Boston Bowl

Ten generations of the Pierce family called this house a home, from its construction in 1683 until it was turned into a museum in 1968. This is not the house of a wealthy merchant, this is where working class colonists (and later Americans) lived out their lives. Touring the home today offers a unique journey through centuries of American history. You can see how the home was adapted over time to fit the needs of each new generation of occupants. Some original features remain, much of it wooden, surprisingly. On street parking available.

A large park on the shores of the Neponset River, it has walking trails, soccer fields, and playgrounds for kids. Several miles of scenic bike trails run along the river (and away from traffic) all the way to Mattapan square. In the summer you can see people walking their dogs, flying kites, or kayaking in the river. It's a good place to relax or take a picnic under the shelters. Birdwatchers take note, the city has restored a large salt marsh and the area is now much more attractive to wildlife. Today it isn't uncommon to see snowy egrets and great blue herons taking advantage of the "new" native trees and shrubs.

So you actually can go swimming here, but no one ever does. Honestly in the 21st century the cold is a far greater deterrent than the pollution ever was. There are, however, lifeguards in the summer if you want to give it a shot. The city upgraded the boardwalk, exercise equipment, and reseeded the area with local grasses throughout the 2010s. This is a great spot to go for a walk, a picnic, or just to take in the harbor views. It doesn't get the foot traffic you might expect, given these beaches proximity to the T. Parking available, accessed from Morrissey Boulevard.

Operated by the Massachusetts Archives, this often overlooked museum takes musty old documents and brings them to life. Several exhibits showcase the State's own copies of the Declaration of Independence & Bill of Rights, the original Mass Bay Colony charter from 1629, and of course the requisite ephemera from Paul Revere and John Hancock. This place is not on a lot of to-do lists, but it's definitely worth stopping in if you're doing the JFK Museum already.

This political museum offers a variety of engaging interactive exhibits relating to Sen. Edward Kennedy's life, as well as the history of the American senate. A huge digital screen invites you to draft and pass a law (and tricks you into learning along the way)! While other exhibits deal with the current political issues affecting Washington today.

The JFK Presidential Library and Museum opened in 1979, designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei who called it "the most important commission in my life". Visitors walk through exhibits in roughly chronological order. Starting with Kennedy on the campaign trail, and moving through the Cuban missile crisis, the space race, and civil rights issues. A dark claustrophobic hallway shows the events on the day of his assassination, before delivering you to a massive glass atrium of light and air. It's really quite moving. A more than worthwhile visit for those with an appreciation of American history, the museum can be toured in half a day.