Whirlwind Weekend: Two-Day Getaway in Boston

Secret garden in Isabella Gardner Museum

I am kicking off my Whirlwind Weekend Series in Boston. You don't need a week to have a fun getaway. All you need is a couple of days, a well-planned itinerary and an awesome travel buddy. In this article, I highlight a quick two-day trip to Boston.

My sister, Jenna, lives in Boston - Southie to be exact. I was lucky enough to steal some time and fly out for a quick weekend. (Friday night through Sunday afternoon.) Boston had a Nor'easter the day I flew in, so my flight was delayed a few hours, which was a bummer. But we made the best of the short amount of time we had.

She planned a really cool – and casual – itinerary. Here are some hot spots and hidden gems we enjoyed during my weekend in Boston.

Food and Drink

The Maiden - Must Try: Raw Oysters and Wild Boar Salami

28 W Broadway / themaidenboston.com

This swank Southie eatery has a little something for everyone.
For the Foodie: an eclectic menu that boasts delectable raw oysters and savory wild boar sausage.
For the History Noir Buff: This was once Triple O's Lounge, the former hangout of the infamous Whitey Bulger. Locals say Bulger, one of Southie's famous gangsters, planned murder and extortion here back in the day.
For Heavy Metal Fans: I hear the men's bathroom is decked out with Iron Maiden decor. It even "serenades" guys with the band's music.
For the Ladies: The women's bathroom is a princess/glitter explosion. There is even a unicorn!

Our dinner was quite late, 9:30 pm, so we kept it simple. Narragansett Lager, raw oysters, and a cheese & meat board featuring creamy brie and a savory boar sausage. I have a gluten sensitivity and was happy that they had a wheat-free beer. Closed Mondays. Reservations recommended.

Broadway’s Pastry & Coffee - Must Try: Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

258 W Broadway / broadwayspastry.com

Around the corner from Jenna's apartment in Southie is this trendy coffee shop. We grabbed breakfast to go. The café wasn’t crowded, but it was frigidly cold outside and we just wanted to get back to her apartment. The egg and cheese sandwiches were fluffy and cheesy, it was so good it didn’t need the bacon. (I like crispy bacon, and the bacon was more fatty/chewy, so I didn’t eat it.) If you like dark, espresso-like coffee, this is the place for a latte. It’s a bakery, so not a lot of gluten-free options. Open daily.

Café G – Must Try: Smelts

25 Evans Way /gardnermuseum.org

This artsy café is tucked inside the Isabella Gardner Museum. We shared plates. Creamy parsnip soup, crunchy fried smelts, and velvety polenta. The smelts were interesting. Whole, little fish breaded and fried, served with baby greens and a spicy mayo-like sauce. One word – YUM! Jenna recommends the turkey sandwich too. We didn’t have reservations, but we timed it right so we walked right in. If the museum is very busy, expect to wait for a table. Closed Tuesdays. Check website for times and specials. Museum admission NOT required to eat at the restaurant. Reservations recommended.

Bastille Kitchen - Must Try: Tea Smoked Mussels and Ile Flottante

49 Melcher Street / bastillekitchen.net

Exposed brick, dark wood, and lighting creatively crafted from dress cages create a welcoming atmosphere at this French-inspired restaurant. We went the seafood route, Moules Mariniere (tea smoked mussels) and seared scallops over sautéed brussels sprouts with bacon and celery root purée. We added truffle fries as a side. They do have mouthwatering steaks too. For dessert, we tried Ile Flottante, (floating islands), which is poached meringue over a vanilla crème sauce. It was like eating warm, pillowy marshmallows, with a French twist. Menu changes periodically. Nice cocktail/wine/beer list. Closed Sundays & Mondays. Reservations recommended.

Alden & Harlow - Must Try: The Secret Burger

40 Brattle Street, Cambridge - Harvard Square / aldenharlow.com

Secret Burger - Yum!

