🏞️ Boston

(& A Little New Hampshire) The East Coast Extension We Didn’t Know We Needed

4 Days, 3 Nights • Cambridge, Boston & Exeter, NH

Instagram Highlights: Boston & New Hampshire

We were already on the East Coast. New York was behind us. The summer heat of Arizona was absolutely not calling us home. And when you’re already on that side of the country… you stay a little longer. Obviously.

This leg of the trip was special: we were visiting my husband’s family in Boston, which meant built-in local knowledge, real neighborhood experiences, and the kind of quality time that doesn’t happen nearly enough when everyone lives in different states. We had 4 days and 3 nights — and we made every single one count.

Boston, I have to say, completely surprised me. It’s one of those cities that’s smaller than you expect and somehow bigger than you imagined at the same time. History around every corner. Great food everywhere. And honestly? The summer weather was a dream. (Arizona who?)

✨ Anything is better than Phoenix in June. Anything.

🏨 Home Base: The Charles Hotel, Cambridge

We stayed at The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square — and what a base it was. Let me give you a little backstory on this place because it’s genuinely fascinating.

In the 1970s, the site where the hotel now stands was an empty lot at the corner of JFK Street and Memorial Drive, overlooking the Charles River. And it wasn’t just any empty lot — it was the site originally selected by the estate of President John F. Kennedy for his Presidential Library. Yes, really. Community pushback over commercialization eventually led to a different plan, and in 1985, The Charles Hotel opened right next door to Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. So you’re essentially staying where a presidential library almost was. No big deal. 😄

Since then, the hotel has hosted everyone from Barbra Streisand to Bill Clinton to Ben Affleck to the Dalai Lama. The lobby library has books autographed by guest authors, the rooms are furnished in beautiful Shaker style with goose-down comforters and Italian Frette linens, and the in-house jazz club — the Regattabar — has been named Boston’s best jazz club more times than I can count. It’s the kind of hotel that has quiet confidence: it doesn’t need to shout because the experience speaks for itself.

Pro Tip: Ask for a room above the 7th floor (corner rooms are best) for partial river or skyline views. And do not skip Henrietta’s Table for breakfast — more on that below.

😌 Day 1: Arrival, Harvard Square & a Slow Welcome

We landed, grabbed an Uber straight to Cambridge, dropped our bags, and immediately went out to explore Harvard Square. There is something so electric about a neighborhood that buzzes with the energy of students, academics, tourists, street performers, indie bookstores, and sidewalk cafes all at once. You can feel the intellectual energy just walking around. We visited family and then headed out to dinner.

For dinner, we headed to Madras Dosa Co. — authentic South Indian food right in the heart of Cambridge. The dosas were delicious and it was exactly the right kind of easy, casual dinner after a travel day. The mango lassi was hands down on of the best yet!

The rest of the evening was exactly what it needed to be: hotel time, rest, and a slow decompress before the adventures ahead. Sometimes the most disciplined travel move you can make is knowing when to call it a night. 🙌

🌿 Day 2: New Hampshire Family Day

We rented a car for the day and headed north to New Hampshire to visit family — and the drive alone was worth it. New England in summer is genuinely one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Green rolling hills, charming small towns, clean air. It felt like the landscape was trying to convince us to move there. (It was working.) We did make a pit stop at Locality Cafe in Medford Square, I would recommend if you’re in the area ever.

🏰 Exeter, New Hampshire

We spent time in Exeter, a small historic town with a fascinating backstory that most people don’t know about. Exeter was founded in 1638 and served as New Hampshire’s Revolutionary War capital — yes, the actual capital of the state during the Revolution. The town’s American Independence Museum holds one of the original Dunlap Broadsides of the Declaration of Independence, discovered inside the historic Ladd-Gilman House over 200 years after it arrived there. History hiding in plain sight.

We visited the iconic Exeter Town Hall, strolled the beautiful historic streets past gorgeous colonial-era architecture, and popped into local shops. The town is anchored by Phillips Exeter Academy, one of America’s most prestigious prep schools, founded in 1781 — Abraham Lincoln once visited the campus while his son Robert was a student there. It’s one of those places where you walk around and think: this town has been important for a very long time.

