Boston is a hub of historical sites and world-famous attractions that make this captivating city an ideal destination for attendees of the ACS Clinical Congress 2023, October 22–25, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
Virtually every step in Boston leads to an immersive experience, whether on the cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill or along the vibrant waterfront, making it one of the most walkable cities in the US.
The convention center—located in the redeveloped Seaport District—is close to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, the family-friendly Boston Children’s Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art, and more. Stroll along the Boston Harborwalk, a 43-mile public walkway that is home to cozy lunch and dinner options, and take in the waterfront scenery as you explore the beaches and parks.
Beantown—the city’s most enduring and humble nickname—is a choose-your-own-adventure metropolis. Take a short Uber or taxi ride to enjoy Faneuil Hall Marketplace, also known as Quincy Market, a shopper’s utopia with hundreds of shops, artisan pushcarts, pubs, and restaurants housed in three buildings.
For history buffs, step back in time by visiting the iconic Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile path that connects 16 nationally significant historic sites, including Old North Church, Bunker Hill Monument, the Paul Revere House, Old Corner Bookstore, and the USS Constitution.
If you’ve already experienced the Freedom Trail—try the Innovation Trail. Launched in summer 2022, Boston’s newest trail is a 3-hour, 21-stop walk highlighting some of the city’s most memorable scientific breakthroughs.
Sites of interest include Boston University professor Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the first telephone; the Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital—home of the first surgery conducted with anesthesia; and Draper Labs, where software that enabled travel to the moon was invented.
Art aficionados will be drawn to the Back Bay and South End neighborhoods, which are home to many of the city’s major art galleries and museums.
The Museum of Fine Arts Boston has the largest display of Monet paintings outside of France. Nearby, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum features Asian, European, and Islamic art housed within a structure that is reminiscent of a 15th-century Venetian palace.
The Harvard Art Museums is a must-see for admirers of European and American art from the Middle Ages to present day. Composed of three separate museums—the Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum, and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum—each collection (250,000 pieces total) features its own identity and historical perspective.
When it’s time to explore the local food scene, there are several options within a 15-minute walk of the convention center, particularly in the Seaport District and Fort Point areas. Indulge in some fresh “lobstah” or clam “chow-dah,” experience an unforgettable dinner at a full-service restaurant, or keep it easy with a grab-and-go sandwich.
Notable dining options near the convention center include: Committee (Greek Meze and craft cocktails); Trillium Brewing Company Fort Point (burgers, salads, sausage trays, and ales); Cardullo's Gourmet Shoppe (ideal spot to grab a specialty sandwich in between sessions); Menton (fine dining French and Italian-inspired cuisine); and Chickadee (Mediterranean featuring locally sourced ingredients).
Chinatown, the third largest in the US, is a 30-minute walk from the convention center (or a short ride-share or cab ride away) and features cuisine from several different countries. Look for hot-pot soups! Vegan foodies will enjoy My Thai Vegan Café, which serves up vegan Thai specialties at a reasonable price.
However you choose to spend your free time in Boston, you’re sure to have a memorable experience. Whether it’s stretching your legs along the waterfront for some in-between-session exercise, touring historic sites, tossing tea into the Boston Harbor, or viewing world-class art, it’s hard to beat this city for a more engaging Clinical Congress experience.
To find out what else Boston has to offer, check out the tourism information curated by Meet Boston (formerly the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau).
