If you love art in all its many forms, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston is a ‘must-see’ destination. They have a great collection of Impressionism and Asian art works, from Monet and Van Gogh, to Chinese furniture and Japanese paintings, as well as the Egyptian collections. In addition, their newly opened west wing contains many stunning pieces of American art. Besides the arts, there is a cafe, a restaurant, gift shops of course, and a mini cinema for special shows. To get there: The MFA has its own subway stop called, what else, the MFA. If you drive, there are parking garage options as well. You can easily spend half a day here—or more!
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Tenshin-en: Japanese Garden
Sheltered from the city, this gem of a Japanese Garden is located on the Fenway side of the museum. An oasis within the urban environment, this exquisite, contemplative garden contains over 70 species of plants and 200 rocks and is, like the masterpieces contained within the building, a work of art.
Experiencing All of Boston's Pleasures
Boston has everything, either in the city or right nearby. From museums to beaches, it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You can spend the day wandering around the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) or take a day trip to the North Shore, South Shore, Vermont, Maine or New Hampshire. Drive up north during the early part of the fall to catch the changing colors of the foliage, or in the winter to go skiing. During the summer, check out the beaches of Duxbury on the South Shore or Marblehead on the North Shore. During the spring, the Public Garden is overflowing with beautiful flowers. It’s also a great time of year to go to the DeCordoba’s outdoor sculpture museum. If you’re an architecture buff, go for a tour of the Walter Gropius house and visit IM Pei’s JFK Museum. If you’re a shopper, Newbury Street is a must - also the place to “see and be seen”. Newbury Street is also home to Sonsie’s, a great place for brunch, dinner or just drinks (they have a wine bar downstairs). Another favorite is the Marliave near the park and Beacon Hill - try their gourmet mac & cheese! For a boutique hotel experience, stay at the Ames Hotel (around the corner from the Marliave). No 2 rooms are identical, and the location can’t be beat. Plus it’s a fantastic melding of historical and modern architecture and design.
Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts holds within its towering white walls a world’s worth of masterpieces, some dating back centuries, others only years old. The sprawling stone fortress visible from Boston‘s “Avenue of the Arts,” Huntington Avenue, is even larger inside than out, as the museum’s seemingly countless galleries comprise multiple buildings and additions that stretch backwards to the Emerald Necklace conservatory, as well as outwards across the site’s expansive and well-kept green. Be sure to check out the museum’s new Impressionism exhibit if you make a visit, as it featured works by some of the most adored names in art history, including Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh. If you are not the type to wander galleries for hours on end, the museum also offers multiple restaurants and places to grab a drink, including a trendy wine cafe and an open-air modern fusion cuisine eatery in the museum’s heart.
