Get Outside This Weekend on a Luxe Boston Staycation

You’re ready for a change of scenery, and the best place to find it right now isn’t far from home.  With a can’t-miss deal on a five-star Back Bay hotel, now’s your chance to see Boston through new eyes during a staycation. So book your suite and follow this sample itinerary for a family-friendly weekend filled with the city’s top art, al fresco dining, and accommodations.

Friday

6 p.m.: Check into your home base for the weekend. The centrally located Four Seasons Hotel Boston has sweeping views of the Public Garden and its stunning fall foliage, not to mention the golden-domed State House and the Common. Close to Newbury Street, Beacon Hill and the Freedom Trail, it’s the ideal place to book when exploring Boston by foot. To sweeten your stay, Four Seasons is currently offering complimentary valet parking and 25 percent off the room rate when booking two or more nights.

7 p.m.: Take the night off cooking and order from the Four Seasons’ in-room dining menu for dinner. Try the Fenway Park flatbread—an homage to the nearby field with grilled sausage, caramelized peppers and onions, and fontina cheese—or build your own entree from the pasta counter. The extensive wine list spans far and wide, but the local Night Shift ale or Wormtown Brewery IPA keep more with the staycation theme.

Saturday

9 a.m.: Grab pastries and coffee to go from Tatte Bakery and start walking toward the Underground at Ink Block in the South End. Named Boston Magazine’s Best Outdoor Museum in 2020, this collection of 20 murals spans 8 acres tucked under the I-83 overpass. The latest addition, “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by Victor Quiñonez and Rob Gibbs, pays tribute to civil rights activist and singer Nina Simone.

12:30 p.m.: Dine al fresco at Lolita Fort Point. The cocina and tequila bar serves up spicy pork mojo tortas and street corn tacos to its tables located on the Harborwalk. Need to warm up? The nearby City Tap House offers weekend brunch alongside cozy fire tables on its patio.

2 p.m.: Head up towards the Rose Kennedy Greenway to discover several new additions to its rotating public art display. Yinka Shonibare’s Wind Sculptures (SG) V, for example, mimics a twisting, wind-blown piece of batik fabric, caught and frozen in a moment of time. Juan Travieso’s mural Engulf uses two tigers to allegorize human involvement in the environment. On the way to Back Bay, make a detour through Chinatown to see Yu-Wen Wu’s Lantern Stories, a celebration of the vibrant community there and Chinese-American history.

6 p.m.: Sit down next to the heat lamps at Porto, a modern Mediterranean restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chef Jody Adams. Dig into whole roasted branzino with tomatoes and capers or fresh housemade pasta tossed with arugula pesto, paired with a fall cocktail of course.

8:00 p.m.: Back at the Four Seasons, wind down for the evening by watching a movie from a local theater without leaving your room. Local landmarks like the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Somerville Theatre have created virtual cinemas with exclusive screenings that you can stream. From the latter, try Pahokee, a Sundance selection profiling four resilient teens in rural Florida. And unlike your traditional showtime, this viewing starts whenever you’re ready.

9:30 p.m.: If you’re looking for a nightcap, head to the Aujourd’hui Lounge on the second floor. The special spot—and its lovely views of the Public Garden—just opened exclusively to hotel guests and serves a light bar menu.

Sunday

10 a.m.: Wake up to a plate of Maine blueberry-stuffed French toast with caramel creme anglaise and Vermont maple syrup, delivered straight to your suite via Four Seasons in-room dining. The breakfast menu also includes buttermilk pancakes, omelets, salmon plates, and espresso drinks to start the day on a high note.

11:30 a.m.: Cross the street and stroll through the Public Garden, just steps from the hotel entrance. Although the Swan Boats have stopped swimming for the season, the Make Way for Ducklings statue is still fair game for fall-themed photo-ops. The playground at the Frog Pond and the Arthur Fiedler statue also make for great detours with kids.

1:30 p.m.: Grab an Italian picnic from Eataly and walk along the Esplanade in search of a spot to stop for a lunch amongst the foliage. Or if you’re feeling extra ambitious, rent a couple of Bluebikes and explore the colorful trails and trees of the Emerald Necklace.

4 p.m.: Before the weekend comes to an end, spend some time in Back Bay supporting the local businesses. Boutiques like Dress Boston, December Thieves, and Good have reopened for socially distant browsing. Rather head back inside? The Four Seasons Hotel pool on the eighth floor has also reopened to guests.

6 p.m.: Collect your bags from the hotel or finish off the weekend the best way of all, if available at the time of booking: a complimentary third night.

Get away this month at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston, the city’s preeminent place to stay in Back Bay.

This is a paid partnership between Four Seasons Hotel Boston and Boston Magazine