Our second full day in Boston began with sunshine and blue skies — perfect for another day on foot exploring the city. After a great night’s sleep and with our walking legs well and truly warmed up from yesterday’s Freedom Trail, we set off for what would be another long but brilliant day of sightseeing.
Breakfast once again came courtesy of Quincy Market — freshly baked bagels piled high with cream cheese and steaming coffees enjoyed in the morning sun. It’s fast becoming one of our favourite morning routines. After soaking up the lively market atmosphere, we set off on a gentle stroll through the city towards the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum on the waterfront.
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party is one of the most iconic moments in American history — the spark that helped ignite the American Revolution. On 16 December 1773, a group of colonists, frustrated by British taxation without representation, boarded three ships in Boston Harbour and dumped 342 chests of British tea into the water. Their protest against the Tea Act became a defining act of defiance and a rallying cry for independence.
The modern-day museum brings this event to life — complete with re-enactments, interactive displays and, somewhat amusingly, tourists gleefully throwing mock tea crates into the harbour while whooping with patriotic enthusiasm. We wandered through the gift shop, bought a few bits of tourist tat, and quietly enjoyed the spectacle with a smile. It might be a little theatrical, but it’s still a fascinating place to experience a key chapter of American history.
Boston Common and a Different Kind of Tea Party
From the harbour we wandered back up through the city to Boston Common, where a rather different kind of “tea party” was taking place — a full-blown Cannabis Festival. Stalls selling every imaginable derivative of the plant filled the park, while clouds of smoke drifted lazily across the green. It’s still a bit of a culture shock to see marijuana being sold, smoked and celebrated openly, but if it works for them and the government can tax it, who are we to argue? The smell, however, is something we could do without!
Walking to Fenway Park
After exploring the Common, we began the long walk through Back Bay towards Fenway Park — the oldest Major League Baseball stadium in the USA. The route took us along broad, tree-lined avenues flanked by grand houses and statues before joining Newbury Street, a lively stretch full of independent shops and hip cafés. We stopped at a quirky Friends-themed café called Central Perk for coffee and then carried on, weaving our way through the city until the famous red-brick façade of Fenway finally came into view.
Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox
Opened in 1912, Fenway Park has been home to the Boston Red Sox for more than a century and is one of the most beloved sports venues in America. Known for its distinctive features — particularly the 37-foot-high left field wall nicknamed the “Green Monster” — it’s steeped in baseball history and nostalgia. Legends such as Ted Williams and David Ortiz have graced its field, and the park has survived fires, floods and endless near-demolitions to remain an enduring Boston landmark.
We decided against watching a game (neither of us fully understands the rules of America’s answer to rounders), but we’d booked a guided tour instead. It turned out to be a fun couple of hours — informative, entertaining and, for two clueless Brits, surprisingly interesting. We toured the stands, sat atop the Green Monster and even peered into the press boxes. It’s smaller than you might expect, but full of character. Still, give me a cold Saturday afternoon at the City Ground watching Nottingham Forest any day of the week!
Back Through the City
After the tour we wandered through the Red Sox gift shop and grabbed a couple of beers at a nearby bar before making our way back through the city. We retraced our steps along Newbury Street, stopped for a few final coffees and shops, and strolled once more through Boston Common as the afternoon began to fade.
Another Italian Feast in the North End
For our final night in Boston we headed back to the North End in search of another Italian dinner. The area was absolutely packed, and finding a table without an hour’s wait was a challenge. We eventually landed at Ricardo’s Ristorante on North Street. The food was good, if not spectacular — tasty pasta, a couple of cold beers — but the service was a bit slow. The highlight, though, was the Porsche 911 parked right outside the window, which provided excellent dinner entertainment!
We skipped dessert here as we had plans to try Modern Pastry, the main rival to Mike’s Pastry, but the queue was enormous. Instead, we strolled back to the hotel for a couple of Sam Adams beers in the bar before calling it a night. Another brilliant day of exploring, with over 25,000 steps logged and a much warmer appreciation for Boston than when we first arrived.
Next Up
Tomorrow we leave Boston and begin our journey south once again — heading for Falmouth and the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, before continuing down the coast towards The Hamptons and back to New York City.
