Having completed birthday lists for almost 20 years now (!), I’m a proponent of being a tourist in one’s own neighborhood, town, city, state. There is so much to see and do in our own communities. So it was with this mindset that my friend and I headed to View Boston, a new observation deck at the top of the Prudential Center downtown.
Now, there was an observation deck at the top of the “Pru” when I first moved to Boston. I don’t remember anything about the view, but I remember loving the diorama of the city there. At some point, the observation deck closed, but I had been able to take in the view occasionally when dining at the Top of the Hub, a restaurant at the top of the building.
THEN, Top of the Hub closed and View Boston moved in. I hadn’t heard much about it, except that the space held interactive exhibits, a bar, and a restaurant, in addition to the observation deck.
Even though my friend and I have both lived in Boston for a long time and not much in the view was “new,” it was still enjoyable to look out at all of the landmarks. There were a number of large computer screens that visitors could use to create itineraries for their visit, based on what they saw below.
And guess what? There was a diorama…of sorts! I was thrilled. The buildings were plain white and looked to be composed of cardboard. But there was a video screen behind the buildings, and video and accompanying audio depicted a number of Boston scenes: winter on Boston Common, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and Marathon Monday. We also watched the sun rise and sun set. It was well done.
View Boston had a number of “hangout spaces” with couches and chairs, which created a welcoming vibe. If we had had extra time, we probably would have chilled for a while. So, all in all, it was expensive for what it was…yet I didn’t leave feeling totally fleeced. I plan to return in the summer to watch the sunset on the outdoor deck!
What tourist excursion have you taken in your neighborhood lately?
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