Pro Tip: If you’re visiting Exeter, the walking tour map from the Exeter Historical Society is a great guide. The American Independence Museum is a genuine hidden gem for American history lovers — don’t overlook it.

🍦 Hodgie’s Too Ice Cream, Stratham

After our historic stroll, the only logical next step was ice cream. We stopped at Hodgie’s Too in Stratham — a beloved local institution known for its generous portions and classic New England ice cream done right. The kids were very much on board. The adults were also very much on board. Zero regrets.

🌮 Dinner: bartaco, Brookline

On the way back to Boston, we stopped for dinner at bartaco on Salisbury Road in Brookline — and it did not disappoint. The tacos were delicious across the board, the drinks were great, and the guac was so good we ordered it twice. Twice! If you’re near Brookline and in the mood for a casual, fun meal with excellent Mexican food, bartaco is your spot.

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🌿 Day 3: Boston, History, Cannoli & a Dance Reel

🍳 Breakfast at Henrietta’s Table

We started Day 3 right — with breakfast at Henrietta’s Table, the Charles Hotel’s beloved signature restaurant. And I want to take a moment to properly appreciate this place because it’s been doing something important long before it was trendy: farm-to-table, New England cooking, fresh and honest — that’s been their philosophy since before farm-to-table was a hashtag.

The menu rotates daily based on what’s available from local Massachusetts farms and New England’s coastline, and the result is a meal that feels genuinely special every single time. Think warm country-home atmosphere, generous portions, and the kind of breakfast that actually sets you up for a full day. Their Sunday limitless brunch is legendary in Cambridge circles and has drawn everyone from Nobel laureates to President Obama to its tables. Not a bad crowd to eat with. 😊

✨ Farm-to-table before it was a hashtag. That’s Henrietta’s Table.

🏛️ Downtown Boston with the Locals

Here is my biggest pro tip for any city: see it with the locals. Today we met up with my husband’s cousin and his son, and the entire experience was elevated because of it. They knew where to walk, what to skip, and how to get the most out of every stop. No wasted steps, no tourist traps.

We started at Boston Common — America’s oldest public park, established in 1634 — and worked our way through an extraordinary afternoon of historic Boston.

🏡 The Historic Route

Our walk through downtown Boston was one of those days where you keep stopping to look around and think: I can’t believe this is all real. Here’s what we covered:

🍲 Faneuil Hall Marketplace

We stopped for lunch and browsing at Faneuil Hall Marketplace — and I have to share some of the history here because it’s genuinely wild. Faneuil Hall was built in 1742 and is nicknamed “The Cradle of Liberty” because it’s where Samuel Adams and other patriots gave the speeches that sparked the American Revolution. The second-floor Great Hall is where all of it happened.

Here’s the fun fact I didn’t know before: the famous gilded copper grasshopper weathervane on top of the building was used during the War of 1812 to detect spies. If a suspected spy couldn’t answer the question “What sits on top of Faneuil Hall?” — they were immediately suspicious. Only true Bostonians would know. Now you know. You’re welcome. 😄

Today the complex draws around 18 million visitors a year and the Quincy Market food hall — the first food hall in the United States — is still one of the best places to graze, browse, and people-watch in the entire city. We wandered through shops and candy stores and let the girls go slightly feral in the best possible way.

Pro Tip: The National Park Service rangers give free talks in the Great Hall every half hour — absolutely worth ducking in for one.

🇮🇹 Armenian Heritage Park

One of the lesser-known but genuinely moving stops on our route was the Armenian Heritage Park near Faneuil Hall — a beautiful public space dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide and to the contributions of Armenian Americans. It’s a quiet, meaningful pause in the middle of a busy day, and it’s the kind of stop that makes a trip feel more than just sightseeing.

🥐 Mike’s Pastry — The Cannoli Pilgrimage

If you go to Boston’s North End and don’t stop at Mike’s Pastry, did you even really go to Boston? I’ll wait.

Mike’s Pastry has been a North End institution since 1946, founded by Michael Mercogliano who moved from Italy to the North End at age 12 and learned to make cannoli at his cousin’s bakery next door. His philosophy was simple: “Always use the best ingredients, and never skimp on anything.” That philosophy has kept people lining up on Hanover Street for almost 80 years. They hand-roll 45,000 cannoli shells every single week — all in-house. The iconic white box with blue lettering tied with string is basically a Boston souvenir at this point. You’ll see people carrying it all over the city.

