Taking off Travel blog

If you have a layover in Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston, there’s a lot to explore. Boston, Massachusetts has been a major center ever since it was founded in 1630. Famous for historical events such as the Boston Tea Party, Boston Massacre and Battle of Boston, the city is also known for being home to America’s first college, Harvard, and as a major shipping and manufacturing hub and the cultural center of New England. It’s a powerhouse when it comes to research, finance and technology and its rich history draws millions of visitors each year.

Less Than Two Miles From Logan Airport

With its rich naval history, many of Boston’s nearby attractions are focused on the water. Visit the oldest commissioned Navy ship in the world, Old Ironsides (better known as the USS Constitution) which took on the British in the War of 1812. Admission is free and there’s an interactive museum next door.

From the airport you can gaze out over the Boston Harbor, site of all those historic conflicts. If you wish travel just over a mile and pick up a Boston Harbor Cruise. Arguably one of the best things to do in Boston, you can tailor your trip to the length of your layover. You just need 90 minutes for the Harbor tour, or you can splash out and watch whales on a three hour cruise. If you’re staying overnight, then consider a luxury dinner cruise with Odyssey Cruises.

In North Square, you can visit the oldest building in downtown Boston, the Paul Revere House. This is the home of the silversmith Paul Revere who warned other rebels about their impending arrest by the British in 1775. This house dates back to the 17th century.

Across the Bay from Logan Airport is a beach which is a great place for plane spotting and for kids to play in the fenced playground. There are basketball, tennis and handball courts and lifeguards are on duty, though it’s not always safe to swim.

More Than Two Miles From Logan Airport

If you’ve got a bit of time, then leave your rental car in the Boston Logan airport parking lot and explore the city on foot? Boston By Foot offers daily walking tours of the city, with different tours focusing on architecture, history, culture and more. These are excellent tours and you will never view the city the same way again. Customized tours are also available.

Travelers with more time to spare but no desire to walk can take the Beantown Trolley on South Charles Street. It’s a two hour guided tour, though you can also hop off at selected stops to sightsee on your own.

Finally, if you want to see the sights at your leisure, the Boston National Historical Park is just over two miles away. While you’re there, walk the Freedom Trail, which links several important Boston landmarks, including the Bunker Hill Monument, Faneuil Hall and the Old State House.

(Photo: Schick)

Tags: boston, layover, offsite airport parking

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 18th, 2008 at 4:50 am and is filed under Attractions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.