Duck Tours Boston Common Beacon Hill Boston Marathon Boston Theater Emerald Necklace

Bank of America Pavilion - Situated

along the South Boston Waterfront, Bank of America Pavilion is a spectacular open-air amphitheater that presents a variety of music performances and concerts during the summer.

With incredible views of the Harbor, Boston skyline, and the working piers, Bank of America Pavilion is Boston’s premier concert, event and music venue, showcasing the most impressive performers and bands in the world. Visit www.bankofamericapavilion.com.

Boston Duck Tours -

Enjoy a fun land and water tour of Boston on legendary Boston Duck Tours. Board your DUCK - an authentic, renovated World War II amphibious landing vehicle - for a narrated journey through Boston. You'll cruise by famous attractions such as the golden-domed State House, Bunker Hill, TD Banknorth Garden, Boston Common, Copley Square, Big Dig, Government Center, Newbury Street, Quincy Market and the Prudential Tower. As you explore the sights and neighborhoods of Boston, your ConDUCKtor will give interesting insights about this unique, historic city. At the end of the tour, you’ll splash down into the Charles River for a water adventure with breathtaking views of the Boston and Cambridge skylines. Visit www.bostonducktours.com

Public Garden -

Adjacent to Boston Common, the Public Garden is a beautiful park in the heart of Boston at the north end of the Emerald Necklace. Established in 1837 as the first public botanical garden in the country, the magnificent 24-acre acre landscape features a series of formal gardens, a lake, the Lagoon, famous statues and monuments, fountains, paths for meandering, the world’s smallest suspension bridge and a 4-acre pond that is home to the Swan Boats, one of the most famous Boston attractions operated for over 100 years.

Ride the famous Swan Boats and get pedaled around the lake by a tour guide who sits in a splendid white swan. The Victorian-style gardens feature 80 species of unusual plants, colorful flowers, exotic imported trees, and showy annuals. The Garden is a romantic site for weddings and private events. Visit www.cityofboston.gov/parks/emerald/public_garden.asp.

Boston Common -

Founded 1634, Boston Common is America’s oldest and most historic park -echoing 350 years of history - the gathering of the Colonial militia for the Revolution, the encampment of British Redcoats, where George Washington and John Adams celebrated our nation's independence, Civil War recruitment and anti-slavery meetings, World War I victory gardens, and anti-Vietnam War and civil rights rallies including one led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Far from the days of militia formations and public hangings, Boston Common is a beautiful green space with trees, walkways, a statuary, fountains, ballparks, a playground and the Frog Pond, which provides skating in winter and a spray pool in the summer. Visit http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks/emerald/Boston_Common.asp.

Newbury Street -

Known as the "Rodeo Drive of the East," Boston’s fashionable Newbury Street is an enchanting shopping, dining and tourist destination. Nestled in the Back Bay neighborhood, the 2-mile strand of fashion and style is lined with an eclectic mix of trendy shops, high-end fashion boutiques, fabulous dining establishments, chic salons, and a hip collection of bars and pubs. With a rich history dating back to the mid-1800’s, this chic urban retail community has broad sidewalks, historic architecture, colorful street vendors and a diverse mix of people who flock here to get their style on.

Beacon Hill -

Beacon Hill is an affluent19th-century downtown Boston neighborhood known for its famous cobblestone streets, beautiful doors and brass knockers, decorative iron work, brick sidewalks, working gas lights, ancient elms, flowering pear trees, hidden gardens, 19th-century row houses and Federal, Greek Revival and Victorian architecture, including early 20th-century colonial revival homes. In addition to one-of-a-kind boutiques and antique, art, and clothing shops that line Charles Street, the National Historic District boasts famous sights, including the Massachusetts State House at the top of the Hill overlooking Boston Common.

A walking tour reveals attractions such as Boston Athenaeum, Boston Public Garden, Nichols House Museum, the cobblestone driveway of 85 Mt. Vernon St., Louisburg Sq., a large Greek revival houses associated with Boston wealth, Sunflower House, Charles St. Meeting House, the 1804 former church where abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass spoke, and the original Cheers bar at the Hampshire House. Visit www.beaconhillonline.com.

Harvard Square -

The historic neighborhood surrounding Harvard University has always been considered the bohemian capital of Massachusetts. While some of the quaint independent retailers have been replaced by larger national chains, there are still many excellent shops, boutiques and bookstores to browse.

Boston Marathon -

The world's oldest annual marathon, the Boston Marathon is a 26-mile American classic and one of the most esteemed road racing events on the planet. Completed by more than 20,000 runners in 2007, the Boston Marathon has distinguished itself as the top event within the sport of road racing by virtue of its tradition, longevity and qualification criteria to enter. The historic course begins in the rural town of Hopkinton and finishes near John Hancock Tower in Copley Square. The 112th Boston Marathon will be run April 21, 2008. To register for the upcoming marathon, visit www.bostonmarathon.org.

Massachusetts State House -

Designed by Charles Bulfinch, the historic Massachusetts State House was built in John Hancock's pasture from 1795 to 1798 and overlooks Boston Common. Enjoy a free tour that begins in Doric Hall and see Paul Revere's original copper dome - now leafed in gold - and the 'Sacred Cod and the Holy Mackerel'. The Doric Dames and volunteers show visitors around from 10 am to 3:30 pm. Groups can schedule a tour by calling (617) 727-3676.

Boston Theater District -

Just south of Boston Common, towards the west end of the Financial District, Boston's Theatre District offers magnificent theaters with world-class entertainment and performing arts- from opera to Broadway extravaganzas. Discover Boston’s landmark Opera House - an architectural jewel and New England's most historically significant performing arts venue - Schubert Theatre - the grand princess of the Theater District - Colonial Theater - the oldest continuously operating theatre in Boston - Wang Center for the Performing Arts - one of the nation’s foremost performing arts institutions - Charles Playhouse - Boston's most active Off-Broadway theatre space - Cutler Majestic Theatre, Orpheum Theater - a 3,000-seat arena that hosts rock bands and comedy acts - Lyric Stage Company, and the Wilbur Theatre - which presents touring and pre-Broadway theatre productions.

Franklin Park Zoo -

Nestled in Boston’s historic Franklin Park, the jewel of the Emerald Necklace Park System, Franklin Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in North America and the largest zoo in all of New England. The historic zoo - added to the park in 1911 - features 72 acres of lush habitat for an exotic animal collection, including a Masai giraffe and a herd of Grevy’s zebra of the Giraffe Savannah, western lowland gorillas of the Tropical Forest, African lions of the Kalahari Kingdom, and a white tiger. Visit www.franklinparkzoo.org.

Boston’s Emerald Necklace -

Boston's Emerald Necklace is a 1,100-acre chain of nine beautiful parks linked by parkways and waterways. This linear system of parks and parkways connects Boston Common and the Public Garden through the Arnold Arboretum to Franklin Park - the largest park in Boston. The lovely waterways, botanical gardens, peaceful meadows and tree museums make up the "jewels" in the Emerald Necklace plays a vital role in linking Boston citizens together through nature. From Boston Common to Franklin Park it is approximately 7 miles by foot or bicycle through the parks. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year.

Franklin Park -

The “country park” offers wide open green space and pastoral scenery for city dwellers, including a common, a woodland preserve, a garden, a mall, a river glen, ponds, an arboretum, a zoo, sports and recreation areas, a stadium, and an 18-hole golf course. Visit the zoo, play a round of golf, enjoy a picnic, stroll the lush landscape or play ball in Franklin Park's vast expanse of green.