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I’m From Boston. Here Are My Top Things to Do in Boston.

December 15, 2019 //  by Lily Wu//  33 Comments

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The worst thing you can do if you’re from Massachusetts is say you’re from Boston if you’re not.

If you’re friends with someone who is actually from Boston, they’ll draw up a map for you. It’s instinctual. It’s like scratching when you have an itch. You just do it.

You’re not from Boston if you’re from Springfield, OK?

A Willy Wonka meme depicting people who are not actually from Boston

But I digress.

In the travel world, where living like a local and doing as the locals do has long been regarded as the gold standard of travel – a sort of self-awarded Gold Star for all of your travel troubles.

Here’s the problem with that, though. You wouldn’t want to carry out your entire trip as a locals’ trip, because, well, you’d probably have an experience that straddled the lines between boring and bad.

Because when I was a local in Boston for the first eighteen years of my life, I can tell you that no one wanted to be waiting for the morning bus at 6:30 in the morning before the sun had cast its first rays on chapped skin and when the snow was 2 feet deep. I assure you that “living like a local” meant scarfing Burger King in between piano lessons near Symphony Hall on Saturdays. Or lying to your parents about why you were home late (I know now the “the train was just really late is the worst of flimsy excuses). I went to the Prudential Mall to buy things for my boyfriend and to CVS to fuel my eyeliner addiction (which began at age 12).

That’s living like a local. I didn’t notice any of the nice stuff around me, because it just wasn’t relevant. I knew that Boston was vaguely important and there were some really old buildings around, but all of that knowledge had been peppered into my hazy memory from primary school field trips. Pathetically, I’ve learned more about my hometown from Googling “Top Things to Do in Boston” than I did for the first 21 years of my life.

But Boston – where do I start with you? Iconic city of the Northeast, the biggest city in New England, academic center, college town, the home of the American Revolution and bastion of sports fanatics.

Boston skyline
The Boston skyline.

I’ve taken countless trips abroad, have made disgustingly disorganized itineraries, and have traveled enough to know what I like, and what I don’t like.

So here are my top things to do in Boston – as someone from Boston. Here’s what I would do if I were you, visiting Boston for the first time. I would gladly do any of the things on this list, happily, because they remind me of my home and I did them as a child. If you’re reading this and I went to 3rd, or 5th, or 11th grade with you, and you think this post is totally off, I’m sorry (kind of).

True to form, I haven’t included Fenway Park, because I’m not into sports. Sitting and watching male bodies flex their quads like sumo wrestlers, followed by the longest gameplay ever known to man is not my idea of a good time. You can get me to go if you buy me beer.

Let me rephrase. Here are my top things to do in Boston, when you don’t have unlimited time to spend. Here are my top things to do in Boston if you like to do a fair amount of sightseeing by walking, and you want to see the most iconic parts of the city.

Table of Contents

  • 1. The Boston Public Library at Copley 
  • 2. Shop on Newbury Street 
  • 3. Boston Common and the Boston Public Gardens
  • 4. Photograph and Walk Around Beacon Hill 
  • 5. Have a Meal (Or Three) at the North End a.k.a. Little Italy 
  • 6. Follow the Freedom Trail
  • 7. The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
  • 8. See the Collections at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)

1. The Boston Public Library at Copley 

The most visited building of this list of my entire childhood takes on additional special meaning, because my father has been working here for nearly 20 years. I’d been visiting the library long before that, and when he began his job here, I was stoked. I thought I was the coolest kid in class.

Although the children’s room and the young adults’ room of yore has long disappeared and have now evolved into cooler renditions of their 90s and 2000s beings, the Boston Public Library is a beautiful representation of Boston and belongs on any Top Things to Do in Boston list.

Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library was the first large free municipal library in the United States. The library is made up of two parts – the McKim Building (the significantly older and more stately building), and the more modern Johnson Building. The Johnson Building has the full circulation part of the library – computers, desks, chairs, every fiction and non-fiction book you can think of, music archives. It looks a hell of a lot cooler than it did when I was five, which makes me sad, nostalgic, and happy at the same time.

If you take a wander across the somber cloisters and head towards the McKim building, you’ll come across the beautiful courtyard, a staple of my own summers in Boston, where I’d make a careful selection of 5 or 6 books, plant myself at one of the black iron chairs, and munch on sandwiches with my dad in the noontime breeze.

A photo of the courtyard at the Boston Public Library
A photo of a young woman of East Asia descent at the Boston Public Library

Then you’ll enter the McKim building, the glorious product of architectural wonder with influences from libraries in Paris, palazzos in Rome, and vaults in Valencia. Murals from the holy Grail legend can be found upstairs, as well as inscriptions similar to those in basilicas and monuments in ancient Rome. This area is also home to the stunningly somber yet warm Bates Hall, with its giant wooden research desks and luminescent green lamps.

A portrait photo of a young woman of East Asia descent in the Bates Reading Room at Boston Pubic Library as one of the top things to do in Boston
A portrait of myself at the Bates Reading Room. Boston, MA, USA; November 2019.

Make a short stop here (no more than an hour is needed!) for a beautiful biblio-influenced tour of Boston’s offerings.

Perfect for: Lovers of architecture, book freaks, and Europe fanatics. Also good for people in a rush, because there are almost awesome historical exhibits on, so you can make a quick free stop here if you don’t have time to visit a museum.

Address and Hours:

700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 0116

Monday – Thursday 9:00am – 9:00pm; Friday – Saturday 9:00am-5pm; Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm

2. Shop on Newbury Street 

A single parallel street away from the Boston Public Library at Copley is famous Newbury Street, the long shopping street (1.6 km) known for both independent and chain boutiques as well as outrageously expensive designer brands (think Chanel, Ted Baker, Diane von Furstenberg).  But no matter the price point, they’re all housed in the adorable rust brick brownstone so common in Boston.

