Boston, you're my home!

Where are you staying? Regardless, here are some things I love to see/do/eat/visit:

1. If you like seafood (oysters/lobsters or anything else), it's worth putting your name in at Neptune Oyster in the North End, then walk around a block or two of the North End to sight see. The Old North Church of "one if by land, two if by sea" fame is here. And a lot of old Italians. Almost every week in the summer, there's a saint's parade - which can be fun or a zoo - depends on what you're into. Get gelato anywhere. Mike's Pastry is the classic place to go for Italian ice/cookies, but it can be a mob scene - pretty much anywhere is fine.
2. You can walk from the North End thru Faneuil Hall up to Boston Commons - Faneuil Hall is a little touristy now, but if you want ice cream, stop in at Steve's. If you want to see more sights before Fanueil Hall, stroll the Rose Kennedy Greenway and/or Christopher Columbus Park (kids love it) to the New England Aquarium, then cross over to Faneuil Hall.
3. From Faneuil Hall, walk up and through the Boston Common. In fact, let's assume you start at the northeast end (by the Park Street T station).  With the State House on the right, now walk downhill, veering to the right side of the park. At the bottom of the hill, Charles Street bisects the Park - turn right on Charles Street toward the river. I've never been, but the Cheers Bar is nearby (turn left onto Beacon at Beacon & Charles streets). I prefer to take 30 minutes to do the Charles Street stroll down cobbled streets, past classic brownstones, old lamplights, and cute shops. I go down the right side first to my favorite shop, Black Ink at 101 Charles St, then I come back up the left side stopping for a slice at the original Upper Crust Pizzeria.
4. Turn around and go back to the park, re-entering the south (right) side of the park now. Walk to the opposite corner of the park - along the way, you'll see the the Make Way for Ducklings statues and Swan Boats. The Swan Boat ride is totally worth it, especially with kids or romantic/tired adults.
5. At the south end of the park, exit onto Arlington St and look for Newbury Street (Chanel & Burberry are on the corners). Walk down Newbury Street. Go in the shops. Some of them are price-tastic - some of them are not - but they're all fun to look in. If you're hungry, I like Stephanie's at 190 Newbury Street. I order flowers for family from Winston's at 131 Newbury Street - but I stop by whenever I'm in town because a) it's beautiful, and b) they usually have some cheap to-go bouquets to brighten up a hotel room. Newbury Street is 8 blocks long - you can certainly do the whole street, but if you're ready to bail, turn left/south at Dartmouth Street, walk one block and you'll be at Copley Plaza where there's a T stop. On your right, the Old South Church on the corner is worth peeking into, and to your left in the plaza, the Trinity Church is considered an architectural treasure. So is the Boston Public Library across the street (enter on Dartmouth, where it's old school beautiful - not the north/modern side) - that's where I used to get my nerd on.

Other things to do:

1. Take the T to Harvard Square. For me, Harvard Square is fascinating people watching, so while you can certainly go sit down some place for dinner (we like Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage, which is an institution; the Border Cafe has TexMex; there are other fancier places) I frankly prefer to get something cheap & cheerful at Au Bon Pain and sit outside to people watch. Or do the stroll. It's a little hard to explain without a map of Harvard Square, so try this map after reading these instructions: 
• when you exit the T, you'll see that you're standing at JFK St (the Coop is across the street and the river is 3 blocks to your left). Eliot Street is the street that veers to left - and if you look at a map, you'll see Eliot Street is a 2 block loop to and from JFK (bisected by Mt Auburn St). My advice is to cross JFK, and follow Eliot Street in a big loop back to JFK. The tricky part is - it's worth starting on the RIGHT side of Eliot Street, and you may end up going down some little side streets - eventually, you want to work your way back to Eliot Street, back to JFK. When you get back to JFK, if you're in the mood, turn RIGHT and walk downhill JFK to the bridge to see the pretty skyline and boat houses (if the sun's still up, you'll probably see rowers!). Walk back up JFK and get back on the T.
2. The Back Bay - Ben's mom lives in the Bay Bay, and it's a great place to live/visit/shop. Requires some walking shoes if you want to see everything on this map.
3. If you like baseball, you gotta go to Fenway. Every game is a sellout, so get tix at stubhub.com  Bleacher seats can be rowdy, and far from the action - but they're the cheapest. Weeknights are cheaper.
4. Check the paper for any concerts/movies on the Common or the Esplanade.
5. Aquarium. Everyone copied the Boston Aquarium's spiral walk around a central tank, but we were first. If you don't want to take the time or spend the money to go inside, stop by the penguin exhibit outside - it's free. Listen for people singing the jingle, "I can walk like a penguin..."
6. If you want lobster, you should NOT have to pay an arm and leg for it. My new favorite place is Neptune Oyster in the North End, which is a more 'spensy than other options, but the lobster roll (hot or cold) IS excellent, and if we're super splurgy, we get oysters with a glass of champagne, Neptunes on Piggyback, and lobster roll - but it's ALL good. If you want cheap and cheerful, no fuss lobster: No Name Restaurant is a no-frills, BYOB, harborside dive with good, fresh off the boat food AND free parking. Jasper White has a couple Summer Shack locations around town. Legal Sea Foods is usually good, but getting a little chain-y.
7. Freedom Trail. Get your history buff on and follow the freedom trail map around the sites.  Or sign up for one of the daily tours.
8. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - Isabella had amazing art and gardens in her classic Fenway mansion - so if you've been ogling the big brownstones, this is your chance to see inside one.
9. Museum of Fine Arts - I'm an impressionist geek, so I love it here. Depending on what the feature exhibits are, it can be great. And the restaurant's quite nice.
10. I've never been, but my mom recommends the Duck Tours - it's a tourism boat/bus that floats down the river then drives around the city. Could be a good way to get the lay of the land.
11. Do you have a car? Do you want to get out of the city? I'm going to guess not, but... You can drive an hour south to Plimouth Plantation. Or north to the Peabody Essex Museum - just be sure to stop at Woodman's Clam Shack for the original fried clam - they're deservedly famous.

Holler if you want more ideas...have fun!