Mike’s has 19 cannoli varieties — from the classic ricotta to pistachio, Oreo, limoncello, and pecan caramel. Bill Clinton has ordered cannoli from Mike’s multiple times, including having the Secret Service pick up 75 of them during the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Three nights straight of presidential cannoli runs. A man of taste.

✨ The line is worth it. It always moves faster than it looks, and what’s waiting for you at the front is absolutely worth it. Cash only so many sure to hit the ATM before heading to Mike’s.

🌟 North End Park & the Cannoli Moment

We took our Mike’s boxes down to North End Park to sit in the beautiful summer weather and eat our cannoli like the very civilized people we absolutely are. This is the correct way to end a day of Boston sightseeing. Outdoor park. Water views. Cannoli in hand. Perfect.

💃 Evening: Old Friends, Dance Reels & Mexican Food

The evening took a wonderful turn — I met up with one of my college friends and former dance partners for what turned into one of those nights that reminds you why you need to nurture those old friendships. We caught up, laughed a lot, made a dance reel for her Instagram platform (obviously), had Mexican food, and wrapped the evening with ice cream.

✨ Old friendships + a dance reel + good food = a perfect evening. No notes.

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☕ Day 4: L.A. Burdick, Souvenirs & Slow Goodbyes

Our final morning was easy and intentional — the best kind. We had breakfast at the hotel and then made our way to L.A. Burdick in Harvard Square for coffee and chocolates. If you’ve never been to L.A. Burdick, picture artisan handmade chocolates crafted with the kind of care that makes you feel slightly guilty about how quickly you eat them. Their hot chocolate is legendary. Their chocolate mice are adorable and delicious. It’s a Harvard Square institution and the perfect final stop before heading out.

We did a round of souvenir shopping, enjoyed a relaxed afternoon, packed up, and started making our way home. A short trip — but the kind that feels complete.

✨ Short trips done right hit differently. Boston, you delivered.

And I’ll be honest with you: I am actively manifesting that one of our girls decides to apply to one of Boston’s many incredible universities. Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, Boston University, Boston College… the options are extensive. My reasoning is entirely unselfish. I just want to visit more. That’s all. 😂

🧠 Jalpa’s Pro Tips for Boston

Pro Tip: Stay in Cambridge near Harvard Square for a different experience than downtown Boston — it’s walkable, charming, buzzy, and The Charles Hotel is genuinely one of the best hotels I’ve stayed in.

Pro Tip: See the city with locals whenever possible. Family, friends, or a local tour guide — it completely changes what you see and how you experience it.

Pro Tip: Faneuil Hall ranger talks are free and happen every 30 minutes. Grab one before or after your Quincy Market lunch. Five minutes of history that puts the whole visit into context.

Pro Tip: The Freedom Trail is 2.5 miles and connects 16 historic sites with a red brick line on the ground. You can walk the whole thing or just follow it for as long as you’d like — no pressure, no schedule, and always something to see.

Pro Tip: Go to Mike’s Pastry. Don’t let the line intimidate you. It moves fast and what’s on the other side is completely worth it. Get the classic ricotta if it’s your first time. And take CASH!

Pro Tip: If you’re extending from Boston, New Hampshire is a gorgeous day trip and Exeter specifically is a beautiful, under-the-radar historic town that most visitors skip entirely.

🍴 Boston Food & Coffee Guide

Breakfast & Brunch

Dinner

Dessert (The Important Category)

💭 Final Thoughts

Boston was a surprise — in the very best way. I knew it was historic. I knew it was smart. I didn’t fully appreciate how beautiful and walkable and layered it is, how much there is to discover in just a few days, or how much better everything feels when you’re experiencing it with family who knows the city.

The trip was short, but it was full — of history, connection, great food, and the kind of slow summer moments that you actually remember. From Revolutionary War battlegrounds to fresh cannoli in a waterfront park to a spontaneous dance reel with an old friend… that’s a pretty perfect few days.

East Coast summers. Highly recommend. 🏡❤️

www.jalpajourneys.com • @jalpajourneys