The weather is getting warmer, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and allergy season is in full swing. Call us biased, but Boston is beautiful in the spring! There are so many great things to see and do while enjoying the warmer weather, and we have put together a list of some of our favorites… all for less than $25.
1. Take a Swan Boat Ride in Boston’s Public Garden
Take a ride in one of Boston’s famed Swan Boats in the Public Garden Lagoon. Afterwards you can explore the nearby Boston Common which is just a short walk away. Spring hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Tickets cost $4.00 each per adult.
2. Catch a Red Sox Game
The Boston Red Sox, winner of eight World Series Championships and founded in 1901, are Boston’s beloved Major League Baseball (MLB) team. You can catch a game for just $22 for a bleacher seat.
3. Take a Tour of Fenway Park
With warmer weather comes memories of spring days accompanied by baseball, hot dogs, and beer (for the 21+ crowd). Even if you are not a Sox fan, consider a daytime tour of Fenway Park, “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark”. This one-hour walking tour runs daily, on the hour, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and costs $21 per adult.
4. Ride the Greenway Carousel
For the young or the young-at-heart, this carousel features animals native to Boston: a lobster, a whale, a harbor seal, a peregrine falcon, an owl, and more. Tickets are $4 per ride and the carousel is located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The Greenway is a 1.5 mile string of contemporary parks in the heart of Boston, between Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Christopher Columbus Park.
5. Go Shopping at the South End Open Market
SoWa Boston is the “hipper alternative” to Faneuil Hall or Newbury Street, and opens for the season on May 1. With thousands of visitors from across New England, the Market includes an Arts & Crafts Market (Sundays only), a Farmers Market (Sundays + Saturdays starting in June), a Specialty Market (Saturdays & Sundays), and Food Trucks (Sundays). While there, don’t miss the additional year-round offerings, including 90 artist studios, 6o shops & galleries, and the SoWa Vintage Market (Sundays only).
6. Take a Stroll Along Newbury Street
Boston’s famed Newbury Street is an eight-block mecca filled with salons, high-end and bohemian boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and more. Lined with historic 19th-century brownstones, it is a popular destination for both tourists and locals and is known as one of the most expensive streets in the world with its vast array of luxury goods stores.
7. Visit the Boston Harbor Islands
Beginning May 7 ferries will resume passage to Boston’s Harbor Islands, the largest recreational open space in Eastern Massachusetts comprised of 34 islands and mainland parks, just minutes from downtown Boston. The islands offer hiking, camping, fishing, boating, beaches, bird watching, and more, and are great for day trips on warm days. Visit the Boston Harbor Islands website for their spring ferry schedule; tickets run $19.95 per adult.
8. Explore the Freedom Trail
This 2.5 mile route leads you along the red-lined path to 16 historically significant sites. A self-guided tour is always free, or for $12 be led by an 18th-century Freedom Trail Player for a fantastic rendition the rich history of the American Revolution.
Official sites of the trail include: Boston Common, Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel, King’s Chapel Burying Ground, Benjamin Franklin Statue & Boston Latin School, Old Corner Book Store, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Site of Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, Bunker Hill Monument, and USS Constitution.
9. Explore Boston by Bike via Bluebikes
Bluebikes is the Boston area’s bike sharing system providing more than 2,500 bikes at 260+ stations. Starting at just $2.50 for a single pass and $10 for unlimited 2-hour trips in a 24-hour period, the city bikes are a great excuse to get outside on a beautiful Boston spring day while getting some exercise.
10. Visit The Lawn on D Powered by Citizens Bank at the BCEC
Located next to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, The Lawn On D is a first-of-its-kind outdoor interactive space that brings together different communities, audiences, and residents for innovative programming and events. Starting May 1, The Lawn on D is free and open to the public on select days and offers food and alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages for purchase, plus rotating public art exhibitions and assorted games such as bocce courts and Ping-Pong tables.