Learn how to increase your subscription revenues while riding the duck boats, or taking in a show, shopping in Quincy Market, and eating at world-class restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts.
Spring is one of the most beautiful times of the year in the historic city of Boston Massachusetts. It’s after all the snow is gone, and the city is lit up with round, pink cherry blossom trees and vibrant tulips grace the bottoms of every tree. There are a million things to see and do, but be sure to make it a priority to join us in Beacon Hill at the University of Massachusetts Club for two days of subscription marketing strategies with the Mequoda team and other niche publishing executives at the Subscription Marketing & Publishing Intensive.
You’ll be fully booked for the days of May 17-18, as we’re supplying breakfast, a hot luncheon, and a networking reception. However, we find that most attendees tack on a few extra days to enjoy the location while they’re planning the future of their subscription businesses. Here are our personal recommendations for what to do in Boston when you join us.
A duck boat transitioning from land tour to water tour. Source: Boston Duck Tours
1. Ride the duck boats
Boston Duck Tours do not involve sightseeing the ponds around Boston and pontificating on their migration season. Rather, it’s your one chance to climb into a brightly colored “duck boat” and be shown around the city—by land and by water.
2. See a game at Fenway Park
While in town, don’t miss a chance to see a game at historic Fenway Park, “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.” It’s a small park, so just about every seat is good, and fans don’t let the weather stop them from attending either. Plan to get there early and spend time on Yawkey Way, a private street in front of the park full of food and souvenir vendors. The Red Sox have two home games while you’ll be in town. On the night before the Intensive, the 16th, they play the Oakland A’s. On the last night of the Intensive, the 18th, they play the Baltimore Orioles (see the schedule).
3. Make your game plan for the North End
The North End is Boston’s Little Italy and you will find some of the best Italian food in America in this very popular neighborhood. The most famous restaurant is Giacomo’s, but they do not accept reservations, and the line goes down the block. Panza is another beloved spot along with Galleria Umberto for cash-only slices of Sicilian pizza, which closes when the pizza runs out. For dessert, there’s a battle between Mike’s Pastry and Modern Pastry for the best cannolis and other pastries, so you might as well try them both.
4. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts
Pair this visit with your trip to nearby Fenway and you’ll have an enriching afternoon. The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most comprehensive museums in the world. Art ranges from ancient Egyptian to contemporary. One particularly great exhibition occurring during the Subscription Marketing & Publishing Intensive is Klimt and Schiele: Drawn which runs from February 25, 2018 – May 28, 2018 to mark the centenary of the deaths of Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) and Egon Schiele (1890–1918). It features rarely seen drawings by the Austrian artists on loan from the Albertina Museum in Vienna. The day after the Intensive, you can go for Namaste Saturday, a morning yoga practice in the soaring glass Shapiro Family Courtyard. The Institute of Contemporary Art is another stunning museum you must see.
5. Shop at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Back Bay and the Pru
Source: Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Stay the weekend and visit one of Boston’s greatest shopping destinations, the Faneuil Hall Marketplace—an indoor and outdoor market filled with street vendors, street theatre and performers, a farmer’s market and tons of shops, both small and large. There’s an entire building you can walk that’s full of food vendors on the inside corridors, and kiosk vendors on the outside corridors. There’s also an excellent Ramen spot here called Wagamama that’s worth the trip. If you head to Back Bay, you’ll find Newbury Street, full of upscale restaurants and boutique shops, and only a hop skip and a jump to the iconic Prudential tower, which also has shopping!
6. Dine in food-lovers heaven
Once you’ve checked The North End off your list, we’d highly recommend checking out some other top spots like The Salty Pig in Back Bay for an impressive charcuterie spread, or Yvonne’s downtown for drinks, Neptune Oyster (technically also in the North End) for seafood, Sam LaGrassa’s for sandwiches, Toro for Tapas, and the farm-to-plate Townsman for a simply darn good meal. We could go on. The Union Oyster House is kind of a must too, simply because it’s the oldest restaurant in Boston. Of course, you cannot miss our ultimate favorite, The Barking Crab, a waterfront experience that feels a bit like you’re on a crab boat while dining on the best crab dishes in Boston.
7. Take in a Movie Tour
There is a walking tour in Boston that is just a mile long, but it will take you through Beacon Hill (where our event is located) and Boston Common, and areas you’ll want to visit while in town. The tour includes sitting on the Good Will Hunting benches, drinking at Cheers, seeing a mob hangout from The Departed, and other interesting places you didn’t know existed. You can also opt into another tour (there are only two in the city) that provides transportation to areas, even grabbing a drink in Southie at L Street Tavern, home of Good Will Hunting.
8. Walk the Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail can be experienced by guide (often in costume), or can be self-guided with a map. It’s 2.5 miles long, and the most notable sites are Paul Revere’s house, the Old North Church, but also make a stop at the Old State House museum and, as mentioned before, Faneuil Hall Marketplace. If you’re looking for another amazing walk, head to the Charles River Esplanade, where you can explore the beautiful Charles river on a path that’s beautifully green and leafy, full of willows, and completely paved for runners and people on bicycles.
If you’re an executive at an independent media business, the Subscription Marketing & Publishing Intensive may be the first step on the path you’ve been seeking. In just two days, you will learn dozens of techniques for increasing your subscription revenues. Register now and start making those dinner reservations.
