One week in Boston (Cambridge, Somerville: rent, house, neighborhoods)

[Scorpion3510]

Hey everyone! I will be visiting Boston for work in early June for a week. Will have to be in the office during the majority of the day but wanted to know if there are some Boston "musts" while I'm here. Coming from California so it's a bit of a ways. I'm staying near Suffolk U and working near North station on the T.


Into to history, hiking/outdoors/parks, and craft beer. Boston is the last major/medium US city that I haven't been to so I'm excited!


Thanks in advance for your replies.

[timberline742]

Craft beer: Trillium is the place to hit. Not sure if they will do their beer garden in the greenway again, and I don't know if their new Ft Point location will be open by then, so check their website and or facebook.


Will you have a car? Just wondering before I go down making other recommendations.


For tap list paired with food: Row 34
Just tap list: Tip Tap Room can be good. Lord Hobos and both Bukowskis locations are good.

[mwj119]

Originally Posted by Scorpion3510

Hey everyone! I will be visiting Boston for work in early June for a week. Will have to be in the office during the majority of the day but wanted to know if there are some Boston "musts" while I'm here. Coming from California so it's a bit of a ways. I'm staying near Suffolk U and working near North station on the T.


Into to history, hiking/outdoors/parks, and craft beer. Boston is the last major/medium US city that I haven't been to so I'm excited!


Thanks in advance for your replies.

To build off of the Trillium recommendation, Lamplighter, Lord Hobo, and Aeroanaut make some tasty New England IPAs (though California is producing some great ones now too). These three are all within two miles of eachother in Cambridge/Somerville, which are 'suburbs' or sister cities with hip neighborhoods and a lot of cool spots to check out.. Harvard Square is a must. If you like live music and decide to dedicate a night to Cambridge, The Sinclair is a local institution with some big names that role through. May be worth checking into shows. Alden & Harlow and Wayfair are in Harvard Square by the Sinclair, so it's easy to map a fun day/night with good eats.

In Boston, Back Bay - Boylston/Newbury Street, Beacon Hill - Charles Street, sailing on the river/rent bikes and ride on the river, seeing a game at Fenway, a Harbor Boat Cruise, dinner in the North End (Italian neighborhood), drinks in Seaport (if you like posh rooftop/waterfront style, I suggest The Envoy). If you're more of a neighborhood fan, highly recommend that you head over to the South End. Food heaven, and some of the nicest brick row home streets you'll see in the city. SoWa market is an excellent outpost for craft beer on Saturdays, so that could be a great option while you're down that way. Chinatown is right over 90 from South End, so also something to think about.

If you have a car, I'd check out some of the coastline. Manchester-by-the-Sea, Newburyport, Marblehead, Salem are great options and are very very unique to New England. If you prefer to chase history, Concord/Lexington is really cool. Very beautiful towns with walking trails, kayaking, etc. Make sure to check out the Battle of Concord/Lexington sites and Walden Pond if you're into poetry. Very serene when it's not crowded.

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by mwj119

To build off of the Trillium recommendation, Lamplighter, Lord Hobo, and Aeroanaut make some tasty New England IPAs (though California is producing some great ones now too). These three are all within two miles of eachother in Cambridge/Somerville, which are 'suburbs' or sister cities with hip neighborhoods and a lot of cool spots to check out.. Harvard Square is a must. If you like live music and decide to dedicate a night to Cambridge, The Sinclair is a local institution with some big names that role through. May be worth checking into shows. Alden & Harlow and Wayfair are in Harvard Square by the Sinclair, so it's easy to map a fun day/night with good eats.

In Boston, Back Bay - Boylston/Newbury Street, Beacon Hill - Charles Street, sailing on the river/rent bikes and ride on the river, seeing a game at Fenway, a Harbor Boat Cruise, dinner in the North End (Italian neighborhood), drinks in Seaport (if you like posh rooftop/waterfront style, I suggest The Envoy). If you're more of a neighborhood fan, highly recommend that you head over to the South End. Food heaven, and some of the nicest brick row home streets you'll see in the city. SoWa market is an excellent outpost for craft beer on Saturdays, so that could be a great option while you're down that way. Chinatown is right over 90 from South End, so also something to think about.

If you have a car, I'd check out some of the coastline. Manchester-by-the-Sea, Newburyport, Marblehead, Salem are great options and are very very unique to New England. If you prefer to chase history, Concord/Lexington is really cool. Very beautiful towns with walking trails, kayaking, etc. Make sure to check out the Battle of Concord/Lexington sites and Walden Pond if you're into poetry. Very serene when it's not crowded.

What a terrific and seemingly effortless rundown, mwj!

[timberline742]

I can't back Aeronaut or Lamplighter for their beers, personally. I'd say you're even better off going to Night Shift (which is still rather meh, but they're getting better, and its a nice spot).

[mwj119]

Originally Posted by timberline742

I can't back Aeronaut or Lamplighter for their beers, personally. I'd say you're even better off going to Night Shift (which is still rather meh, but they're getting better, and its a nice spot).

So Aeronaut beers are meh (hop hop session is their best), but it's my favorite draft room of them all. I do really like Lamplighter beers and their seemingly endless NEIPA renditions. I'd be happier if they stuck to more citra and less ella/amarillo etc. Sometimes they can get a little funky.

[timberline742]

Yeah, the Aeronaut space is nice enough, that's why I end up there with people/dates.

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Night Shift (which is still rather meh, but they're getting better, and its a nice spot).

Really? I’ve only had their Whirlpool New England IPA, and I thought it was very good! I second the recommendation for Night Shift.

I don’t know what your schedule is like, OP, but if you’re really into craft beer, I’ve heard very good things about Treehouse however it’s a good drive from the city.

If you have some time during the day and the weather’s nice I might also recommend checking out Jamaica Pond. It’s a lovely park and you can rent a boat on the pond!

[timberline742]

Tree House is the best in the state, but its a long drive, then a long wait in line. Trillium, while not as good, is much easier to access. There are other promising places that don't have tap rooms, like Henry and Fran, but unless we know if he or she has a car, it's just tossing out names.

[tysmith95]

Night shift is one of my favorites. I like it better then trillium. I believe nightshift is opening a location near the garden soon.