Grab Dinner Outside

Boston has some of the best restaurants for al fresco dining. Most restaurants make sure their guests are comfortably sitting in the shade and a glass of sangria will definitely help cool you down. And al fresco dining means awesome people watching!

Best Spots to Eat Outside:

Go For a Swim

Nothing will cool you off better on a hot day than a dip in a nice cool pool. You probably don’t have your own if you’re living in boston, so you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Go to the Beach

Just because you’re in Boston doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get to a beach. Follow my instructions for getting to a couple beaches that don’t even require a car!

Nothing like a beach on a hot summer’s day.

Go on a Whale Watch

Going on a boat into the nice cool waters is fabulous enough on a super hot day. But the chance to see some whales in the process? Even better! Boston has some great opportunities for whale watching.

Eat Ice Cream

Kind of obvious, but who wouldn’t want ice cream when it’s ridiculously hot out? Boston has some fabulous ice cream and here are the spots where you can get some of the very best!

Many Bostonians will argue that there’s nothing quite like JP Licks. I love them because they always have tons of frozen yogurt choices. Their milk shakes are also quite delish!

Emack & Bolios ice cream shops are fun and unique. And their ice cream menu is HUGE. The line can definitely get out of control sometimes though (especially at the Newbury St. location).

Who doesn’t love Coldstone? With thousands of possible combinations, your ice cream options are endless. While the soft, creamy ice cream isn’t my fave, I do love all the fun candy add-ins. Like it? Love it? Nope. Gotta have it!

Go to a Museum

Sometimes it’s too hot to even be outside, and those are the best days to wander through a museum. Boston has lots of fabulous museums worth checking out.

The Museum of Fine Arts

The MFA will likely consume your entire day and maybe even the entirety of a heat wave as there is SO much to do and see here. I love going to their special exhibits- coming soon is a Winslow Homer exhibit and an exhibit on art nouveau jewelry- but I also enjoy their regular collections like the Van Goghs, Mary Cassatts, John Singer Sargents, and Andy Warhols. And obviously the Egyptian hall. Who doesn’t love mummies?

The MFA also has a couple fabulous places to dine at, including Bravo Restaurant and the Courtyard Cafe.

Museum of Science

The Museum of Science is another cool spot you can spend an entire sweltering day. Whether you want to watch an IMAX movie in the Omni Theater, look at the night sky in the planetarium, or just wander around the museum, there is always something to learn at the MOS (no matter your age).

Make sure you check out the human body room and the giant T-Rex, of course!

Isabella Stewart Garnder Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is perfect for a hot day because you can spend a couple hours in the museum while also enjoying the beautiful day. How? The museum has a beautiful flower-filled courtyard and when it’s sunny out, the 3-story museum is nice and bright inside.

Also, be sure you dine in the outdoor restaurant.

Oh, and if your name is Isabella, you can get free admission to the museum whenever you want!

More To Do In Boston

If you do happen to do everything in this guide and need a few more suggestions, check out these other Boston guides.