Something in my universe realigns itself when those first September winds bring those soft whispers of fall promises along with those first bites of cinnamon and spices snugly baked into apple cider donuts. I am most alive and in tune with myself and my world at this time of year. Everything I see around me seems to be in sharper contrast, more vividly colored, and more festive and lively. I love the 4 distinct seasons New England offers…but fall was tailor made for me. Hot cups of spiced tea, flickering candles with scents like “Autumn Dusk” and “Cozy by the Fire”, and last luscious bites of tangy creamy lemon tart with a gingerbread crust…all culminate in feelings of calmness and beauty. To say I am a sensory oriented person…would be an understatement!
Fall is the time for road trips along winding country roads with piles of falling leaves crunching under the tires. While we plan on squeezing our weekends full of all that New Hampshire offers during this season, we are also going to jump into the urban festivities, open air markets, and the revving up of Broadway shows, ballets, and concerts that Boston rolls out beginning in October. Boston has become a city that has captured our hearts in the last 6 months. We’ve experienced the city streets and chocolate colored brownstones blanketed by flakes of white snow, gazed in wonder in the springtime at the city parks perfumed with dainty tissue-like blossoms of cherry trees, and enjoyed the open air restaurants that push the dining scene way out onto the city sidewalks to encourage soaking up all the rays of sun that summer in the city has to offer.
One recent trip to Boston was most wonderfully highlighted by a stay at The Boston Harbor Hotel on the waterfront harbor of the Boston Main Channel. What a terrific location to be in Boston. The Boston Harbor Hotel sits right at the entrance to Rowe’s Wharf and is just minutes walk from South Street train/bus station. On the western side of the hotel, the city of Boston hums along as people go to work in the Financial District, shop at the open air Dewey Square Farmer’s Market, and relax in the long narrow expanse of the Rose Kennedy Greenway. And then on the eastern side of the hotel, the scenery completely changes to offer ocean views with massive ocean ready cruise boats bobbing up and down in the salty seagull populated water and a handsome Harbor Boardwalk that meanders all along the water front.
The Boston Harbor Hotel is a perfect location in the city that offers that wonderful balance between urban enticements and energy and coastal harbor front fun and relaxation on the ocean. We had a delicious ocean inspired dinner in the nautically inspired Rowe’s Wharf Sea Grille. Every dish was artfully presented from our cocktail, called “Aphrodite’s Potion”, to the excellent tuna tartar appetizer, perfectly grilled swordfish, and creative strawberry short cake dessert.
In the mornings and evenings, we walked along the wooden harbor front boardwalk that runs for miles all along the Boston water front. Across the harbor is another bank of fun and lively seafood restaurants that offer terrific night time views of the shimmering lights of the Boston skyline against the setting sun. At sunrise, the sun slides up from the ocean expanse casting all of the boats in the harbor in sharp contrast and creating a nether world canvas of golden light.
Our stay at the Boston Harbor Hotel was decadent, calming, and delicious. The staff were attentive, friendly, and upbeat. The restaurants are perfectly decorated and in tune with their ocean front surroundings. Having such a luxurious and beautiful stay always inspires me to journey home and extend that creativity into the kitchen. This stay in Boston inspired this tart and luscious lemon tart!
Enjoy these photos! At the bottom, I have listed and linked the stops and to do’s that we enjoyed the most in this excellent part of the city of Boston.
Ethereal sunrise on the ocean side of The Boston Harbor hotel with the little sailboats in sharp contrast bobbing up and down to the shrieks of the sea gulls calling.
The fresh flowers are all over the Boston Harbor Hotel and look like elegant miniature paintings
Breakfast entry…complete with nautically inspired dining area overlooking the ocean side of The Boston Harbor Hotel
The little Bonne Maman jars of jam always make me smile because as a child, our daughter would never open hers but would tuck it into her little purse as the most wonderful (in her opinion) keepsake!
Inspired by our Boston Harbor Hotel stay, a luscious tart and creamy Lemon Thyme Tart with Gingerbread Crust.
On one side of the hotel is easy walking to the South Street Train Station, Chinatown, Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston Commons, and Theatre District.
One of the many expansive and handsome seating areas of The Boston Harbor Hotel
An enticing urban view from our room filled with all of the little luxuries that make staying at The Boston Harbor Hotel such a pampering treat.
Home in New Hampshire, readying for the fall season with spiced teas and scented candles.
The Dewey Farmer’s Market is a fun walk from the hotel (on the city side). There is a lovely community garden there and wonderful city artscapes that add character this area that leads into the Rose Kennedy Greenway.
The Daily Catch Seaport (restaurant)
The Boston Waterfront Harbor walk