What will your guests be doing while you're attending the annual conference?

When the SVU Annual Conference is in an incredible city like Boston (or Washington D.C., Orlando, San Francisco...) many attendees will bring guests.  Whether your guests are old or young, there are plenty of things to keep them entertained while you are in the meeting!!

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See previous posts for detailed information about these highly recommended activities:

Walk the Freedom Trail:  The church steeple where the "One if by land, two if by sea" lanterns were lit, the balcony from which the Declaration of Independence was first read to the American people, the graves of Samuel Adams, Paul Revere and even Mother Goose...

Duck Tour

Trolly Tour

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Museum of Science

Truly an awesome educational experience.  The last time I visited the Museum of Science was to see the temporary Body Worlds exhibit which was very well done.  There is an IMAX theater and planetarium, 3-D theater, current exhibits on whales, bees, and birds...and get this:  "Beyond the X-Ray" all about Medial Imaging Technologies! 

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New England Aquarium

I live in Seattle...we have lots of water, lots of fish and an aquarium that's...well...decent. It's unfortunate, really.  I was so spoiled living in Boston and visiting the New England Aquarium whenever I wanted (and I went frequently)!  This Aquarium is spectacular...a Giant Ocean Tank, which is a four-story coral reef exhibit in the middle of the Aquarium's main galleries.  You can walk along the ramp which spirals up, and see it all: top to bottom and from all sides. When you get to the top floor, you can look down into the water from above, participate in a Giant Ocean Tank Talk and watch the divers feed the animals.  Penguins and seals and jellyfish oh my!

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Heyyyy batta batta batta...

You may be fortunate enough to have tickets, or maybe not, but you can still experience the excitement and history of Fenway Park!  Take a TOUR!   One of my favorite memories to this day is seeing the Seattle Mariners play the Red Sox at Fenway.  To be clear, I am a Mariner's fan first, then the Red Sox, followed by any other team who beats the Yankees. 

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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

"…an unforgettable impression, not of five thousand beautiful things, but of one thing of beauty, one artistic whole"    - The Spectator (Boston), 1903

    "The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is at once an intimate collection of fine and decorative art and a vibrant, innovative venue for contemporary artists, musicians and scholars. Housed in a stunning 15th-century Venetian-style palace with three stories of galleries surrounding a sun- and flower-filled courtyard, the Museum provides an unusual backdrop for the viewing of art. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's preeminent collection contains more than 2,500 paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture, manuscripts, rare books and decorative arts. The galleries house works by some of the most recognized artists in the world, including Titian, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Manet, Degas, Whistler and Sargent. The spirit of the architecture, the personal character of the arrangements and the artistic display of the enchanting courtyard in full bloom all create an atmosphere that distinguishes the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as an intimate and culturally-rich treasure."  ~from the Museum website

This is still top on my list of favorites, a museum I have visited countless times, and my personal "must see" while I'm in Boston this trip.  It is an exquisite collection! 

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Boston Public Library

This is a must-see, even if you don't have a lot of time.  The best part is:  It's right next to our hotel!  There is a free one-hour guided walking tour, if you are so inclined.  The architecture, decorations and smell of this historic library are unforgettable.  There are gorgeous courtyards and galleries, including a large mural painted by John Singer Sargent.   This was by far one of my favorite places to wander through, sit with my coffee and read...and I'm sure the Boston Public Library is one of the places I will be while updating this blog during the Annual Conference!

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Walking, Shopping, Dining, Sipping...

"The World On A Street with something for everyone!"  Explore one of these favorite haunts of mine from when I lived in Boston!

        "Newbury Street in Boston ranks as one of the premiere shopping streets in the entire country. It is a community that encompasses fashion, museum quality art, specialty boutiques, business services, fine dining, and so much more…all set in a historical district with an electric atmosphere. Newbury Street is a destination location that never disappoints the visitor!" ~from the website

Newbury street is just two blocks North from our hotel, with the Boston Public Garden on the East end, and Hynes Convention Center near the West end.  Walk one more block to the north and find a gorgeous parkway along Commonwealth Ave., complete with statues and sculptures in tribute to local heros and legends.  Newbury street is an excellent place to find lunch if you aren't attending a "Lunch with the Experts" session and want more than the Mall Food Court offers!!

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Well, that ought to get you started!  The more I find just creating this post, the more excited I am to visit Boston again...See you there!

Kari