Pages

Sunday, October 21, 2012

5 Awesome Things To Do in Boston



I absolutely adore Boston. Having lived there as a child, and considering myself a Bostonian, my love for this city is incomparable. 

In attempt to explain what I love so much about this city,  I'll give you a journal entry description of it:
"As I roamed the oldest streets in America, my mind fluttered to a time in the past. J. F. Kennedy lived right here and Mother Goose walked there, Ben Franklin stood on this very corner and Paul Revere rode his horse down that same street every night. I can feel the movement of history all around me, the culture that's so heartwarming and welcomingly patriotic. To my right stood the first baseball stadium, to my left was the first city park in America, under me was the first American subway, before me stood the first university in America, and behind me was the first American fire station. Alas, this was the city of firsts. Tall new buildings and the ancient looking structures of the past stood as one beside each other. And as I walked the busy streets with their new couture shops and old libraries, people moved by me talking in accents that reflected their native suburb. As night came, the old gas street lights guided my way though the city, just as they did for others a few hundred years ago."

So now that you get the feel of Boston, here are the top five things I recommend you do on your visit there:

1.  Take the Boston Duck Tour! The tour guides are HILARIOUS and as you quack your way around Boston, you will see and learn about the city's incredible history and all of its cool quirks and facts. The Duck will also turn into a boat and you'll take a ride on the Charles River and enjoy Boston's spectacular city view.

2. Take a walk down Newbury Street. With its fancy restaurants, old bookshops, and brand-name shopping, Newbury Street is Boston's most captivating street. And if you get a little hungry while you're there, you can stop by Ben & Jerry's for a cone of delicious ice cream!

3.  Visit Boston's Children's Museum. This family-orientated museum is a great place to go if you're visiting with your kids. They'll have a blast playing and learning in a fun and colourful environment that was made for youngsters like themselves. And you won't be able to resist smiling at their happy faces.

4. Visit Revere Beach. This is America's first public beach and it's a wonderful place to spend a hot summer day. You can take a swim, ride a boat, go fishing, and even go kayaking. There are always lots of fun events happening at the beach, and with great restaurants and accommodations, this is a fantastic place stay in Boston.

5. Go to a Boston flea market. Nothing feels better than a great flea market buy and Boston is home to some of the most fantastic flea markets. You can find anything from fresh produce, cool jewelry, and electronics to antique furniture, clothing, and designer perfume. Whichever flea market you choose, it's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Here are a few photos I took on my August 2010 visit there. All photos were taken on a Nikon Coolpix.

Victorian houses in Back Bay, Boston


Gas street lamps light up Boston.


1st Trip to New York City + My #1 Tip to Visitors!



There are few things I love more than traveling, and fewer places I love more than New York City. I, like many others, have been dreaming of going to The Big Apple for as long as I can remember.

The city was just as I had imagined it. To get you feeling its vibe, I'll give you a little description of it from my journal entry:
"The sun was setting and as I faced the sky, I could see the soft pinks merging with the magentas, and the tangerine oranges embracing the indigoes. The sunlight bounced off the water in the Central Park lagoons, reflecting its rays everywhere. I could hear the echoes of life resonating before me. The sound of a million shoes, faint whispers of gossip, children laughing, gold credit cards being swiped on Madison Avenue, cars beeping, and the hearts of dreamers pumping enveloped me. The aromas surrounded me: the hot dog stands on Time Square, the odor of pollution, the sweet smell of designer brands, perfume, and sparkly bijoux in shopping bags rustling in the March breeze. One by one, the streetlights came on, beautifully illuminating the entire city. Everything was how it should be as life effortlessly played out around me." 

Now that you can practically taste New York, here's the #1 thing I'd recommend you do your first time visiting there: take a Hop-On Hop-Off Tour of the city. The tour I took allowed me to tour the entire city for two full days with audio commentary, letting me hop-on and hop-off at whichever stop I wished; it included a FREE Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island round-trip ferry, AND a FREE lunch at a wonderful restaurant in Little Italy. The thing I love most about these tours isn't just the absolutely hilarious tour guides, but that you learn the history of New York City and its little fun facts as you're touring. As a history buff, this is literally the greatest thing in the world. After the tour, you're so captivated and in love with this city, you can't stop smiling the whole time you're there – at least that was the case with my family, haha. And you'll have so much fun doing all the countless things there is to do, from roaming the streets trying different foods to visiting the Empire State Building. 

Here are some photos I took in New York City. All photos where taken in March 2010 on a Canon PowerShot camera.









Welcome to my blog!

Welcome to my blog! My name's Asil. I live in Windsor, Ontario with my family. I'm studying Digital Journalism, English, and Creative Writing at the University of Windsor. I love traveling, photography, fashion, interior design, food, writing, and reading. Welcome to my world.