While winter in Boston is no walk in the park, fall in the city has earned the community worldwide recognition.
That’s according to Premier Inn, a hotel chain in the United Kingdom, which conducted a study in search of the most beautiful autumn cities in the world. Boston ranked fourth on the company’s list.
“Boston joins Chicago as the second city in the USA to make it into the top ten, although it’s also the last, with Dallas only making it into 35th position, and New York failing to make it into the top 40,” Premier Inn said in a post.
Through its study, Premier Inn sought to find out which communities people find the most beautiful when they are “decked out” in their autumn colors. Using eye-tracking software, the company presented participants with images of a range of cities and recorded the images their eyes lingered over the longest to determine which were the most appealing.
At the top of Premier Inn’s list as the most beautiful autumn city was the English community of Bath. Chicago in the United States followed in second, Cape Town in South Africa in third and Boston in fourth. Florence, Italy and Ljubljana, Slovenia tied for fifth.
“Although many people jet off throughout the summer months, the beauty of city breaks is that they’re great trips to take all year round. The identity of a city changes through the seasons, so visiting in autumn or winter can provide a completely different experience to a visit in spring or summer,” Premier Inn said.
There are many fun fall activities autumn lovers can engage in while in Boston. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum recommends stopping by scenic areas available to the public, such as the Boston Common, the Public Garden and the Esplanade. Paying visits to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Beacon Hill neighborhood is also suggested.
“Beacon Hill is one of the most iconic neighborhoods in Boston. Located between the Common and Charles River, it is renowned for its stunning rows of red brick townhouses and cobblestone streets,” the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum said on its website. “During fall, the neighborhood lights up with vibrant autumnal hues, making it a picturesque destination for visitors.”
The beauty of autumn isn’t just limited to Boston, though. Between pumpkin picking, leaf peeping and apple cider donut eating, New England is renowned for its celebration of fall.
In August, Country Living placed the Pioneer Valley No. 1 on its list of the 55 best fall towns in the country for foliage. The lifestyle magazine noted there are several picturesque communities worth visiting in the region of Western Massachusetts “just to sneak a peek at these vibrant red, gold, and orange leaves.”
“Climbing Mount Sugarloaf is among one of the most popular activities in the area — especially for leaf peeping,” Country Living added.
Other New England communities that got shoutouts from Country Living were: Montpelier, Stowe, Manchester and Woodstock, Vermont; Jefferson and Sugar Hill, New Hampshire; Camden, Kennebunkport and Bar Harbor, Maine; Kent and Mystic, Connecticut; Bristol and Charlestown, Rhode Island; and Lenox Massachusetts.
