A Sky Full of Fireworks. Twice during Independence Day festivities and again as the new year begins, the firmament flashes in celebration. The Fourth of July fireworks are over the Charles River; the Harborfest display (in early July) and the First Night exhibition explode above the Inner Harbor.
A Meal at Durgin-Park. Dinner at this Boston institution (it opened in 1827) might start with oysters. It might also start with a waitress slinging a handful of napkins over your shoulder, dropping a pile of cutlery in front of you, and saying, "Here, give these out." The surly service usually seems to be an act, but it's so much a part of the legend that some people are disappointed when the waitresses are nice (as they often are).
A Lunch Break with a Water View. Head for the harbor or the river, perch on a park bench or a patch of grass, put away your watch, relax, and enjoy the spectacular scene. Whether it's sailboats or ocean liners, seagulls or scullers, there's always something worth watching.
A Ride on a Duck. A Duck Tour, that is. Board a reconditioned amphibious World War II landing craft (on Boylston St. in front of the Prudential Center) for a sightseeing ride that includes a dip in the river -- for the Duck, not you.
A "Ride" Indoors. The Mugar Omni Theater (at the Museum of Science) and the 3-D Simons IMAX Theatre (at the New England Aquarium) offer intrepid visitors hair-raising experiences in the safety of a comfortable auditorium. The large-format films concentrate on the natural world.
A Few Hours (at Least) at the Museum of Fine Arts. Whether you're into Egyptian art or contemporary photography, furniture and decorative arts or the Impressionists, you're sure to find something at the MFA that tickles your interest.
An Afternoon Red Sox Game. Since 1912, baseball fans have made pilgrimages to Fenway Park, the "lyric little bandbox of a ball park" (in John Updike's words) off Kenmore Square. The seats are uncomfortable and expensive, the Red Sox last won the World Series in 1918, and you won't care a whit about either as you soak up the atmosphere and bask in the sun.
A Vicarious Thrill. Without so much as lacing up a sneaker, you can participate in the world-famous Boston Marathon. Stretch a little, so you won't cramp up. Drink plenty of fluids. Stake out a slice of sidewalk on Commonwealth Avenue and cheer as the runners thunder past. Then put your feet up -- you've earned it.
A Walk Around the North End. Boston's Little Italy (but don't call it that!) has an old-world flavor you won't want to miss. Explore the shops on Salem Street, wander the narrow side streets, enjoy some pasta, and be sure to stop for coffee and a pastry at a Hanover Street caffè.
A Spring Fling in the Public Garden. Eight square blocks of paradise await you, filled with flowers, ornamental greenery, and flowering trees and shrubs. Pass through for a quick pick-me-up, take to the lagoon for a swan boat ride, or just enjoy the ducklings. They're on view in the flesh seasonally and in bronze year-round.
A Newbury Street Safari. From the genteel Arlington Street end to the cutting-edge Mass. Ave. end, Newbury Street -- Boston's legendary shopping destination -- is 8 blocks of pure temptation: galleries, boutiques, jewelry and gift shops, bookstores, and more.
A Visit to Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Specialty shops, an enormous food court, street performers, bars, restaurants, and crowds from all over the world make Faneuil Hall Marketplace (you'll also hear it called Quincy Market) Boston's most popular destination.
A Free Friday Flick. Families, film buffs, and impoverished culture hounds flock to the lawn in front of the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade for free movies (The Wizard of Oz or Tarzan, for example) on Friday nights in the summer. Bring something to sit on, and maybe a sweater.
A Concert Alfresco. Summer nights swing to the beat of outdoor music by amateurs and professionals. A great spot for free jazz is Christopher Columbus Park, on the waterfront, where performances take place Fridays at 7pm.
A Concert Indoors. The lights go down, the crowd falls silent -- you get a little thrill even if you're waiting for an Adam Sandler movie. If you're waiting for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the thrill is as big as the group's string section.
An Off-Season Day Trip. Destinations that abound with out-of-towners in the summer and fall become more manageable when the weather turns cold. Don't let the CLOSED FOR THE SEASON signs put you off: Under a cloudless sky, against the indigo Atlantic, an all-but-deserted suburban town has a unique appeal.
