“M.T.A” aka “The MTA Song” aka “Charlie on the MTA”, tells the tale of a man called Charlie, who is trapped on the Boston subway system. So famous has the song become over the years that the electronic card based fare collection system on the Boston subway is known as the “Charlie Card”. The Kingston Trio who appear in the 1959 recording below, played the song as the dedication ceremony when the card system was introduced in 2004.
Visitors to Boston today have the choice of the CharlieCard or CharlieTicket to help them get around. Which one is for you will depend on where you are staying and whether you want ferry fares included. Check out the https://www.mbta.com/fares/charliecard Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MTBA) website for details.
Boston is a relatively short flight from the UK and is easily accessible if you are looking for something different for a weekend away. You can catch a flight from Heathrow on a Friday evening after work, snooze on the plane and you be in Boston in time for last orders.
Known as the “Cradle of Modern America, Boston was the birthplace of the American Revolution, therefore one of the first places that you will want to head off to, is the location of the Boston Tea Party. Here you will find a multi-sensory experience that includes live actors, interactive exhibits, and full-scale replica 18th-century sailing vessels! You can recreate your own Boston Tea Party by throwing tea into the water.
Most of Boston’s historical sites can be reached by following what is known as the Freedom Trail across the city. Keeping with a nautical theme, 2nd stop on your trail could be a visit to the USS Constitution, which is the oldest commissioned warship afloat and earned her nickname “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812, she captured a number of merchant ships and defeated five British warships including HMS Guerriere which is where she earned her nickname.
A visit to Boston wouldn’t be complete without an outing to watch one of the cities top class sports team play. Visiting from April to September a trip to Fenway Park to watch the Boston Red Sox is must. Since 1912, Fenway has been home to the Red Sox and is the oldest Baseball Arena in the USA if not the world. Unlike some of the newer arenas, the compact design of Fenway takes you back in history and gives you a spectator experience that you will not find anywhere else except maybe Wrigley Field in Chicago. If there are no games scheduled, then a stadium tour is recommended.
On a more cultural level, Boston is home to over 60 museums of which the most famous is the Museum of Fine Arts, which is the 5th largest museum in the USA and one of the top 50 most visited museums in the world. It is home to over half a million exhibits, ranging from ancient Egyptian to contemporary. The 1888 painting by Vincent Van Gogh’s Postman Joseph Roulin, is one of the museum’s best known works in its collection.
Whether you are in Boston for a day or a week you will find so much on offer to experience that you will leave wanting more. Contact Maggie today to book your short flight to the USA (and much, much more 😊).
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