My personal association with this area is shameful and yet relateable – I spent $600 in a few hours here when I was 18 years old with two friends from Tufts. I don’t know what induced me to believe that this was a healthy financial decision for an 18 year old (please believe me that I did not have that kind of financial independence). But I still wear the same Marc Jacobs rainboots even now, so….what can I say? It be like that sometimes.

Take a quick walk along the length of the street. Stop and have a coffee. Come away with some new bags in your hands. Or not. Up to you.

A young woman of East Asian descent crosses the Street at Newbury Street in Boston
Newbury Street, Boston, MA, USA. November 2019.

My favorites (for the thin of wallet and limited in funds)?

Trident Booksellers & Café, an adorable indie bookstore with enormous breakfast portions and a just-right eclectic selection of books.

Johnny Cupcakes, a bewildering store that has nothing to do with actual cupcakes (I found this out during high school and was deflated by this fact), but sells high-end (read: expensive) T-shirts, houses secret entrances, and other awesome locally designed products.

Perfect for: Hipsters and label whores, people with money to throw away

3. Boston Common and the Boston Public Gardens

As a Bostonian, I refer to these adjacent parks as the Common. Together. It was only when I entered my late teen years that I realized the Public Gardens were separate things.

Boston Public Garden

Built in 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States and an iconic marker of city greenery. Once a cow pasture (and by once, I mean in the 1630s), it then morphed into a camp used by the British during the American Revolution, and then used for public hangings. It emerged as a true park sometime around 1830, and remains as such today. Since then, it has been the site of various protests (Vietnam War) as well as speeches (Martin Luther King, Jr. Pope John Paul II). Judy Garland gave her largest concert ever here.

It lacks the size and stateliness of Manhattan’s Central Park (you can walk the entire length of the Common and the Gardens within 30 minutes at a slow pace, probably), but like all comparisons with New York, the Boston version has its ineffable charms.

Regardless, I’ve spent more afternoons here than I can count. From November to March, I ice skated at Frog Pond with my little brother or with my friends, going around and around and around until our cheeks turned pink and our ears numb, clutching paper cups of hot chocolate in gloved hands.

In the warmer months, you can hop on one of the iconic swan boats – which only seem to be open 3% of the year.

(Can anyone from Boston verify that it feels like the things are never running? Are we allowed to call them iconic if they’re never in service? I have questions.)

I’ve just looked. They’re open from April 18th to September 7th. 

Boston Public Garden in Boston

But having a ride on one is a beautifully lovely experience to have when they are – drifting calmly around the still pond by an enthusiastic pedaller helming the boat behind a couple of swans. My little brother also fell into the pond one time, which was a delightfully hilarious moment for 10-year-old me. The water came up to only his knees, which verifies my longtime-held assumption that the pond is less than a foot deep.

Around May, it’s prom season and the Boston Common is a prime photo location for prom photos. I won’t show you mine because my eyebrow game was stab-me-horrific back then and I wore a silver dress. Silver!!! I’ll spare you.

Instead, here’s a much more up-to-date photo of me on the bridge at the Public Gardens.

A young woman of East Asia descent at the Boston Public Garden
The bridge at Boston Public Garden; Boston, MA, USA. November 2019.

Perfect for: A Midday Stroll, picnickers (depending on the weather), families with kids, photographers.

4. Photograph and Walk Around Beacon Hill 

The Beacon Hill aesthetic is the Boston aesthetic. The architecture is a throwback to the Federal era, that style of uniquely colonial American construction that really reminds you that you’re here.

I photographed one of my most popular Instagram shots of all time here: Acorn Street, commonly regarded as one of the most photographed streets in the United States.

A photograph of Acorn Street on Beacon Hill in Boston - top things to do in Boston
Acorn Street on Beacon Hill. Boston, MA, USA. November 2019.

Wikipedia touts its Federal-style rowhouses and gaslit lamps as flanking one of the most desirable and expensive street in Boston. A few blocks away, you’ll also find the golden-domed Massachusetts State House – flickering and gleaming on a sunny day (although I advise you not to look too long if you want to keep your eyesight).

It look quietly old money. Like the great-great-great-grandchildren of the richest original colonists live here. I’m probably not too far off. Have you seen some of these chandeliers from even the outside? And those pianos? Like, damn. If you’ve never experienced real estate envy, you’ll feel it here.

Even though the area is mostly residential, on Charles Street, you’ll be able to walk past upmarket Italian restaurants, cute cafes, and local antique shops. It really is pretty as hell. It reminds me of period miniseries and smells like fall.

Perfect for: Short walks, photographers, rich home buyers

5. Have a Meal (Or Three) at the North End a.k.a. Little Italy 

Whoever decided to put two rival pastry shops within 100 meters of each other and among literally hundreds of Italian restaurants was either a fucking genius or the worst type of sociopath, because I can’t imagine a better way to totally destroy your keto/low-carb/whatever diet-of-the-day goals.

My own memories of trawling the North End amount to a vivid Valentine’s Day, when my at-the-time college boyfriend and I visited La Famliglia Georgio’s, a restaurant touting itself as serving “Roman Classics” (I didn’t know any better) and with a proudly solid 4.0 rating on Yelp.

La Famiglia Giorgio's at North End Little Italy
Oh, those college memories.

On this most romantic day, what arrived was a veritably bathtub of fettucine swimming in cream, studded with big chunks of broccoli and white chicken meat. You may think I am exaggerating, but I am not. Also, no shade, because there’s nothing like digging into a mountain of pasta. Nothing. Even though now I know that chicken and broccoli alfredo is decidedly an un-Roman dish (ask any Italian), remembering it as authentically Italian when I was 19 years old brings me more pleasure than it should.

And the food here is only the beginning. The North End, also known as Boston’s Little Italy, is the city’s oldest residential community, and a delightful homage to the Italian and Italian American community of the city. The entire neighbourhood is pending an approval to become a Boston Landmark, and with hundreds of restaurants literally within footsteps of each other, you can’t miss this iconic dining spot.

