Two Days in Boston.

If you’ve been reading these parts for a long time, then you know that Boston was my first city. I went to college just outside of the city (Bentley College, in Waltham); and spent 3.5 years living + working in there prior to moving to New York. Some of my best memories were spent there, and most of my friends from college still live there, so I try to get back as often as I can.

Last week, the Revere Hotel invited me (along with 4 other fantastic bloggers/Instagrammers) to stay with them for two nights and experience a little bit of the city. I jumped at the chance as it sounded like the perfect escape… and I’ve never actually gotten to experience Boston like a tourist.

(Isn’t their rooftop so incredible? It’s the perfect place to hang out on a hot summer night. There’s also an enclosed pool up there.)

We boarded the Acela train out of Penn Station and within four hours, were all checked in at The Revere. Our first activity was a Tabata class on the roof with Athleta as a part of their Summer Sweat Series. Have you ever tried Tabata? It was my first time and guys, it’s hard. So hard. High intensity intervals (think jumping, burpees, and squats) with microscopic breaks to rest in between. None of us were prepared, especially as several of us (hand raised) had indulged in the macarons that they’d left for us in our rooms. Oof. On a positive note, it made for an excellent bonding opportunity!

We showered and changed and then had the most amazing dinner. We started in the hotel’s Ruby Room with cocktails + appetizers (so much fresh seafood, so many oysters!) and then headed upstairs to the roof for a yummy casual dinner and more cocktails. Of course I had to have a lobster roll.

After dinner I dashed across town to meet up with one of my close girlfriends at Back Bay Social Club (one of my go-to spots for drinks in the city… they make the best cocktails!) I was pretty tired from the day’s travels (and Tabata) so only lasted for an hour or so, and then headed home to sprawl out in my luxurious king size bed. (As a side note, The Revere actually has a pillow menu. I found the pillows in my room to be just perfect, but you can order up special pillows based upon your sleep style.)

I had a really great time meeting the other bloggers + instagrammers. It was a really great group, and all people I hadn’t met yet… it was nice to make a few new friends. There were Anthony + Mackenzie (they are dating and each have the most gorgeous instagram accounts), Jackie (her  instagram account, No Leftovers is a must if you are a foodie… complete + utter food porn), and Kerrie (she runs a super cute Boston-based fashion/lifestyle blog.)

We woke up the next day and took a leisurely stroll through Boston Common to get breakfast.

And oh. my. goodness… best breakfast, ever! We went to Tatte Bakery in Beacon Hill, which is an absolute must if you are visiting the city. So many pastries, Stumptown Coffee, and an incredible breakfast menu. It’s also an instagrammer’s paradise… we were all glued to our cameras taking photos! There are five locations between Boston + Cambridge; if you visit Boston, add this to your list immediately!

After breakfast, it was on to the real highlight of the trip… kayaking down the Charles River. It makes me sad that I lived in Boston for so long and never took advantage of this as it was so much fun… and so peaceful! We rented kayaks from Charles River Canoe + Kayak and spent a few hours out on the river.

A few things to note if you do this… first of all, wear sunscreen! It gets really hot + sunny out there… I was glad that I put sunscreen on beforehand or I would have gotten a nasty burn. And second, don’t bring too much stuff with you… but if you do, for a dollar you can rent a waterproof bag for all of your essentials. I brought my purse, camera, and phone out with me and was so glad that I had the bag to stash those things (you’ll want to take a lot of photos as it is so pretty out on the water!)

How cute is Jackie?

After kayaking, we went back to the hotel, for lunch at The Rustic Kitchen. I had a giant salad and we shared a few appetizers. After lunch, the general manager took us on a little tour of Rustic Kitchen’s Studio Kitchen, where they film their cooking show. I didn’t know about their studio kitchen – or the cooking show, and it is really really cool…  definitely something I want to do on my next trip to Boston.

Here’s the deal with the cooking show. They film it every Friday night in the space. Liz Bramwell (Rustic Kitchen’s Sous Chef) teaches a cooking class, but while she is teaching, you are also served the food she’s showing you how to make. Pretty cool. The $90 price tag includes dinner, an appetizer, wine pairings, and gratuity. It would be perfect for a date or to do with a group of girlfriends. You can get tickets here.

Jussssst pretending to host my own cooking show. A girl can dream, right?

We had a little downtime (I was lame and took a nap), and then it was time for dinner. We ate at The Emerald Lounge. The food was delicious but what really stole the show was the cocktails! How pretty is my Berry Vojito (above! And that’s not a typo… a “vojito” is a mojito, made with vodka.) After dinner, we hung out at the lounge for a little longer and craving something sweet, wandered over to Finale (an incredible restaurant in downtown Boston that only serves desserts) for dessert. If you go, it’s all about the molten chocolate cake. I could only eat a couple bites, but it was so good!

The next day, we had breakfast in bed in our rooms. I have to say, breakfast in bed is one of my favorite travel indulgences. I don’t do it very often, but it just feels so decadent… laying in bed in my pajamas, catching up on emails, with coffee + a delicious meal.

We had the morning free to roam around the city a little more. Kerrie and I did a little shopping at Follain (the most amazing apothecary… they stock all natural products!) and Holiday (a super cute clothing boutique in Beacon Hill) and then spent the rest of our time just wandering the streets of Beacon Hill. Beacon Hill is probably my favorite neighborhood in the city, with its charming shops and brownstones. It was a relaxing end to a fun-filled two days!

A little recap, in case you are planning your own trip…

Stay: The Revere Hotel

Eat: Tatte Bakery // Rustic Kitchen // Emerald Lounge // Finale

Drink: Back Bay Social Club (I also love Dillon’s, nearby)

Do: Charles River Canoe & Kayak // Rustic Kitchen Cooking Show // Holiday Boutique // Follain

(And a big thank you to The Revere, for having us!)