Boston is an adventure into then and now. Then (until 1755) it was the largest city in America, and the third busiest port in the British Empire. While its 17th-century port is still functional and spiritually conjured in Quincy Market, it is no longer the heart of the city. The old-fashioned charm of the Boston Common, and the twisting streets around it recall the city's historic past, like the reflection of the old Trinity Church in the shiny glass walls of the Hancock tower. Modern Boston's rich history and intimate, accessible geography make up for an occasional lack of cutting-edge culture. Though don't be surprised how sophisticated and cosmopolitan the city can be with a gay population that is large, visible and energetic.

The city has become home to a thriving gay community, visible and growing especially in the South End. Despite the Puritanical past, Massachusetts is now the only state in the nation where same-sex couples can legally marry. Like Greenwich Village or the Castro on a smaller scale, the South End has a visible concentration of gay residents and merchants, mostly within the rectangle formed by Columbus and Massachusetts Avenues, and Clarendon and Tremont Streets.


Getting Around Town:

Boston works hard to maintain its label as a walking city. Much of the city is designed for pedestrians. For those trips that are more than a short walk away, there is a variety of public transportation including buses, taxis and boats. Cycling is also a popular means of getting around, but the MTBA (The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) subway - known as "T" - is the easiest way to get from one place to another. It serves most of the city and Cambridge, with several lines running to the suburbs. The T is a very cheap way to travel and a fairly easy system to navigate, so we suggest you use this whenever possible.

Driving in Boston isn't easy owing to the large amount of construction work taking place. As there are many streets with identical names, a map is essential - or like a overly organized gay man - a Navigational GPS System. Not only is driving a challenge - but so is parking! There are major parking lots at Government Center and Quincy Market amongst others - plus smaller car parks scattered downtown, especially in the Theater District.

Taxis are plentiful, but can be expensive as the meter ticks for every few minutes you're stuck in traffic. They can be easily hailed on the street and are available around the clock. Taxis line up in Harvard Square, around South Station, near Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and in the Theater District. For a unique way to get from Rowe's Wharf to the airport, skip the costly taxi and take a water shuttle to capture picturesque views of the historic city.


Where to Stay: Gay Friendly Hotels

Boston has a number of recommendable gay accommodations. All have a mixed clientele, with varying percentages of gay women and men. Boston's mainstream hotel choices encompass historical options, some glorious and some faded, as well as more modern fare, from urban chic to traditional and colonial. You'll find small boutique hotels heavily marketed to gay travelers, and fancy renovated townhouses that offer very affordable rates amid quaint, comfortable surroundings with a family feel.

There are plenty of gay friendly guesthouses or full-service gay hotels to meet the needs of every gay and lesbian traveler. And even though Boston is one of the smaller "large cities," it always make sense to choose your gay friendly hotel based on location, amenities and rates. The most popular areas include the downtown historical district, which features the recently restored Faneuil Hall, and authentic replica of the set of TV's "Cheers," and numerous gay friendly shops and gay friendly restaurants; the South End, which has recently become Boston's "gay" section; and Cambridge - across the Charles River and home to Harvard University.

For a more elegant hotel, try Boston Common, the oldest public park in the United States, where you'll find well-appointed modern hotels with all the amenities one could desire. As in any large city, new hotels continue to sprout up all over Boston, and established hotels undergo renovations so keep an eye on our list of gay friendly Boston hotels and for new entries that will best suit your needs.

Boston and its surrounding areas are notable for their strong lesbian communities. Jamaica Plain, a section of Boston south of downtown, is noted for its large lesbian population as well as its selection of funky restaurants and shops. Cambridge in particular, just ten minutes from downtown Boston, has many nightlife and retail opportunities for women. And Somerville, one town north of Cambridge, is also drawing lesbians to the area, especially in the Davis Square neighborhood. Whether you come just for the city, or for the splendors of surrounding New England, Boston is a happening place.


What to Do? Where to Go?

Sightseeing in Boston begins, but certainly does not end, in its history. The history of this city is the history of this country, and any visit here should begin with a stroll through Boston Common, the country's first park, where the "redcoats" used to train and where farmers once brought their cattle to graze. It's also here where The Freedom Trail begins, on which the most important sites of colonial or pre-Revolutionary history are located including The State House, The Boston Massacre Site, Old North Church and the Bunker Hill Monument.

If it's raining, which is always a possibility here, a day of museum hopping is in order. Most of the city's best museums are located in Back Bay. Beacon Hill, one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the country, is the old, blue-blooded heart of Boston, original home of the first families of the city (the famous Boston Brahmins). Just off the top of the Boston Common, stroll through the cobblestone streets of this neighborhood of exquisitely preserved townhouses dating back to the mid-19th century and before. Take note of the gas lamps illuminating the streets at night as in most case they are the originals.

Most of Boston's theaters are found in the Boston Common theater district which boasts some of the best plays and musicals on almost 90 stages. Tickets for shows can be hard to come by as they tend to sell out quickly so your best bet is to purchase major production tickets online in advance.