My favorites are Neptune Oyster, Giacomo’s, and although I’m a savory-over-sweet girl, I visit Mike’s Pastry and Modern Pastry every time. Something about the chaos of these two shops makes me feel right at home. Grab a coveted cannolo (or an entire box) and continue on your journey.

The bar counter at Neptune Oyster. Boston, MA, USA. November 2019.
Oysters at Neptune Oyster. Boston, MA, USA.
Oysters at Neptune Oyster. Boston, MA, USA. November 2019.

But food isn’t all that this area has to offer. Stop by the Old North Church, Paul Revere’s House (former home of American Patriot Paul Revere and the oldest house in downtown Boston), and Copp’s Hill Burying Ground for a dose of your Boston history.

Perfect for: Italian food lovers, pastry lovers, people who have a pulse

6. Follow the Freedom Trail

Look. You don’t need to walk the entire Freedom Trail (something that I personally admit I’ve never done). It’s 2.5 miles (4 km) long! But make sure that it’s on your radar and that you notice the red brick trail at your feet.

The freedom trail in Boston
The Marker of the Freedom Trail in Boston

What exactly is it? It’s a pedestrian trail marked discreetly by red brick (it looks like this), showcasing landmarks that were key sites during the American Revolution during the nation’s founding. It always reminded me of Oz’s yellow brick road, and one of my favorite things to do is to do a little skip along it whenever I see it. It passes through 16 sites – the full list of which you’ll find here, and includes some of the sites I’ve written about in this top 10 things to do in Boston list (like Boston Common, the Paul Revere House, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, and the USS Constitution). Checking out at least 2 or 3 of these sites, even in passing, will give you a taste of what Boston’s all about.

As a kid, doing this trail was something like a rite of passage – it fell in between losing recess as you got older and also taking home your first bad test grade.

But the reason it’s on this list of top 10 things to do in Boston is because this trail brings visitors around to the best of Boston’s Really Old Shit – and if you’re a history wonk like me, this kind of stuff will just delight the hell out of you.

Perfect for: The bodily able, people who love long walks, and people who have been charmed by the Federal-era architecture on Beacon Hill.

7. The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

In order to avoid this entire post becoming one big history lesson (we’ve all had enough of that), I’ll just give you a quick one-two liner.

In 1773, the American colonists completely destroyed a shipment of tea sent by the East India Company, which was commissioned to sell tea from China in the colonies without paying taxes. Why was this so important? It became a flagship event for what would eventually become the American Revolution, and the beginning of what we know now as the United States of America.

Where did this happen? In our dear old Boston.

The Boston Tea Party Museums are the perfect amount of historical kitsch (hello, colonist costumes and British Army jackets) and genuine storytelling clout. If you have children, even better. General admission is $30 (so for me, personally, a little steep), but live actors, exhibits, and the real U.S.S. Constitution ship (the world’s oldest commission naval vessel still afloat) make it a worthwhile experience if you’ve got extra cash in your wallet.

The U.S.S. Constitution and the Boston Tea Party Museums
The U.S.S. Constitution in Boston

Perfect for: Costume nerds, families. People who consumed way too many naval wartime book or movie series (Horatio Hornblower, anyone?)

Address: 

306 Congress Street, Boston, MA

Open Daily – 10:00am-4:00pm

Entrance Fee: $21-$30

8. See the Collections at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)

The Museum of Fine Arts is the best museum in Boston. Young children might not be able to appreciate the museum for what it is, but with its Roman columns and stately halls, the museum itself a spectacle to behold. It’s also the fifth largest museum in the United States, and in number of paintings, is second only to the Met in New York.

Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

It houses beautiful original American artworks (many of which appear in textbooks today), depicting the likes of George Washington and Paul Revere. It also has a formidable collection of original Monets and Renoirs.

On another note, though, can anyone tell me why the world “Oriental” still exists in museum lingo and various other academic realms (I’m looking at you, UK)?

It costs $25 to get into, but if you flash a student ID, you can get in on some discount action. I’m not exactly proud of this fact, but I’ve been using my ID from my first year at Tufts (nearly 10 years ago now), and no one’s blinked an eye.

A visit here for the average museum goer (like yours truly) will likely take 2-3 hours. Art fanatics will take longer. Those with children will have their patience tested, as tends to be the case with museums. You have been warned.

Perfect for: Art lovers (duh), people with too much time to spend in Boston, individuals with 3 hours to kill

Address: 

465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA

Hours:

Saturday – Tuesday: 10:00am- 5:00pm

Wednesday – Friday: 10:00am – 10:00pm

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Category: North America, Travel, Travel Guides and Tips, United States of AmericaTag: Boston, Massachusetts, north america, travel, travel guides, usa

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andi P.

    October 8, 2020 at 6:02 am

    Great article! Boston is my very favorite place to visit. I’m from South Georgia, but work placed me in the city for weeks at a time in 2011 thru 2014. I stayed at the Boston Park Plaza and the Omni Parker House. Both were great locations and close to great eats and history.

    Regina Pizza in the North End was a favorite stop. So was LaFamiglia on State St. Best Lobster Roll I ate was at Quincy Market. Best chowder was at Union Oyster House and Skipjacks.

    Can’t wait to go back to Beantown!

    BTW. The ship docked outside the Boston Tea Party is not the USS Constitution. That would’ve been cool, but it’s still commissioned for active duty by the US Navy. Just thought I’d say.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 6, 2020 at 5:18 am

      Aw Andi thanks for the lovely comment! I’m super happy you enjoyed Boston – it’s so hard for me to see it with fresh eyes since I grew up here!

      Awesome choices on the food – Regina PIzza is such a freaking classic, and I remember going to LaFamiglia when I was in college as well! Amazing that you’ve gone, too. Thanks for correcting me – I actually didn’t know this. Goes to show you’re not always the expert, even when you grow up in a place!

