- Little Black Book of Boston
Courtesy of Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
The Little Black Book of Boston: The Essential Guide to the Heart of New England
by Maria T. Olia. Peter Pauper Press, 2008; $12.95.
Being a New Yorker, I’m one of those people who visits Boston every couple years, but never for long. Until I used Olia’s book, I always seemed to be starting over each time I visited Boston, trying to get my bearings again and figure out the best way to get around the city as efficiently as a local to see and do all I had planned. No longer.
Pros
The Little Black Book of Boston breaks down the city into 10 bite-sized sections by neighborhood, so travelers get a comprehensive yet compact (the book is roughly 4 inches by 5 inches in size) overview of each area, including sites, restaurants, shops and hotels. Each chapter also comes with a just-right-sized single-fold map that makes it easy to locate attractions and restaurants without looking like you’re lost.
Olia manages to pack a lot into a little space, without having the text read like a simple list. Chapters that are even just a few short pages always include how to get there, a touch of history, an extensive list of attractions with top ones highlighted and expert tips for visiting various places, along with each site’s map location, price range for hotels and restaurants, address, phone number and Web site. She also lists a good number of recommended hotels, often five or more—per neighborhood.
The front of the book features all the basic info one needs to know when planning a Boston vacation, such as getting there and around and top attractions, as well as a special section on how to visit the Freedom Trail—what is arguably the top attraction in Boston and something that should not be missed on a Boston trip.
There also are special sections for kids for family travelers heading to Boston, and chapters that go beyond Boston for those return visitors who want to explore the region more.
Cons
Naturally, due to being a small, near-pocket-sized guide, the introduction to Boston in The Little Black Book of Boston barely scratches the surface of the city’s history, and doesn’t even address contemporary issues. So it’s best if history buffs get a separate book for more detailed city background and use this guide as an on-the-street complementary resource.
Worth Buying?
Yes. If you want an easy-to-use, solid Boston 101 guide that’s also unobtrusive in size and appearance, this is the book for you.
Comments
2 Comments on this article | read all commentsby roger on April 20, 2009
"use this guide as an on-the-street complimentary resource." it would be a complementary resource, not complimentary.
by SR on April 1, 2009
Boston Thanks for the timely and great suggestion. My family is paning a trip to Boston and this sounds like a great guide for us.