INBOUND 22 is back and we are excited to attend in-person, in Boston for the first time in 3 years. INBOUND is an annual marketing event, that unites thought leaders, agencies, and marketing professionals from across the world on all things inbound marketing with HubSpot.
I’ve lived in Northern Virginia for the past twenty years and I love it, but I was born and raised outside of Boston and spent my twenties living in the heart of the city, so when anyone asks me where I’m from, I always say Boston. It has my heart and will always be my home. Plus, my family is still there and I’m there often. So, consider this a local’s guide to the city.
Let’s start with where to eat. If you’re staying in the Seaport and don’t want to venture too far from your homebase, here are some suggestions: Committee, Lolita Fort Point, Pink Taco, Empire, Davios (beautiful view), Row 34, Legal Harborside (also a beautiful view), The Barking Crab. Insider tip: make reservations ahead of time.
There are plenty of FUN things to do in the Seaport too: Kings (bowling, billiards, games, draft room), and Flight Club (darts). Trillium Brewing (great beer, good lunch spot too), Lucky’s Lounge (dive bar vibe, live music). And you might see me if you take a Liberty Clipper Sunset Harbor Cruise, go to the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art), or stop for a drink at Lookout Rooftop at the Envoy Hotel.
If you want to venture outside of the Seaport to explore a bit, the good news is that Boston is a walkable city so you can get to most places on this list easily on foot or by taking the “T” (what locals call the subway).
The North End is a great option with an abundance of Italian restaurants and cafes. For restaurants, here are my favorites: Arya Trattori, Neptune Oyster (their warm lobster roll is delicious), Bricco, Mama Maria, or Regina Pizzeria. And for bakeries/cafes, these are my favorites: Mike’s Pastry, Caffe Vittoria (my very favorite and the best cappuccino and tiramisu around), or Modern Pastry Shop. Insider tip: to avoid lines and crowds in the North End, go at off times.
To get to the North End from the Seaport, walk along The Boston Harborwalk or The Greenway. Both are beautiful walks with lots to see and do along the way. My suggestions: stop for a beer at Trillium Brewing or at the New England Aquarium to check out the harbor seals in the plaza out front.
If you’re taking an extra day or more in Boston to explore before or after INBOUND, here are my top recommendations:
First, just get out and see the city. The Freedom Trail is a great way to see the city and the historic sites on foot. If you’re not interested in walking, but want to see the sites, Old Town Trolley Tours is a jump on/off. Insider tip: stop along the way at the Omni Parker House, where Boston cream pie was invented or at the Bell in Hand Tavern, the oldest bar in the U.S. still operating.
A few more ways to see the city: everyone loves Boston Duck Tours. And I’m dying to do Boston Segway Tours or Urban Adventure Quest in Boston.
Or just take a walk. The best walk in my opinion is through Beacon Hill and the Boston Public Gardens and into Back Bay. There is so much to do in Back Bay. Head down Newbury Street (Amorino has amazing gelato and L.A. Burdick is a cute chocolate shop), check out what’s going on at Copley Square, tour the Trinity Church and Boston Public Library and then have afternoon tea at The Map Room Tea Lounge.
Head over to Prudential Center and check out Eataly and then the Skywalk Observatory for spectacular views of the city and an interesting museum. The Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library is really something unique, and just behind the Prudential Center. I also highly recommend Owl’s Nest at Night Shift Brewing; it’s a beer garden on the Charles River. You can get there by going over the footbridge at Dartmouth Street. For seafood lovers, I recommend these restaurants in Back Bay: Select Oyster Bar, Ostra and Atlantic.
Take a ferry to the Boston Harbor Islands or take a Boston Lighthouse Tour. Both are run by the Boston Harbor Islands Park Service.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - visit for the art and the building itself. Cafe G is a nice spot for lunch. The museum is a 15-minute drive from the Seaport District, but worth it!
Boston Public Library is a gorgeous building with amazing architecture and artwork and a beautiful courtyard. For afternoon tea, make reservations at The Map Room Tea Lounge. It’s Boston’s first tea-infused cocktail lounge. Also, check out Trinity Church which is right across the street in Copley Square.
The Red Sox are in town on September 1-4, but you don’t have to go to a game, you can do tours of Fenway Park.
Everyone loves to see Harvard University while in Boston and Harvard Square is right there. And if you go, don’t miss the Glass flowers at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. They are quite unique and beautiful. It’s hard to believe they’re not real.
Wishing all those attending INBOUND safe travels. We are looking forward to networking, learning, and enjoying Boston with you in a few short weeks. Here are the Conveyance team members attending Inbound, connect with us on LinkedIn: Kristine Jacobson, Susan Stewart, and Heather Zapf.
Enjoy the city. It’s full of history and charm and beautiful in September.