NIGHT STOPS: Heart of the American independence movement and home of the famoustea party, the city bristles with national pride By Captain Karen Speight, Log Board member Illustration: Tom Woolley B oston is a bustling, vibrant city, with an intriguing mix of glass skyscrapers and leafy roads of Victorian terraced housing an echo of its colonial past. Travelling around the bus and metro routes is easy with a one- or seven-day CharlieCard pass, or you can buy individual CharlieTickets. Seeing the sights A good place to orientate yourself for exploring the city is from the skywalk observatory. For $21, you get an audio guide about the settlement of Boston, plus stunning 360-degree views from the 50th floor of the Prudential building. Start with Trinity Church and the public library. Wander to the gardens housing the sculpture Make way for ducklings, then cross to Boston common and head for the Information Center. This is the start of the Freedom Trail, a must for any visitor. Guided tours come in at about $14-15, or you can download the Freedom Trail app and the walk for 3.99. Pop your headphones on, start walking, and snippets of information will play at relevant points along the way. Its worth dropping into the Old Granary Burial Ground look for amateur historian Jimmy at the entry gate and pick up one of his folders of fascinating facts to browse as you wander around. Dont forget to leave this entrepreneur a tip for his efforts. No visit would be complete without a trip to the universities of Harvard and MIT. Book on one of the tours or wander by yourself, dropping in at the various buildings such as the art museum that are open to the public. Like any large city, there are plenty of opportunities to hear live music. At Wallys Cafe, there is live jazz every night, starting at around 9.30pm. Entry is free and drinks are reasonably priced. The Berklee College of Music, meanwhile, offers a range of concerts and recitals throughout the day, some of which are free, notably the students composition portfolios. Eating and drinking With its coastal outlook, seafood shouts loudly from the menus in Boston. Drop into Union Oyster House at lunchtime or early evening, before it gets too busy, to grab a bowl of the famous clam chowder, served with ridiculously sweet corn bread. Another lovely place for lunch is Boston Public Market, or nearby Quincy Market, with its multiple food and drink stalls. There are usually also street performers. Brunch options are many and varied: try Sonsie, in Back Bay. If you are in the Fenway Park area, maybe catching a Red Sox game, its worth a detour to Tatte Bakery if you like fresh salads and baked goods. Later in the day, Darryls Corner Bar & Kitchen offers the chance to prop up the bar with a cocktail or dine on blackened catfish at candlelit tables, while a soulful band serenades you for a small cover charge. The menu includes all-American favourites such as grits, shrimp, burgers and fries. Prices are not cheap expect to pay around $20-$30 for an entree and $15 for a brunch plate. o you have any tips for night stops around the globe? D Let us know at TheLog@balpa.org NIGHT STOPS Boston