Boston Harbor Islands > than a one day trip to the Cape and back:

If you have a day to spend. And are contemplating doing a run to the Cape just for the heck of it... Don't do it.

Instead, I suggest going to Fort Warren on Georges Island and just relax and learn about the old Civil War prison, OR go to Fort Revere out in Hull and then go to Nantasket Beach. (There's no tour of Fort Revere, but there is lots of history around it). Neither are tourist traps by any means. And both are full of Boston Naval History. Nantasket Beach is a great beach.


Running:

If you like going for runs, I recommend making Dorchester Heights in South Boston a destination. Famous for being the place where Knox placed the big runs that forced the British to evacuate Boston. You could also run around Castle Island, which is some of the best shoreline Boston has to offer.

If you like really long runs - try the Marathon route, or running the Charles up and down. North End to World Trade Center, along the waterfront, is also another scenic run, but requires paying attention to your footwork as you run up and down small flights of stairs.


For Kids:

I loved the Museum of Science and New England Aquarium as a kid. And as a really young kid, there's no better children's museum than the Boston Children's Museum.

Avoid the Boston Tea Party thing... its a tourist trap by every sense of the word.


Atypical Boston:

Chinatown in Boston is right up there with SF and NYC. If you like dim sum, this is as good of an opportunity as any. Boston's chinatown is right by Boston Common, so you don't have to go far for it.

Motab is coming to town July 6th, and will be playing at the famous Wang Theatre (also right next to China town).

There is also a great german restaurant there by Chinatown and the Wang Theatre. Its called Jacob Wirths. I seem to recall hearing that it is the oldest german restaurant in the US... but that could just be wishful thinking. I've never had bad food there, or a bad beer. But I also have never had a beer there. But my colleagues have, and they love it. Sometimes they get the piano going, and it has old wooden floors, so it really has a cool ambiance.