Trip Introduction
In June of 2025 James had a conference in Boston, MA. Since we had not visited the city as tourists, Julie decided to take some time off work, and we extended the trip. We were able to visit some of the historic sites and meet up with some longtime friends who lived in the area.
Sunday, 06/15/2025 – Leaving Des Moines
The morning started early with an Uber to the airport at 5:20a. Everything went smoothly with our layover in LaGuardia where low clouds obscured part of the New York City skyline. When booking, we noted there was an earlier option to Boston, but it was more expensive, and the connection time would have been tight. While we sat for about 3 hours and ate lunch, our checked bag made the earlier flight and was waiting for us at American Baggage Services when we arrived at Logan International. We took an Uber to the Back Bay area arriving at our hotel right as a game at Fenway Park was ending and people were hitting the streets. Our hotel was right next to the ballpark, so traffic was a little snarled. After checking into the hotel, we walked to where James’ conference was being held on the Boston College campus, so he had an idea of the time and route. We then went for a stroll on the Esplanade along the Charles River. After a quick bite from a nearby fast-food shop, we relaxed in our room before calling it an early night.
Manhattan Skyline on a cloudy day
Looking over the harbor as we are landing at Logan
Boston College Data Sciences Building; location of James’ conference
Monday, 06/16/2025 – Split Activities
James’ conference didn’t start until midafternoon, so we spent the morning together. After sleeping in a bit and getting around, we headed to the Kenmore T Station; “T” is short for Metropolitan Bay Transit Authority and a sign with just a capital “T” indicates below ground stops. After purchasing a 7-Day “Charlie Card,” we retuned to the streets and walked several blocks east to the Prudential Tower area. After walking through the mall and finding where the hop-on-hop-off trolly stopped, we ate lunch at an Irish Pub. We then used the subway to return to our hotel.
James headed off to his conference a little before 2p and took in the views from the 17th floor of BC Data Sciences Building between sessions. He returned after the evening meal and social a little before 9p.
The weather was nice, so while James “worked,” Julie returned to the esplanade and spent time sitting near the water, people watching, and walking several of the paths. She returned to the hotel around 5 and spent the rest of the evening reading and thinking about what to do on Tuesday.
Looking downtown from the conference space
A sailboat on the Charles River
One of the small waterways in the esplanade along the river
Looking at sailboats on the river
Tuesday, 06/17/2025 – End of Conference && Gardens
James was up early to be at his conference site by 8a. The day was cloudy with a forecast of rain which didn’t really materialize until around 2:30p. The sessions wrapped a little after 4p and he returned to the room.
While James was at the conference, Julie kept checking the weather for rain to decide when she would go out roaming on her own. She rearranged some of the luggage contents, read for a bit, and checked the radar again. At 10:30a she decided to ride the “T” to the Public Garden. 20 minutes later, she walked into the park and spent the next 90 minutes leisurely strolling the paths of the Public Garden and Boston Common which was just to the east. She found the starting point of the Freedom Trail and watched some people doing an archeological dig near one of the playgrounds. Based on the weather, rain was en route so she decided to stop at a nearby grocery store for lunch and rode the “T” back to the hotel. While she waited for James to return, she read and played a few games.
Once James returned from the conference, he wanted to experience the Public Garden too. So, we both rode the “T” back to the Public Garden and walked around in the rain. We then decided to find something to eat at the mall closer to downtown. After eating, we walked a bit more and then returned to the hotel to prepare for check out and the move to a different hotel in the North End on Wednesday.
A statue of George Washington looks west out of Public Gardens
A group of archaeologists work in Boston Common
Water droplets on blooming roses
Trees line the pond in Public Gardens
Low clouds pass the top of the buildings around the gardens
Wednesday, 06/18/2025 – A Walk Along the Freedom Trail
Wednesday was a transition day as we checked out of the conference hotel and into our vacation hotel. We got breakfast at a nearby Dunkin Donuts and packed our things. We checked out around 11a and called an Uber to take us from the “Back Bay” area near Fenway to our hotel near North Station. We were fortunate a room matching our reservation was ready so we could drop our luggage and settle in a bit. We headed back out and caught the subway to the Park stop at Boston Common. There we started an Urban Adventure Quest following Boston’s Freedom Trail. As we solved puzzles based on the historic stops along the trail, we walked through old Boston, learning along the way. After completing the quest, we returned to Quincy Market for some cookies and to visit the Clark’s shoe store. Having walked for most of the afternoon, we decided to return to the hotel to rest before supper. We ended up eating at the food court in North Station and then returned to the hotel for the night.
