The Thrifty Gypsy's Travels : Destination: Boston, MA

City skyline as seen from the U.S.S. Constitution
(C) Thrifty Gypsy

"When you think about Boston, Harvard and MIT are the brains of the city, and its soul might be Faneuil Hall or the State House or the Old Church. But I think the pulsing, pounding heart of Boston is Fenway Park."
-John Williams, composer

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There's just something about Boston. Compared to other major cities of the world, it's on the smaller side (London's population is three times that of Boston), but its appeal is undeniably global. Maybe it's because Boston can offer a little of everything. History buff? Take your pick of places, whether it be Faneuil Hall, the State House, the Old North Church, or the area around Bunker Hill. Sports more your thing? Well, you better be rooting for the Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Patriots, or buddy, you're in for a few dirty looks! Or how about culture? From the Boston pops to Harvard to the Museum of Fine Arts, Beantown can keep you classy indefinitely.

But more than its attractions or good food, Boston has attitude, and that is what really fascinates me! It's the combination of suited men toting briefcases with die-hard fans decked head-to-toe in their team's paraphernalia. It's the gritty, stand-offish personalities you encounter on the metro system juxtaposed against the friendly bartender offering you another Sam Adams brew. It's the familiarity of historical sites standing side-by-side with a vibrant, eclectic city. It's the solidarity of its citizens in the face of tragedy or the irony of seeing a Gadsden flag, currently a symbol for conservative politics, hanging in the sanctuary of a church that leans liberal.

And for me, it's even more than that. My father's family hails from New England (from Foxboro, to be precise), and I was born up there. Although most of my formative years and all of my adulthood have been spent in Virginia, my roots are in Massachusetts, and I'll always return for a fix of the dramatic, rocky coastline and crazy drivers!

We visited Boston just three weeks ago for my uncle's wedding. It was the first time I'd been up there in three years, and it was the first time I could show Mr. Gypsy some of the wonderful sights Boston has to offer! In one morning alone we followed the Freedom Trail from the Old State House to Faneuil Hall, past Paul Revere's house, to the Old North Church, Bunker Hill and the U.S.S. Constitution! We even managed to squeeze in a lunch at The Green Dragon Tavern, which was frequented by the likes of Paul Revere and John Hancock back in the day!


Faneuil Hall (C) Thrifty Gypsy

Even after wearing out our shoes on the Freedom Trail, we still had plenty of energy left to laugh and dance with my family all afternoon and evening at the Willowdale Estate in Topsfield for my uncle's wedding. More than the sightseeing or the excitement of being away in a new place, celebrating with my uncle and new aunt on their wedding day, surrounded by family, and making new memories with them is what made the weekend, hands down. My dad's side of the family is scattered all down the East Coast from Massachusetts to Charleston, SC, and it's a rare occasion for so many of us to be under one roof. It's certainly a highlight of my year!

Sights along the Freedom Trail
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

We rounded out our weekend with an excursion to Plimoth Plantation, south of Boston by about an hour, to learn about the settlers who arrived there in 1620 on the Mayflower and the Native American people who lived in Massachusetts at that time. But before we knew it, we were boarding our flight back to Richmond, sad that the weekend was over and anxious for a repeat. With great flight deals between the River City and Beantown, hopefully it won't be another three years before we can go back to explore more of what Boston has to offer!

Have you been to Boston? What were your favorite things to see or do?