If you’re looking for some unconventional ways to explore Boston, you’re in luck. The city is full of hidden gems and quirky attractions that will make your trip memorable. Here are 10 unusual experiences you can have in Boston.
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Visit the Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library
This is a three-story stained glass globe that you can walk inside and see the world as it was in 1935. The Mapparium is a stunning example of art and engineering, and it also has a unique acoustic effect that lets you hear your own voice from different angles.
Explore the Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital
This is the site of the first public demonstration of surgical anesthesia in 1846, which revolutionized medicine. The Ether Dome is still used as a lecture hall, but you can visit it when it’s not in session and see the original operating table, instruments, and paintings.
See the Skinny House in the North End
This is the narrowest house in Boston, measuring only 10 feet wide at its widest point. It was built in the 19th century as a result of a family feud, when one brother inherited most of the land and built a large house, leaving only a sliver for his sibling. The Skinny House is now a private residence, but you can admire it from the outside.
Walk the Freedom Trail backwards
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile route that connects 16 historic sites related to the American Revolution. While most people follow it from Boston Common to Charlestown Navy Yard, you can spice things up by walking it backward and seeing the sites in reverse order.
Ride the Swan Boats in the Public Garden
The Swan Boats are a Boston tradition that dates back to 1877, offering a relaxing and scenic ride. The pedal-powered boats shaped like swans glide on the lagoon of the Public Garden. The Swan Boats operate from mid-April to mid-September, weather permitting.
Check out the Warren Anatomical Museum at Harvard Medical School
One of the last surviving anatomy and pathology museums in the US, it contains over 15,000 specimens, models, and instruments related to medicine and health. Highlights include the skull of Phineas Gage and the first artificial heart valve.
Watch a show at the Puppet Showplace Theater
The oldest continuously operating puppet theater in New England showcases various puppetry styles and genres, from marionettes to shadow puppets. The Puppet Showplace Theater offers performances for both children and adults, as well as workshops and classes.
Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
A museum that houses the personal collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner, designed to resemble a Venetian palace. The museum is famous for being the site of a major art heist in 1990, when 13 works were stolen and never recovered.
Play at A4cade by Area Four
A speakeasy-style arcade bar hidden behind a fake freezer door inside a pizza shop. It features over 30 arcade games, pinball machines, and board games. Enjoy drinks like the Donkey Kong or the Princess Peach.
See the Ether Monument in the Public Garden
A monument that commemorates the discovery of ether as an anesthetic in 1846, depicting a physician holding an ether-soaked cloth over a patient’s face. Also known as the Good Samaritan Monument or the Angel of Mercy Monument.
