AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! I LOVE CASTLES! This is one of the Secret…read moreHidden Gems of America that most people have never heard about or been to before. The Prospect Hill Monument is a stone structure in the shape of a mini Castle & is located in Somerville, Massachusetts just outside of Boston. This is a residential area with homes. It is also a historic site & provides panoramic views of Boston & surrounding cities. There is also a small park in this neighborhood here with green grass, park benches & a good spot for picnicking & relaxing. It's great place to visit Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall with a changing natural New England landscape. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PARK OTHERWISE YOU MAY GET A TICKET. Park only at the signs where it says it's OK to Park; it's a residential area. You can also visit here by Mass Transit too. This site is only a few blocks away & up the hill from the bustling heart of Union Square. There are a lot of local businesses & eateries there. The medieval fortress tower was constructed out of stone & steel. It was built in 1903 to commemorate the site's military importance during the Revolutionary & Civil Wars. The Tower stands 4 stories tall. Climb the stairs to the the first outdoor open deck, & you'll see great views of Boston, Somerville, & Cambridge. The inside of the tower & top were open pre-pandemic periodically at various times. Check the website for current info & updates. Be sure to go all around the tower on the ground level. There are plaques with lots of detailed info all around the tower. Also check out all the signs throughout the Park telling you even more info about this spot & how it was instrumental in uniting the colonies. On January 1, 1776, General George Washington himself who would later become the first President of the United States, during the Revolutionary War hoisted the very first national flag of America on this very spot. It was called the Grand Union Flag & predates The Famous Betsy Ross Flag. Our current red & white Stripes with 50 Stars flag is not flown here. Lots of people miss this. Zoom in with your camera & you will see the First Flag of America. The Grand Union Flag is still flown here on top of the tower. It has red & white stripes but with the blue British Union Jack in the corner instead of the Stars. It's Pretty Cool that they still fly our very first national flag here. To make it worth your trip be sure to visit the extremely popular Union Square Donuts which has Great Donuts & is only a few blocks away. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

I run everywhere in Somerville and today's course was through the monument. Nice view during the…read morerun. Grass area someone was working out which was nice as well. Good hill training.

Came here b/c they validate parking and was playing The Farewell…read more Pros: - Cinema validates parking - reduces parking cost to $3; there is a machine inside that validates the ticket - Movie prices are relatively cheap compared to other theaters ($13 for regular ticket) - Comfortable seats and screen size (both are smaller compared to other theaters) - Clean bathroom stalls on the second floor - Not crowded, best part Cons: - A bit out of the way but if you have a car this is a great place in terms of parking and pricing

As of this writing, major construction was going on, but the theater was still open. I'm not…read moreinclined to be too hard on them; renovations are a good thing and the experience in the cinema that I found open was still pretty good. The construction may explain the limited availability, however, meaning that the first time I tried to get a ticket here I couldn't find anything that fit my schedule. The second time, I made a good choice in aligning my schedule to see a barn-burner of a movie that I don't think a single person in the theater got up for, despite an almost three hour run time. The seats in my theater reclined amply, and despite being stuck with a front row seat, there really wasn't a bad seat in the house. I found a couple of spare outlets on the walls and briefly charged my devices, important after a long day as a traveler. Landmark will have movies that other places won't, and one hopes that the industry produces things worth seeing. I did not sample the concessions having found a good option nearby.

Quote: Inspired by Christopher Wren's Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford, England, Sanders Theatre is…read morefamous for its design and its acoustics. A member of the League of Historic American Theatres, the 1,166 seat theatre offers a unique and intimate 180 degree design which provides unusual proximity to the stage: End Quote It feels like a warm wooden church inside, I just saw Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble there, and it was WONDERFUL! The theatre itself, is gorgeous. Walking up to the building is very scenic. However, seating wasn't ergonomic in 1922, so it's hard wooden benches and your feet will fall asleep during the show. But check it out if you would like to see a classical performance or Harvard art event, in a student, casual environment. I think it may be sometimes only available to Harvard students and affiliates.

If you're inspired by beautiful architecture, you *must* catch a performance at Sanders Theatre…read more When I walk into the space, my spirit is uplifted and can't help but gaze around me and drink in the amazing style of this place. Rich, dark woods, beautiful soaring archways and central dome, lovely tile in the entrance hall... it's just a lovely space. The acoustics in the space are quite amazing, too. I sing with the Cambridge Community Chorus, and we're performing a show there this coming Sunday... we've had two rehearsals so far in this space and the sound is absolutely amazing. The space itself serves as a natural amplifier, and the harmonics in the room are such that the tones and frequencies blend prettily in ways that other spaces just don't convey. The statements about the seating being uncomfortable are true... but regardless, if you have an opportunity to see a show at Sanders Theatre, you should do it. Uncomfortable seats notwithstanding, it is a truly magical experience.

