The best of Boston; An Insider's Guide to Beantown

Introduction - A Brief glimpse

Founded in 1630 by the Puritan colonists, Boston is located along Massachusetts Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States and the largest in the state of Massachusetts. The city is rich in history and culture, and it's likely to become one of your favorite American cities.

A Brief Glimpse of Boston:

Boston has teams in the four major North American professional sports leagues.
The Greater Boston Area is the home of more than 100 colleges and universities.
It's the home of the Nation's greatest historical sites, including Faneuil Hall, the Boston Tea Party ship, and the Paul Revere House.

Here our resident Bostonian sheds light on some of the best-kept secrets around the city, including hidden bars, restaurants and the coolest hang-outs visitors probably wouldn't stumble across otherwise.

Boston offers year-round access to fun, adventure and entertainment. The city offers plenty of affordable (and free) activities for singles, couples and families.

"Boston, Massachusetts, the heart and soul of New England. Home to some of the best teams in all of professional sports and location to some of the most historical events and landmarks in the United States."

Ryan Pimental, Boston Cream http://www.boston-cream.com/index.htm

In the summer months, enjoy one of the beaches in South Boston (http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/castle.htm). You can lay out a towel and soak up the sun on Castle Island Beach, M Street Beach or Carson Beach.

Not a fan of the beach? Enjoy one of the city's numerous festivals, take a hike through a park, admire Boston's Public Garden (http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks/emerald/Public_Garden.asp), eat a fine meal, or join up with some friends at an upscale lounge.

And of course there is always a Boston Red Sox game to check out in Fenway Park.

In the Winter, the city of Boston sparkles. Soft blankets of snow cover the urban landscape and offer new opportunities for entertainment:

Sports fans can watch the Bruins and Celtics play at the TD Garden (http://www.tdgarden.com/) at the North End of the city.
Skiers can drive a short distance from the city to hit the slopes at a ski resort (http://skicentral.com/massachusetts.html).
Families can take their children to theaters and festivals (http://www.bostonchristmasfestival.com/) to celebrate the holiday season.
Read the BostonSmarts' Best Places to Visit While in Boston

"Solar Boston, rolled out in 2008 in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy, aims to encourage solar installation throughout Boston and to work with interested parties to ensure all financial incentives are taken into account when considering solar investment. Boston is one of thirteen cities that was chosen for this program by the Department of Energy and Mayor Menino has set an aggressive goal of increasing Boston's solar output from one-half megawatt today to twenty-five megawatts by 2015. While the program still has progress to make, Boston is most certainly setting a strong example for other cities in solar energy production in the United states."

Boston GreenScene http://www.bostongreenscene.net/