Conde Nast Traveler lists this joint as one of the best restaurants in the world!  It’s the perfect place to grab a bite and drink before or after visiting Harvard’s campus (which is right down the street). We found a seat at the bar and enjoyed the Sparkler of the Day, a mimosa-like cocktail creation that changes daily. Our sparkler had gin, orange liqueur, soda and some other ingredients. Jenna was thrilled that the Secret Burgers were not sold out. They only make a limited number of these coveted burgers each day, so once they run out, they’re out. We shared a juicy burger and topped it with a poached egg. We found heaven on a bun. The burger comes with a side of homemade chips. We added the cheesy smoked grits, which were delicious, but portions are generous, so we didn’t need them. Open Daily. Reservations encouraged but not necessary.

Yankee Lobster - Must Try: Hot Lobster Roll

300 Northern Avenue / yankeelobstercompany.com

This tiny market/restaurant hidden in a waterfront warehouse district is worth the wait. Timing is everything here. We walked right up to the counter and placed our order. But, the manager told us about 20 minutes earlier the line was around the corner. Freshly caught Maine lobster is the specialty. Whole lobsters were flying out the kitchen, but we opted for the Hot Lobster Roll. Instead of the traditional mayo-based lobster salad on a roll, Yankee tosses the lobster with melted butter and serves it up on a crusty roll. Comes with fries and cole slaw. The place has limited seating. Take out is an option if it’s really crowded. But tables do turn quickly. Yankee Lobster is a fish market too. Some patrons were grabbing food to go, along with their fresh fish orders. Open Daily. Reservations not taken.

Hidden Gems in Boston

Isabella Gardner Museum 

25 Evans Way /gardnermuseum.org   Open Wednesday-Monday. Closed Tuesday. Admission: Adults $15, Kids are free. An amazing private collection of art.

 Pilar Vacas is all smiles as she
welcomes Jenna to 
the museum.

This worldly collection of art ranges from statues to paintings to a Knight’s crypt that Isabella Gardner collected from around the world. The museum was once her stately home back in the 1800s. The open atrium is a breathtaking welcome for visitors. The entire building wraps around and encloses this lush secret garden. Nestled among its greenery are ancient statues, pottery, otherworldly artifacts and a soothing waterfall.

The museum offers three floors of eclectic art ranging from rare paintings, sculptures, statues, cultural relics, and some personal artifacts.  Be sure to stop by the gallery on the 3rd floor. Here two empty frames hang on the wall. These once held two Rembrandt paintings that were stolen on March 18, 1990. In all, 13 artworks were stolen that night totaling about $500 million. The empty frames hang to remind visitors of the theft.

   

The staircase near the entrance (and next to Cafe G) leads up to a new exhibit: Listen Hear: The Art of Sound exhibit. There are seven sound works. My favorite is the cat purring exhibit. Six large portraits hang on the wall. Using headphones, you can scroll through each cat’s unique purring sound. Next to the cats is an open room with different colored lights shining down on the floor. Music and sounds play on many different speakers mounted on the walls around the room. As you move among the different colors, the sounds change slightly.

Harvard Museum of Natural History 

26 Oxford Street, Cambridge / hmnh.harvard.edu Open Daily. Admission: Adults $12 / Students & Seniors $10 / Kids 3 - 18 $3 / Little Ones under 3 free  Check the website for admission specials.

Photo Courtesy
Harvard Museum of Natural History

If you take a stroll on Harvard’s campus make sure you add the Harvard Museum of Natural History to your itinerary. The museum is a collection of natural history objects, ranging from meteorites to dinosaur fossils to animal specimens to glass flowers. All were acquired by or donated to Harvard. Many were used as part of university studies and research.  The museum is VERY family friendly and has many interactive, hands-on exhibits.

The glass flowers and sea creatures exhibits were quite fascinating. The glass pieces were commissioned by Harvard in the 1800s as part of a research project. The flowers and creatures look so real. These delicate pieces were handcrafted about 200 years ago!

Check back for more Whirlwind Weekend travel ideas!

Enjoy the day!
Maribeth