A historic tower with unrivaled views of the Harvard skyline, the Charles and the gleaming Boston…read moreskyscraper. It's located deep within the beautifully gothic (and annoyingly one-entranced) Mt Auburn Cemetery and stands head above their veritable collection of world trees and strange crypts. It's a stone tower with a disabled-unfriendly stone stairwell that could well induce vertigo, but please forgive it as it's 150 years old. At the top there's room for a good 10 or more to enjoy the panorama. Go on a clear warm day and earmark a good 20 minutes of your time to relax at the top and take it all in. Don't be one of the tick-it-off crowd and head down as soon as you've got your photo.

Washington Tower is noted for its great panoramic views of Boston and Cambridge. Honestly, Boston's…read moreskyline pales in comparison to other global cities. Nevertheless, as a resident of Boston for almost 4 years I knew I had to see it for myself. I would give it five stars; however there were a couple things that detracted from my visit: 1) there are no clear signs indicating where Washington tower is in relation to the rest of the cemetery 2) it was super windy when I went in to the top in May, and the wind made the view from the top almost unbearable because it would blow us left and right and made me feel cold and unnerved 3) naturally, because this is outdoors, bugs were here in swarms; there were bees and flies and even mosquitoes--yikes! Overall, I am glad I got to check it off my bucket list but I don't think I will be coming back anytime soon. I would even dare say that the view from the Charles River might be better ;)

Review #1133 & Last review of 2020…read more I have always enjoyed walking through Harvard Yard, and I miss it even more so now! I miss sitting at the Tercentenary Theatre (center of the Yard) for convocations and other events! I also miss seeing tourists taking photos in front of the Widener Library or Memorial Church. I miss visiting Houghton, Lamont, or walking by Wigglesworth or Bolyston! While I personally haven't been here since March, I cannot wait for the day when Harvard Yard returns to some level of pre-covid (or post-covid?) normalcy!

What an amazing place. Located in the heart of Harvard Square. It is a gorgeous park featuring…read morethe dorms, library and even a church. The whole area is enclosed by a fence separating it from the hussle and bustle of activity at Harvard Square.

Sleep is for the weak, but it's also for the week, if you only sleep once a week, like me…read more It's been Weeks since I came to this beautiful Footbridge. Of course it goes over the gorgeous Charles River, and it's really nice that they actually built a bridge that is mainly for pedestrians. And of course because there aren't any bridges that are directly adjacent to this which you can drive across, then it means that students can walk across the river to school and whatnot. And there are great views of Boston and Cambridge from here. So it's just absolutely gorgeous - as is much of Boston honestly.

A bridge for people not for cars. Yay!…read more The Weeks footbridge crosses the Charles river between the Harvard Business School and Harvard proper. It's a picturesque faux-medieval bridge that appears in most postcards of Harvard with a rowing boat popping through the arches. A great place to spend a warm sunny day and the best vantage point for the Head of The Charles regatta once a year. It's nice to be able to see the lovely river without the bother of pesky cars and it's a romantic spot for any date. Hopefully one night the winter ice there will be thick enough for me to go out with a special someone to recreate the cover-scene from Eternal Sunshine.

Awsome time at the st Joseph feast. Saw trifecta and ate at a local restaurant. Great time.read more

North End aka Little Italy is my favorite Boston neighborhood…read more It's lively and welcoming with bakeries, pizza shops, and Italian restaurants lining the cobblestone streets Paul Revere's house is in North End as are several other historical landmarks. You can't help but feel like you're in a small village in Italy when in the North End.

All my daughter wanted this year for her 22nd birthday was for the family to spend the day on the…read more Islands, specifically George's and Lovell's and that's what we did. We haven't been in about 10 yrs and was so happy to see some amenity upgrades to keep people interested. They added a little playground/ slide for the kids, doesn't look Civil War ish but I'm sure is helpful for young ones lol a fantastic Welcome center with items they've found on Island or that era and a 9 minute movie introduction to the History of George's Island All Islands are carry out what you bring in so be aware of that. George's Island has Salty's food bar with really good prices considering everything has to be brought over on the ferry. We like to picnic and have a feast for dinner once back on the mainland. Bathrooms were clean and plentiful on George's and a composting loo on Lovell's. Free water taxi to Island hop to the other Islands to explore. I've been coming here since I was 12 and I'm SO happy that the BHI are growing with the times and there is still such an interest. The views of the cityscape are just awesome, it's like a world away even though you can see the skyline. LOVE IT ! Also, in all this time we've driven into the city to park but chose to go out of Hingham this time. We'll stick with that from Now on unless we need shopping downtown. Hingham offers free parking with the purchase of the Island ticket!! And Wahlburgers is just down the street with additional shopping if your not exhausted from a day of beach-combing