      Reply
  2. Jenn - The Solivagant Soul

    December 21, 2019 at 2:33 pm

    Lovely compilation of places to do and things to visit. I have never made it to the US yet, basically because I know that it is too big to visit it all at once. Because of this, I am compiling more dedicated posts to specific locations… and I am for sure adding yours! So lovely that your pictures are from Beacon hill were during Halloween!

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 21, 2019 at 2:38 pm

      Jenn, I completely agree with you – I feel like even thinking about traveling in the US is so difficult because there are SO many distinct regions. The best way to go about it is to just choose a region (West Coast, New England, the South, etc. etc. ) and just do that for a week or so. I think a week in each region is probably a good start. Thanks for considering my hometown in your bucket list!

      Reply
  3. Hannah

    December 21, 2019 at 12:29 am

    This is so in depth! I wish it existed when I visited Boston a few years back. Now I can’t wait to go back! Luckily I have friends there that need visiting 😉 I’ll definitely remember this guide when I go.

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 21, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      Yesss girl! THank you so much for stopping by! If you’re short on time, consider only seeing the things on this list – some of them out there are so long, you can’t feasibly see everything!

      Reply
  4. Louise

    December 20, 2019 at 11:22 pm

    Lovely post. Boston is one place (of many) I would love to visit one day. I like to know where we plan to go while on visit and these definitely look like great contenders.

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 21, 2019 at 12:53 pm

      Thanks for reading, Louise! I really do hope you get to visit one day.

      Reply
  5. Crystal

    December 20, 2019 at 11:11 pm

    It was fun to read your take on Boston! I lived in Quincy and then Natick MA for 4 years. We walked the Freedom Trail more times than I can count! LOL I love the history of the City. There’s really no other city quite like it. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 21, 2019 at 12:47 pm

      THanks Crystal! Oh my god it’s amazing that you lived in Quincy! We used to go there to eat food ALL the time. The Freedom Trail is a real staple – and so many of the things to see are right on it.

      Reply
  6. Alex

    December 20, 2019 at 10:02 pm

    Love Boston – one of my favorite cities to visit in the summer 🙂 the winter is too cold!

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 21, 2019 at 12:46 pm

      Oh Alex. It is FREAKING cold there. I don’t blame you. In the summer it can definitely be really lovely.

      Reply
  7. Carolyn

    December 20, 2019 at 9:54 pm

    Wonderful post! I absolutely love your writing style. I’ve been to Boston before, but it’s been many many years. Everything here looks so lovely, I feel inspired to go back now that I’m older and can appreciate it more (though I may wait for warmer weather). Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 20, 2019 at 9:58 pm

      Thanks Carolyn! I really feel like the older we get and the more we change, the more we appreciate what we have around us. I feel this way ALL the time when I return to places I’ve visited in the past.

      Reply
  8. Laura

    December 19, 2019 at 6:45 am

    Boston is definitely near the top of my travel bucket list, but I’ve never really looked into what all there is to do there. So this is very helpful for when I finally do plan my trip. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 19, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      Thank YOU for reading, Laura. I have such affection and affinity for my hometown, even though I no longer live here.

      Reply
  9. Sarah

    December 19, 2019 at 2:49 am

    Boston has been on our list for a while. After reading this post it’s at the top of our list. Brilliant article!

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 19, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      Hi Sarah! I’m really glad that you’re planning to visit in the future. I feel like it’s the perfect small city. And it’s not too overwhelming to just be there for 2 days or so either. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  10. Quik

    December 18, 2019 at 9:03 pm

    I am glad to see that you have explored the city in so much wonder and detail – still one of my favourite cities that I have visited. I remember asking you (the local) about Boston and you had no idea where or what to do. Oh how things have changed!

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 18, 2019 at 10:01 pm

      Quik!!!!! HI!
      Oh god but I was so young back then (and you were, too)! That was I think 6 years ago when you were around Boston. Thanks so much for reading – you totally surprised me. Hope you’re doing well!

      Reply
      • Quik

        December 19, 2019 at 2:24 am

        Lily! Hello to you too!

        Oh my goodness, it really was 6 years ago! Gosh, that is terrifying. But, we did go and get a cannolo, which has made your list (and honestly makes me feel pretty cool). I did quite enjoy reading this and your style of writing, so might pop onto some other ones too. I’d also say “hope things are going well” to you, but from the looks of it, they certainly are!

        Reply
  11. Sandra Joseph

    December 17, 2019 at 11:37 pm

    Boston is definitely on my “will visit” list. The library looks absolutely beautiful. It reminds me of our main library here in downtown Miami but nicer. I’ve always found comforts among all the books. I could see myself making the library my 1st stop!

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 18, 2019 at 7:35 pm

      I loveee the library – and not only because so many of my childhood memories are from spending time there!

      I haven’t really visited Miami yet but I’d absolutely love to go.

      Reply
      • Kimberlie

        December 18, 2019 at 9:06 pm

        I resonate so much with this article. I’m born and raised in Jamaica and hate when people say they are, who truly aren’t. As a language arts teacher and lover of words, I’m happy your first suggestion is a library. Now, I’m more inclined to trust your other suggestions, lol. Great variety of experiences too, which is important when you’re in a new place. I hate just doing the touristy stuff.

        Reply
        • Lily Wu

          December 18, 2019 at 10:02 pm

          Thanks Kimberlie – people just want the street cred (and Jamaica is way cooler than Boston), so I guess I can’t blame them that much!

          It’s always a good idea to mix the touristy stuff – the city’s claim to fame – and then with things that I would actually do as a local. Thank you so much for reading and stopping by!

