Before going to Boston we added Good Will Hunting Bench on our itinerary and watched again the…read moremovie released in 1997 starring Robin Williams (amazing performance) and a young Matt Damon (talented). We made it our mission to find the exact bench where they filmed the scene while visiting the Public Garden so we went on a goose chase. It's not easy, but there's lot of info out there so we did find it, bonding with other fellow Angeleno-s who were also visiting and trying to find the bench. We managed to take photos of each other and it was a fun shared experience. We love finding movie locations so we enjoyed tracking another one while in Boston for a landmark film shot in the city!

This is a neat landmark from a movie. The movie good Will hunting was filmed around here or in…read morespots and this is the bench that is famous in a scene from the movie

During our last stay in Boston, we had a room that had a direct view of the John Hancock tower…read more It was such a beautiful sight...especially at night...most of the offices were lit up and it made the whole building look almost magical. This towering skyscraper stands tall at 790 feet, making it the tallest building in New England. Construction on the John Hancock Tower began in 1968 and was completed in 1976. The tower is made up of reflective glass panels that give it a sleek and modern appearance The John Hancock Tower is located in the heart of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, at 200 Clarendon Street. If you are lucky to go up to some of the high floors, you could enjoy great views of the city.

I *SO* wish I was writing this review under different circumstances. There is now a deep pain…read moreassociated with this building... but this isn't the building's fault - thus no stars deducted. You see, I used to work at one of the companies within. I don't want to name it, so let's say I was somewhere between 50%-75% of the way up. To say it was a dream job is an understatement; I couldn't have dreamt it up if I tried. Well, my employment ended in less than six months. Not 100% my fault, not 100% theirs... even if you were to find the numbers, they probably wouldn't add up to 100 either - sometimes in life there is a sprinkle of rotten luck. I had a lot of pride not only in the company I worked for and in the work I did, but also for where (physically) I worked. Friends and colleagues would often ask me, and I would tell them I work right in the John Hancock Tower. Outwardly, I would [try to] be completely nonchalant about it, but inside I felt just a little hurt when the other person wasn't as wowed as I was walking into work every day. From inside, well, the view is incredible, of course. The one caveat is the nighttime view isn't what you would expect (nor what I accurately conveyed in the photos). I think it is partly due to the blue mirror coating on the glass - it reflects some of the now rather scarce blue light. As an architectural symbol, it is probably as uniquely Boston as Fenway. Something that is immediately recognizable. Yes, there are valid criticisms about its location right next to Trinity Church, and how it fits into the overall landscape. It is said, correctly, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I for one, despite what anyone else says, think the building is wicked awesome. I also love how one can see it from very far away (I've seen it from Lynn and Weymouth!) There is also some fascinating history surrounding the building, including cases where the glass would fall out, and many windows were replaced with wooden panels. Or, how it was determined that under certain wind conditions, the building could fall - and reinforcements were added to the structure, as well as a stabilizer on one of the top floors. With all this, and especially the privilege of having worked inside it, there is not conceivable way I would award anything less than five stars.

On Boylston st. Just south where the Boston Public garden & Boston Common meet you can find the…read moreEdgar Allan Poe statue. Another cool statue that you can stumble upon just walking through Boston. During the Boston marathon weekend this one of the statues the city put a participant bib on. The only one statue I saw with a bib was the Democratic Donkey by old city hall. Makes me wonder how many statues in the city does Boston put bibs on during marathon weekend.

I've been a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe's writings since middle school. Re-reading his stories is…read moresomething I never get bored doing. For that reason, this statue holds a special place in my heart (as I'm sure it is for thousands more like me who love his literature). It's a beautifully designed bronze sculpture created by Stefanie Rocknak in 2014. It is located at the Edgar Allan Poe Square. As he was originally from Boston, it seems a fitting tribute to his memory.

One of my favorite things to do on vacation is wondering around new areas without an itinerary…read more This was a lovely spot to walk around and check out shops! There was plenty to do! Mom and I wondered for a few hours in just this area alone!

Beautiful location. Beautiful stores. Expensive! If you're ready to spend some money, come to…read moreNewberry Street. So much to choose from the high end luxury stores. I love it!!

Every time I think of Boston this is one of the first places that comes to mind. Whenever I visit I…read moremake a point to stop here. This is the place where I had my first Boston cream pie and I will never forget it. Feneuil Hall dates back to the 1700s and was created as a meeting Hall and marketplace, but later became a very important site for public speeches during the American revolution. You can still feel the history here in the spirit and the gorgeous architecture of the space. Every time I visit it feels so vibrant and alive. It's almost always packed with people and has a great energy. You can find amazing food here and I wasn't joking about my first ever Boston cream pie. I was born and raised on the west coast and it's just not something that we eat out there. Ever since my first bite, if Boston cream pie is an option anywhere, that is the choice I am making. It's so simple, but so delicious! Boston has so much to see and do. There is such a rich history here that it can be hard to choose just a few activities during a visit. I've been lucky enough to visit many times and do many things here and I would still put Feneuil Hall at the top of my list. Between the architecture, the history and the atmosphere, its's definitely a must-do and you could honestly probably move through this one quickly, but it's much better if you take your time, grab something to eat and just let yourself enjoy being part of the city for a little while.

