Boston is an awesome place to visit in August. The weather is warm (but not too hot), the city has so much history to see, and the things to do to fill your time are endless. As a 30+ year Bostonian, I love sharing my city with those who visit. I worked on my first website in the late 90s at the Pru (DIGITAS – called Strategic Interactive Group back then), and I love food and history. Prior to the Internet, I even worked for Historic New England, one of the region’s leading history museums and historic preservation organizations. With eTail right around the corner, I wanted to compile a guide to Boston with my top things to do so that you can mix-in some fun with your attendance at one of the top eCommerce shows in the country.
A lot of tourists come to visit Boston – usually drawn to our numerous historical sites related to the American Revolution in the late 18th century or one of our 64 colleges and universities. For most convention-goers and trade show visitors, the best part of Boston are the things you can do within an easy T ride or even within a walk of the eTail East hub at the Marriott Copley. I’ve broken down the list into three categories: Can’t Miss Things to Do / Places to See, Must Eats, and Places to Drink.
Can’t Miss Things to Do / Places to See
See the Boston Red Sox at Fenway – Walking Distance from eTail East.
There are Red Sox games vs the Texas Rangers in the early evening each night, Sun – Friday of eTail week. Tickets will run $35 +, but if you’re looking to take in the surroundings, view the historic venue (120 years old) and have a hot dog and a beer – sit in the outfield bleachers. It’s actually the best view of the park. Here’s a link to Stub Hub for Monday night’s game. If you just want to take in the vibe or try to catch a fly ball that soars out of the park, you can walk there from the Pru and walk around the entire park – it’s a Bostonian special.
Want the Perfect Red Sox outing? Get tickets and attend the game. Eat at EvenTide beforehand (or after) – it’s an oyster / seafood / raw bar joint that has amazingly great chilled oysters and it’s a short walk from the park.
Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum – Short T Ride / E Line (Green) Museum of Fine Arts Stop. $20 admission (Buy in advance on website)
The museum is named after one of the most prominent art collectors of the late 19th and early 20th century. The classics collection includes all the best: Degas, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Manet, and more. Isabella Stewart was an eccentric stylist and decorator and the museum is a testament to her exceptional taste. She left the museum with a huge endowment (early 20th century at $3m+) and stipulations that the palace should be kept “as is” and no works were to be sold. It’s an amazing museum experience with an even crazier story about what happened in March of 1990: The largest value art theft in history and the subject of popular mob family / crime tales and Bostonian rumors. The frames of the stolen art (they were cut out by the thieves with boxcutter knives) hang on the walls as memorials to the missing. If you pick one cultural outing during your eTail experience make it this one.
https://www.gardnermuseum.org/
Walk the Common, Gardens and Back Bay via Commonwealth Ave – Walk from eTail.
If you only have one hour and you feel like you need to “see the city” here’s the best walking tour. It starts two city blocks from eTail on Comm Ave in Back Bay. First you will walk about 8 blocks on Commonwealth Avenue. Then you will cross Arlington street into the Gardens. The “Central Park” of Boston is divided into two, bisected by Charles Street: The Boston Gardens and the Commons. Here’s a map of a suggested route:
Some of the Sights you will see on the walk:
Comm Ave Mall Vendome Memorial
Memorial to firefighters who died in the 1967 Vendome fire
Other statues
read this as you walk towards the gardens https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/our-parks/the-mall/
Boston Swan Boats
Made famous by Robert McCloskey’s classic children’s book: Make Way for Ducklings
Four Season Hotel
Tom Brady’s Boston Home for years.
The State Capital / Beacon Hill (that large gold dome to your left as you walk east)
Built in 1798 the house of commonwealth government is an important historic structure and an ode to classicism designed by Charles Bullfinch at the beginning of the Federal era of architecture during the beginning of the nation. The dome was painted gray during World War II to dissuade enemy ships and planes from taking aim at it.
“The Embrace” Statue and Freedom Plaza on the Common (close to Tremont – about half way / near the turn around)
A memorial to Martin Luther King by Hank Willis Thomas. The King and his wife met in Boston in 1952; this 2023 memorial is an important tribute to their mission and accomplishments in the civil rights era and afterwards. Learn more here.
Copley Square / Boylston Street / Boston Public Library
This is the heart of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood which, along with the recent growth of the Seaport and South Boston, has stolen the limelight from the “financial district” or “downtown.” The Back Bay is comparable to midtown neighborhoods in NYC.
Boston Public Library – Marathon Finish Line
The Boston Public Library is worth walking into to see the interior Italianate Courtyard and fountains. The finish line of the Marathon is painted onto Boylston Street and is the finish line for the famous running race held every year.
2013 Marathon Bombing Memorial – North side of Boylston opposite library entrance
For years you could see shrapnel marks in front of 665 Boylston if you look carefully at the sidewalk tiles. I used to own a digital agency headquartered in this building during the bombing. It was a crazy day but everyone made it out safe.