Starting along the Freedom Trail in Boston Common
The Massachusetts State House overlooks Boston Common
Sam Adams’ grave marker in the Granary Burial Ground
The South Meeting House where the Sons of Liberty gathered before the Boston Tea Party
Boston’s Old State House where the Declaration of Independence was read to the public
Paul Revere’s house where he raised 16 kids with two different wives (8 each)
Thursday, 06/19/2025 – Day of the Arts
Thursday was the only day we had timed entry restrictions, so after a late breakfast, we headed across town on the Green Line to the arts district. We had tickets for the Isabella Gardner Museum with entry between 11 and 11:30a. The Gardner Museum holds an eclectic mix of art from around the world collected in the early 1920s by a woman without children and a sizable inheritance. Afte her husband passed, she built a Venetian style villa having the contractor integrate many pieces directly into the walls. When she passed, the museum was left to the public. The large glass-covered courtyard is the centerpiece as visitors walk through exhibit spaces on three floors. We enjoyed our time looking at the art before heading back toward the North End. It was very hot, so we limited our afternoon activities to walking around a limited amount and returning to Quincy Market for gelato. After resting a while in the hotel, we headed out just before 6p taking the subway to the theater district. We grabbed a bite and headed to the “Lil Chuck” in the basement of the Charles Theater. There we enjoyed an improv/sketch comedy show by Improv Asylum. The show wrapped up around 9p so we returned to the hotel and turned in for the night.
The courtyard inside the Palace at the Gardner Museum
The wall tiles reminded us of Seville’s Alcazar
Recently fallen blooms on the Monk’s Garden
Flowers bloom in the Chinese Loggia
A lion sculpture integrated as a column base
A portion of a wood ceiling in the Dutch Room
A stone rose window in the Gothic Room
Looking into the courtyard from the third level
A silk fan on display in the Veronese Room
A sculpture in an arched opening looks into the courtyard
Friday, 06/20/2025 – Riding the Trolley
Having walked much of the historic downtown, we decided to purchase 2-day Hop-On-Hop-Off Trolley tickets. Partially this was to get a little farther out around town, and partially because they stopped closer to the L.L. Bean store than any of the public transportation. We spent the day shopping and making the circuit of all three routes. The primary route covered the center of Boston with two shorter connecting routes in the Back Bay and Seaport areas. We ended the day with dinner at a local pub and relaxing in our room.
The Boston Tea Party Museum
Downtown Boston across the harbor from the Seaport area
Boston Garden and the North End
The spot where the exterior of Cheers was filmed
The Old South Church in Back Bay
A statue of Paul Revere with the Old North Church steeple beyond
Saturday, 06/21/2025 – Happy Anniversary
On Saturday we returned to the Trolley and crossed the river to the Boston Navy Yard. There we visited the USS Constitution before walking to the nearby Bunker Hill Monument (on Breed’s Hill). James climbed the 294 steps to the top to see the views looking out over Boston and the Harbor. We strode back to the Trolley and returned to an area near Public Garden for lunch. We walked around Beacon Hill looking at the historic homes on the narrow cobblestone streets before heading back to the hotel to escape some of the heat. A little after 3p, we met Josh and Bobby who live in the Boston area. Josh was the Best Man at our wedding, and it had been far too long since we had seen each other. We had a great afternoon and evening talking, eating, and drinking. They headed home around 9p and we returned to the hotel to make sure we were ready for an early departure the next morning.
The USS Constitution was built in the Boston Navy Yard
The hammocks for the crew
The Captain’s Quarters
The detail at the prow of the oldest active warship in the world
The Bunker Hill Monument
View of the North End from the top of the monument
A historic building in Beacon Hill overlooking Boston Common
Climbing plants cover a building in Beacon Hill
Row houses across a small wooded square
Sunday, 06/22/2025 – Flying Home
Another early trip to the airport for our flight to Chicago. We arrived at Logan around 6:30a, got our bag checked, and made our way through security. After a breakfast from Dunkin, we killed time until our flight boarded a little before 8a. Our flights were smooth, and we landed in Des Moines on time around 1:30p. There was a heat advisory so even though we got home in plenty of time, James did not mow the yard.
Passing over the Racoon River while landing in Des Moines
We enjoyed visiting Boston and seeing the places we had learned about in History class. It was also great catching up with friends.