20241123_101128Courtyard of the Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum (November 2024)

My final trip last autumn took me and my partner to Boston for a long weekend. We spent three nights in town for my partner’s work conference, and despite the short trip (in which I didn’t get over my jet-lag), it was a whirlwind of a time. I had not visited Boston since I was a teenager, so it was nice to return and explore the city as an adult.

Boston is the capital of the state of Massachusetts, situated on the East Coast of the United States. It is the largest city in the state, home to over 675,000 inhabitants in the center and over 4.9 million people in the Metropolitan area. One of the oldest settlements in the country, Boston was originally the land of the Massachusetts people before European settlers came in the 17th century, particularly the British for its overseas colonies.

As a British colony, Boston was founded in 1630 by the Puritans (led by John Winthrop) and over the centuries grew into a large and prosperous community. It has also been the site for notable events in American history, including the Boston Massacre (1770), the Boston Tea Party (1773), and the famous ride of Paul Revere (1775) all during the American Revolution period. Throughout the 17th to 20th centuries, the city expanded three times in size from land reclamation, to accommodate the growing immigrant population (from Italy, Poland, Ireland, etc). Interesting to think that Boston was a lot smaller than what it is today!

Today, Boston has become a political and tech sector for the New England region, and it is a big university city that’s home to many major colleges like Boston University, Emerson College, even Harvard and MIT (technically, the last two are located in neighboring Cambridge, but they are considered part of the Metropolitan area). The city really leans into its colonial past, having preserved many of its historic, red-brick buildings for tourists to explore and learn more about American history.

My partner and I caught our flight to Boston in the mid-morning. Our flight had been scheduled to leave at noon, but due to delays (i.e. weather unpredictability in Boston), we didn’t leave until close to 14h00. A bit annoying, but in any case, it was an uneventful five-hour flight over, and we got in just past 22h00 local time. We caught an Uber to our hotel, checked in, and went to bed just past midnight, exhausted but happy to get some rest after a long day of travel.

I actually took a day trip to Providence the following morning (more on that in another post), but after I returned to Boston in the late afternoon, I got dinner with my partner after her work conference at a seafood tavern near our hotel. The restaurant served lobster rolls, which are an iconic dish to the city (and much of New England, in general). I have only ever had lobster rolls served cold, so I decided to order a warm version, which came piled high with plenty of tender, juicy lobster. It was buttery and comforting, although I will say that I still prefer cold lobster rolls– my partner had ordered the cold version, and I had a bite of that, too!

20241122_171239(1)Warm lobster roll with fries

The following day was my first and only full day in Boston, so I did my best to see as much of the city as possible. My partner went to her work conference once more, and I headed out to grab breakfast at Tatte Bakery, a popular bakery chain in the city (and in many cities on the East Coast). Truthfully, the hummus plate and pain au chocolat were sub-par, but the cardamom latte was pretty solid.

20241123_083843Pain au chocolat, hummus plate, and cardamom latte

It started to rain by the time I finished my breakfast, so I ended up taking an Uber to my next stop of the day: the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Founded in 1903 by the eponymous art collector and philanthropist, the museum is home to a well-curated collection of European, American, and Asian art, all housed in a beautiful, Venetian-style building. The museum was especially made famous in 1990, in which 13 of the museum’s artworks were stolen– to this day, none of the artworks have been recovered in the heist. The museum left the stolen artworks’ frames intact, and today one can see the blank space representing the loss and, hopefully, the return of the artworks some day.

20241123_101056One of the stolen artworks

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a popular tourist attraction, and it is recommended to book your tickets in advance. I had purchased mine before arriving in Boston, and I had timed it for 10h00, as soon as the museum opened. There were a lot of visitors waiting to enter, but it did not feel overwhelming during the visit. I enjoyed wandering through and admiring the many floors of the building, from the lush courtyard plants to the elegant staircases and embroidered rooms that reminded me of European châteaux.

20241123_104203In the courtyard

20241123_101430One of the exhibition rooms

The artworks were lovely as well, and I especially enjoyed the ones from 19th century painter John Singer Sargent, an American who was born abroad in Italy and actually lived most of his life in Europe. His portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner is exquisite, as he portrays her as almost saint-like in this golden and glowing piece of work. It really captured me, and it was a highlight of my time at the museum.

20241123_102531Portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner by John Singer Sargent

I spent about an hour-and-a-half at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum before I left, taking the tram back into the city center to visit the Boston Central Library. Established in 1848, it is part of the Boston Public Library network, the third largest library in the United States after the Library of Congress and New York Public Library. I was there to see the architecture inside, especially that of the grand Bates Hall and the adorned McKim Building. Very stunning and beautiful!

