Three Unique Boston Locations: Harvard Stadium, Union Oyster House, Cheers Beacon Hill

As you might expect from a city steeped in history there are plenty of things to see and do in Boston.  There's the Freedom Trail, Symphony Hall, Fenway Park, Copley Place, and Boston Common.  Of course, those attractions get plenty of attention and are surely on top of every tourist's list of things to do when they come to Bean Town.  In other words, they're pretty obvious.

That's why BostonSmarts went in a different direction and devised a day's worth of activities that's a little off the beaten path.  Still, the attractions we've chosen are not only quite enjoyable but quintessentially Boston.  We've put them in an order we think is most logical, but depending on the time of year and other variables, you can experience them in any order you like.  

Harvard Stadium

You may not know this but college football didn't originate in Texas or Florida.  It originated in the Ivy League.  In the early days of college football, the powerhouses were schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.  Nowadays, graduates of those schools don't go on to play professional football they go on to be the lawyers and doctors of professional football players.

The Harvard Crimson football program has won 12 national championships.  Granted, they were all won between 1874 and 1920 but they are still one of the oldest football programs in the country and the eighth winningest team in NCAA Division I football.

The team plays its home games at historic Harvard Stadium which is located in the Allston neighborhood in the city of Boston (most of Harvard's campus is in Cambridge situated on the other side of the Charles River).  This horse-shoe shaped stadium opened in 1903 and can seat just over 30,000 crazy Crimson fans.  If you look at the venue's southeast facing exterior it reminds one of a Roman coliseum.

Harvard Stadium is also a marvel of engineering.  It's the first vertical concrete structure reinforced by more concrete.  Prior to Harvard Stadium, reinforced structural concrete was only used for flooring and walkways.  After Harvard Stadium, it was used for walls and other vertical elements.  It's a true marvel.

Please don't think this suggestion is based solely on the stadium's historical significance as it pertains to college football and architecture.  Harvard may no longer be a football powerhouse but there's still a good chance you're going to see a victory.  The Crimson has won about 65 percent of their home games at Harvard Stadium.

New England Aquarium

If it's not college football season, we suggest attending the New England Aquarium.  As with most things in Boston, the New England Aquarium is one of the first of its kind.  It opened in 1969 as one of the first modern public aquariums.  It's also one of the only aquariums dedicated to research, conservation, education, and entertainment.

Some of the animals you'll find at the New England Aquarium are penguins, sharks, seals, turtles, sea jellies, and octopi.  Exhibits include the Amazon Rainforest, Gulf of Maine, Seadragons, and the Shark and Ray Touch Tank.  The aquarium has an IMAX theatre and a whale watch tour—a three to four hour trip on a catamaran that takes passengers to whale feeding grounds situated about 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts.   

Before attending the New England Aquarium we highly recommend that you visit their Web site for hours of operations and ticket prices.  The Whale Watch is only offered between April and October.

Union Oyster House

After a day of watching football, or fish, or perhaps both, you're probably ready for a good meal.  There are many great restaurants in Boston but for this outing we're suggesting the Union Oyster House located at 41 Union Street.  

Why?  Well, it's the oldest restaurant in America having been established in 1826.  The building housing the Union Oyster House was probably built around 1704.  Amazingly, in all the years the restaurant has been in business it's only had three owners.

In addition to being America's oldest eatery, the Union Oyster House also employed America's first waitress, Rose Carey.  It also helped to popularize the toothpick.  

The Kennedy's frequently visited the establishment and JFK's favorite booth has been dedicated to his memory.  

The restaurant's menu is exactly what you'd expect from a Bean Town bistro: oysters, scrod, scallops, chowders, baked beans, and lobster.  They advertise hearty portions of fresh seafood as well as their world famous cocktail sauce.

The Union Oyster House is open for lunch and dinner and they do have a children's menu.  Their prices are fairly reasonable but it is in no way a discount restaurant.  If you need to feed a large family on a budget this isn't the place to go, especially for dinner.

Cheers Beacon Hill

Cheers Beacon Hill is located on 84 Beacon Street.  The exterior of the bar was used on the hit television show Cheers.  During the run of the show, which was from 1982 to 1993 on NBC, the bar was called Bull & Finch Pub.  It officially changed its name to "Cheers Beacon Hill" in 2002.

You'll recognize the outside of Cheers Beacon Hill if you're a fan of the show.  Yet, the inside of the bar looks nothing like the one where Sam, Carla, Woody, Norm, Cliff, and Frasier hung out.  The bar used on the television show was a soundstage.

In 2001, the owner of Cheers Beacon Hill opened a branch bar called Cheers Faneuil Hall.  The inside of this establishment was built to look like the Cheers bar you saw on television.  You can find the place "where everybody knows your name" in Faneuil Hall Marketplace in the south part of the Quincy Market Building.

The bars sell food (sandwiches and burgers), beer (of course), and plenty of Cheers memorabilia.  Don't worry about being "one of those obnoxious Cheers fans."  Both bars do nothing but caterer to fans of the show.  In fact, you'll be more out of place if you don't like the Cheers or if you've never seen the show.

Needless to say, if you have children going to a bar is out of the question, but you can at least walk by them.  Cheers Beacon Hill is across the street from the Public Gardens and Cheers Faneuil Hall can be found if you follow the Freedom Trail; it's within walking distance of the North End, the theatre district, and Boston Common.