Bed and Breakfast Boston

In a world-class, seaside city like Boston,  everything under the sun is available with a couple of taps on the  smartphone. From arts and culture to museums and galleries, to taking in  a game at one of the sports coliseums, it could take weeks to sate  one's appetite for all there is to see and do. By no means is the  following a comprehensive list to keep you and the family fully  entertained, but it's a great place to start.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is one of the finest in the United States. With a focus on the  thirty-fifth US president's upbringing, education, military service, and  political career, the museum also features in-depth exhibits on the  Kennedy family. The Museum of Fine Arts is a must-see as well. With over 450,000 exhibits, it is one of the largest fine arts museums in the country.

The New England Aquarium is another outstanding attraction that houses a giant ocean tank  containing over 2000 sea creatures of all shapes and sizes. Check out  one of the championship-caliber sports teams when they're in town and  pay a visit to America's version of Rome's Coliseum at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.

For those history buffs, the Freedom Trail is an absolute must. Running the boulevards and back streets across 2.5  miles, this tour will connect you with 16 historically significant  locations in our nation's fledgling days. This trail by itself is worth  the trip to Boston, as no other American city has such a rich tapestry of our history on display in such a compressed and compelling way.

Back Bay is the area of Boston well-known for its brownstone homes lining the streets and neighborhoods. In case you're having  trouble locating the area, just look for the John Hancock building, the  city's tallest skyscraper.

Cambridge, named after the University of Cambridge in England, is jam-packed with commerce and culture. In addition to being home to Kendall Square,  voted "the most innovative square mile on the planet" due to the number  of highly successful startups located there, the Square also claims  Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Leslie University, and Hult International Business School as esteemed residents.

Those looking for the high-rent district will find gaslit streetlights and brick sidewalks in Beacon Hill, one of the most desirable and historic neighborhoods in all of Boston. High fashion shopping knows no bounds in Copley Square where 50 of the country's top retailers provide the loftiest of upscale consumerism. Harvard Square is a triangular plaza at Cambridge's very heart and delineates the business district and Harvard University.

Boston College Club is a private social, dining, and networking club that also offers  access to over 300 exclusive golf clubs across the country. Membership  in this club represents the peak of elite social status locally and  nationwide. But posh isn't limited to the social order. Need a glamorous  convention center no matter the size of your event? Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and the Massachusetts Convention Center are two of the world's top choices.

Culture is at the forefront at the Coolidge Corner Theater,  home to some of the top contemporary independent film, repertory, and  educational programming in the US. Constructed in 1933, it seats up to  700 and is a classic location for artistic entertainment.

Boston is a transition zone for climate and weather, having either a humid  subtropical climate or a humid continental climate. Summers vary between  hot and humid, with July being the warmest, to cold and snowy over the  long winters. There is abundant precipitation owing to its proximity to  the Atlantic Ocean.

This bodes well for skating  enthusiasts who take advantage of the innumerable lakes and ponds that  freeze over as well as the snowy hills and trails within the city for  cross country skiers. Although the ocean moderates winter chill in and  around the Boston area, weather systems that roil up the coast from the mid-Atlantic  region can bring ferocious storms, high winds, heavy surf, rain, and  snow.

Spring and Fall are usually cool to mild  depending on the prevailing jet stream and off-shore or on-shore winds  from the Atlantic Ocean.

All things considered, the weather in Boston can play havoc with the best-laid plans for a vacation. But allowing  for the weather's foibles, there is endless fun to be had, whether  romping in the surf or glissading across a frozen pond.

Depending on the time of year and how long you plan on visiting the Boston area, there are countless attractions and activities for the whole  family to enjoy. In addition to the historical elements mentioned above,  summer in Boston usually means one thing; the beach. A day (to two) trip out to the shores of Cape Cod draws people from around the globe. And there are fabulous B&B there as well.