          Reply
  12. Denise Gardiner

    December 17, 2019 at 11:06 pm

    Boston is a city full of so much history and interesting places to visit. I have traveled a lot but have never visited Boston. I will have to add that to my “bucket list”! Beacon Hill would be my first stop. Great post and thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 18, 2019 at 7:34 pm

      I freaking love Beacon Hill – I think it’s so cute. Thanks so much for reading, Denise!

      Reply
  13. Ana

    December 17, 2019 at 11:05 pm

    Amazing post! Love your local perspective and recommendations. The history and photos just make me want to visit. Thank you for sharing your insight.

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 18, 2019 at 7:32 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Ana. To be honest, the city can be a little boring after all the history but it’s a great place to live, in my humble opinion.

      Reply
  14. Manahil

    December 17, 2019 at 10:38 pm

    Wishing to visit Boston someday

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 18, 2019 at 7:32 pm

      I’m sure you’ll get to Manahil. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  15. Sharon Green

    December 17, 2019 at 10:30 pm

    Wonderful article! You provided so much great information and beautiful pictures!

    Reply
    • Lily Wu

      December 18, 2019 at 7:32 pm

      Aw Sharon thank you so much for reading!

      Reply

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A girl in Boston Common
Boston Common. Boston, MA. November 2019.

Hi, I’m Lily!

I’m a Boston-raised, Hong Kong-based writer, traveler, and content creator.

My site is about sharing stories relating to millennial travel, travel blogging, Asian diasporic identity, and Hong Kong living.

