How to Spend a Weekend in Boston

We're less than 2 months away from our baby girl's due date. In anticipation, we decided to do a last-minute weekend getaway to celebrate Richard's birthday - to Boston! Neither of us have ever been and being only 4 hours away, we had to change that.

Originally we wanted to take the train up, but due to this trip being last minute, the tickets were ridiculous so we drove. If we visit again, we'll most likely opt for the train to save time and sanity from inevitable traffic (that we hit on a sunny Sunday afternoon...). We enjoyed our little getaway so much! The city is extremely walkable and when not, Uber is your friend.

The only downside to our trip was the weather - it rained for the most part and was chillier than we expected. Other than the dampness, we enjoyed walks through the city, much-needed naps at the hotel when it down poured (especially for this 8 month pregnant lady!), and the food... oh the food!

Food, Drinks, & Bites

North Square Oyster - I found this place on Thrillist as one of the best places to get a good lobster roll in Boston - and boy did they deliver! The roll had the perfect buttery crisp and the lobster was fresh and delicious. Richard and I almost considered ordering another to split, but we contained ourselves.

Being pregnant, I couldn't enjoy the oysters :( but Richard said all of the ones he had were great (and he's pretty picky about his oysters so I'd take his word for it!). However, I did enjoy their clam chowder - it was fresh and creamy all at the same time. The only downside to our visit is that they're currently going through renovations on the first floor, so it was pretty dead when we were there. But I'm sure it'll be more lively when they're done.

Mike's Pastry - I had multiple people insist we stop here for a cannoli when I told them we were heading to Boston... and we walked away with four of them. The lines are long, but they move quickly. And trust me, the line is worth it. I highly recommend the chocolate covered cannoli. I'm not even a huge chocolate person but I loved it!

Capo Restaurant - we stumbled upon this cozy treasure after a game of candlestick bowling in South Boston and getting stuck in the rain. We were starving and the menu had a little bit of everything. It also has a long appetizer list which always makes Richard happy. I swear, if every restaurant served their meals as small dishes so my husband could try everything, we'd never cook at home (and probably go broke).

Wahlburgers - anytime we visit a place with a famous burger spot, we have to go. We've already knocked Shake Shack and In-N-Out off our list, so Wahlburgers was next. In-N-Out will still be my favorite, but I do think Wahlburgers is better than Shake Shack. I don't know if it's because I have a Shake Shack near me at all times where I live or what, but it's not my go-to burger place. Richard also tried their house beer and said it was good. It was a little lighter than he prefers but went well with burgers.

Places to See & Things to Do:

Beacon Hill (Acorn St) - a neighborhood worthy of your Instagram feed! It's easy to walk through and the architecture and scenery won't disappoint.

Boston Common / Boston Public Garden - I already told you that this city is pretty walkable, so why not take that walk through a park? And why not make it America's oldest park? Plus, the Boston Public Garden is right next to it where you can take in the botanical garden, take a ride in a swan boat, or check out the "Make Way for Ducklings" photo op.

The Freedom Trail - We honestly didn't plan to walk the Freedom Trail, but it included so many of the spots we wanted to check out anyways, we went with it. It's 2.5 miles long (bring good shoes!) and it passes by 16 different locations in downtown Boston that mark significant parts of U.S. history, like Paul Revere's house, the Boston Massacre location, and more.

Quincy Market / Faneuil Hall - Although this place is super touristy, it came in handy when we needed to escape from the rain and Richard needed to fix a clothing emergency (who packs without checking the weather first?! Thank you Banana Republic). Quincy Market is perfect to grab a quick bite to eat, but it can get busy during peak lunch hours.

Candlepin Bowling - Boston is known for its candlepin bowling. It's similar to traditional bowling, only the ball weighs a few pounds and can fit in your hand and the pins look like thick candlesticks (hence the name). Also, unlike traditional bowling, this 8 month pregnant girl can play it! We went to Boston Candlepin in South Boston. It was small, but had a local vibe that we really enjoyed.