Top 5 Things To Do in Boston During Optometry's Meeting

There’s no better city to have a meeting than Boston! So much history, so many great attractions, and so much delicious food all in one place! Here are a few things you’ll definitely want to make time to see during your trip to Boston for AOA Optometry’s Meeting starting on June 29th to July 3rd.

1. Freedom Trail

To reach Boston Common and start your trail tour, take the Red or the Green Line to Park Street Station. You'll find the Visitor Information Center just 100 yards away, along Tremont Street.

2. Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Built in 1742 and now located on the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall's meeting hall has had a long and important history in Massachusetts politics. Samuel Adams once stood here to push for resistance against the British, and abolitionists and suffragists both have stood on their soapboxes here. In fact, this is where "no taxation without representation," was promulgated to challenge the Sugar Act in 1764. Today, Faneuil Hall houses a burgeoning marketplace that includes Quincy Market, and serves as a central marketplace that buzzes with activity and features dining venues, shops and entertainment. Nearby is the Haymarket, an open-air market open on Fridays and Saturdays, where you can buy local produce and seafood.

The marketplace welcomes visitors Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. To reach Fanueil Hall Marketplace, take the Blue Line toward the Aquarium and hop off at the Fanueil Hall station or take the Orange Line to the Haymarket stop.

3. Fenway Park

Home to the Boston Red Sox, this stadium has been the site of home runs, stolen bases and grounders since 1912. The stadium celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012, and reflects the same jovial spirit that's attracted fans in droves throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Regardless of whether you believe in the legendary 1919 "Curse of the Bambino" or you believe the Sox are primed to make another run for the World Series, you should try to catch a game and admire the ballpark's original architecture, including the 37-foot-tall notorious "Green Monster" wall rising over left field.

To reach Fenway Park, take the B, C or D to the Kenmore station. The park is just a quick stroll from the station, and there are signs to point you in the right direction. For further details about tours and game schedules, check Fenway Park's website. 

4. Museum of Fine Arts

The museum is home to one of the best art collections in the world, including the celebrated Art of the Americas Wing. Inside this sprawling collection, which debuted in 2010, you'll stumble upon 53 galleries showcasing iconic pieces spanning from Pre-Columbian times to the 20th century. John Singer Sargent's dazzling pieces are one standout here, and as you delve further into the collection, you'll see his paintings sharing wall space with others by masters like John Singleton Copley and Edward Hopper, among others. Asian art is also well represented at the museum, from Japanese pieces to Chinese decorative art. Plus, there are works from Monet, Renoir, Manet and Rembrandt on display in the European collection. You'll also admire masterpieces in special temporary exhibits, such as the "Boston Loves Impressionism" exhibit, which features 30 acclaimed works from masters Van Gogh and Degas, to name a few.

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., with extended hours until 9:45 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. To reach the museum, take the Orange Line to the Ruggles metro stop or the Green Line E train to the Museum of Fine Arts station.

5. Boston Public Garden

Although the Boston Public Garden sits right next to Boston Common, the two are actually quite different. The Public Garden is newer (established in 1837), and many say that it is more scenic than the Common, as the first public botanical garden in the country. Flowers and trees are beautifully organized and kept in good condition throughout. You can see the colorful arrangements and exotic trees from the four-acre pond in the center of the garden before taking in the lagoon by Swan Boat. The park is also filled with various statues: The most noteworthy is Thomas Ball's statue of George Washington, which is easy to spot at the Arlington Street gate. Another crowd-pleaser among younger visitors is the "Make Way for Ducklings" sculptures perched at Charles and Beacon streets, which pay homage to the 1941 children's book. 

You'll find the park located in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood; the easiest way to reach the park is by taking the Green Line to the Arlington metro stop.

For more information visit: Travel US News Boston Things to Do

-Dr. Dexter