View the first three parts of the Boston travelogue:
Boston, Part I: The Cradle of the Revolution
Boston, Part II: The USS Constitution and the Freedom Trail
Boston, Part III: Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the North End
Our journey through the charming American major city of Boston will not remain strictly in the downtown area. There is so much more of the city and surrounding area, and the first place we’ll go is just barely away from the city center: it’s an area known as “Back Bay.”
First, when looking at a map of the city of Boston, one must realize that the city is geographically nothing today like what it was 200 years ago. The part known currently as downtown Boston was practically an island: it was on a piece of land called the Shawmut Peninsula, connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. The current Charles River was much wider, forming an inland bay, and the channel on the south side of Boston’s center was much larger and wider, forming another inland bay. The area now known as Back Bay was constructed in the mid to late 19th century by city planners as part of a land reclamation project. Had it not been for this addition of landfills around the original city, what we now know as the Boston area might be very different today.
One of Boston’s most identifiable buildings is the Prudential Tower, also known as “The Pru,” on Boylston Street between Dalton Street and Ring Road. This building, the second-tallest in the city, is the central piece of the Prudential Center, which is a square that holds several other buildings as well as world-class shopping.
Visitors to the Prudential Tower may ride to the top for a magnificent view. The Skywalk Observatory, on the 50th floor, is open to the public for a fee (at present, $13 for adults) and gives great panoramic views of the city, though completely from indoors. Of course, on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower sits one of the most famous and classy restaurants in all of Boston: the Top of the Hub. Be forewarned, however: it is fine dining and not at all inexpensive for those without disposable income. A three-course, prix-fixe meal costs $75 per person if you also pair it with wine; normally, entrees run anywhere from $26 to almost fifty dollars.
While at the Skywalk Observatory, one will see every sight there is to see in Back Bay from above. One that will catch your eye is Fenway Park, a 100-plus year old baseball stadium and the home of the locally-beloved Boston Red Sox. From April to September, and some years in October, the Red Sox will be in town playing in front of sellout crowds in excess of 37,000 fans. The toughest ticket to get comes about nine times a year when the New York Yankees, their hated rivals, are in the city. If you plan to be in Boston in the spring or summer and would like to catch a Sox game, note that this team is popular, demand for tickets is high, and availability is low because of the size of Fenway itself.
Only a few blocks from Fenway is Kenmore Square, where Commonwealth Avenue, Beacon Street, and Brookline Avenue all converge. There are several enjoyable restaurants here, including a popular Uno Chicago Grill and a Bertucci’s (a primarily-northeastern chain of Italian restaurants). Just outside Kenmore, which is served by a Green Line “T” (subway) stop, is Charlesgate Park, which features a statue of famous Viking Leif Ericsson.
To the east of the Prudential Tower, you will see Copley Square, which is just a few blocks away. Like Kenmore, and all along Bolyston Street, there are a number of restaurants. There’s even an Apple Store right along the way. If you’re walking along this street towards Copley, you will even see — clearly marked on the street just outside the Boston Public Library — the spot where the Boston Marathon finish line lies (much more on this in April).
Directly adjacent to Copley is the tallest building in the city of Boston: the John Hancock Tower, not to be confused with the Chicago landmark. Unfortunately, its observation deck was closed following the September 11 terrorist attacks and remains closed to this day. Local politicians would like to see it reopened to the public, but building owners have not felt compelled to do so.
In between “the Hancock” and “the Pru” lies Copley Place, another large shopping mall.
To the south of the Prudential Tower are two great attractions: the Museum of Fine Arts and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Those who take a particular interest in the arts will be impressed by the culture on display.
Downtown Boston is fine, but Back Bay offers even more to enjoy. So too do other areas of Boston, and we’ll save those for next time.
