I Heart Boston.

Here in Chicagoland, I have a good job and a place to live rent-free. My family lives here. I attend a good church and get to teach Sunday school kids each week. This has been where I’ve lived all my life; outside of college, I’ve never called anything but Illinois home.

But.

If there ever comes a chance to move to Boston. If I ever get offered a job on the East Coast. If I could live in Boston, even with its higher rents and far-away-from-home location, I would, in a heartbeat. I love the history–everything is Colonial, with a story to it. I love the food–think Italy comes to America, along with awesome cuisines from other areas. I love the water–it’s right on the ocean, meaning great seafood, great views, great transportability to other New England locations.

But now for a more important, more likely if: If you ever visit Boston on a budget (like I did), here’s what you need to know:

1) Buy a Charlie Ticket.
The subway system is called the T, and passes are called Charlie Tickets. I bought a 7-day pass for $15 and rode the heck out of that rail system. In and around Boston Common, to and from Harvard, a few blocks here, a few blocks there.

2) Wear comfortable shoes.
My good ol’ Adidas gym shoes were my choice all week. Usually with jeans and tank tops. Boston was hot–very hot, and we walked mile after mile of its historic neighborhoods. On this note, you really should visit the Bunker Hill obelisk, if just to say you did. Climb all 297 of its stairs; your legs will tremble by the time you get back down, but it’s worth it.

3) Eat your heart out in the North End.
This is Italy as I remember it: incredible restaurants with great atmosphere, adorable gelaterias, line-around-the-corner bakeries. I recommend Flour, not in the North End, but over the bridge and in the midst of a crazy loftish area. But all the locals love Mike’s Pastry in the North End. One out of every five people I saw carried a take-out box from it. For the best pizza you’ve had in your life, hit up the Cafe Pompeii. They don’t advertise the pizza outside, but they make it. Oh, do they make it.

4) Walk through Charleston.
We’re back to the ifs again. If money were no object, I would live in this neighborhood. Refined, classy, clean: every street is gorgeous.

5) Visit Faneuil Hall.
Rachael Ray calls this “food hall,” and I get her point. Tons of vendors, in one long hallway: seafood, Greek, Indian, ice cream, bakeries, chowder. Go. Trust me.

6) Take the T to Cambridge.
I’m warning you now: if you’re still in school, visiting Harvard is want to give you school-envy. Nonetheless, I loved walking through campus on its opening weekend, seeing new freshman move in and wander around with nervous parents. I bought a crimson tee, of course, for about $20. Ah, it’s vacation, right?

7) Make the Most of Credit Card Rewards.
As you know, I spent virtually nothing on this trip, outside of food/souvenirs. Three nights in three different Boston hotels and round-trip airfare cost $90, paid through a side job I do.

Filed under thrifty tips, travel |