Boston Travel Guide

One of the most distinct parts of Boston is what is sometimes referred to as "Boston English," a dialect heard in countless movies and TV shows. The "r" sound is often dropped from words, so "car" becomes "cah" and "Harvard" becomes "Hah-vahd."

Boston is also a well-known sports city; it's the home of the Boston Red Sox (it would be best to avoid wearing any Yankees paraphernalia here), the New England Patriots, the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics. While you're in the city, be sure to indulge in this culture by catching a game or taking a tour of Fenway Park. And if you're a college sports fan visiting in February, check out the Beanpot, an annual hockey tournament held at the TD Garden between Boston University, Boston College, Harvard University and Northeastern University.

Beantown also takes pride in its intellectual and academic roots. Around 100 colleges and universities call the Greater Boston area home, including some of the country's most prestigious. After the American Revolution, the city's leaders were determined to make Boston the world's new cradle of civilization. They invested money and brought in scholars to create a city of educated citizens that studied at Harvard University, Boston University, Boston College, Emerson College, Tufts University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to name a few. Today, this impressive collection of schools also keeps the area young and forward-thinking, as Boston has one of the largest student populations in the country.

Bostonian cuisine has undergone a gastronomical revolution, with a steady stream of new chefs putting their own spin on tried-and-true city classics like baked beans, fresh seafood and clam "chowdah."

Boston's growing immigrant population has ushered in another component to the burgeoning culinary scene. Cobblestone streets are now increasingly lined with Thai and Ethiopian restaurants. Check out the North End for delicious Italian dishes and pastries like cannolis and rum cakes. Though most locals are loyal to either Mike's Pastry or Modern Pastry on Hanover Street, both offer top-notch sweets. Large international student bodies at universities like Harvard and MIT mean you'll enjoy everything from French to Moroccan fare in Cambridge. For an authentic tapas meal, make your way to the artsy South End neighborhood. Diners can savor Spanish-inspired bites like mussels with chorizo and chicken and potato empanadas at Toro, one of the area's most popular tapas eateries. Another South End favorite is The Butcher Shop, where meat-centric entrees steal the spotlight. Or, for a taste of some of Boston's most inventive sushi entrees, venture to O Ya, where scarlet sea scallops and fried Kumamoto oysters are just a few offerings found on the menu.

Should you crave more traditional New England fare, dine at Durgin-Park in Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Here, you'll find local favorites like corned beef sandwiches, shepherd's pie and clam chowder. Another beloved establishment is Union Oyster House near Haymarket, where – you guessed it – freshly-shucked oysters have hooked patrons since the restaurant opened its doors in 1826.