The Boston Athenaeum has deep roots in the city's history. Founded in 1807, the athenaeum is one of the country's oldest independent libraries and is home to over 600,000 volumes. This renowned cultural institution also boasts an impressive fine art collection. Explore the building's attractions on your own or opt for a 60 minute tour.
See the city from its streets and from the water with Boston Duck Tours. You'll take a ride on the amphibious DUCK vehicle and see important Beantown landmarks like the Boston Common and the Prudential Tower, and then you'll drive straight into the Charles River and see the city skyline from a distance. All the while, you'll have a tour guide telling you all about everything you're seeing.
Spend some time hanging out in the country's oldest park. The 50-acre Boston Common is the anchor for the Emerald Necklace park system and is the starting place of the famous Freedom Trail. There are quite a few monuments throughout the park, and several outdoor events take place in the Common throughout the year.
Head to the Back Bay Fens and hang out next to a beautiful freshwater marsh. Along with the marsh, this link in the Emerald Necklace park system is home to ball fields, a wartime “Victory Garden” that was established in 1941, and the popular Kelleher Rose Garden, among other outdoor attractions. While you're exploring the park, be sure to pay respects at the World War II, Vietnam, and Korean War memorials that reside in the park.