Fenway Park – Experiences

The area directly surrounding Fenway Park has plenty to offer, but in order to get a full view of Boston, venture beyond the stadium. Exploring Boston is like taking a glimpse into Revolutionary-era America. This amazing city has grown around some of the most famous historic sites in the country, creating the perfect balance between the past and present. Our guide below attempts to give the most thorough Boston experience possible in one day.

Morning

• Have breakfast at Mike & Patty’s
• Walk through Boston Common 
• Start your journey down the Freedom Trail 

Noon

• Visit Faneuil Hall 
• Eat lunch at Quincy Market 
• Walk along the Boston Harbor 
• Continue along the Freedom Trail

Night

• Explore the North End
• Eat dinner in Little Italy
• Visit the Improv Asylum, Judson B. Coit Observatory, or Institute of Contemporary Art 

Morning

Fenway Park is a 10-minute drive from Mike & Patty’s, a small and fiery sandwich shop popular with locals. When you order from Mike & Patty’s, you’re not just getting an everyday egg and cheese. Their most well-known sandwich is “The Fancy,” which contains two fried eggs, bacon, cheddar cheese, avocado, red onions, and house-made mayo on a multigrain bun. Mike & Patty’s Breakfast Torta is also quite popular. This sandwich contains two fried eggs, cheddar cheese, potatoes, black beans, salsa, and avocado on a sesame torta roll. You can add chorizo or bacon to the torta as well.

This shop has been a neighborhood staple since they opened in 2008. Their tiny location barely seats five people, and feels more like stepping into a food truck than a restaurant. Because of this, patrons usually get their Mike & Patty’s sandwich to go. The beautiful Boston Common is just a 13-minute walk down the street, so take your delicious sandwich to enjoy in the park.

After you polish off your breakfast in Boston Common, check out the statue Make Way for Ducklings. This adorable sculpture is of a mother duck leading her eight ducklings through the park, inspired by a children’s book by Robert McCloskey.

The statue is so beloved by the people of Boston that the ducks are dressed for each season and special occasions. The mother duck and her babies have sported all kinds of attire, such as flower leis, Red Sox jerseys, bonnets, sneakers, knit scarves, sunglasses, and holiday gear. This adorable landmark is less than two miles from Fenway Park.

The Boston Common is a great place to start the day, as the Freedom Trail begins in this park. The Freedom Trail is a convenient and efficient way to get an understanding of Boston’s role in the Revolutionary War.

The trail can be self-guided, and take as long or short as you’d like. The beginning of the trail is just a 15-minute drive from Fenway Park. The Boston Common Visitor Information Center provides pamphlets to guide you on your journey, and the Freedom Trail Foundation offers an audio tour.

The first two-thirds of the Freedom Trail will bring you through the State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel, Benjamin Franklin’s statue, Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, the site of the Boston Massacre, and Faneuil Hall. At this point you will be ready for lunch!

Noon

Faneuil Hall is a popular shopping spot and contains your lunch location. It sits less than four miles from Fenway Park, and a mere 15 minute walk from the start of the Freedom Trail.

Quincy Market is an enormous landmark of a building featuring an extensive selection of food. Anthem Kitchen & Bar serves rustic American meals, and its patio is perfect for people-watching. Boston Chowda Co. serves a variety of chowders in bread bowls. Dog House offers an array of hot dog variations, including the Fenway Park favorite, the “Fenway Frank.” Mmmac N’ Cheese finds creative ways to switch up the classic macaroni and cheese dish. No matter what you choose for lunch, make sure to grab a Boston cream donut, the unofficial dessert of the city.

Once you’ve filled up after a long walk on the Freedom Trail, explore the shops of Faneuil Hall. Whether you’re looking for novelty socks, handmade soaps, a replica Cheers cup, or a Boston t-shirt, you’ll find something that tickles your fancy.

Next, enjoy a leisurely stroll along the waterfront. The Boston Harbor is a beautiful place to get a view of boats on the sparkling river. Pedestrian paths along the water are full of life in the summer, and if the weather’s nice you can enjoy a drink at one of the patio bars. This beautiful escape from bustling city life is a 15-minute drive from Fenway Park.

After exploring this area, hop back onto the Freedom Trail. The Paul Revere House is a six-minute walk from Faneuil Hall, Old North Church is five minutes from there, and lastly a two-minute walk will bring you to Copp’s Hill Burying Ground.

The next step on the Freedom Trail is the USS Constitution Museum, which is a 20-minute walk or seven-minute drive from Copp’s Hill Burying Ground. For reference, the USS Constitution Museum is a 13-minute drive from Fenway Park.

The USS Constitution Museum is an interactive destination right beside an 18th century war ship. From there, the Bunker Hill Monument is a three-minute walk away. The Bunker Hill Monument is a big undertaking. Climbing hundreds of steps will give you a beautiful view of Boston, but not without effort!

Night

Hopefully, this demanding journey worked up an appetite for you. Take a 10-minute car ride from the Bunker Hill Monument, back across the bridge, to the North End for dinner. In this neighborhood, you have nothing but fantastic choices for your last meal of the day.

The North End of Boston is the city’s Little Italy. This neighborhood contains some of Boston’s oldest buildings, in addition to delicious Italian restaurants, delis, bakeries, and more.

Carmelina’s breathes new life into Italian comfort food by adding a Mediterranean twist. Regina Pizzeria has been called “Boston’s original pizzeria,” and is one of the most popular, well-known pizza places in the entire city. Enjoy a combination of northern and southern Italian food in Terramia Ristorante’s warm and cozy dining room. Ristorante Lucia prides itself on being the first to bring authentic Italian cuisine to North End when it opened in 1977.

There are plenty of other eateries to check out in Boston’s Little Italy, so there’s no way you will leave this area hungry.

With your belly full of authentic Italian fare, Boston has a few more attractions to offer. The night has begun, and the fun hasn’t ended.

A three-minute walk from Little Italy will bring you to Improv Asylum. This theater has been performing shows every night since 1997, so it’s all but guaranteed you’ll get to see one. Improv Asylum’s performances usually involve audience members, making the experience fun and engaging.

If improv theater is not your thing, the Judson B. Coit Observatory is 15 minutes from Little Italy. This observatory is located on the roof of Boston University’s College of Arts and Sciences, and is only open to the public on Wednesday nights. This unique destination is free to enter and definitely worth a visit. It’s the perfect place to get a beautiful view of Boston’s nighttime skyline as well as the stars shining above.

Another option is Late Nights at the Institute of Contemporary Art. The ICA is housed in an incredible building with an equally incredible view of the Boston Harbor. The museum is open until 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, giving visitors plenty of time to explore ICA’s amazing collection without a crowd.

Between these three activities, there’s no wrong choice. Whether you view a performance, the night sky, or modern art, you’re in for a memorable experience. At the end of this thorough journey through Boston, you will end up just 15 minutes away from Fenway Park.

You may want to extend your visit to Beantown by a day, because there’s so much more to see! In the meantime, we hope you’re satisfied with the major sites you’ve seen during your adventurous day in Boston.