Take the T

Of course it’s generally a miserable experience, but a huge part of being a Bostonian is complaining about riding the T.

Also, riding the T is that much more miserable when you have no idea where you’re going, when to get off, or how to ring the bell to make the driver stop. I’ve ridden the T and learned enough about the different lines, so that I’m a Boston transportation pro. I can get anywhere and everywhere without ever getting into a car.

Eat a Lobster

Nothing makes me feel like more of a New Englander than eating lobster. While nothing really compares to eating it in Maine, sitting by the water on a warm summer’s evening, makes me feel like a true Bostonian.

Best Restaurants in Boston for Lobster

• Legal Seafood- 225 State St., Boston
• Summer Shack- 50 Dalton St., Boston
• Atlantic Fish- 761 Boylston St., Boston
• McCormick & Schmick’s- 34 Columbus Ave., Boston
• Daily Catch- 232 Hanover St., Boston
• Anthony’s Pier 4- 140 Norther Avenue, Boston

Just the fact that such a historic building is located so close to us is good enough reason to go. You’ve been hearing about Paul Revere since pre-school, aren’t you just a little bit tempted to see the house he left from to embark on his journey?

Plus, two fabulous restaurants, Limoncello and Mar are located within steps. So once you get your fill of education, you can get your fill of good food.

I know you walk by it every day. So why would you actually need to do the whole thing from start to finish, right? Well, because you, gasp, might actually learn something. I knew it was time to do the Freedom Trail when a tourist asked me what attractions the tour stopped at and I realized I had no idea. I mean, I passed by the red line on the street all the time, but never really thought about exactly where it went.

Plus, the Freedom Trail is free, so you really have no excuse for not doing it. The trail is 2.5 miles and takes you to 16 historic sites.

The Freedom Trail takes you by:

• The Boston Common
• The State House
• Park Street Church
• Granary Burial Ground (Paul Revere’s gravesite)
• King’s Chapel
• Boston Latin School
• Old Corner Bookstore
• Old South Meetinghouse
• Old State House
• Boston Massacre Site
• Faneuil Hall (Quincy Market)
• Paul Revere House
• Old North Church
• Copp’s Hill Burial Ground
• USS Constitution
• Bunker Hill Monument

As Bostonians, we like to get annoyed by duck tours. It makes us feel good to say, “Ugh, stupid tourists; we don’t need a duck tour to know our city!” But the truth is, we might.

I’ve taken a duck tour on 5 separate occasions and I’ve learned something new on each of the tours. And yes, they are actually fun! Your tour guide will dress up and assume some sort of character (pirate, Red Sox fanatic, clown, etc) and will have you laughing as you get to learn your own city.

The amphibious car plunges into the Charles at the end of the tour and passengers are asked if they want to drive the boat. Unfortunately, the last tour I was on was filled with 7th graders and I did not have the opportunity.

Attractions That Really Are Overrated

• Cheers- People often think this is where the show was filmed. It wasn’t. It was the “inspiration” for the show. It’s lways packed and the food is just OK.
  
• The Frog Pond- Sure, walk by it in the Common but it’s just a little pond packed with people ice skating in the winter. 

I used to walk by the State House every day without bothering to give it a second thought. Then I was sent there on a task from my work and I realized how incredibly beautiful it is.

The State House is what Oliver Wendell Holmes once called “the hub of the solar system,” so shouldn’t you take a little peek at it?

The tours are free, so no excuses. You’ll learn about the history of the State House and what’s currently happening. And you’ll get to see the Sacred Cod.

Afterwards, you can stroll through Beacon Hill and really feel like a true Boston Brahmin.

Visit Sam Adams and Drink a Sam Adams

Go to the Granary Burying Ground and see Sam Adams grave. Because, really, you should be paying your respects to one of our Founding Fathers.

Then you can go to a nearby bar and sip on a Sam Adams beer.

Or you could always go to the Beantown Pub and drink a Sam Adams beer and stare at his grave simultaneously. Nothing wrong with killing two birds with one stone, right?

Um, not that I’ve ever done that before.

Maybe I’m a little bit biased to the USS Constitution because I once had a special VIP tour, but man this ship is cool. When my history teaching uncle came to town, we somehow managed to convince the tour guides that he was a history VIP and they took us into rooms and cabins on the boat that were restricted from everyone else.

Why should you take a tour of Old Ironsides? Oh, maybe because it’s the oldest commissioned ship afloat in the world. Yes, I said world.

When you visit, try pretending you’re with an important history teacher and maybe they’ll make you VIP too.

Sometimes months will go by and I’ll realize I haven’t been to the North End in a good while. So I make some dinner plans and head over for a long evening of food.

It’s important for Bostonians to spend time in the North End because you’ll learn that people in Boston can be friendly. And you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Italy for just a little bit.

The restaurants here are all pretty much amazing and are going to require their own guide to help you sort through them. Coming soon.

We all know how important the Red Sox are to our city, so if you live here, you should probably attend at least one game.

Yes, tickets are hard to come by. And maybe you’re not really that much of a Red Sox fan. But it’s worth the price to feel the energy and community at Fenway Park. You really feel like a part of Boston when you’re surrounded by Red Sox fans. Not to mention, you really need to eat a Fenway Frank!

Bonus points: My friend and I paid lots of money to see a Sox/Yankees game at Fenway and that was the ultimate in being a Bostonian. We managed to find the tickets on Craigslist, paid way more than we should have, and spent a sunny afternoon cheering for the Sox and hating on the Yankees.

Other Helpful Guides for Bostonians