Tag Archives: Old Town Trolly

A Visit to Harvard / travel blog

Harvard.  We are at last back to Boston, where we had stopped by Cheers Bar and Restaurant for some good food and some great memories from the TV sitcom. Now it’s time to visit Harvard.

Leaving Cheers, we walked back through the Commons, stopping to look at the State House. Then we boarded the Old Town Trolley to ride back to Cambridge and Harvard. To walk through Harvard Yard is a pleasure at any time, but in the fall it is more so with the colors of the leaves. You can get an idea of what the beautiful New England colors are like by just viewing the Yard.

Harvard Yard
Harvard Yard

As you walk through the Harvard Yard, there is one mandatory thing you must do. You have to find John Harvard and have your picture taken with him. You may have to wait in line to do this, but it moves fast.

John Harvard
John Harvard

While walking around Harvard, take time to really look at the buildings. Many of them are works of art that stand as a testament to the craftsmen who built them. To really see this you must get up close. You will find faces carved in the stone looking at you. There are so many little things that go beyond what was required. These buildings are so much better than concrete boxes that we see today, although you will see a few of those, too.

Harvard Yard
Harvard Yard
Harvard
Harvard
Harvard
Harvard

Enjoy your time at Harvard, reading about the buildings and the history surrounding them.  You can walk where Washington and many other great men and women have walked. Also, allow yourself time to visit the community around the school. There are some great places to eat as well as some very different shopping opportunities.

Union Oyster House Boston

After a day of riding the Old Town Trolley and seeing the sights of Boston, deciding where to eat was an easy decision. Boston is the home of Union Oyster House, which is the oldest restaurant in America.

The Union Oyster House is housed in a building that is over two hundred and fifty years old.  This historic building served as an office for the Continental Army in 1775.  In 1776, Louis Phillippe lived on the second floor while he was in exile from France.  He later returned to France to serve as King from 1830 to 1848.

In 1826 the building became a restaurant.  Over the years the Union Oyster House has had many famous customers.  One of the most famous regulars was perhaps Daniel Webster, who enjoyed ordering a plate of a half dozen oysters so much that it is said he would have six plates each visit.

You still see famous people in the Union Oyster House
You still see famous people in the Union Oyster House
My Mother with Ben
My Mother with Ben

In more modern times the Union Oyster House was often visited by members of the Kennedy Family.  JFK enjoyed the privacy of eating upstairs in his booth.

JFK's booth
JFK’s booth

Sorry about the photos.  It is a bit dark in the restaurant but that seems to just add to the atmosphere and the enjoyment.

We had a short wait at the Union Oyster House, which was not a problem.  The wait gave us time to look around and to stop by the bar where ladies ordered cokes and my son-in-law and I ordered a Sam Adams OctoberFest (what else could it be.  We are in Boston).

Waiting to be seated
Waiting to be seated

We were seated upstairs, and this is a must.  If you go to the Union Oyster House request to sit upstairs.  It is darker and not as lively as the first floor but it gives you the feel for the history.

We started our meal with Fried Crispy Calamari and without question Union Grilled Oysters.  Both the calamari and oysters were great but the oysters were the best I have had.  The only place that I have eaten which could compete with the Union Oyster House is The Southern Steak and Oyster in Nashville.

The five of us ordered a wide selection of food from the menu. I ordered the “Ye Old Seafood Platter”.  The platter comes with deep fried shrimp, clams, scallops, calamari, oysters and fillet of fish topped with onion rings.  The meal was great and everything was cooked to perfection.

Sitting with my Mother at the Union Oyster House
Sitting with my Mother at the Union Oyster House

My wife ordered the “Sauté Seafood Medley”.  Her meal included shrimp, cherry stone oysters, mussels, fish and calamari sautéed in a spicy marinara sauce served over linguine.

If you are in Boston for only one day the place you must go to for a meal is the Union Oyster House.  It has everything that is Boston.