Bunker Hill Monument, which commemorates the
first major battle of the American Revolution on
June 17, 1775. Rest and enjoy a picnic at the bottom
of the 221-foot monument, or run up and down the
294 steps to burn off some of those lobster rolls.
Another interesting slice of Charlestown history
is the Warren Tavern on Pleasant Street. Founded
in 1780 and named after Dr. Joseph Warren, a
hero killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill, the tavern
has hosted veritable names such as Paul Revere,
Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. Fans
of local best-selling author Dennis Lehane will
Boston Skyline
recognize the Warren as having been mentioned in
his novels. But the Warren shouldn’t just be visited
just for its historic value — the cozy and always lively pub serves (of
course) juicy burgers, fish and chips, crab cakes, chowdah and lobstah
rolls but also a yoghurt granola parfait that would give any trendy
brunch spot a run for its money.
PRUDENTIAL TOWER
For the best view of Boston’s glittering skyline, the only way is up.
The Prudential Tower (also known as The Pru) on Boyleston Street is
the second-tallest building in the city at 749 feet. It is home to stores
such as Vineyard Vines, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Sephora,
but the coolest attraction is the Top of the Hub restaurant on the
52nd floor, which offers sweeping sights of the city in a fine dining
atmosphere. Two floors below it, the Skywalk Observatory is currently
the highest observation deck in New England open to the public, as the
higher observation deck of the John Hancock Tower has been closed
since September 11, 2001. An audio tour on the Skywalk is a good
way to learn about the sites while soaking in the 360-degree views of
Greater Boston and beyond.
HALLOWEEN SEASON IN SALEM
Nearly every high school student has read The Crucible in English
literature class, and while Arthur Miller’s classic was partly fictional,
the story is based on the real-life witch trials in 1692-93 in Salem,
Massachusetts. Mass hysteria resulted in the hanging deaths of at
least 20 people and the infamous era has turned Salem into a go-to
destination to celebrate the Halloween season. Special spooky events
Boston Duck Tour
span the town from Oct. 1-Nov. 1. Haunted happenings include costume
balls, ghost tours, haunted houses, live music, chilling
theatrical presentations, and horror film screenings. Around 250,000
visitors trek to Salem each Halloween season, with many of them taking
the hour-long ferry from Boston to get there. As the Boston Harbor
Cruises website boasts, “only a broom would get you there faster.”
APPLE PICKING IN NEW ENGLAND
Nothing says fall like hot apple cider, and you don’t have to venture
far outside Boston to visit New England’s apple-picking wonderland.
Of course, you could hit up the closest bar or café in Back Bay and
grab a glass, but where is the fun in that? Growing up in Boston, a
seasonal tradition is to visit an orchard and pick your own fruit. There
are hundreds of orchards within an apple’s throw of the city, and many
serve apple doughnuts, cobbler, fruit jams, baked goods, plus offer
tons of rural activities like hay rides, farm animals and cider tastings.
Many even have a taproom to test the adult version of the traditional
drink, while cooing over goats and mini-ponies at the petting zoo. A
popular spot, especially for movie buffs, is Scott Farm in Dummerston,
Vermont, where the Tobey Maguire adaption of John Irving’s Cider
House Rules novel was filmed. The historic property is also home to
Naulakha, the estate where Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book.
SEAPORT
While most of Boston is steeped in history, the Seaport area is a vision
of modern luxury. Over the past 150 years, the region has evolved
from a muddy part of the harbor to a multi-cultural mecca of luxury
condos, waterfront hotels, high-end stores and trendy eateries, plus
home to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the Institute
of Contemporary Art and the Bank of America Pavilion — one of
the biggest amphitheaters in America. Along with the glittering
high rises, it has grown into a foodie haven, with highly-acclaimed
eateries such as Menton, Sportello and Flour Bakery + Café taking
over old warehouse spaces. Of course given the location, there’s also
an abundance of seafood restaurants on hand, with Ocean Prime,
Row 34, Yankee Lobster and Oceanaire bringing new meaning to the
word “fresh.” If hops are your food of choice, the Harpoon Brewery
gets into the festive spirit each fall with an annual Octoberfest
offering bratwursts, chicken and plenty of beer. For the adventurous
at heart, the Codzilla offers a high-speed adventure on the water (up
to 40 m.p.h.), boasting 360-degree turns and a “bad attitude.” A more
leisurely option is a whale-watching tour out to the Stellwagen Bank
Marine Sanctuary to spot humpbacks, finbacks, minkes, pilot whales,
and the critically endangered right whales.
AUTUMN 2017 27 FLYWASHINGTON.COM