Hidden Gems in Boston: How To Get off the Beaten Path

Taking a boat ride from the Boston Harbor is one of Boston’s top activities, but there’s another, more active way to see the city from the water. Instead of a sunset cruise, try a Charles River experience, such as kayaking a stretch of the urban river or exploring by canoe. Some of the most scenic locations along the 80-mile (130-kilometer) river include Cambridge and the Allston and Brighton neighborhoods. You can also take a walk or run along the Charles River Esplanade, or bring a picnic to the river’s shores and people-watch for a while.

If you’re hoping to watch a live musical or show, heading to Broadway in New York is probably top of your list. But just a few hours away in Boston, there’s an alternative, under-the-radar theater district. Boston is known for its historical theaters, located around Washington Street, Tremont Street, Boylston Street, and Huntington Avenue, though the grand Emerson Colonial Theatre by the Boston Common is the most classic example, and a unique cultural site in Boston. Visit Boston’s Theater District on a tour of the city to learn more about it before you book tickets.

The Boston Children’s Museum, Museum of Science Boston, and New England Aquarium are some of the city’s most popular attractions, but to avoid the crowds, consider some other museums and experience the real hidden gems in Boston.

Start with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum that’s worth seeing just for its verdant interior courtyard as well as its collection of international art, then head to the Institute of Contemporary Art, or the free MassArt Museum. If you’re interested in geography, check out the Mapparium, a 3-story-tall, stained-glass globe inside the Mary Baker Eddy Library.

Related: 10 Under-the-Radar Museums in Boston

If you’re looking to head off the beaten path in Boston, consider a visit to the city’s historic cemeteries. These sites tell important stories about Boston’s early days—such as Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, which dates back to 1659 and is the resting place of ministers associated with the Salem witch trials and the man who hung the lanterns on the night of Paul Revere’s midnight ride.

Other historic cemeteries in the area include Granary Burying Ground and Burial Hill in Plymouth, where you’ll find the gravestones of important Mayflower pilgrims. Visit on a ghost tour or wander around by yourself if you dare.

If you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of Boston’s downtown area, escape to the Boston Harbor Islands. This National and State Park is made up of 34 different islands and peninsulas, all within a short distance of the city.

You can hike and go bird-watching on Spectacle Island, visit historic Fort Warren on Georges Island, or see America’s first lighthouse on Little Brewster Island. Most of these islands are accessible by ferry from Long Wharf in Boston, but some you may have to reach by car. And, of course, you can always opt for a relaxing sightseeing sail around Boston Harbor if you’re feeling historied-out.

The Boston Public Library system was originally founded in 1848, and over the centuries since has become one of the most extensive public library systems in the US. Thanks to its huge collection of books, manuscripts, and other materials in its inventory (approximately 24 million items), it’s also become one of the top local attractions in Boston.

Visit the Central Library by Copley Square to admire its classical architecture and grand murals painted by Edwin Austin Abbey and installed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You can also get some work done inside, or take a historical tour that unveils the library’s secrets.

As one of Boston’s oldest and most charming neighborhoods, Beacon Hill is a top one to visit. There, you’ll find Acorn Street, which has been called the most-photographed street in the country, thanks to its quaint cobblestone paths, picturesque red-brick row houses, and historic appeal.

But Boston has many other interesting neighborhoods to explore, many of which tourists rarely visit. Start in the residential Allston and Brighton neighborhoods where you’ll find an array of great restaurants, or check out the smallest neighborhood in Boston, Bay Village. This small, tree-lined quarter is often called the city’s secret garden because it’s often overlooked.

Related: 9 of the Best Neighborhoods in Boston and How To Visit

Whether you’re a book lover in search of your next read or visiting during the winter and hoping for an indoor activity to escape the cold, don’t miss out on Boston’s book shops. One of the most intriguing is Brattle Book Shop, one of the country’s oldest used bookstores that is home to more than 200,000 books and magazines that are used or out of print.

When near Harvard Square, check out the Harvard Bookstore, a Cambridge mainstay since 1932. And if you happen to find yourself wandering through historic Back Bay, don’t miss your chance to stop for a coffee and pastry at Trident Booksellers & Cafe, a neighborhood favorite since 1984.

Boston may not be as well known a foodie city as nearby New York, but it has an underrated culinary scene worth exploring on a food tour. And you have your pick of options—walk through the North End to taste Italian favorites that represent the city’s Italian American heritage, try all the dumplings in Chinatown, sample seafood at the Fish Pier, or learn more about the city through its sweets on a doughnut-themed food tour. Whatever you choose, you’re sure to come away with a true taste for Boston and its unique blend of cultural influences from around the world.