What I Learned From Being a Tourist in My Own City

I've done many things in my city, Boston.  I've gone to numerous concerts, enjoyed many gyros and ice creams at Fanuel Hall, I've seen the Red Sox win at Fenway, I've walked in a fashion show, I've even interned at our own State House. However, I've never really seen the city in the same way a tourist does...until now.  

I thought the best way to see Boston the way tourists do is how every tourist sees Boston - a duck tour.  A duck tour involves amphibious vehicles that can travel both on land and in water. We went with Boston Super Tours. They're a company that does trolley, double decker, and duck tours.  

Taking the duck tour was a great way to see my city in a different light.  So what did I learn?

1. I learned more history than I already knew about my native city.
2. I was able to feel like a tourist and truly absorb the vibe of the city - even though I knew the tour guide from school!
3. I learned never to take what's in my own backyard for granted.
4. While traveling abroad is great, it can be equally rewarding to travel local.
5. I gained more inspiration to see more of the world.

In between vacations or extensive trips, take some time to explore your own city.  I guarantee you'll learn something you didn't know before and will be glad you did.  Check out more about Boston city tour below!

View fullsize

Our tour started at Boston Harbor with a shuttle ride to Charlestown. However, even with the shuttle ride, still came a short history lesson.  We learned about the great fire that happened in Boston's North End many years ago. The North End was almost completely destroyed because of the fire; however, now it's almost all back to normal. The guide claims you can still see some remnants.  

View fullsize

Pictured above is the State House.  It's actually the second location, as the old Sate House is not far from this one and is now a museum. 

View fullsize

This is a statue of George Washington on the Boston Common. A new fact I learned on this tour is that everything to the West of this statue - Kenmore Square, Fenway, Newbury St. - are all considered the "Back Bay" because it was built from sediment.

...And in a flash, our trolley turned into a boat.

View fullsize

I truly enjoyed seeing Boston by duck tour.  If you're ever in the city, I highly recommend it!

- Nikki Vergakes

Popular Craft Beers from Around the World

Craft beer is made by local brewers with unique ingredients and traditional fermentation methods. In each glass, you can savor the taste of a specially brewed beverage with a distinct flavor. Recently, a rapid increase in the number of craft beers made by microbrewers has provided a variety of delicious options for beer drinkers around the globe.

From India pale ale to American hops and Belgian inspired ale, local brewers have provided many refreshing alternatives to the well-known lager beers made by major brewers. Luckily for you, we've rounded up some of the most popular craft beers from different parts of the world.

Brasserie St. James Red Headed Stranger (U.S.)

This red saison is brewed by Brasserie St. James, the award-winning American brewery located in Reno, Nevada. Made from water drawn from a 285-feet deep artesian well and a combination of orange peel, coriander, grains of paradise, and a special Belgian yeast strain, this craft beer tastes like a mixture of a saison and red ale.

The aroma of spices and delicious malt flavor leave a refreshing taste in your mouth. After receiving the applause and recommendation of many beer lovers, the Red Headed Stranger won the silver medal at this year's Best of Craft Beer Awards, after winning the gold medal at the United States Beer Championships two years ago. 

View fullsize

Feral Hop Hog (Australia)

Hop Hog is a regular award winner at craft beer competitions hosted in all major cities in Australia. Feral Brewing has successfully produced an American-style India Pale Ale that contains a high dose of American hops, which give this beer its name.

View fullsize

It has a distinct citrus flavor and a strong pine needle aroma. Apart from the Hop Hog, which is rated as one of the best craft beers in Australia, Feral Brewing also provides a range of exciting options, from the strong Imperial Stout to the wild-fermented sour beers. 

Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel (Germany)

Brewed by monks at the German Kloster Andechs monastery in the city of Bavaria, this beer is made out of four main ingredients: yeast, hops, water and barley, in line with the Beer Purity Law in Germany. 

Note: In 1516, the German government passed a law called "Reinheitsgebot" that stated "only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be barley, hops and water."  Water was often polluted so people drank beer, often in vast quantities, to quench their thirst.  By ensuring beer contained only high-quality products the law protected the public from poor standard, and potentially lethal, beverages. Reinheitsgebot also brought about a standardization in production well ahead of its time. 

But its distinct flavor has a mixture of figs, dates and cocoa. Doppelbock Dunkel has a unique reddish tint and aroma of malt and caramel that leaves a nice chocolate after-taste in your mouth. Very few craft beers have provided the same kind of satisfaction that the Benedictine brewers have provided since 1455.

View fullsize

Collesi Imper Ale Ubi Rossa (Italy)

This strong Belgian-style dark ale is brewed at the Collesi family estate located in the central Italian village of Apecchio. Just like the beers produced in Germany, the four main ingredients used to make Ubi Rossa are hops, barley, yeast and water. The water used for this craft beer is from a pristine, untainted spring that requires no chemical treatment or purification.

Much like traditional Belgian beers, the ale passes through another stage of fermentation in the bottle. During this re-fermentation stage, the yeast creates an exceptional mixture of dried fruit, cherry and hazelnut flavors.

View fullsize

Those are some of the most famous craft beers that you should strive to taste if you are a beer lover. Each beer has a unique taste that cannot be reproduced by any large scale brewer. You will cherish each moment as you savor the rich complex flavors created by award-winning microbrewers.

- Tony Bod