Pack  the sunscreen and head out for some swimming, fishing, boating, or jet  skiing. Plan on seeing the enchanting, mysterious lighthouses, and don't  forget to sample the clam chowder as you kick the sand from your shoes.  When you're ready to catch your breath and a cold drink on a hot day in  the outfield stands at Fenway Park, the Red Sox are always worth the ticket.

Winter brings snowy scenes in downtown Boston for the perfect urban photo op. Or find a skating rink where you can  stretch your legs. And speaking of skating, sports fans will want to  check out the Boston Bruins when they're in town. More of a basketball fan? Grab a seat at a nearby arena for Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, UMass Boston, or the high-flying NBA Celtics.

Boston's history is long, complex, and fascinating. Early European colonists named the area Trimountaine owing to three large hills that dominated the local area. It was later  renamed in 1630 after some prominent colonists originally from Boston, Lincolnshire, England.

Fishing and shipping provided much of the early commerce, and Boston quickly grew to become the Thirteen Colonies' largest city. Resentful  of Britain's increasingly invasive and heavy-handed regulations and  taxation, Boston became a hotbed of spirited resistance.

In  defiance of the insufferable taxes on tea, the revolutionary spirit  caught fire when citizens dumped a complete shipment of it into Boston Harbor. Known as the Boston Tea Party,  this was the last straw for Britain's home rulers. Military battles  soon followed at Lexington and Concord that ignited the American  Revolution.

After America gained its hard-won independence from Great Britain, Boston continued to expand in wealth, commerce, and culture through the latter part of the 18th century. The War of 1812 stymied some trade but commerce returned following the war. Large numbers of European immigrants were finding their way to Boston's shores, fueling the rapid growth of manufacturing well into the late 19th century.

By the early 20th century, Boston's  vibrancy as a commerce center had slipped due to obsolete  manufacturing. Businesses began to look elsewhere for richer markets,  and trade slowed. It wasn't until the mid-1900s when urban renewal  projects began to lift the city out of its decades-long doldrums.

Centers  of higher education, cultural institutes, colleges, and universities  had become world-renowned. Medical institutions, research, and  technology centers also found homes here during the late 20th century to  escort Boston into the 21st century as a beacon of advanced society, culture, and commerce it is known for today.

Boston has several unique features that distinguish it from any other major  city in the country. It is the only state capitol in the contiguous  United States that has an oceanic shoreline. This factor alone allowed  for the tremendous growth the city has experienced over 350 years.

Additionally,  the many streams and rivers coursing through the city's outlying areas  provided early merchants natural conduits for shipping goods to markets  elsewhere in New England.  These waterways fed many of the marshes and swamps in the low-lying  coastal region. Today's parks and natural wildlife areas are sustained  by these abundant sources of surface and groundwater.

The three hills that gave the area its original name of Trimountaine hardly exist due to continual construction projects and urban expansion  over the centuries. While these hills may no longer be the prominent  landmarks they once were, they do provide relief and contour to the  landscape that would otherwise be missing due to its proximity to the  ocean.

Ok, the fun part first. From world-renowned items like Boston baked beans and Boston cream pie to famous brands like Sam Adams beer and Friendly's Ice Cream, Massachusetts is no stranger to culinary delights.

Looking  a bit deeper on the menu, fresh seafood from fishing communities such  as Cape Cod and Nantucket, it almost doesn't matter what the sides are  when your dinner was alive in the ocean just hours ago. And an excellent  way to start a brawl is to complain about a local bistro's clam  chowder. Red, white? Spicy, smooth? It all depends on the palate but  figure out your fav because as friendly as these seafood servers are,  even they have their limits with diners who don't know their chowder.

And for dessert, that Boston cream pie will cool off any heat from the main course. Wash it down  with a Sam Adams for good measure and you'll be fit as a fiddle. As you  ponder your comfy midday snack, toss down a couple of Fig Newtons, born and bred in Newton, Massachusetts.

It's not even a chore in our ultra-modern culture to locate any type of food you  desire and have it delivered to your door in minutes. But when in Boston, go local to seek out these tasty treats regardless of your neighborhood. I'll bet your B&B can have some Ubered and at your door within the hour.