Newbury Street – Luxury shopping street of Boston
All the famous luxury brands have stores on Newbury street – plenty of sidewalk cafes, bars, and eateries to grab a bite to eat or drink.
Must Eats
Boston has turned a corner and become a foodie destination again after years of living in the shadows of the Fenway frank hot dog, cup of clam chowder at Union Oyster House, the food stands at Faneuil Hall downtown, and North End Italian.Those are still solid choices for a bite to eat, but in the 90s some chefs that took chances with their food creations attracted city-bound foodies. They then trained other chefs and the trees of talent branched out. Read more about them here. Food is really personal to many folks – so you can always check out Eater Boston. But if you want a locals perspective of my favorite tried-and-true “can’t miss” restaurants for out of town visitors? See my picks below:
Scampo / Liberty Hotel (Italian – West End next to Mass General Hospital):
Lydia Shire’s creation has been going strong since the renovation of the old Charles Street Jail in the mid 2000s. It’s now a Boston classic, but my opinion of the overall experience and food quality (outstanding) could possibly be influenced by the world’s finest appetizer and Shire creation – the Lobster Pizza. Ohhhhhh. Hey, the rest of the menu is great too. If you need to digest the lobster pizza, I suggest walking around the Liberty Hotel and taking in this amazing building. https://www.scampoboston.com/
Atlantic Seafood Company (Seafood – Prudential / Back Bay)
This is another classic on Boylston across the street from the Prudential mall. It’s a highly dependable place to get fresh seafood, chowder, lobster roll, steamed lobster, whatever swims around us here in New England. Always fresh, great portions, and super high quality. I prefer their fresh swordfish or tuna steak, and yes, Rhode Island style calamari – (has grilled hot peppers mixed in with the fried calamari). https://www.atlanticfish.com/
Faccia a Faccia (New Italian – Back Bay / Newbury Street)
A recent addition by well-known chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette. I won major points by taking my wife here for an anniversary dinner in July 2024. I’m not a raw fish guy so I followed the wait staff’s choices and ended up wolfing down two Crudo dishes. Then I had a Branzino that melted in my mouth. Best meal I’ve had in Boston in 30 years. Great menu. All fantastic. https://www.facciabruttaboston.com/
SRV (Venetian Bacaro style dining – South End near Symphony Hall – walk from the Marriott). I ate here late Winter prior to an event at Symphony Hall and it was fantastic. We had a large group and shared a ton of dishes – fantastic salads and pasta dishes – the menu has changed since I’ve gone but I would trust this place in a heartbeat and you can walk from eTail. http://www.srvboston.com/
The Nautilus – Seaport (New Seafood – the opposite of Classic Seafood place like Atlantic Fish)
When you eat here, it feels like you are in a bistro that’s located in a cross section between waterfront Boston, Lisbon, Santorini, Busan (Korea) and Fujisawa (that’s a suburb of Tokyo). I won’t use the polite F word for blended cuisine menu restaurants but I’ll just say it’s F’in fantastic. There’s one in Nantucket and there’s one here in Boston. If the well-heeled summer inhabitants of Nantucket can drive enough business to keep a place open there then you get how good it is.
https://www.thenautilus.com/
Trade (Waterfront near South Station) or Porto (South End / Mediterranean) –
Two restaurants, two great choices from Jody Adams. Trade is super-good Greek-influenced cuisine, meanwhile Porto’s menu seems based a few hundred miles west on the Amalfi coast. So these are two crazy-good staples for dependable dining quality from a chef that is constantly changing the menu. See: Trade and Porto. Trade in particular has an awesome long marble-topped bar if you just want to go and enjoy a long glass of wine and some apps – hit it. Porto has a great dining patio and – well – you can walk from eTail.
Eventide Oyster Bar (Near Fenway)
Casual, small fun place on Boyslton 30 min walk from the Marriott – I’ve been here twice in the last 6 months. Amazing oysters; they serve them very cold and they have a great mignonette (vinegar-based stuff you drip on raw oysters). Can be crowded but worth the wait. https://www.eventideoysterco.com/eventide-fenway
Places to Drink
Bukowski – VERY close to the Marriott. Check out the mug collection. Drink beer.
Delux Cafe South End – Cool. Retro. A little Dark. Martini.
Lucky’s Lounge – Located in Fort Point. Hipster. Spicy Marg. Can of Pabst.
Rooftop at Envoy – Best view of Boston. Seaport. Cool. Wine.
Trillium Brewery Fort Point – If you like beer (or even if you don’t) you gotta have some New England IPA while you’re in town
Sola’s Irish Pub – The drinks and food present the classic Boston-based Irish offering. Very close to eTail.
I hope this post helps you navigate Boston and your visit to eTail East this year! You can hit me with any questions at [email protected]! Enjoy your time here!
