A Local’s Guide to Exploring Boston

As a child, I pictured Boston as it was portrayed in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. A city of shenanigans; a place where every employee got their own family-sized suite. And then, I grew up, and life happened—just as it always does.

However, no amount of reality check could deter this born-and-bred Southern belle from going to college in this gorgeous city that has something in store for everybody. 

Here’s how to get around Boston the next time you’re there.

The Best Places to Stay

While this Boston-phyliac couldn’t find anything close to the Tipton, her hotel hunt wasn’t entirely futile.Check out the best hotels I ever had the pleasure of visiting.

Boston Harbor Hotel: The 5 Star Bonanza

On paper, the Boston Harbor Hotel is located on the historic Rowes Wharf and is a short distance from all of the city’s most happening places. It features its very own luxury spa, fitness center, sea view, and award-winning restaurants.

Personal Favorite: Beds made for sleep. No, really. The mattress is probably laced with something because I would just go straight to REM the moment my head hit the pillow.

The Godfrey Hotel: A Premium Budget Experience

Located in Downtown Boston, The Godfrey Hotel more than makes up for its high-traffic location with the amenities it provides. The hotel features its own fusion food establishment and coffee shop that is so good you wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. The rooms in the suite I booked were clean, the staff friendly, and you can get around the city by renting a bike for free!

Personal Favorite: The duck with red wine. The first duck I ever had outside a Caesar salad, and it made my taste buds sing.

The Best Places to Eat

When visiting famous eateries, rent a bike or go off on foot. You do not want to get stuck in the Walking City during mealtimes. 

Here’s a little 24-hour itinerary.

Breakfast at the Flour

Start your day with the Flour Bakery & Café for proximity, if nothing else. Flour’s got multiple locations around the city, so there’s bound to be one near you. Try the authentic sticky buns or get one of their signature egg sandwiches for a sophisticated first meal.

Personal Favorite: The smell of Christmas all year round.

Lunch at Stillwater

You can have a brunch or lunch at Stillwater if you’re looking for a restaurant that’s open before 2pm on a Saturday. True to its Southern roots, the place offers nostalgic food like honey chicken and biscuits and Texas toast sandwiches. It’s also the perfect first place to eat if you’ve just come up here to study and need to feel at home away from home.

Personal Favorite: The smoked pork mac and cheese: Melt in the mouth protein and pasta that has no business being this al dente.

Dinner at 75 Chestnut

The 75 Chestnut is a quaint-looking restaurant and bar at 75 Chestnut Street. As it’s a strictly first-come, first-sit place on weekdays, you might want to go there with a full stomach because, by the time you make it in, you’ll be feeling quite peckish. 

As for the meals, they’re classic American comfort food first, meaning you’ll need at least 30 minutes to recover from the ensuing food coma.

Personal Favorite: Despite all the buzz surrounding it, the place has a local bistro ambiance.

The Best Places to Visit

When I say there are “numerous”attractions in Boston to visit, I’m not just throwing adjectives around. I hate to limit them, but here are two of my favorites.

(Don’t) Steal a Brownstone at Beacon Hill

Architecture is the one good thing to come out of colonialism. While not much of it remains, some neighborhoods have stood the test of time. One of them being Beacon Hill.

The townhouses, albeit a few grand out of my price range (probably), are made of some of the most stunning brownstone. You have to be there to feel it, but the place just has this serene hush to it during the day.

Personal Favorite: The gas lamps lining the streets at night.

Spend a Day at The Freedom Trail

The 2.5-mile Freedom Trail is nothing to scoff at. It’s a crash course in US history that features a total of 16 sites, from churches to notable homes and more. There’s no entry fee at some of them, but the ones you do have to pay for are worth every penny.

Personal Favorite: The Bunker Hill Monument for aerial views of the trail and the rest of the city.

The Best Place to Leave Your Baggage 

Let Cubby take care of your things while you go on a whirl around the city. The luggage storage service was a lifesaver when I couldn’t handle lugging my suitcases around everywhere. 

Apart fromBoston, they also provide baggage storage in Las Vegas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, DC, Orlando, New York,and Galveston.