Want to know the best places to visit in Boston? Virgin Holidays have the answers for you
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By Steve Brown
It probably goes without saying that Virgin Holidays staff have a passion for travel so who best to give the lowdown to the world’s best LGBT destinations than our own!?
This month Ryan, the Trading & Retail Marketing Manager, shares his favourite spots in Boston…
Bold, beautiful and not too big, three words I’d use to sum up Boston and Cape Cod. I snuck away for five nights and found this to be plenty to experience what the destination has to offer…
Boston Common is a beautiful place to visit and soak up some Bostonian sun (if you’re lucky enough to visit in the summer!).
The common was established in 1634 and is America’s oldest public park. It has also served as a place for free speech and public assembly.
Martin Luther King, Jr. even led a civil right rally and Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in 1979 here.
I planned my visit around Boston’s infamous 4th July celebrations. This city knows how to throw a party and gurl, do they know how to party.
Just after breakfast, I headed to City Hall Plaza to watch the flag raising ceremony and then followed the parade to the Granary Burial Ground, where wreaths were laid on the graves of patriots.
It was incredible to be part of such an historic celebration and one comes to realise how fiercely patriotic Americans are – it’s both endearing and heart-warming.
Once the parade drew to a close, I made my way to the Old State House to hear the Declaration of Independence read from the balcony – just as it was read to the citizens of Boston in 1776.
After a very boozy lunch with friends (it’s a day of celebration after all), I made my way to the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade for the annual Boston Pops spectacular.
Although this event features lots of promotional sponsor messaging, it’s an uplifting evening of music, dance, food and some out of this world fireworks – sadly booze is not permitted!
Despite a dry bar, I got to see singer/songwriter Rachel Platten perform her hit, ‘Fight Song’ and the crowd went wild!
Being born and bred in Boston, Rachel regaled the crowds with stories of herself attending the 4th July celebrations when she was younger and belted out a couple of other lesser known hits.
To round off my trip, I couldn’t have come all this way (it’s actually only a six hour flight from LHR) without hopping on the Boston Ferry and heading straight to Provincetown, affectionately known to the LGBT population as PTown.
If you really want to splash the cash, board a quick flight from Boston Logan and you’ll hit the beach in as little as 25 minutes.
Talk about gay mecca, bronzed oiled bodies are ten a penny here. PTown has welcomed the LGBT community for more than 50 years and we return every summer to party in the cobbled streets and sip on the strongest measures out there.
The vibe is open and easy (just the way I like it), not pretentious, Muscle Mary’s party with Diesel Dykes and young Twinks mingle with the older crown.
PTown has everything from oodles of little guesthouses and bars to pool parties and souvenir shops – if you’re visiting Boston, it’d be a sin not to visit! Labor Day weekend anyone?
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