Check out the gay scene in Historic Boston

The capital of the first US state to legalize same-sex marriage, Boston has long been one of the most politically progressive and socially liberal cities in the country, evidenced by its evident GLBT community. Known for its many universities, rich history, and charming neighborhoods that feel as old Europe in the world as any in the US, Boston is a small but world-class destination nonetheless.

The city has many artistic attractions, such as a performing arts theatre, beautiful museums, and countless hotels, restaurants, gay bars, shops, and galleries.

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Seasons

Boston's popularity is year-round, although summer tends to attract the most tourists from afar (particularly in Europe), and fall attracts travellers a short drive away because the city is a good base for exploring the rolling foliage in the surrounding area and because the city It has several mass events at this time.

Average lows are 36F/22F in January, 56F/40F in April, 82F/65F in July, and 62F/46F in October. Snow and sleet are famous in the winter, and wet and old days in the summer, making fall and spring the best times to visit. Precipitation rates 3 to 4 inches/mu. Over the year.

Boston's small, hilly city is located in eastern Massachusetts, on Massachusetts Bay, at the junction of I-93 and the eastern terminus of I-90.

The very picturesque Charles River forms its northern boundary with the similarly liberal and collected city of Cambridge.

Driving distances

Driving distances to Boston from notable places and points of interest are:

Burlington, VT: 215 miles (3.5 to 4 hours)

Cambridge: 5 miles (15 minutes)

Montreal: 320 miles (5 to 6 hours)

New York City: 215 miles (3.5 to 4 hours)

Northampton: 105 miles (1.5 hours)

Portland, Middle East: 110 miles (1.5 hours)

Sunday River Ski Resort, Bethel, ME: 175 miles (3.5 hours)

Providence, RI: 50 miles (1 hour)

Provincetown: 115 miles (2 to 3 hours)

Washington, DC: 440 miles (6.5 to 7.5 hours)

Fly to Boston

One of the country's busiest airports, Logan International Airport, is located just 10 minutes drive or taxi east of downtown Boston and is served by most major domestic airlines and several international airports. It is cheap and easy to get to the airport using the MBTA bus and subway service.

It can be much cheaper to fly into TF Green Airport, an hour south of Providence  and Manchester Boston Regional Airport, an hour north of New Hampshire.

Take a train or bus to Boston.

Boston is easily accessible via the Amtrak train service and Peter Pan bus lines from major East Coast cities such as Providence, New Haven, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Montreal.

Peter Pan is an affiliate of Greyhound, and prices are usually reasonable compared to other forms of transportation, even when driving (if you factor in gas and potential car rental fees).

For example, tickets from New York to Boston are about $30. Amtrak offers very reliable and convenient service throughout the region. Depending on the destination, you can choose the faster Acela service or standard regional trains, and tickets are available in categories ranging from Saver to Premium. For example, I booked a one-way ticket from Boston to New York, at least 14 days in advance (which yields much lower prices), and costs anywhere from about $50 for a savings ticket on a regional train to $75 on an Acela in class Value to $200 in first class. The journey takes about 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on the train.

LGBT – Friendly Events Calendar

Early March: A Taste of the South End (a food festival that benefits Mass. AIDS Action Committee).

Mid-March: St. Patrick's Day Parade (it's vast in Boston, but it also prohibits GLBT groups from marching, making it one of the city's most controversial and least known festivals).

Mid-April: Boston Marathon.

Early May: Punks Pimp: The LGBT Film Festival in Boston.

Early to mid-June: Boston Gay Pride Festival and Festival.

Mid-June: Southern Maine Pride Gay (in Portland, about 90 minutes north).

Early July: 4th of July Boston Fireworks Party.

Early July: Boston Harbor fest.

Early September: Worcester Gay Pride (about an hour east of Boston).

Late October: Cape Charles Regatta (a major intercollegiate attraction that draws thousands of athletes and spectators).

Several resources provide comprehensive information on the city's gay scene, including Boston Spirit Magazine, Rainbow Times, EDGE Boston, and Bay Windows). Boston.com, owned by the Boston Globe, is the city's best primary news source.

Downtown Boston Highlights

The Boston Common (the adjoining Boston Public Garden) has been a downtown core since 1630 and remains a joy to explore. Just north is the essentially colonial neighbor  hood of Beacon Hill, with its brick sidewalks, townhouses, and luxury boutiques. You'll find the touristy but fun Quincy Market northeast of every day, laden with shops and restaurants. Walk the nearby Freedom Trail for a 1.5-mile tour of New England history, or head east to the gorgeous New England Aquarium. Nearby is Boston's North End, a network of narrow, twisting streets and 19th-century brick dwellings with a prominent Italian community.

Explore Notable Boston Neighborhoods

The South End: Boston's most gay-selected neighbor hood has become one of the city's most affordable and exclusive. Most of the homes on the neighbor hood's Red Sea shore, many decorated with meticulous detail, were built in the 1850s. The area turned into an ongoing scourge throughout the 20th century before experiencing significant (and gay-inspired) renovation in the early 1980s. The main commercial backbone, Columbus Avenue and Tremont Street, are loaded with gay-popular restaurants, cafes, and businesses. Farther south, Shawmut Street and Washington Street have become the city's newest hot spots, with lands cape restaurants, lofts, and so on.

Jamaica Plain: For many GLBT folks (especially lesbians), Jamaica Plain is Boston's top “streetcar suburb” known for its quiet Jamaican pond and its once exclusive residential neighborhood. City dwellers rediscovered this enclave in search of relatively affordable housing. Check out a handful of popular and commercial restaurants along Center Street.

Cambridge: Often another of Boston's many neighbor hoods, Cambridge is an independent city of 100,000 residents. It was settled in 1630, and six years later, it became home to the country's first university, Harvard, which today is docked at Cambridge and surrounded by beautiful museums and dozens of restaurants and great shops. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology rocks the Charles River near Kendall Square, a small shopping and dining center to the southeast. Cambridge, along with Watertown to the west and Somerville to the east, has many gay residents. Orlando Convention Center Transportation is used for travel purpose services.