Frog Pond Skating Rink is a concrete formation and a water pool in summer, but in winter it turns into a 16,000-feet outdoor skating rink. On crisp Boston nights, there may be nothing better than a twirl on the ice beneath the trees of the Boston Common and the lights of downtown skyscrapers. You may even have an audience-crowds often gathered on the rail around the pond to watch the skaters glide.

Run by a real estate agency, this tour company offers tailored walking or biking tours according to your interests. Walk through the churches of the North End, amble Irish South Boston with views of Pleasure Bay and Castle Island, or take the Armenian/Greek tour to Strawberry Hill. Whatever your interest may be, this office can customize a tour for your family or group. Reservations necessary several weeks in advance.

The Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston has several sites significant to the history of African Americans, commemorated by this 1.6-mile trail. From June through August, the National Park Service conducts free two-hour tours that begin at the corner of Beacon and Park Streets. Landmarks include a memorial to the first black regiment to fight in the Civil War and the African Meeting House, the first black-led church in the United States. Many of the historic homes on the trail are still privately owned and may only be viewed from the outside. Call to arrange private tours in the off season.

During the summer months, the Charles River is filled with small sailboats. Most of them belong this organization, which is the oldest and largest public sailing program in the country. A two-day membership is available to those with prior sailing experience. A fleet of more than 140 boats includes 14.5-foot Cape Cod Mercuries, Lasers, sailboards and Rhodes 19s. The organization's primary mission is the Junior Program-children sail all summer.

Dedicated in 1806, this is the oldest African-American church. Home of the First African Baptist Church, and later a center for the Abolitionist Movement, William Lloyd Garrison founded the New England Slavery Society here. In 1972, it was acquired by the Museum of Afro-American History. The hall now serves as the museum's centerpiece and a National Historic Site. The meeting house is one of the sites on the Black Heritage Trail. Admission is free. Function space for up to 200 is available.

Boston Common is America's oldest park in the heart of Boston, offering recreation opportunities and a glimpse into history through numerous monuments to the past. Designated as public space in 1640, British soldiers later camped here during the Revolutionary War. Part of the Freedom Trail, the park adjoins the Massachusetts State House and Beacon Hill. A favorite spot is the Frog Pond, which doubles as an ice skating rink. The park is the beginning of the " "Emerald Necklace, a seven-mile (12-kilometer) string of local parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

A downtown Boston highlight since 1994, accomplished and acclaimed chef and tour guide Michele Topor invites guests to explore the rich history of Boston's North End and Chinatown districts. Involved in food since an early age, Topor started her walking tours as an ambulatory addition to her cooking classes. On the North End tour, guests learn about Mediterranean eating customs before delving into practical food shopping, visiting salumerias, greengrocers, enotecas and a 70-year-old coffee and spice shop that still serves patrons today. The Chinatown tour is a bit different, taking travelers through the Chinatown gate to discover an authentic bakery, barbecue restaurant, herbal pharmacy and boba tea shop before sitting down for a guided dim sum tour with a knowledgeable guide. Several skilled docents and maybe even Ms. Topor herself will guide you through a mobile cooking class, showcasing the sights and smells of Boston's best. Tour sizes are very small (the North End tour has spots for 13 people while the Chinatown tour has spots for ten), so book your reservation today!

Built in 1998, Irish Famine Memorial is a poignant reminder of all that Irish families lost and all that came after that. A tribute to the men, women and children who did not make it during the destructive and disastrous Irish Famine, the memorials bronze statues serve as a reminder of loss and sufferings. The famine which struck Ireland in the middle of the 19th century lasted for five years, thereby destroying a country's centuries old rich heritage. A must visit for all, Irish Famine Memorial is one of those places that leave a lasting impression.

The Tremont Temple church is one of the city's largest baptist churches and is an architectural masterpiece. The converse hall at the church is extremely large and can seat around 1800 people but even with its humongous size, the sound and the acoustics are magnificent. A popular venue for various religious events and concerts, the hall is popular amongst the locals of the city. Famous groups such as Anointed have performed here and it is a great place to visit during a trip to Boston. So come by to offer your prayers at this holy sanctity or attend their popular events.

Granary Burying Ground, a historic cemetery established in 1660, is the final resting place of many notable figures of the American Revolution. Besides famous patriots such as Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, the graves of the Boston Massacre victims (and Elizabeth "Mother" Goose herself) are among the more renowned in the graveyard. Located on the Freedom Trail across from the Park Street Church, this cemetery is a piece of Boston's varied history, and worth a visit. Wander the haphazard rows and see if you can recognize some of the thousands of names.