National Park Service does a great job with narrated lectures of the hall and informal Q&As from…read morevisitors. In our freedom trail tour, we heard about this, so we decided to come back and check it out. We are glad we did, as it was neat to see the paintings, the history of the hall and the history that has occurred in the hall. We were disappointed the third floor artillery display was not available for viewing, as my son was looking forward to seeing it. Evidently the volunteers were not there that day, but we were sorry we were not able to see it. Otherwise, it was a great experience!

Always gotta stop by when visiting the garden. It's fun to see them dressed up in seasonal, Boston…read moresports teams, etc throughout the year! Love Momma Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack Duckling Day Parade is held annually on Mothers Day. Family friendly activities and parade where kids dress up as characters from the book! How cute is that!? Metered parking around Boston Public Garden and underground Boston Common Garage

We stopped to admire the Make Way For Ducklings statue in Boston Public Garden. It is such a cute…read moreaddition to the park. Having worked in Youth Services at a library I am very familiar with Robert McCloskey. Children love his books. There were several people admiring the statue and a photographer taking pictures. The statue is located close to an entrance to the Boston Public Garden and is easy to find.

Honoring the people of MA who were affected by this tragedy. My pics reflect the street in whole…read moreand the beautiful historical churches and buildings. Even the Bank of America has a yellow unicorn inside to symbolize the marathon.

This is a wonderful memorial that is dedicated to those that lost their lives during the Boston…read moremarathon attack. We rode through here got out I saw the easy to miss monument if you're not looking for it and the plans for the Boston marathon will continue like it says in one of the memorials that always remember the year 2013 the day that it unfortunately happened. But it's an overall nice memorial to a tragedy that should've never happened

Just walk through and you'll see the history. Rough around the edges, but it has it plenty of food…read moreand drink places to explore while in Boston. Within walking distance from our hotel by the Waterfront area.

I always enjoy visiting a Chinatown if there's one in the city I explore. So, there was no doubt…read moreI'd check the one in Boston, very close to downtown, located near a subway stop that bears its name. The majestic gate is the key to the kingdom, the entrance to a nice, cool area, ready to be checked out! The gate at Boston's Chinatown, is big, impressive, nicely decorated guarded by two lions. It's located at Beach st. and donated by the government of Taiwan in 1982. It's a great stop to take some photos, I couldn't resist, I also took some for some other fellow tourists! One of the main spots to check out in Chinatown! Nice landmark of the city!

I run everywhere in Somerville and today's course was through the monument. Nice view during the…read morerun. Grass area someone was working out which was nice as well. Good hill training.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! I LOVE CASTLES! This is one of the Secret…read moreHidden Gems of America that most people have never heard about or been to before. The Prospect Hill Monument is a stone structure in the shape of a mini Castle & is located in Somerville, Massachusetts just outside of Boston. This is a residential area with homes. It is also a historic site & provides panoramic views of Boston & surrounding cities. There is also a small park in this neighborhood here with green grass, park benches & a good spot for picnicking & relaxing. It's great place to visit Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall with a changing natural New England landscape. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PARK OTHERWISE YOU MAY GET A TICKET. Park only at the signs where it says it's OK to Park; it's a residential area. You can also visit here by Mass Transit too. This site is only a few blocks away & up the hill from the bustling heart of Union Square. There are a lot of local businesses & eateries there. The medieval fortress tower was constructed out of stone & steel. It was built in 1903 to commemorate the site's military importance during the Revolutionary & Civil Wars. The Tower stands 4 stories tall. Climb the stairs to the the first outdoor open deck, & you'll see great views of Boston, Somerville, & Cambridge. The inside of the tower & top were open pre-pandemic periodically at various times. Check the website for current info & updates. Be sure to go all around the tower on the ground level. There are plaques with lots of detailed info all around the tower. Also check out all the signs throughout the Park telling you even more info about this spot & how it was instrumental in uniting the colonies. On January 1, 1776, General George Washington himself who would later become the first President of the United States, during the Revolutionary War hoisted the very first national flag of America on this very spot. It was called the Grand Union Flag & predates The Famous Betsy Ross Flag. Our current red & white Stripes with 50 Stars flag is not flown here. Lots of people miss this. Zoom in with your camera & you will see the First Flag of America. The Grand Union Flag is still flown here on top of the tower. It has red & white stripes but with the blue British Union Jack in the corner instead of the Stars. It's Pretty Cool that they still fly our very first national flag here. To make it worth your trip be sure to visit the extremely popular Union Square Donuts which has Great Donuts & is only a few blocks away. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!