With so many attractions in Boston there is always something for everyone. Whether you are looking for thrills and excitement, history or animals they'll be easy to find in Boston. New England's largest and most important city, Boston is older than the republic. It's a center of high finance and technology, as well as home of the bar that inspired television's long-running show Cheers. Boston has over fifty colleges and universities, and and full of charming young college men.

Water plays a big role in this seaport city, and along with parks, waterfront activities, provide a change of pace. The city's most visited tourist attraction is the New England Aquarium Central Wharf with its collection of thousands of sea creatures. The highlight of your visit will be the massive 200,000 gallon Giant Ocean Tank that houses a full-scale Caribbean coral reef replica and a bounty of indigenous sea creatures.

There's plenty to do and see in this city filled with the arts. Museums and galleries abound, covering large to small, American to European. Boston owns the greatest collection of Monet's paintings outside of Paris. The Museum of Fine Arts Boston and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum are the most well-known and popular, but there are also a number of specialist Museums such as the Computer Museum and the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Museum.

The best shopping in Boston is in the Back Bay on Newbury Street, hands down. This is without a doubt Boston's premiere boutique shopping street. Start with Burberry's at the beginning of the strip and if you haven't maxed out your credit card there, Brooks Brothers is just a couple of blocks away.

Don't miss Gargoyles, a one-of-a-kind shop specializing in figurines, busts, sconces and statuettes of these and other Gothic creatures. They also sell crystal balls, candles and the like. Check out Zoe for contemporary and unique home furnishings. Stop by the Hugo Boss boutique at nearby Copley Place (Huntington Avenue and Dartmouth St; 617/266-7492), and treat someone (or yourself) to the latest styles from the designer's entire menswear collection. For more local flavor, hit Filene's Basement, the original bargain hunter's venue. Should you prefer something other than high fashion - Boston is also a book lover's paradise with dozens of rare and used book stores lining the historic streets.

Other areas of note include the downtown historical district, whose features include Faneuil Hall Marketplace which spawned the colonial protest against the British-imposed sugar tax by declaring "no taxation without representation." Faneuil Hall is actually four great places in one: Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market, all set around a cobblestone promenade where jugglers, magicians and musicians entertain the passers-by.


Gay Friendly Dining in Boston

When it comes to eating out in Boston, visitors are eager to dine in restaurants that have been around longer than Cher - any place younger than that wouldn't seem to qualify in the "tried 'n true" category this city specializes in. Little Italy and Chinatown are natural destinations for their respective cuisines and in Cambridge, a cosmopolitan sampling of food merits a trip across the bridge. Newbury Street's trendy bistros and cafes tucked between its boutiques and shops are not too gay-popular, but they do make a nice place to have a shopper's lunch, as well as a fun perch for people watching. For a list of Pride City Guide preferred restaurants, visit the restaurant section under the City Directory which can be found on the left hand side of this page.

Steeped in American history, home to many historic locations and alluring attractions and a bevy of attractive locals, gay Boston is one of the smallest of the big cities found on the East Coast and a fabulous destination for gay travel or gay vacations. Book your trip today, and let us know how it goes!

Gay Boston Nightlife

Boston has a vibrant gay night life with a lively gay scene centered in South End and Bay Village where you'll find a wide array of bars - from leather and levis clubs to T-dances, cruisy strip clubs and discos. Boston clubs attract mostly men but there is a significant portion of women depending on the night - and smokers beware - smoking is not allowed in any Boston or Cambridge establishment. Patronage in many clubs is limited due to strict local fire codes but that makes for a pleasant, non-overwhelming crowd.

Despite a limited-sized crowd, many small clubs host big name (in the gay world at least) entertainment like Kim English and other divas du jour. Some clubs have strict dress codes- so strict that even hot muscle boys get turned away if they are wearing sneakers, so bring appropriate clothes (or your Macy's card!) and dress to impress when necessary. You wont want to dawdle over your dinner because the nightlife in Boston starts earlier than in most cities - primarily because the legal closing time for all bars is 2 AM with some "last calls" as early as 1:00 a.m. - even on a Saturday night.

No worries- you'll want to get an early start so you can meet some of Boston's huge college population which ensures a young, fresh crowd of collegiate sweatshirt types - as well as a sophisticated graduate school crowd of all nationalities. You'll find them everywhere- especially in the student bars and clubs that flourish just over the river in Cambridge around Harvard and MIT. Some of the collegiate bars offer an eclectic artistic experience ranging from poetry nights to bluegrass music.

Boston boys are charming - but being a college town, people tend to stick together in groups - some may confuse that for being standoffish. To some, that famous "Boston reserve" is enticing but if you are the shy type, bring a buddy to help break the New England ice and in no time you'll make some new Boston friends. Also be sure to bring enough cab fare to last the whole night: Bean-town bars are somewhat spread apart and on a chilly Boston night, you'll want to jump on a taxi rather than walk. For a full list of PCG preferred bars and nightclubs, click on the "Bars and Nightlife" section of the City Directory found on the left side of this page. If you've been to one of our preferred bars or clubs, share your experience with other PCG readers by posting your thoughts under our "Dish The Dirt" section.

Be careful - stay warm - and have lots of fun!

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