A day in Boston

On our way home from Mexico we ended up with a day to spare in Boston. It's not somewhere I'd really thought of visiting before, but it surprised me. It's filled with great neighbourhoods, you can walk everywhere and the lobster rolls are really something.

This is what we got up to:

Breakfast

Our day in Boston was sunny, but after 6 months in Mexico and then a heatwave in Arizona, all we wanted to do was cosy up in a cafe. Tatte Bakery was around the corner from our hotel. It has a nice neighbourhood vibe, good coffee and a huge choice of pastries and sandwiches.

Beacon Hill

After breakfast we wandered around Beacon Hill and Back Bay, two iconic Boston neighbourhoods. They're filled with cobbled streets, brownstones, cute little independent shops and pubs. It felt a bit like London (well, a more perfect version of London).

Go to Acorn Street for the classic Boston Instagram, Newbury Street for shopping and the Cheers Bar to reminisce about Sam and Diane.

City centre

From there we walked through the city park. Our plan was to walk the Freedom Trail and visit Quincy Market. After about 5 minutes of battling our way through tour groups we gave up on this idea, but I think it would be great if it was less busy.

One of my highlights in the city centre was Brattle Book Shop, which has a huge selection of secondhand and rare books.

Little Italy

When it all got a bit much, we made our way to North End, Boston's Little Italy. We loved this area, listening in on people's conversations (this is where the Boston accents get real!) and peeking into little shops and bakeries.

It's the city's oldest neighbourhood and you could feel it, with people stopping to chat to friends on the street and lots of family-run restaurants. There was a real sense of community.

Lobster rolls

Our last stop before heading to the airport was James Hook and Co, a seafood shack by the harbour. The lobster rolls were incredibly fresh and the clam chowder was rich and creamy – the ultimate comfort food.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Boston is really expensive. Like, the most expensive place we've ever been. With no decent budget options, we stayed at John Jeffries House (which at $170 a night actually is budget by Boston standards). It's right in the middle of Beacon Hill, with big rooms and friendly staff.