If you're like me, the first thing you do before you go on a trip (or anywhere, really) is put together your itinerary. From the moment you wake up to the moment you crash in your bed after the long day of running around and visiting, you have every single hour and minute planned so as to not lose one moment.
If you're planning an upcoming trip to Boston or simply just find yourself with free time in the city, look no further than Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. Bordering the Boston Harbor and one hop away from the historic monuments and Downton Boston, Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall has every restaurant, attraction, and shop to please any tourist and visitor.
At first glance, Faneuil Hall parallels an outdoor mall with Quincy Market in the middle standing tall and proud, filled with tourists and students. Although it might seem somewhat intimidating - such a large area with so many people and no idea what to do - I urge to go on as you are bound to find a shop or stand that sparks an interest in you.
Surrounding the Quincy Market building, one can find shops that cover either end of the spectrum and everything in between. From Abercrombie and Fitch to Victoria's Secret to Christmas in Boston and Uno de 50, the shopping at Faneuil Hall is as diverse as it can get [For a complete list of stores and shops, click here].
Besides the traditional walk-in store, Faneuil Hall is filled to the brim with stand-up shops and kiosks. Nearing the opposite end Faneuil Hall, one can find shopping carts and stands bordering the semi-circle plaza. These one-stop shops are definitely for the tourist, selling the typical knock-off sunglasses (which I am most definitely guilty of purchasing) and Boston sweatshirts and t-shirt. If you're on the lookout for the typical Harvard or MIT shirt or sweatshirt but not a fan of spending the fifty dollars, be sure to check out these budget-friendly stands.
Crossing the street, one can find various restaurants and food trucks along pathways paralleling the oceanfront. If visiting with younger children, the carousel will definitely win you a couple of bonus points in their eyes. Or maybe even just to snap that Instagram-worthy, Tumblr-like photo, three dollars will buy you seven minutes of fun and laughter on the merry-go-round.
While Faneuil Hall and its phenomenal shopping might target the avid shopper and tourist, Quincy Market is definitely the place for that one fellow foodie. Quincy Market has it all!
To be honest, the building itself does not do it justice. While it stands tall and strong, it does not truly encompass and show the enormous magnitude and immense variety it holds within.
Quincy Market checks every box - sweet treat, warm drink, New England staple, "fun" swig, etc. Whatever you may be craving (or maybe not even craving. I'm telling you, you'll find yourself being dragged by some odd, magnetic force towards a food stand that you never thought you'd go near ever), you'll find it inside the Quincy Market.
A tradition for me is to visit the Boston Chowda food stand. Besides their slightly expensive prices, their lobster rolls, clam chowder, and crab cakes are hard to beat. Ready in minutes, one can choose between a cold or a hot roll, several different chowders, and other dishes including lobster mac 'n cheese and crab cakes. Your best bet is to order one roll and one chowder and share as each dish is extremely filling.
If you're looking for something to wash down that lobster or crab roll or just looking for something to sip on while you walk around and take in the busy atmosphere, be sure to visit The Monkey Bar. The Monkey Bar's menu has a number of tropical, sweet smoothies and drinks to contrast the Yankee, Bostonian setting. My top recommendation is their Piña Colada - extremely refreshing, sweet enough to satisfy your sweet tooth but not too sweet that you need to have a water bottle on hand. The cocoa-infused coconut shreds on the border of the cup give it a tropical field while adding an extra, unique sweetness that contrasts that of the pineapple and the coconut.
Quincy Market also offers various other stands if you want a sweet treat that is justslightly more satisfying than a cold drink. My top recommendation is most definitely Berry Twist, located opposite Boston Chowda. With every ice cream flavor imaginable, one is bound to find that one unique flavor for them. I'd recommend buying one cup and sharing as the portion sizes are quite large.
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market are, no doubt, one of the top tourist attractions in Boston. Conveniently located next to the harbor and the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market are sure to satisfy any visitor or local. Be sure to pencil in this unique point of interest that is one hundred percent, fully Bostonian in all of its aspects.
Check out the slideshow below for more drool-worthy photographs!