|
Destination :: Boston
Boston is one of America's most vibrant cities, where old-world atmosphere is mixed with present day excitement and vitality. Boston is a world center for education, medicine, high technology and finance. Boston's role in shaping American History is unique among all other cities, from Paul Revere's House to the Boston Tea Party Ship; the Old State House to the Old North Church, history is on every corner.
The Boston area is known for its many colleges and universities. Found in 1636, Harvard University, located in nearby Cambridge, is the oldest and one of the most esteemed institutions of higher learning in the United States. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world's leading research universities, is also located in Cambridge.
Some practical stuff to know:
-
Climate: Boston has a continental climate; summers are usually sunny, hot and humid with the temperatures in July averaging 28°C.
- Time Difference: Boston is roughly 5 hours behind our time.
- Getting Around: Walking, especially downtown is usually the best way to get around but otherwise, public transport is very convenient and not very expensive. The main components of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority are listed below and you can find details of schedules, maps, etc. on http://www.mbta.com.
- Subway: The T subway system is comprised of the Blue, Orange, Green, Red, and even part of the Silver Line. Riders can travel anywhere on the system in any direction for the same low fare. Commuter train: Boston's commuter train system is the fifth biggest in the United States, carrying 146,000 people a day.
Bus: The T Bus system is comprised of Local, Inner Express, Outer Express Buses and even part of the Silver Line.
Boat: The T boat system is comprised of two types of boat service: Inner Harbor Ferries and Commuter Boats. Inner Harbor Ferry serves Charlestown Navy Yard to Long Wharf.
For more general info on Boston visit:
o www.boston.com
o www.cityofboston.com
o www.boston-online.com
o www.bostonusa.com
Where to live:
As one of the more popular cities for J1 applicants, there are plenty of job and accommodation opportunities, but again, it is advised to get over there as early as possible to avoid having to settle for second rate. Check out the following websites:
Also keep in mind that Boston is a student city; there are plenty of colleges around with housing offices, like Emerson, Boston University, Harvard, MIT, etc.
Where to work:
As with accommodation, get in there early to avoid disappointment on the job front, although, there really won’t be too much of a shortage. Try the following websites for ideas before you go:
Things to see:
Boston is certainly among the top destinations anywhere; its place in American history alone makes it worth a visit. To get a good perspective of the city's layout and history, take a walking tour along the Freedom Trail. Then, try a memorable trip to the U.S.S. Constitution, see Bunker Hill Monument in nearby Charlestown - which memorializes the efforts of American colonists during the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775 - and visit the Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum. Boston is more than history though. The shopping is phenomenal, and visitors should be sure to visit Faneuil Hall Marketplace, which has a history dating back 250 years. A host of Boston museums warrant a visit, including the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library and Museum, the Cahoon Museum of American Art and the Museum of Afro-American History. For an escape to nature, take in Boston Common, one of the oldest public parks in the United States.
Annual Festivals & Events:
- May Fair in Harvard Square - May 1
- Dragon Boat Festival - June 11
- Harborfest - June 28 - July 4
- Fisherman's Feast - August 17 - 20
- Topsfield Fair - Sepember. 30 - October 9
- Oktoberfest - October 8
 Where to Eat in Boston:
It's only natural to crave seafood in a city where the state capitol boasts a large hanging cod. B & G Oysters serves fresh Wellfleet oysters and other favorites like clam chowder and lobster rolls in a small, stripped-down underground space where chefs toil in an open kitchen behind a white marble raw bar.
For sushi head to Fugakyu, a short trolley ride from downtown. Guests wait for tables by a serene pool filled with stones and bamboo, and tatami rooms with sliding wooden doors, are available.
Tucked among the brownstones and cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill is Lala Rokh, a Persian restaurant with warm pastel walls. Rich, aromatic dishes, most of which are meat-based, dominate the large menu, and the wait staff is more than happy to help with it.
Few food lovers can visit Boston without stopping at Hamersley's Bistro. Chef Gordon Hamersley adapts French comfort food to fresh local ingredients in a cozy bistro with soothing yellow walls and exposed beams. It is perfect for a long, relaxing meal and people-watching made easy thanks to a corner location and large windows.
Boston's North End is filled with Italian restaurants, most of them good but standard red-sauce and meatball affairs. Mamma Maria is different from the rest, not only for its location (inside an old brownstone) but also its rustic Tuscan food. It evokes a cross between an Italian villa and a stately Boston mansion, with romantic tables arranged in rooms decorated with Renaissance-style paintings.
|
Licensed in the UK & Ireland