*Free activities marked with a star

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For History Buffs

• Take a tour of the Gibson House Museum (Back Bay)
• Take a ferry to George’s Island and explore Fort Warren (Harbor Islands)
• *Walk the Freedom Trail (Downtown – Charlestown)
• *Take a tour of Harvard University (Cambridge)
• Look at old firetrucks at the Boston Fire Museum (Seaport)
• Visit the historic Paul Revere House (North End)
• Tour the Old North Church (North End)
• Follow the Black Heritage Trail, then step inside the beautiful African Meeting House (Beacon Hill)
• See Old Ironsides, the world’s oldest commissioned warship, which is still afloat in the harbor, then check out the USS Constitution Museum (Charlestown)
• Set sail on the harbor with the Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships (Waterfront)
• *Walk through the beautiful halls of the Boston Public Library (Back Bay)
• *Climb the hill up to Bunker Hill Monument (Charlestown)

For your Artsy Side

• Visit the Museum of Fine Arts (Fenway)
• Enjoy the breathtaking atrium of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and learn about the infamous 1990 art heist – visit on the third Thursday of the month for live music and drinks (Fenway)
• Explore the collections and unique architecture of the Institute of Contemporary Art (Seaport)
• Pick your favorite statue in the Public Garden – make sure you stop at the Make Way for Ducklings statue (Back Bay)
• Enjoy the unique architecture and reflecting pool of the Christian Science Plaza (Back Bay)

For Nature Lovers

• *Go bird-watching along the Emerald Necklace (Fenway)
• *Explore the vast collection of flora (including a 275 year old bonsai) at the Arnold Arboretum (Jamaica Plain)
• *Wander through the Victory Gardens, a network of gardens cultivated by Fenway residents and home to unique plants and even tiny lizards (Fenway)
• *Take a stroll along the Harborwalk – look down into the water and you’re likely to see jellyfish (multiple locations)
• *Watch the sunset or have a picnic at the docks on the Charles River Esplanade (Back Bay)
• Take a ferry to the Spectacle Island to enjoy the beach and hike to the top of the hill for a unique view of the city (Harbor Islands)
• Say hi to Myrtle the sea turtle at the New England Aquarium (Waterfront)
• *Enjoy the exotic botany in the Public Garden (Back Bay)
• *Explore the Rose Kennedy Greenway (North End/Waterfront/South End)

For Sports Fans

• Catch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park (Fenway)
• On a non-game day, take a guided tour of Fenway Park (Fenway)
• Check out the Sports Museum at TD Garden (West End)
• Grab a drink and watch the Red Sox game (without buying a ticket!) at Bleacher Bar (Fenway)

For Science Enthusiasts

• Gaze in awe at 19th century steam engines at the Waterworks Museum (Brookline)
• *See the skull of Phineas Gage at Harvard Medical School’s Warren Anatomical Museum (Fenway)
• See the newest exhibits at the Museum of Science (West End)
• See an enormous amount of taxidermy, an impressive collection of glass-blown flowers, and more at the Harvard Museum of Natural History (Harvard Square)
• Walk through MIT and enjoy the unusual architecture, then learn more at the MIT museum (Central Square)

For Foodies

• Sample cannolis at Modern Pastry and Mike’s Pastry (or Maria’s, if you want to skip the long lines) (North End)
• Visit Regina’s, “Boston’s Original Pizzeria” (North End)
• Grab lunch at the Boston Public Market, or shop for locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients (North End)
• Visit Time Out Market for a bustling dinner-and-drinks experience (Fenway)
• Enjoy a great meal while you listen to live jazz music at The Beehive (South End)

For Fitness Junkies

• *Go for a run or bike ride along the Charles River Esplanade (Back Bay/Cambridge)
• Go kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding on the Charles (Back Bay)
• Race through puzzling challenges at Boda Borg (Malden)
• Get your sweat on at 305 Fitness, a cardio/dance party complete with a live DJ (Fenway)

For Shopping

• *Explore the marketplace at Faneuil Hall (Downtown)
• *Visit the SoWa art district for the open market, art galleries, food trucks, and an underground vintage market (South End)
• *Check out the quaint boutiques on Charles Street (Beacon Hill)
• *Treat yourself to a day of shopping on Newbury Street (Back Bay)
• *Go behind the Snapple machine and find yourself in the secret, high-end apparel store, Bodega (Back Bay)

Unique & Unusual Experiences

• Find A4cade, the 90’s themed arcade/speakeasy hidden inside a grilled cheese restaurant (Central Square)
• See Boston from the top of the downtown clock tower at the Custom House observation deck (Downtown)
• See the world from the inside at the Mapparium (Fenway)
• Wonder at the oddities found in the Museum of Bad Art (Davis Square)
• Have dinner 52 floors above Boston at Top of the Hub (Back Bay)
• Visit the original Cheers bar (Beacon Hill)
• Ride the swan boats (Public Garden)
• See Boston by duck boat (multiple locations)
• *Find All Saints Way, the elaborate shrine tucked away in a North End alley (North End)
• Treat yourself to a night at a rooftop pool and bar – the Colonnade Hotel is the best, but the *Revere Hotel is fun too (Back Bay)
• Take a wild ride through the harbor aboard Codzilla (Waterfront)

What else should be added to this list? Let me know in the comments below!