Top 5 Things to do While You’re in Boston for Connect to Convert 2018
Clam Chowdah! That’s the first thing we think about when we hear mention of “Bah-ston.” Boston is also one of America’s oldest and most historically rich cities. There’s no shortage of interesting things to do outside of LeadsCon’s 2018 Connect to Convert event at the Westin Boston Waterfront. You’ll be going to learn and network along with us here at Boomsourcing, but don’t miss your chance to experience one of America’s greatest cities while you’re in it. Here are our recommendations:
5: Walk the Greenway and the Freedom Trail
So, these are really two different things, but they cross over each other and both involve a lot of legwork. You’ll probably want to pick one or the other depending on your interests.
The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is a series of public park spaces that cut through the core of downtown Boston. They follow the path where Interstate 95 used to run before it was put underground in the infamously expensive Big Dig project. Now it’s one of the city’s greatest assets for relaxation, and it’s lined with fountains and food trucks, making it a great way to de-stress after a day of events and networking at Connect to Convert. It’s also pretty easy to get to; just a few minutes’ walk from the Westin Boston Waterfront.
The Boston Freedom Trail is more focused on the colonial and revolutionary history of Boston. A red brick path winds between the sites of some of the city’s most important historical episodes. Starting at the Boston Common, you’ll get to see the Massachusetts State House, the site of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere’s house, the Old North Church, and if you have time, cross the Charles River to see the monument at Bunker Hill. The whole walk is two and a half miles long and could take you all day if you let it. Along the way though, you’ll get a chance to stop for the next item on our list.
4: Shop and Grab a Bite at Faneuil Hall
The Faneuil Hall Marketplace website explains the attraction here pretty clearly:
Faneuil Hall Marketplace is actually four great places in one location – Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market, all set around a cobblestone promenade where jugglers, magicians and musicians entertain the passers-by. So by all means, stroll, shop, eat, laugh, wander, wonder and explore it all.
- In 1742 Peter Faneuil, Boston’s wealthiest merchant, built Faneuil Hall as a gift to the city.
- The edifice was home to merchants, fishermen, and meat and produce sellers, and provided a platform for the country’s most famous orators. It is where colonists first protested the Sugar Act in 1764 and established the doctrine of “no taxation without representation.”
- Firebrand Samuel Adams rallied the citizens of Boston to the cause of independence from Great Britain in the hallowed Hall, and George Washington toasted the nation there on its first birthday.
Now the whole market complex has been renovated and filled with all kinds of dining and shopping options. It sits where the Greenway and the Freedom Trail cross each other. It’s incredibly convenient for a break from the sightseeing, while itself being a historical feast.
3: Whisper Across The World at the Mapparium
One of the best museums in Boston is the Mary Baker Eddy Library. One of the reasons it’s so good is because it houses the Mapparium, a three-story stained-glass globe that you can enter and walk through on a glass bridge. Displaying a political map of the world from 1935, when it was built, it shows how much has changed, and how much has stayed the same in all the intervening decades. The glass causes a marvelous acoustic effect: you can hear a whisper spoken from across the room!
2: Ponder the Collections at the Museum of Fine Arts
If you enjoy art, you can’t miss the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The museum’s collection includes pieces that span the globe and all of its history. If you go after 4 pm on Wednesday, they waive the entrance fees in lieu of voluntary contributions. Connect to Convert starts on Wednesday, October 3, so that might be your chance! Even if you can’t make it in for free, it’s still worth the chance to see with your own eyes the works of true masters. Current exhibitions you’ll be able to enjoy include Native American art and World War propaganda postcards, along with Claes Oldenburg sculptures and rarely-seen paintings by Monet, Degas, and others.
1: Ya Gotta See Fenway “Pahk”
Possibly the only thing in America that’s more American than apple pie is Fenway Park itself. It’s one of only two classic ballparks left in the country, and it’s open for tours every single day, rain or shine.
Fenway Park is a place where dreams are made, traditions are celebrated and baseball is forever. See the home of Red Sox Legends, Williams, Yaz, Fisk and Rice. Visit Pesky’s Pole and sit atop the world famous Green Monster which stands 37 feet 2 inches high overlooking leftfield. Our experienced tour guides will provide a thrilling, one hour, walking tour of Fenway Park.
Book your tickets in advance, especially if you want to stay for a game after the tour, which you definitely should do. Tour tickets are available online up to 30 days prior to the date you want. Otherwise, you’ll have to try to buy them there at the stadium.
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Don’t forget to have a look at TripAdvisor’s recommendations for the best restaurants near Connect to Convert in the Seaport and Waterfront districts!
