Those native to the Boston area are well aware that the city is best enjoyed for the few short months during the almost perfect summer climate. This isn’t to say Boston isn’t a wonderful destination outside the summer season, but after five or so months of hauling around a live-in snow globe, we tend to relish any glimmer of warm sunshine that Mother Nature affords us.

Boston offers a range of stellar activities to take part in, and even if you aren’t the biggest Red Sox fan, it’s hard to not love the quintessential New England city. From free music festivals and duck tours, to endless global cuisine and quick breaks to The Cape, it’s impossible to be bored in this historical city. As summer comes to an end, here is a short list of things to do if you manage to make it out to Beantown.

Faneuil Hall in Boston

Free Entertainment at the Hatch Shell:
The Hatch Shell is a bowl-style outdoor stage located on the south bank of the Charles River with a huge lawn for seating overlooking the River and much of the city. The “Esplanade” as it is also referred to, provides a venue for many free concert series throughout the summer and even a Summer Movie Series that showcases popular movies every Friday for the whole season.

If you are feeling particularly athletic on your trip to Boston, take advantage of the trails that run along the River by the Hatch Shell as a great area for blading, biking and running. Even get certified to sail at the Community Boathouse and impress your friends maneuvering around the college crew teams prominent on the Charles River.

Duck Tours:

Never ridden on an amphibious landing vehicle? Well then you haven’t lived!

While Boston is known as the “walking city,” the cobblestone pathways that make the city grid can be a bit exhausting sometimes, especially if you don’t know where you are going. Give your feet a break and get acquainted with the city in the most fun way possible as part of one of these tours. Start at the State House and make your way through Bunker Hill, Faneuil Hall, Newbury St., and Boston Common to name just a few sites, before you splash into the Charles River for a breathtaking panoramic view of the skyline. Just follow the “quack” sounds to find the departure point. (I wish I was kidding.)

Eat Your Way Through the City:

I know you can eat anywhere you travel, but Boston dining is pretty unbelievable. With the North End that put’s Little Italy to shame or the wide array of menus from around the globe it’s hard not to indulge.

Mike’s Pastry is famed for its fresh Italian desserts and don’t worry about the perpetual line around the block – it moves fast. Try Faneuil Hall for standard tourist options for clam chowdah and seafood, but if you want to try something different venture over to Back Bay and the South End for a ton of international options like tapas (Masa), Ethiopian (Addis Red Sea), French (Gaslight), or the best pizza chain in the city (Upper Crust). You’ll be passed out in a food coma along the Commons before you know it.

Don’t forget the ongoing deals to keep you occupied any time of the week in Boston. The Institute of Contemporary Art is free on Thursdays, cheap eats in Haymarket Square on Saturdays and the Museum of Fine Arts is free on Fridays for the next few weeks!

Photo Credit: Paul Keleher on Flickr