📍Los Angeles, CA, USA 🇺🇸 Lol this photo 📍Los Angeles, CA, USA 🇺🇸 Lol this photo was taken during one of the most arduous and expensive trips of my life - trying to make it back from the USA to HK is no joke. My flight was cancelled last minute and I had to reroute with three new flights....then at the last minute I was turned away at the gate because my COVID test had my middle initial instead of my full middle name! HK doesn’t mess around. Hundreds and hundreds spent on hotels and a new COVID test notwithstanding...I got to spend time with a dear friend of mine on the west coast and it was so, so, nice. The air smelled of weed and the air was salty and sandy and amazing and nice. And the tacos!!!! Ugh. Just a few hours of an almost-vacation....here I am sitting at Venice Beach eating the Fairfax sandwich from Eggslut. Ugh. So good. I’d love to come back and do a more proper trip next time - any recs for the LA/SoCal area?? #losangeles_city #losangeles_la #losangelescalifornia #bostonbloggers #losangelesbloggers #travelgirlshub #venicebeachcalifornia #venicebeachskatepark #journeysofgirls #damestravel #lifeofadventure #alwaysgo #wanderfolk #letsgosomewhere #exploreeverywhere #visualwanderlust #welivetoexplore #adventurethatislife #adventurevisuals #californiadreamin #californiablogger #californiavacation #westcoastblogger #hkbloggers #hongkongblogger #ilovecalifornia #californiacoast #californiaroadtrip #westcoast_exposures #westcoastlife
📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 I was laughing to a f 📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 I was laughing to a friend last week about how cold it is here in New England, but how much better I am actually dealing with the cold even though I’ve lived in Hong Kong for 4 years now! When I go out NOW, I’m wearing at least 4 layers of clothing and a thick coat on top, and always, always 2 layers of pants. If I run I’ll put on leggings and joggers on top of those, OR two pairs of leggings, one on top of the other. I don’t know if I thought I was too cool for dressing warmly or what - but I’d shiver through countless snowy days in Boston waiting for the bus to get to school, refuse to wear a hat - and even sometimes wore skirts. This did not, I am sad to report, make me cool. It just made me very cold. Here’s a photo of the moon at sunset, a few miles from my parents’ house. #bostonbloggers #newengland #ilovemassachusetts #massachusettsnature #massachusettsphotography #bostonphotographers #cathaycreators #hongkongblogger #bluehillreservation #bluehillsreservation #newengland_igers #newenglandliving #newenglandlife #newenglandphotography #newenglandoutdoors #newenglandwinter #travelgirlsgo #journeysofgirls #newenglandsunsets #sunsetgram #sunsets_oftheworld #sunsetoftheday #sunsetcolors #sunsetlove #massachusettslife #massachusettsoutdoors #bostonliving #bostonweather #bostonphotography #bostongram
📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 ⁣ I loveee the New E 📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 ⁣ I loveee the New England vibes in this photo so much! This was taken during a short run I did with my brother - I always always always avoided running because I was obsessed with “maintaining gains” when I began weightlifting 6-7 years ago. I’m surprisingly really loving it - I love just putting on a new album in whatever genre (so far have listened to Kanye, the Beatles, Linkin Park, and a LOT of Bach) and listening to it all the way through with no interruptions. ⁣ I can only really go 3-5km at a time right now without feeling like I want to stop (and I won’t be running any marathons soon) but I’m really happy I’ve found something else meditate and good-for-me to do! ⁣ Do any of you run and have any tips for a novice like me?? ⁣ ⁣ #newenglandwinter #newenglandoutdoors #newenglandfall #randolphma #newenglandblogger #newenglandpictures #bostonblogger #bostonbloggers #hkbloggers #newenglander #newenglandnature #newenglandtravel #newengland_photography #ilovemassachusetts #iloveboston #beantown #newenglandigers #bostonian #bostonlife #travelgirls #travelgirldiary #travelgirlscollective #damestravel #dametravelers #runningstyle #runningviews #winterrun #winterrunning #winterruns #belcherpark
📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 ⁣ Since I’ve been 📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 ⁣ Since I’ve been here, I’ve been going on walks with my parents a few times a week. My dad always ALWAYS wants to catch the sunset (he’s an avid photographer!) so here’s one that we caught a few weeks ago. ⁣ Life here is, as one of my friends described, so wholesome here. I’m still working remotely, but without a social scene all of my free time has been spent listening to new music, reading new books, practicing yoga, and moving my body. I honestly don’t miss the hectic life at all and I always wondered if I could ever live outside of a huge metro urban setting (and whether I’d get bored). I honestly think I could do it, I love living the way I have been! ⁣ For those of you who live in cities and love it, do you think you’d give up the go-go-go lifestyle for something more simple? ⁣ ⁣ #ilovemassachusetts #bluehillreservation #bluehillsreservation #cantonma #newenglandphotography #newenglandsunsets #newenglansphotography #iloveboston #beantown #bostonsunsets #bostonbloggers #travelgirlsdiary #journeysofgirls #journeyofgirls #randolphma #sunsetsofinstagram #sunsetsgram #hongkongbloggers #hongkongblogger #hongkong_ig #sunsetscape #massachusettsoutdoors #massachusetts_igers #massachusettsmade #naturalmassachusetts #sheisfromhk #agameoftones #girlswhotravel #massachusettsgirl #bostongirl ⁣
📍USA 🇺🇸 (Massachusetts) ⁣ It snowed a 📍USA 🇺🇸 (Massachusetts) ⁣ It snowed a huge snow last week! ❄️ We had a proper “nor’easter” - which, according to Wikipedia, is “a macro-scale extratropical cyclone in the western North Atlantic Ocean.” After having missed snow for many years living in Hong Kong, I honestly can’t tell you how much I’ve missed even the meter-high walls of snow we’d get, without fail, every winter in New England. ⁣ My family is driving down the Cape (Cape Cod) for Christmas! What are your plans?? ⁣ ⁣ #massachusettssnow #ilovenewengland #newenglandsnow #noreaster #bluehillreservation #newenglandphotography #newenglandphotographer #bostonbloggers #bostonblogger #cathaycreators #newenglandliving #newenglandlife #ilovemassachusetts #snowsnowsnow #snowmountain #snowlove #snowhike #snowscape #snowcovered #journeyofgirls #journeysofgirls #travelgirlsgo #snowfilter #snowseason #massachusettsoutdoors #massachusetts_igers #massachusettslife #travelgirldiary #travelgirlsofficial #travelgirlscommunity