My husband and I did the Boston Lighthouse Sunset Cruise in the Boston Harbor Islands National…read moreRecreation Area when we spent the weekend in Boston about two weeks ago. The cruises are offered in partnership with the National Park Service, so our guide (who walks you from the meeting point to the boat and narrates the tour) was a park ranger, which makes it a more special experience, in my opinion. They offer day time and sunset cruises, but we were lucky enough to be able to fit in a sunset cruise on a Friday evening. The 2-hour cruises are narrated, so you can learn about various islands and their histories, as well as see some lighthouses. You check in at the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Rose Kennedy Greenway and then walk a short distance (less than five minutes) to the boat. The boat has seating inside and outside, as well as bathrooms. I had never been out into Boston Harbor before, so this was a treat. I learned a lot and saw a few stunning sites before/during/after sunset. I enjoyed the experience. Seeing Boston Light and Graves Light on this cruise was a real treat. My only real complaint is that they tell you to arrive at least 3 minutes before departure to check in. This was absolutely not necessary. Our departure was at 5:30, and I don't think we even started to walk over to the boat until 5:30. We had arrived at 4:45 and so had to sit around for 45 minutes while others checked in much closer to the departure time. We had books so we were okay, but I really don't think they should be asking people to check in that early! A very cool experience if you're looking for a way to get out into the Harbor and on the water during a visit to Boston!

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! This is one of the Secret Hidden Gems of…read moreAmerica that most people have never heard about or been to before. Come here & you can see America's First National Flag - The Grand Union Flag, flying in the wind on top of Prospect Hill Monument. You may have to use your camera to Zoom in to really see it. The Monument is a 4 Story Castle Like Structure built in 1903 with great views of multiple cities including Boston. Cambridge & Somerville. There is also a little park here too. THE HISTORY In the 1700's the British flag reigned supreme. Then came our battle to become an independent nation. During the Revolutionary War, the colonies had their own individual flags like Massachusetts, & New York etc. General George Washington who would later become the first president of the United States commissioned a flag to be made to bolster the morale of the troops. The Grand Union Flag was created & featured 13 red & white stripes. There were 7 red & 6 alternating white stripes representing the 13 colonies who were all united together in this battle. Now in the upper hand corner was the British Union Jack. So this unification flag shows for the first time the colonies were uniting together & putting themselves first. They were separating themselves from British rule & fighting for their independence from Britain. George Washington himself hoisted the Grand Union Flag here on Prospect Hill on January 1, 1776 to give a big morale boost to his newly formed Continental Army. The 13 colonies represented on the flag are Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina & Georgia. This flag is before & predates the famous Betsy Ross Flag. Now this spot is located in Somerville, Massachusetts which is just outside of Boston. This is a residential area with homes. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PARK OTHERWISE YOU MAY GET A TICKET. Park only at the signs where it says it's OK to Park; You can also visit here by Mass Transit too. Be sure to go all around the tower on the ground level. There are plaques with lots of detailed info all around the tower. Also check out all the signs throughout the Park telling you even more info about this spot. It is a historic site & provides panoramic views of Boston & surrounding cities. Go up the stairs to the first landing & see the views.. Pre Pandemic the inside & the top of the monument were open at certain times. Check the website for the latest info & further details. There is also a small park in this neighborhood here with green grass, park benches & a good spot for picnicking & relaxing. It's great place to visit Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall with a changing natural New England landscape. See my review of the Prospect Hill Monument for more details. This site is only a few blocks away & up the hill from the bustling heart of Union Square. There are a lot of local businesses & eateries there. To make it worth your trip be sure to visit the extremely popular Union Square Donuts which has Great Donuts & is only a few blocks away. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

Located in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Cambridge, this narrow building was stood up…read morein 1908. Francis O'Reilly bought an investment property and tried to sell it to his neighbor. When the neighbor refused to purchase it, he did what people do - he built a spite house on it. A "spite house" is a structure that is designed to completely screw over the neighbor or the city or anyone else that the builder doesn't like. So here is this 8 foot by 37 foot house. It's rather cute and is in use today as the office for an interior design firm.