Downtown Boston
The historic center of Boston is the North End at the extreme northeastern edge of the peninsula which is formed by the Charles River and the harbor. The great historic sites are largely in the North End. Due south, on the eastern side of the peninsula is downtown Boston. The heart of the city today, it is home to the headquarters of many companies and agencies. City Hall and the State House of Massachusetts are also here.

Aside from the offices and government buildings, downtown Boston has a number of excellent eateries for either a quick lunch or a full dinner. The Silvertone is a trendy basement eatery that features everything from all-American meatloaf and macaroni and cheese to fresh seafood selections. Prefer something more exotic? There are a number of restaurants in the area featuring excellent preparation of cuisines from around the world. As in every major city, downtown Boston has plenty of shopping. Macy's and Filene's are the anchors for Downtown Crossing, a pedestrian mall now being upgraded by the addition of Millennium Place, a 1.8-million-square-ft complex with a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, condos, a massive sports club, a 19-screen Cineplex, and upscale retail stores.