South End residents delight in this charming fenced in play area. On Boston's hotter days, residents swear this little alcove area is 10 degrees cooler. A little area that people may not know about, the garden atmosphere, benches, fountain and brick surface makes it a nice stop on your way to Peters Park. also known as Bradford street park or the splash park at Bradford St. It has a sprinkler and fountain , the kids love to play there and keep cool.

10 Chandler Street is a hub of human and animal activities! This is where the non-profit animal welfare organization, the Animal Rescue League of Boston is headquartered. You will find an animal shelter with dogs, cats, rabbits, small mammals, birds and the occasional reptile seeking homes. There is a behavior center to help with an unruly pet, obedience classes, an out-patient veterinary clinic, Boston Veterinary Care. Additionally, the Animal Rescue League of Boston has a police department working to prosecute cases of animal cruelty and neglect, as well as a very active rescue department which saves animals (wild and domestic) from all types of peril. The Animal Rescue League of Boston was established in 1899 by the forward thinking Anna Harris Smith. She was concerned with overworked horses and established kindness clubs for children to help create a kinder society. The Animal Rescue League of Boston likes to promote Anna's phrase: "Kindness Uplifts the World".

Titus Sparrow Park is in the South End between Huntington and Columbus Streets, next to the Southwest Corridor. It's a great family-friendly enclave secluded within the hustle and bustle of the city. They have tennis, basketball courts, a jungle gym and a grassy area that's perfect for a picnic. Also, the Titus Sparrow Park is a great spot to walk your dog (on-leash). Titus Sparrow Park was created in 1976, and after nearly 30 years of intensive use, the Boston Parks Department gave Titus Sparrow Park a major rehabilitation. Since reopening in 2005, the park is more heavily used than ever by all ages all over it -- sledding, rolling, sun-bathing, sitting, football and baseball games, and splendid children's programs and evening concerts in the summer. On a warm weekend the basketball courts, swings, play structures, and tennis courts will be packed. There's even a pet water fountain for all of the neighborhood dogs. Titus Sparrow Park is named for an active resident of the South End, Titus Sparrow. Founder of the Sportsmen's Tennis Club and the first African American umpire in the USTA, Titus Sparrow developed a progam that allows less fortunate children to learn the game of tennis for free. Today, the park is bustling with children and adults of all ages. The beautiful landscape and fun play structures make it a popular meeting place for nannies and parents alike. The South End is famous for it's parks, however, Titus Sparrow is definitely one of the nicest in the neighborhood. The park is primarily volunteer-maintained by the "Friends of Titus Sparrow Park." Currently, they need volunteers to help with gardening, graphic design, and public relations. For more details, see their volunteer page. There are 15 community gardens, open to residents of the four neighborhoods involved in designing the park.

Get a glimpse of Boston through all mediums: past (history), present (history in the making), by land, and by sea.

This fun boat tour takes visitors around the city to all the big landmarks, then on the Charles River for a panoramic view of the sky line. The vehicle is a converted World War II DUKW that has the capability to run on water.

These tours are educational and interesting, but can be very costly. Adults run $29, and children are $19. There are discounted prices for students, seniors, active duty military members and children under 3.

Tours depart daily from the Museum of Science and the Shops at Prudential Center. Tickets booths open at 8:30am and the first tour of the day leaves at 9am. Tours run every half hour until 7pm during peak season and 6pm during the shoulder season. Be sure to purchase tickets early as tours fill up very quickly. Each tour is 80 minutes long and as seats are first come first choice, make sure you get to your departure location at least 30 minutes prior to your tour.

Many times the captain(driver)"aka conDUCKtor" will let an eager tourist run the vehicle while it is on the river.

Route Map:

Click HERE to see a detailed Duck Tour route map and interactive guide to the streets and neighborhoods you'll see on the tour.

A wonderful children's boutique. The products themselves are higher end, (pricier) but there is no noticeable markup to comparable products on the web. They let kids come in and play a bunch too, which we appreciate and definitely helps you learn what to purchase. They also have a weekly storytime. Brands: Plan, 7am, Zutano, etc.

New South End spot on the eastern end of Tremont Street. Owned by the same family as Rome Pizza next door. European style cafe is the concept. Freshly made paninis, expresso, North End pastries, gelato, smoothies. Homemade hummus, grapeleaves, and other meditteranean staples. Chef used to be the chef at the Appleton Bakery Cafe.

If you're looking for the perfect pre-/post-theater date destination, look no further. Situated off the lobby of the Colonnade Hotel, the lively Brasserie Jo offers classic French cooking in a casual but stylish setting. Although steak frites ($22) is the main attraction (and understandably so), a variety of other simple bistro entrees including swordfish, salmon, and roasted chicken are available and uniformly good. The wine list offers lots of affordable options, and desserts are absolutely marvelous. Entrees $15-25. Bar with a “light menu” open daily 11am-1am. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

The Appleton Cafe rarely disappoints. Whether for breakfast, lunch, or a quick cup of coffee on the go. Highlights include Wednesday's Hamburgers and the mostly-daily cupcakes. This down-to-earth gourmet sandwich shop in the South End offers up super-fresh soups and delicious prepared foods. Their sandwiches ($7-8) are inventive, like the Empire, which is stuffed with roast beef, caramelized onions, chevre cheese, and roasted red peppers, and are offered on a variety of breads or wraps. If you are not in mood for lunch, try their fabulous muffins. They were named Best of Boston in 2003. Appleton has a strong neighborhood pull and is a South End staple. Far different than the chains and trendy eateries of Copley Square, this place is worth the trip after a long, hard day of shopping. Also, be sure to check out all the other goodies that the Appleton Bakery has lining it's shelves. Gifts and treats, as well as basic grocery items can be found at the bakery. So, whether you need to do some christmas shopping, or need a quart of milk, make sure to stop by. Currently the Bakery has a convoluted but useful special for regular lunchers - buy a sandwich on Thursday or Friday, bring in your receipt Monday or Tuesday and get a sandwich for 1/2 price.

Mela comes to us from the One World Cuisine team who also run Bukhara, Diva, Kashmir, Mantra, and Cafe of India. The lunch buffet is very reasonable for the area: $10 weekdays, $13 weekends. Mela is likely the only Indian restaurant in the South End, but a very welcome addition. The service is friendly to children, but expect tight spaces, no kid cups or kid menus and to emphasize "very very mild spices please"/ They will however store your stroller for you.