Weekends By Ky: Boston

Boston is uncharted territory for me and I literally didn’t know what to expect. I tried ask around for other’s opinion on the city and got mixed reviews. My intern just returned from Boston on a college tour and exclaimed: “Some of Boston’s buildings resemble warehouses” and my boss, well his words of advice were “You have to try the ricotta cheesecake at Modern Pastry in the North End.” Honestly, from the mixed reactions, I had little expectations but decided to come to my own conclusion.

My mom and grandmother were my companions for this trip. We got off the Greyhound at Southwark station around 6:45 PM Friday evening and caught a cab to the Revere Hotel located in Downtown Boston’s theater district. What I immediately loved about Boston was how much it reminded me of my college years; there were so many young people (most likely students since Boston is home to some of the best schools in the country).

Check-in at the Revere Hotel was very accommodating. I had business cards sent to the venue and the staff was able to get them delivered to my room, despite the mailroom being closed for the night.The Revere Hotel is a funky boutique hotel, with colorful and abstract pieces of art. It was very easy to call this hotel home for the weekend because of its cozy feel. One of the first things I noticed upon entering the room was the pillow menu, (A pillow menu?) now that’s accommodating. It gives you the option to choose the type of pillow you want, hypoallergenic? Anti-Snore? Or how soft or hard you want it to be We decided to eat dinner at Legal Seafood. I had the New England Clam Chowder. It was pretty good, but I’ve tasted better. My entree consisted of mashed potatoes and cajun shrimp. You can’t go to Boston without trying the Clam Chowder and Boston Cream Pie, it’s almost obligatory.

The rest of the weekend, when I was not at my Women In Travel conference (which is what brought me to Boston in the first place), I spent trying to get a feel for the city. It snowed all day Saturday, but on our last day it was sunny (cold, but sunny). I had a 2-hour break to explore. We went to Modern Pastry to try the delicious cheesecake and pastries. We then walked around the neighborhood, admiring the quaint townhomes and narrow stone streets. We came across some noteworthy landmarks including the Paul Revere Statue, Old North Church and The Massachusetts State House. We stumbled across an historic chocolate and printing shop where I was able to see how chocolates were made and tasted during the revolutionary period. Boston was charming, to say the least. It’s the perfect getaway if you want a change in scenery and to learn a little about American History.

According to Ky: 6 Things to Do in Boston

1-Try to attend a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party

2-Be adventurous like me and tackle the freedom tour without a tour guide

3-Join the debate; Do you prefer Mike’s Pastries or Modern Pastries? Take your pick!

4-You must try Boston Cream Pie and New England Clam Chowder while in Boston, it’s a must!

5-Visit a museum. I didn’t get a chance to do this, but I would’ve loved to visit the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of African American History

6-Visit the Cheers Bar from the famous TV show, where everybody knows your name.

Ky’s Verdict:

Boston is beautiful and filled with so much history. From it’s quaint homes to its historical landmarks, this is a city that I would definitely visit again. I have to admit, and I am going to be honest here, after hearing stories about the race relations in Boston, I had some reservations about how I would be welcomed as an African American woman, nevertheless, my experience was quite the opposite. The people are very pleasant and accommodating. I didn’t feel like an outsider at all. I was welcomed with smiles and small talk by the locals. The customer service was amazing. I really enjoyed my weekend here and I am happy I didn’t let the opinions of others deter me from my travels. This is why we should all travel, to break down misconceptions and to learn.