Boston’s Back Bay:
There’s Always Something to Do!
While we encourage you to attend the SDPA 2023 Summer Conference in Boston for the educational experience, we hope you can schedule some free time to sightsee and learn more about the Beantown! Our conference is conveniently located at the Westin Copley Place in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, an area described as “walkable” for anyone who enjoys a nice stroll on a New England summer day. So, pack your sunscreen, sunglasses and SDPA baseball cap, and consider visiting any of the notable sites below. From the Westin Copley Place, located at 10 Huntington Avenue, you will:
- Wander three blocks north to the Paris-inspired Commonwealth Avenue Mall, colloquially referred to as “Comm Ave” by locals. Established in 1856-1888, this tree-lined divided boulevard is dotted with greenery, stunning statues and memorials honoring some of Boston’s most remarkable citizens. There are benches, walkways, and other inviting aspects of this lush area known for its natural beauty. (The Commonwealth Avenue Mall is located at 484 Commonwealth Avenue.)
- Explore Copley Square, a bustling area flanked by Trinity Church, founded in 1733, and the Boston Public Library – Central Library, constructed in 1888. When you visit the Boston Public Library – Central Library (across the street from the hotel), make sure you check out the courtyard, often described as a place you would see in a European palace. (The Trinity Church is located at 206 Clarendon Street; the Boston Public Library is located at 700 Boylston Street.)
- Take a short walk to the Boston Public Garden, which features meandering paths decorated by statues, fountains, various
- trees and plants, plus a six-acre pond with swan boats for visitors to ride. (The Boston Public Garden is located at 4 Charles Street.)
- Check out Newbury Street, the famed shopping district located two blocks from the conference hotel. You will find internationally known designers such as Marc Jacobs, Chanel, and Ralph Lauren.
- Visit the famous Boston Marathon Finish Line, located less than two blocks from the hotel. At the finish line you will see a memorial honoring the victims lost in the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. (The Boston Marathon Finish Line is located on Boylston Street across from the Boston Public Library.)
- Visit the Fairmont Hotel, the venue selected for SDPA’s Welcome Event, located across the street from the Westin. If you are familiar with the 2009 hit “Bride Wars” featuring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway, you might recognize the corridor area leading into the Welcome Event (Remember the wedding scene? You will see it as you walk into the Welcome Event.) After enjoying our event, we encourage you to wander down the corridor and check out the famed Oak Long Bar + Kitchen. You never know who you will see! Maybe a movie star, a professional athlete – or a Kennedy! (The Fairmont Hotel and the Oak Long Bar + Kitchen are located at 138 St James Avenue.)
- Stroll a few minutes down the street to find Beacon Hill, one of Boston’s most picturesque areas with cobblestone streets
- lined with Federal-style row houses and gaslit streetlamps. This neighborhood boasts historic sites, shopping, and dining.
- Head up to the North End neighborhood, also known as Boston’s Little Italy, for authentic Italian cuisine. If you are searching for a delicious cannoli or lobster tail dessert, stop by Mike’s Pastry, a Boston tradition. Or you can catch the Godfather movies playing continuously on all seven televisions at Strega North End, a glitzy old-world Italian spot known for gangster-inspired décor and celebrity sightings.
- Catch a ride to the Seaport District, home of the Boston Tea Party. Today, this district is a historic community highlighted by the Boston Tea Party Museum, the Boston Children’s Museum, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. There are also scenic views, shops and eateries. (The Boston Tea Party Museum is located at 306 Congress Street; the Boston Children’s Museum is located at 308 Congress Street; and the Institute of Contemporary Art is located at 25 Harbor Shore Drive.)
- .Cab over to Cambridge, a quaint historic New England town dominated by Harvard University and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). When you visit the historic Harvard campus, don’t forget to seek out the John Harvard monument so you can rub the statue’s left shoe for good luck (it’s a Harvard student tradition!)
For additional information on Boston tourism, check out the visitor’s center at “Meet Boston” https://www.meetboston.com/
Register for the SDPA Summer Dermatology Conference in Boston here.
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