take a left on Brattle and walk back to Harvard Square. There are many potential variations to this route so explore to your heart’s content.
If you are starting or ending around mealtime, stop by Casablanca in Harvard Square for a juicy burger or some of their north African inspried cuisine.
The third destination requires a train or car ride north to Salem. There you will find the Peabody Essex Museum, an outstanding museum that is often overlooked by those who stay in town. The Peabody Essex has an outstanding collection of artifacts relating to the China Trade and New England’s seafaring roots. The collection comprises more than one million objects. A must-see is the “Chinese House” that was brought from China and painstakingly rebuilt by hand at the museum. However the Peabody Essex also hosts contemporary exhibits including photography, fashion, and much more.
On your next business trip to the Hub, find a way to spend an extra night and explore some of the many interesting and unusual sights that make Boston a favorite city for many. See our Boston page for hotel and restaurant recommendations.
