About Town: Boston

text size

Week two of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup is upon is, and that means a short trip up the Eastern Seaboard from New York City to Boston. The host of the Deutsche Bank Championship -- TPC Boston -- is actually south of the famous city, not far from Foxborough, home of the New England Patriots.

The Pats aren't in town this week, though. You'll have passed them on your way as they head south to New York to play the Giants, reigning Super Bowl champs, in their last preseason game. Don't despair, however; Boston has plenty of other attractions worth your time.

Getty Images

The Boston skyline at night.

HOT HOTELS

Langham Hotel Boston
Hyatt Harborside Hotel
Extended Stay America

HUNGRY?

Legal Sea Foods
Finale Dessert Company
Mistrale
The Chateau

GET BUSY

Red Sox vs. White Sox
Boston Duck Tour
Blue Man Group
Newbury Street
Charles River

SOMEWHERE TO SNOOZE

Normally, you wouldn't have any trouble finding a place to rest your head in the Boston area, but it is Labor Day Weekend, so you might find booked rooms and hiked-up prices. Here are a couple of suggestions to get you going:

Lavish living: While you'd be safe flipping a coin to make your pick of luxury accommodations in Boston, consider the Langham Hotel. These four-and-a-half-star digs (where breakfast in the resident restaurant looks like a wedding reception) overlook the gardens of Post Office Square in the heart of downtown Boston and lie just around the corner from some of the city's coolest bars and bistros. The course is only 45 minutes away, and rates start at $270 a night.

Other options:
• Hyatt Harborside Hotel: This four-star hotel on Boston Harbor has all the trappings usually associated with the Hyatt name and is also very close to the airport, making for an easy transfer from plane to room. It's a 45-minute drive from TPC Boston, and rates start at $260 a night.
• Extended Stay America, Foxboro-Norton: Just 15 minutes from the course, this two-star apartment-like hotel is very convenient to the tournament but not so much to the big city. Rates start around $110 a night.

SOMETHING TO SNACK ON

In a city like Boston, there's no shortage of great places to eat. Try a few of the following.

• Legal Sea Foods: What can New England lay claim to if not seafood? I don't want to hear any "I don't like seafood" whining. Everyone has to like something that came out of the ocean. It tastes too good not to love it. So indluge this weekend at Boston's Legal Sea Foods. And no, the seafood up here doesn't taste like tea...
• Finale Dessert Company: If you ate a big lunch or chowed down at the course and don't really feel like a big dinner, don't skip out on an evening treat. Head to Finale Dessert for a smorgasbord of sugary sweet delights. Throw your diet out the weekend for a night.
• Mistral: A classy French bistro in the heart of Boston, Mistral not only serves up traditional French dishes, it envelops you in French style and décor, too. You'll feel like you've slipped away to Provence for the evening.
• The Chatueau: If you don't feel like dinner in the city, Norton's The Chateau is a great option close to the course. This family-owned Italian restaurant only opened a few years ago, but the Nocera family has been serving food in their restaurants since 1933. They've probably got a few recipes right by now.

SOMETHING TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT

PGA TOUR fans are spoiled two weeks in a row when it comes to staying busy off the course. If you've been to Boston before, you know all the good spots; but if you're new to the city, read on...

Getty Images

Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox.

• Battle of the Sox: The Red Sox return to Fenway Park this weekend after playing three games against rivals the New York Yankees and will take on the Chicago White Sox at home. Both teams are having excellent seasons, so it's bound to be an entertaining match-up.
• Boston Duck Tour: See the best of the city from the road and from the river on a Duck Tour. You've seen them before; you know what they are. It probably ranks a little high on the tourist geek-o-meter, but hey, that's what tourists do.
• Blue Man Group: Arrested Development fan? Find out what Tobias Fünke was making such a fuss about. The Blue Man Group is playing at the Charles Playhouse all weekend.
• Shopping and relaxing: Hit the stores on Newbury Street for some big-city retail therapy and then head down to the Charles River to enjoy a few hours in the sun watching the rowers or even indulge in a sailing outing or lesson for yourself.

STICKING AROUND?

If you have some extra time on your hands before or after the tournament, New England has a lot to offer.

• Martha's Vineyard: Partial to the coast? You can't miss Martha's Vineyard while you're here. The Vineyard comprises six towns and awaits just a seven-mile ferry trip out from the mainland. Massachusetts' most famous shoreline has some of the most beautiful beaches in America. Harbors, marinas, lighthouses, outdoor movies, antiquing, spas ... Need another reason?
• Salem: Established in 1626, Salem has a long history that includes more than just the Witch Trials. Today, it's a quaint town just 15 miles north of Boston where you can learn about the area's heritage while enjoying a day in the New England summer sunshine.