If you bring an Irishman to Beantown…

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If you bring an Irishman to Beantown, he’s going to want to see it all. ALL OF IT. Of course, you will not have time to see all of it (case in point, my mother has lived in and around Boston for the better part of *cough* many years – I won’t throw her under the bus here – and she has yet to see many of the sites in the city. Locals don’t do tourist things. Ever. It is so uncool.). So whatever could you possibly do?!

Call on your family and friends for help. And help you they shall. Here’s what we did for free:

We took a duck tour courtesy of the lovely Amy (Walkins) LeRoy to check out as much of the city as possible and learn some wicked awesome fun facts en route (Did you know there are 94 police stations Dunkin Donuts in Boston? Did you know there’s a dog at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel named Catie who lives there and anyone staying at the hotel can walk her? Did you know the difference between a cemetery and a burial ground is you don’t get your own grave in a burial ground? Awkward…)

Duck faces on a duck tour...obviously!
Duck faces on a duck tour…obviously!

We made a visit to the new and improved New England Aquarium courtesy of the fantabulous Ashley Michelle to pet stingrays and walk in circles around the 4-story-tall tank full of everything from sharks and giant rays to groupers and moray eels. He was like a little kid in a candy store. SO much fun!

Just some stingray petting, no big deal. They loved me.
Just some stingray petting, no big deal. They loved me.

We had a Red Sox learning experience for him courtesy of my awesome parents…and we saw a major WIN!!!!!

Dad explains the ins and outs of baseball to a captive audience.
Dad explains the ins and outs of baseball to a captive audience.

We took a walk along the Freedom Trail. Well, not really because we just didn’t have time, but this random totally accidental picture sure makes it look like we were on it!

Follow the Freedom Trail to FREEDOM!
Follow the Freedom Trail to FREEDOM!

We grabbed a beer at the Green Dragon to honor the birthplace of the American Revolution (me) and Assassins Creed 3 (him).

Paul Revere's favorite haunt + the highlight of a video game = a must-see for us both
Paul Revere’s favorite haunt + the highlight of a video game = a must-see for us both

And of course, if you’re in Boston you need to take advantage of the local food and drink. Since of course I’ve tried it all before, it was his turn to give it all a go.

New England Clam Chowder from the Barking Crab: CHECK!

He likes it!
He likes it!

Lobstah Roll from the Bahking Crab: CHECK!

Nomnomnom
Nomnomnom

Harpoon Brewery Tour: CHECK!

Three cheers for beers!
Three cheers for beers!

Mini Brighton Pub Crawl: CHECK!

Sunday Funday at Porter Belly's in Brighton!
Sunday Funday at Porter Belly’s in Brighton!

And then of course you have to take advantage of being so close to so many other cool spots in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. So we made sure to make a few separate road trips as well.

Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower, and Plymouth Harbor pit-stop: CHECK!

Plymouth Rock...it is exactly as exciting as it sounds.
Plymouth Rock…it is exactly as exciting as it sounds. Oh, and that’s Dad’s finger in the way of the picture. Solid effort though!
The Mayflower. And the cold, cold New England weather.
The Mayflower. And the cold, cold New England weather.

Side trip to Western Mass to visit the beautious prima: CHECK!

Cousin lovin

Side trip to Providence to shop on Thayer Street and swing by the State House: CHECK!

Any place that takes its name from It's A Wonderful Life is a-okay with me.
Any place that takes its name from It’s A Wonderful Life is a-okay with me.
Hello, my name is Popeye.
Hello, my name is Popeye.
Rhode Island State House. See? We did some educational stuff, too!
Rhode Island State House. See? We did some educational stuff, too!

And lots of quality friends and family time: CHECK CHECK CHECK

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Generations of fun <3
photo (7)
Snuggling for warmth at Plymouth Harbor
Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good (so good, so good, so good!)
Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good (so good, so good, so good!)
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Bonding over beers at Harpoon 🙂
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Inadvertent identical cousin faces!

We are loving life right now and he is oh-so-loving Boston. If only the whole city could move farther south where it’s warm year-round, it would be absolutely perfect. But I do love you, Boston, and all your dirty water. You will always be my home!

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