Boston, Massachusetts Attractions

House of Blues Boston is a perfect place to catch a live show or enjoy a great dining experience. In keeping with tradition, House of Blues Boston displays a "Crazy Quilt" and keeps a metal box of mud from the Delta Mississippi underneath its stage.

With more than a dozen performance and nonperformance majors, a diverse and talented student body representing more than 70 countries, and a music industry "who's who" of alumni, Berklee College of Music is the world's premier learning lab for the music of today - and tomorrow. Catch a performance by one of the college's ensembles at the Berklee Performance Center, the college's flagship performance space and one of Boston's most prestigious concert halls.

Opened in 1876, the Museum of Fine Art (MFA) has one of the most comprehensive collections in the country. From Egyptian artifacts and Japanese pottery to French impressionist and modern paintings, you'll find nearly every medium and genre of art at the MFA. Additionally, the museum continues to present major exhibitions while it undergoes a major expansion and renovation.

Walk in the shoes of America's revolutionaries. From the Boston Common Visitor Information Center, this free 2.5-mile red-brick walking trail leads to 16 historic sites, including museums, churches, meeting house, burial grounds and parks, many of which are free of charge. It also passes several fine restaurants and taverns along the way.

The public and private golf courses in the greater Boston area cater to every type of golfer, from the weekender to those who prefer more of a challenge. Don't miss a chance to play South Shore Country Club, designed in 1922 by Wayne Stiles, or Brookmeadow Golf Club, designed and built by Frank Simoni.

Dive into the world of water without getting wet at the New England Aquarium! Explore vibrant coral reefs from the Bahamas and the tropical Pacific, to temperate Australia. Meet the lionfish and the stonefish, some of the most poisonous fishes in the sea. Introduce yourself to the harbor seals, and don't forget to say hello to Myrtle, the green sea turtle.

While it may be tough scoring a ticket to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox in person, it's not hard to find a local establishment with the game on the big screen. Just follow the cheers of notoriously loyal fans.

First launched in 1797, the USS Constitution was among Congress' first military appropriations. The frigate fought in the War of 1812, led the Bicentennial Tall Ships Parade in 1976 and still gets underway in summer. The free, nonprofit museum tells the Constitution's tale through more than 3,000 original artifacts and interactive exhibits. This 45 minute fully narrated tour brings you up close and personal with "Old Ironsides" at her home in the Charlestown Navy Yard and allows you the option to disembark for a tour of the famous ship and accompanying Naval Museum.

Trattoria di Monica is located in the heart of Boston's North End. At the corner of Prince and Salem Streets, you will find this small 25 seat candlelit dining room with colorful walls and original artwork. Chefs and owners Patrick and Frank Mendoza serve up homemade pastas and gourmet pizzas with an imaginative twist. They strive to preserve the authenticity of the food of which they were brought up in, merely blocks from the Trattoria.

For five years Masa has been spicing up the palates of Boston's most sophisticated diners and serving up libations to the hip bar crowds from the South End, Back Bay, and Theater District. The menu pairs the flavors and cooking styles of a Southwestern kitchen with fresh New England ingredients.

Located in a 100-year-old fire station in Boston's historic Leather District, o ya offers contemporary Japanese dining in a comfortable setting. The intimate 37-seat dining room consists of ten tables and a 17-seat chef's counter, where guests can watch the chefs preparing the dishes. Chef Owner Tim Cushman offers an Omakase, or Chef's tasting menu, for $150 and an extensive a la carte menu of creative nigiri, sashimi, vegetable, wagyu beef, kurobuta pork and poulet rouge chicken dishes. Please note: Online reservations are for the 17 seat Chef's Counter only.

The Beehive is an underground eatery and bar featuring amazing cuisine, libations, artwork and world class live music nightly. Nestled below the Boston Center for the Art's historic Cyclorama in Boston's South End, The Beehive serves the eclectic fare of Chef Rebecca Newell - rustic comfort food infused with American, European, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern influences.

Meritage offers fresh, seasonal cuisine impeccably matched to the primary characteristics of wine. Large and small plates are offered for each item on the menu and matched with complimentary wine flavors. Meritage is the culmination of Chef Daniel Bruce's 20 years as chef for the Boston Wine Festival where he pairs more than 200 dishes each year with outstanding wines from around the world.

Gaslight Brasserie du Coin, (literally brasserie on the corner) is The Aquitaine Group's classic neighborhood Parisian brasserie. Gaslight, located in Boston's historic South End, offers its guests French brasserie cuisine of impeccable quality and improbable value in an informal old world, new again setting. With its hand crafted Parisian zinc bar, reclaimed wood floors, mosaic tiles, beamed wood ceilings, nicotine stained walls and antique mirrors, Gaslight is warm and inviting.

'Local...Fresh...Authentic. Those three adjectives aptly describe Pasta E Pomodoro, which boasts the North End's finest Italian food. All we can say is, "Believe it!" This eatery is awesome, and it's got the lunch, dinner and takeout traffic to prove it. Crazy about veal and chicken cooked with classic Italian bravado? You'll be rendered speechless by Pomodoro's Veal a la Toscana, Chicken Cacciatore, and Veal or Chicken Parmigiana. Is fresh seafood your fave? If so, this eatery's Seafood Alfredo, Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Baked Stuffed Haddock will make Pomodoro your new favorite haunt. And if you've a passion for pasta, the chef prepares Penne con Pollo, Lasagna di Giorno and the house specialty - Pasta Pomodoro - with such artistry, you may never again want to eat pasta anywhere else.' - idine.com

Tony Maws, 2009 James Beard Award Nominee, is the Chef/Proprietor of Craigie On Main. You'll see Tony in the open kitchen most every night! At the newer, bigger Craigie, he combines "refined rusticity" with an unyielding passion for the best local, seasonal, and organic ingredients.

Hungry Mother is a neighborhood restaurant, offering a welcoming place to enjoy great food, unique and local wines and beers, as well as cocktails and liquors. Chef Maiden's food is a blend of his training in classical French techniques, his Virginian roots, and his commitment to local sustainable ingredients.

Oleana is a neighborhood restaurant with a strong focus on flavors and comfort. The cuisine centers on the Arabic influenced foods of the Mediterranean with a strong lean towards Turkish fare. Winter months feature a roaring fireplace and in the warm weather the gorgeous garden is open for dinner.

These delightfully inventive residents of the Charles Playhouse rock most nights with odd industrial percussion instruments, neon paint and marshmallows, among other unique props.

Opened in 1847, this tiny, laid-back bar is one of the oldest family-owned jazz clubs anywhere. With live music every night of the year, expect to find local musicians honing their craft as well as the occasional jazz great taking the stage.

Limelight takes karaoke to a whole new level with chic decor, a professional recording studio and a digital music catalog. Show off your inner rock star on Thursday nights by singing with a live band.

This combination of three live-music rooms, two casual eateries and an elegant restaurant makes the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Brookline a hub of Boston nightlife.

This quirky Central Square pub features alternative DJs, a vegetarian menu and the monthly Keep it Wii-eal event when patrons face off playing interactive video games.

Comedians must learn the art of improvisation before they can be stars and hundreds have done it at this great club since 1982. Watch up-and-coming performers work for laughs at the new Central Square location.

As you stroll between the Common and the Financial District, stop and smell the pretzels, nuts and hot dogs and shop the sidewalk retailers' wares.

The old is also new at the two In Your Ear shops, where you can still find used vinyl records, cassettes and 8-track tapes, along with a serious selection of CDs.

When a Red Sox jersey isn't enough, this modern storefront in Brookline stocks unique gifts such as whimsical jewelry and handcrafted pottery.