📍Hong Kong 🇭🇰 (Lion Rock) ⁣ This was t 📍Hong Kong 🇭🇰 (Lion Rock) ⁣ This was the second time I’ve hiked to Lion Rock in Kowloon (the first time being over 3 years ago), and I still love the little Lego-pieces of HK’s buildings as far as the eye can see! ⁣ I’m not jn Hong Kong at the moment, but I’ve been telling my family here in the US that it isn’t all dense concrete and gray cityscapes, a huge amount of HK is literally just lush tropical wilderness. ⁣ Hope everyone is having a lovely start to their holidays! My family has never been big holiday people (don’t think they place a lot of emphasis or value on atmosphere), but we still got a little cat-proof tree tree at my insistence to spruce it up a bit. ⁣ ⁣ #ilovehongkong #homekong #hongkongphotography #hongkongphotographer #cathaycreators #hikinginhongkong #hongkonghiking #hkhikes #hongkonghikes #sheisfromhk #sheisnotlost #lionrockhike #lionsrock #hk_iger #travelgirlsgo #livetoexplore #hongkonglife #hongkonginsta #hongkongig #explorehongkong #discoverhongkong #awesomehongkong #bostonbloggers #bostonblogger #hongkongblogger #damestravel #traveldames #thedreamytravel #girlsvsglobe #girlsborntravel
📍Massachusetts (USA) 🇺🇸 ⁣ What’s th 📍Massachusetts (USA) 🇺🇸 ⁣ What’s the coldest place you’ve ever been to? ⁣ Can you smell how crisp the air is? It was also bone-shatteringly cold - 🥶 30 F (just below 0 C) feels just as fresh and stingy on my face as I remember! There are ZERO “Instagram spots” in the classical sense here - so you’ve got to get creative with Mother Nature! ⁣ Life has been funny lately. I’ve been in the USA for about 2.5 weeks now and I’ve finally settled into a rhythm and a routine. Part of that routine involves 3-4x weekly walks with my parents in a nearby “reservation” - big swathes of land with hiking trails, ponds, and lakes. I’m wearing leggings underneath jeans here, and could STILL feel the sharpness of cold air penetrating all the way through to my skin. ⁣ I’ve traded skyscrapers and haze for lakes and sunsets, and right now, feel super content. ⁣ ⁣ #ilovenengland #houghtonspond #newenglandsunsets #bostonbloggers #bostonblogger #newenglandphotographer #newenglandphotography #newenglandliving #newenglandlife #newengland_igers #newenglandfall #newenglandblogger #sheisnotlost #travelgirlshub #damestravel #dametraveler #sheisfromhk #agameoftones #cathaycreators #newenglandpictures #newenglander #ilovemassachusetts #masachusettsphotographer #massachusettsoutdoors #bluehillsreservation #hikingboston #newenglandhikes #massachusettslife #massachusettsmade #naturalmassachusetts
📍Boston, MA (USA) 🇺🇸 ⁣ This photo was 📍Boston, MA (USA) 🇺🇸 ⁣ This photo was taken last year in one of my favorite places in Boston, the Boston Public Library (where my dad still works!). ⁣ If I get my negative COVID result today, I’m finally out of my self-imposed quarantine! It won’t bring me much freedom, but I’m excited to meet the two new cats in the house and to finally be able to make and serve my own meals. Hope everyone is having a good week! ⁣ ⁣ #iloveboston #bostonpubliclibrary #beantown #newenglandphotographer #newenglandphotography #bostonma #bostonblogger #bostonbloggers #lifeofadventure #alwaysgo #wanderfolk #letsgosomewhere #exploreeverywhere #tasteintravel #instatravel #stayandwander #welivetoexplore #neverstopexploring #visualwanderlust #femmetravel #girlslovetravel #dametraveler #wearetravelgirls #ladiesgoneglobal #sheexplores #girlsborntotravel #theglobewanderer #traveldiary #travelphotography #bostonphotography
📍Hong Kong 🇭🇰 ⁣ This summer, I met so 📍Hong Kong 🇭🇰 ⁣ This summer, I met so many wonderful friends and formed exciting and fun friendships - as a result, I ended up on boats WAY more than any other HK summer, and still took place well into October. Now that I’m in cloudy and rainy and cold New England, I’m absolutely thinking about these sunny days, but being around my family is just as amazing. ⁣ I feel like I have so many books to read, things to write, yoga poses to learn, dishes to cook. My stories won’t be as fun as they are usually (a lot less booze and boats and a lot more books and cats) but I hope you guys will stick with me over these next few months! ⁣ #ilovehongkong #homekong #cathaycreators #outonthewater #imonaboat #sheisfromhk #hk_igers #hongkonginstagram #hongkongphotography #hongkongphotographer #hongkongig #hongkonglife #theprettycities #travelgirldiary #travelgirlsofficial #travelgirlscollective #travelgirlsgetaways #travelgirldiaries #travelgirlsvibe #explorehongkong #discoverhongkong #hongkongcity #hongkongview #hongkongharbour #exploreasia #travelgirlsgo #girlswhotravel #lifeinhongkong #hongkonglife #bostonbloggers
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📍Los Angeles, CA, USA 🇺🇸 Lol this photo 📍Los Angeles, CA, USA 🇺🇸 Lol this photo was taken during one of the most arduous and expensive trips of my life - trying to make it back from the USA to HK is no joke. My flight was cancelled last minute and I had to reroute with three new flights....then at the last minute I was turned away at the gate because my COVID test had my middle initial instead of my full middle name! HK doesn’t mess around. Hundreds and hundreds spent on hotels and a new COVID test notwithstanding...I got to spend time with a dear friend of mine on the west coast and it was so, so, nice. The air smelled of weed and the air was salty and sandy and amazing and nice. And the tacos!!!! Ugh. Just a few hours of an almost-vacation....here I am sitting at Venice Beach eating the Fairfax sandwich from Eggslut. Ugh. So good. I’d love to come back and do a more proper trip next time - any recs for the LA/SoCal area?? #losangeles_city #losangeles_la #losangelescalifornia #bostonbloggers #losangelesbloggers #travelgirlshub #venicebeachcalifornia #venicebeachskatepark #journeysofgirls #damestravel #lifeofadventure #alwaysgo #wanderfolk #letsgosomewhere #exploreeverywhere #visualwanderlust #welivetoexplore #adventurethatislife #adventurevisuals #californiadreamin #californiablogger #californiavacation #westcoastblogger #hkbloggers #hongkongblogger #ilovecalifornia #californiacoast #californiaroadtrip #westcoast_exposures #westcoastlife
📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 I was laughing to a f 📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 I was laughing to a friend last week about how cold it is here in New England, but how much better I am actually dealing with the cold even though I’ve lived in Hong Kong for 4 years now! When I go out NOW, I’m wearing at least 4 layers of clothing and a thick coat on top, and always, always 2 layers of pants. If I run I’ll put on leggings and joggers on top of those, OR two pairs of leggings, one on top of the other. I don’t know if I thought I was too cool for dressing warmly or what - but I’d shiver through countless snowy days in Boston waiting for the bus to get to school, refuse to wear a hat - and even sometimes wore skirts. This did not, I am sad to report, make me cool. It just made me very cold. Here’s a photo of the moon at sunset, a few miles from my parents’ house. #bostonbloggers #newengland #ilovemassachusetts #massachusettsnature #massachusettsphotography #bostonphotographers #cathaycreators #hongkongblogger #bluehillreservation #bluehillsreservation #newengland_igers #newenglandliving #newenglandlife #newenglandphotography #newenglandoutdoors #newenglandwinter #travelgirlsgo #journeysofgirls #newenglandsunsets #sunsetgram #sunsets_oftheworld #sunsetoftheday #sunsetcolors #sunsetlove #massachusettslife #massachusettsoutdoors #bostonliving #bostonweather #bostonphotography #bostongram
📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 ⁣ I loveee the New E 📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 ⁣ I loveee the New England vibes in this photo so much! This was taken during a short run I did with my brother - I always always always avoided running because I was obsessed with “maintaining gains” when I began weightlifting 6-7 years ago. I’m surprisingly really loving it - I love just putting on a new album in whatever genre (so far have listened to Kanye, the Beatles, Linkin Park, and a LOT of Bach) and listening to it all the way through with no interruptions. ⁣ I can only really go 3-5km at a time right now without feeling like I want to stop (and I won’t be running any marathons soon) but I’m really happy I’ve found something else meditate and good-for-me to do! ⁣ Do any of you run and have any tips for a novice like me?? ⁣ ⁣ #newenglandwinter #newenglandoutdoors #newenglandfall #randolphma #newenglandblogger #newenglandpictures #bostonblogger #bostonbloggers #hkbloggers #newenglander #newenglandnature #newenglandtravel #newengland_photography #ilovemassachusetts #iloveboston #beantown #newenglandigers #bostonian #bostonlife #travelgirls #travelgirldiary #travelgirlscollective #damestravel #dametravelers #runningstyle #runningviews #winterrun #winterrunning #winterruns #belcherpark
📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 ⁣ Since I’ve been 📍Massachusetts 🇺🇸 ⁣ Since I’ve been here, I’ve been going on walks with my parents a few times a week. My dad always ALWAYS wants to catch the sunset (he’s an avid photographer!) so here’s one that we caught a few weeks ago. ⁣ Life here is, as one of my friends described, so wholesome here. I’m still working remotely, but without a social scene all of my free time has been spent listening to new music, reading new books, practicing yoga, and moving my body. I honestly don’t miss the hectic life at all and I always wondered if I could ever live outside of a huge metro urban setting (and whether I’d get bored). I honestly think I could do it, I love living the way I have been! ⁣ For those of you who live in cities and love it, do you think you’d give up the go-go-go lifestyle for something more simple? ⁣ ⁣ #ilovemassachusetts #bluehillreservation #bluehillsreservation #cantonma #newenglandphotography #newenglandsunsets #newenglansphotography #iloveboston #beantown #bostonsunsets #bostonbloggers #travelgirlsdiary #journeysofgirls #journeyofgirls #randolphma #sunsetsofinstagram #sunsetsgram #hongkongbloggers #hongkongblogger #hongkong_ig #sunsetscape #massachusettsoutdoors #massachusetts_igers #massachusettsmade #naturalmassachusetts #sheisfromhk #agameoftones #girlswhotravel #massachusettsgirl #bostongirl ⁣
📍USA 🇺🇸 (Massachusetts) ⁣ It snowed a 📍USA 🇺🇸 (Massachusetts) ⁣ It snowed a huge snow last week! ❄️ We had a proper “nor’easter” - which, according to Wikipedia, is “a macro-scale extratropical cyclone in the western North Atlantic Ocean.” After having missed snow for many years living in Hong Kong, I honestly can’t tell you how much I’ve missed even the meter-high walls of snow we’d get, without fail, every winter in New England. ⁣ My family is driving down the Cape (Cape Cod) for Christmas! What are your plans?? ⁣ ⁣ #massachusettssnow #ilovenewengland #newenglandsnow #noreaster #bluehillreservation #newenglandphotography #newenglandphotographer #bostonbloggers #bostonblogger #cathaycreators #newenglandliving #newenglandlife #ilovemassachusetts #snowsnowsnow #snowmountain #snowlove #snowhike #snowscape #snowcovered #journeyofgirls #journeysofgirls #travelgirlsgo #snowfilter #snowseason #massachusettsoutdoors #massachusetts_igers #massachusettslife #travelgirldiary #travelgirlsofficial #travelgirlscommunity
📍Hong Kong 🇭🇰 (Lion Rock) ⁣ This was t 📍Hong Kong 🇭🇰 (Lion Rock) ⁣ This was the second time I’ve hiked to Lion Rock in Kowloon (the first time being over 3 years ago), and I still love the little Lego-pieces of HK’s buildings as far as the eye can see! ⁣ I’m not jn Hong Kong at the moment, but I’ve been telling my family here in the US that it isn’t all dense concrete and gray cityscapes, a huge amount of HK is literally just lush tropical wilderness. ⁣ Hope everyone is having a lovely start to their holidays! My family has never been big holiday people (don’t think they place a lot of emphasis or value on atmosphere), but we still got a little cat-proof tree tree at my insistence to spruce it up a bit. ⁣ ⁣ #ilovehongkong #homekong #hongkongphotography #hongkongphotographer #cathaycreators #hikinginhongkong #hongkonghiking #hkhikes #hongkonghikes #sheisfromhk #sheisnotlost #lionrockhike #lionsrock #hk_iger #travelgirlsgo #livetoexplore #hongkonglife #hongkonginsta #hongkongig #explorehongkong #discoverhongkong #awesomehongkong #bostonbloggers #bostonblogger #hongkongblogger #damestravel #traveldames #thedreamytravel #girlsvsglobe #girlsborntravel
📍Massachusetts (USA) 🇺🇸 ⁣ What’s th 📍Massachusetts (USA) 🇺🇸 ⁣ What’s the coldest place you’ve ever been to? ⁣ Can you smell how crisp the air is? It was also bone-shatteringly cold - 🥶 30 F (just below 0 C) feels just as fresh and stingy on my face as I remember! There are ZERO “Instagram spots” in the classical sense here - so you’ve got to get creative with Mother Nature! ⁣ Life has been funny lately. I’ve been in the USA for about 2.5 weeks now and I’ve finally settled into a rhythm and a routine. Part of that routine involves 3-4x weekly walks with my parents in a nearby “reservation” - big swathes of land with hiking trails, ponds, and lakes. I’m wearing leggings underneath jeans here, and could STILL feel the sharpness of cold air penetrating all the way through to my skin. ⁣ I’ve traded skyscrapers and haze for lakes and sunsets, and right now, feel super content. ⁣ ⁣ #ilovenengland #houghtonspond #newenglandsunsets #bostonbloggers #bostonblogger #newenglandphotographer #newenglandphotography #newenglandliving #newenglandlife #newengland_igers #newenglandfall #newenglandblogger #sheisnotlost #travelgirlshub #damestravel #dametraveler #sheisfromhk #agameoftones #cathaycreators #newenglandpictures #newenglander #ilovemassachusetts #masachusettsphotographer #massachusettsoutdoors #bluehillsreservation #hikingboston #newenglandhikes #massachusettslife #massachusettsmade #naturalmassachusetts
📍Boston, MA (USA) 🇺🇸 ⁣ This photo was 📍Boston, MA (USA) 🇺🇸 ⁣ This photo was taken last year in one of my favorite places in Boston, the Boston Public Library (where my dad still works!). ⁣ If I get my negative COVID result today, I’m finally out of my self-imposed quarantine! It won’t bring me much freedom, but I’m excited to meet the two new cats in the house and to finally be able to make and serve my own meals. Hope everyone is having a good week! ⁣ ⁣ #iloveboston #bostonpubliclibrary #beantown #newenglandphotographer #newenglandphotography #bostonma #bostonblogger #bostonbloggers #lifeofadventure #alwaysgo #wanderfolk #letsgosomewhere #exploreeverywhere #tasteintravel #instatravel #stayandwander #welivetoexplore #neverstopexploring #visualwanderlust #femmetravel #girlslovetravel #dametraveler #wearetravelgirls #ladiesgoneglobal #sheexplores #girlsborntotravel #theglobewanderer #traveldiary #travelphotography #bostonphotography
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