About Boston

Join us in beautiful Boston for the UCEA 94th Annual Conference. Boston is one of America's oldest cities, with a rich economic and social history and has become the economic and cultural hub of New England. (You can also view a short video segment on Boston.)

temp Boston is “America’s Walking City.” Even though it is one of the largest cities in the country, its accessibility is unparalleled. The creation of one of America's first historic walking tours, The Freedom Trail, highlights this reputation. The Freedom Trail Foundation continues to work to preserve this perfect introduction to Colonial Revolutionary Boston. The Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that takes the visitor to 16 historical sites in the course of two or three hours and covers two and a half centuries of America's most significant past. A red brick or painted line connects the sites on the Trail and serves as a guide.

Since the past and the present live alongside the Trail, its visitors have the opportunity to see the City as it truly is. Many visitors prefer to linger and study the many exhibits, thus a full day or more can be devoted to browsing along the Trail.

One can take a self-guided tour or one of the many tours available through the Boston Common Visitors Center at 148 Tremont Street or the Bostix Booth located at Faneuil Hall. If you prefer to ride, you can pay for one of the trolley tours, which are unofficial guided tours, but do take the rider to many of the sites along the Trail and allow one to disembark at selected stops. To find out more about guided tours contact the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Museums

In Boston, visitors are never at a loss for things to do. The many museums, concert halls, theaters and nightclubs are always showcasing great talent and events. Experience art from Ancient Egyptian to Contemporary at The Museum of Fine Arts or The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. There is also the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum.

Sports

In Boston, enthusiasm for sports is vital to the city's character. Fans are especially fond of Fenway Park, home of the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox. From November to January, the National Football League's three time Champion New England Patriots draw sell-out crowds to Gillette Stadium just outside of Boston. Another draw to Gillette is the New England Revolution, the region's Major League Soccer Team.

Boston fans are also passionate about the Boston Celtics, who once ruled basketball as no team ever dominated a sport by winning 17 world championships. Competing for pennant space on the rafters of the TD Banknorth Garden are the Bruins, winners of five Stanley Cup Championships, and the first team to be awarded a franchise in the National Hockey League in 1924. The city also has a Major League Lacrosse Team, The Boston Cannons, who play their home games at Boston University's Nickerson Field. The Boston Lobsters, a member of the World Team Tennis League, is Boston's newest sporting team and plays all home games at Harvard University's Bright Arena.

Shows & Concerts

In the theatre district, you'll find the Opera House, Colonial Theatre, Wilbur Theatre, Shubert Theatre and the Wang Center for the Performing Arts. Outside of the theatre district, you'll also find The Huntington, The American Repertory Theatre, The Lyric Stage, The Calderwood Pavilion and the Emerson Majestic Theatre.

The Boston Ballet, known for its classical and modern works, is one of the best in the world. The world renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra and The Boston Pops, which plays lighter, more popular classics and show tunes perform at Symphony Hall.

Shopping & Dining

There are plenty of eating and shopping opportunities in Boston. The conference hotel is located on Copley Square, part of the Back Bay neighborhood. There are numerous shops and restaurants near the hotel, particularly in the Prudential Center and Copley Place, which are connected to each other by an enclosed walking bridge. One block from Copley Square is Newbury Street, which is well-known for its boutiques and fashionable stores.

For those looking to see other neighborhoods in Boston, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a popular destination, as it combines historic landmarks with numerous eateries and shops. The North End is famous for its Italian restaurants. Chinatown naturally has several Chinese restaurants, with shopping opportunities available at nearby Downtown Crossing. One way to enjoy the many tastes of Boston is to walk the Freedom Trail. The Trail begins in Boston Common and takes you through Faneuil Hall and the North End before crossing the Charles River into Charlestown, where the U.S.S. Constitution and Bunker Hill are located. Plenty of restaurants along the way ensure that you have ample opportunities to sustain yourself during this historic trek!

The Visitors page of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau website allows you to search for restaurants and shops in Boston, both by neighborhood and type of establishment: http://www.bostonusa.com/visitor/visitor.php It also has a map which shows where each of these neighborhoods is located.

Other Things to Do

The Swan Boats in the Public Garden are a Boston tradition. In the summer, the Boston Common's Frog Pond features a spray pool for children and in the winter a skating rink.

George Wright Golf Course was founded in 1938. This 18-hole Donald Ross designed golf course is a hidden gem in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston. The course is open seven days a week from April 1 through November 30.

For more information: contact Natalia Kats, UCEA Director of Conferences, at nkats@upcea.edu or 202.659.3130.