20241123_114857Bates Hall

20241123_115209McKim Building

At the risk of this post getting too long, I will recap the second part of Boston in the next post. Until then! 🙂

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

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44 thoughts on “Destination: Boston, Massachusetts (Lobster Rolls, Visiting the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum & Boston Public Library– PART 1)”

  4. We loved visiting the library, last year in April, such a piece of art! And so much history around the city! We didn’t have time for any museum, but we returned 2 days in a row to the same place to get more lobster rolls. Yummy!! 😍

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    1. Indeed! Boston is such a beautiful city, home to some great museums and architecture. Lobster rolls are delicious, and it’s great you found a great spot for them, especially two days in a row!

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  5. I’m always curious about Boston, probably because of what I read about the historical events tied to this city. I’ve never tried the lobster roll, but I think I would love it — I’ll try both the cold and hot versions if I ever find them somewhere. It’s always sad to read about artworks stolen from museums, and seeing that empty frame is very sobering.

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  6. What a great start to your trip! I’ve spent a bit of time in Boston, but never at these particular locations, so it was nice to learn a little more about all the city has to offer.

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  7. Boston is one of my favourite cities in the United States. I have driven there several times from Toronto. A long time ago, I also visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and was amazed by the wealth of what was originally a private collection. The painter John Singer Sargent has an exhibition in Paris this winter, which I plan to visit.

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    1. Incredible! Boston is a beautiful city steeped in history– a lot of its architecture and walkability are almost-European in style, and it’s like visiting Europe, instead of the United States! Very cool there’s a Singer Sargent exhibit close to home for you, and I hope you enjoy it!

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  8. It’s always crazy to me that visiting the East Coast from the West Coast is basically just as long of a flight as going from the East Coast to Europe. This makes me want to go back to Boston one day! I’d love to visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Boston Public Library. We didn’t make it to either on our prior trip.

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    1. Yes, it’s pretty surreal! Having done a few East Coast flights this past year, they feel just a tad longer than I’m comfortable with, haha. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Boston Public Library are architectural marvels, and I hope you can check them out upon a return trip!

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  10. I used to tag along on occasion (my work schedule permitting) with my husband when he traveled for business, and saw some interesting cities in the process. Boston is an amazing city and you found some interesting places to explore. Nice post, Rebecca!

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    1. Thanks, Tricia! Boston is a wonderful one to tag along with your partner– that’s exactly what I did with mine during her work conference! It was a short, but lovely time in the city, and I’m glad you had a fun time there, too 🙂

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  11. Oh again thanks for the memories I drove to Boston from NJ to visit what was to be a new family for a cousin of mine, they took us everywhere proud of their Boston. The family never materialise… Cheers

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  17. Haha, taking a day trip to Providence when you already have barely any time there! That sounds like something I would do!

    I’ve actually only spent about a day in Boston as well, and I feel like if I went back to visit properly (and, like you, now that I’m older) then it would be one of my favourite US cities. I’d never heard of that museum but it looks well worth a visit. The empty frames are quite poignant.

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    1. Great minds think alike! I like squeezing in day trips, even on short trips! I thin you’d like Boston if you return: it’s small and compact, and has a European air to it in its architecture and infrastructure. My post on Providence will be coming out soon!

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  18. Boston is one of my favorite cities. Although I haven’t been to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, it looks like a must-see! I love how one of the stolen artwork’s frame looks like an art piece itself! Thank you for sharing, Rebecca! Looking forward to part 2…

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    1. Yes, Boston is such a beautiful city! It’s filled with centuries of history and architecture. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is definitely worth visiting, and Part 2 will be up very soon!

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    1. I love lobster rolls, and what better place to get them than in New England? The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was a real treat, with a fascinating history behind it. Definitely worth a visit!

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  20. I could travel to Boston just to see the public library, as it is such a stunning place, especially the Bates Hall reading room with its grand atmosphere, barrel-arched ceiling, towering bookshelves, and an abundance of natural light. It’s nice to see that such places are open to the public for free, allowing visitors to study, read, and immerse themselves in the space. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Boston’s architecture is incredible, almost mesmerizing! From the Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum to Bates Hall, the city is nothing short of great buildings. Thanks for reading, Aiva 😊

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  21. Thanks so much for mentioning the Massachusetts People who lived there before it was Boston. I think it’s easy to forget the state moniker is based on their name. Good history lesson. I have visited the museum as well, I’m not sure which trip. I think I’ve visited Boston 3 times. The first was due to bad weather en route to Washington DC. I enjoyed the museum very much and am happy I had a chance to see it. I felt it was a lovingly crafted environment.

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    1. You’re welcome, Rebecca! It’s important to acknowledge those who were in North America originally, before colonialism took over. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a vision, and I likewise enjoyed the carefully-curated art!

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