Guide to Boston: Arts & Culture

Is Boston the Athens of America?

According to the Lonely Planet travel guide, May through June and September are the best times to visit Boston--the so-called "Athens of America." Start your holiday in the sun by checking out Boston Harbor Islands National Park. Made up of thirty-four islands off Boston Harbor, the park abounds with hiking trails and picnic areas. Relax in the sun, watch birds, fish, or swim in the ocean; the beaches are only forty-five minutes from downtown.

You can also check out the interactive exhibits at Boston's Children's Museum, near the South Boston Waterfront, or visit the nearby New England Aquarium.

Love baseball? Catch a game at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. While you're there, you can take time to admire the contrast in architecture, from the baseball stadium to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, build to resemble a Venetian-style palazzo.

Boston Museums: Experience Art and History

From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, Boston pays tribute to a rich history seeped in that of the nation itself through a variety of museums and institutions. If you a history buff, he Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology aren't to be missed.

A continual home to poets and artists, it's only natural that Boston would house a plethora of art museums. Besides the Museum of Fine Arts, art lovers can look forward to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Arts.

The Sound of Music

What's art without music? While there are plenty of underground bars and clubs offering a variety of modern tunes—like punk or rock—those yearning for something more traditional won't be disappointed. The Boston Symphony Orchestra is world renown, as is the Boston Pops. Enjoy an evening at the Boston Lyric Opera, or check out a performance by the Boston Ballet Company.

Source
Lonely Planet Boston