Boston

The city of the American Revolution and of the universities: the 4 km Freedom Trail past the Old State House and Paul Revere's house, Harvard Yard and MIT across the river in Cambridge, Fenway Park, the harbour and, from April to October, whale-watching boats to Stellwagen Bank. Compact and walkable, with the "T" subway. New England's autumn colours peak from late September to mid-October within a few hours' drive. The Sri Lakshmi Temple at Ashland is the area's best-known Hindu temple; Indian restaurants cluster in Cambridge and Central Square.

Highlights

• Walk the Freedom Trail
• Harvard Yard and Harvard Square
• MIT campus
• Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall
• Boston Common and the Public Garden
• Whale watching (April-October)
• A Red Sox game at Fenway Park

Things to do

• Freedom Trail walkMorning · 3h
• Harvard and MIT in CambridgeAfternoon · 3h
• Whale-watching cruiseApr–OctMorning · 3h 30m
• Quincy Market and the waterfrontEvening · 2h

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: May – October

• Independence Day (Fourth of July) — Fireworks across the country: Macy's over the East River in New York, on the National Mall in Washington (with the parade on Constitution Avenue), and the Boston Pops on the Esplanade. A national holiday: parks and beaches are crowded and the holiday week's flights dear.
• New England autumn colours — The maples turn from late September in northern New England to mid-October near Boston and the Hudson Valley, later in New York City. Weekend rooms in the countryside sell out; drive on weekdays if you can.