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The local’s guide to staycationing in downtown Boston – Metro US

The local’s guide to staycationing in downtown Boston

Forget flying standby, searching for lost luggageand seats next to screaming children. If you’re looking for a break from the daily grind, consider taking a Staycation without even stepping outside the confines of the city. Whether you’re pinching pennies or makin’ it rain with cash these days, your hometown is the perfect place to find a great weekend adventure.

Wallet Friendly
You don’t have to drop serious change in order to find a good time in the city. Head to New York Pizza (224 Tremont St.) in the heart of the Theater District for jumbo-size slices of extra doughy pizza, and then grab a beer or two at Hub Pub (18 Province St.)

If you’re still craving carbs, tackle Battery Park Bar & Lounge (33 Batterymarch St.) for the Dirty Pretzels, three soft-baked clouds of pretzel deliciousness with dipping sauces like cheese and chipotle aioli. Hang up your hat at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Boston – Downtown (821 Washington St.), a price-friendly but comfortable hotel conveniently located across from the MBTA Orange Line, and in walking distance to Downtown Crossing.

Calling All Hipsters
Always in the know? Then you’ve probably heard of the Tasting Room at Sip Wine Bar & Kitchen (581 Washington St.), which just opened its doors on Easter. A permanent pop-up space where food and wine come to be creative amidst communal tables and cooking classes, you can grab a seat at the bar and look out onto the bright lights of the Theater District.

Post-meal, crawl home to the Ames Hotel (1 Court St.) tucked right behind Government Center, a luxury boutique hotel that fuses modern style with one of Boston’s most historic buildings. Roll out of bed on a Sunday for Brunch Club at GEM Italian Kitchen, Nightclub & Lounge (42 Province St.), a non-stop party that will make you think you never left the club. Dive into the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, or grab a slice of the yellow tomato pizza with feta cheese, pepperoni, and balsamic syrup while the DJ spins the afternoon away behind you.

Schedule your staycation for May 22-24 and grab some tickets to catch Boston Calling on City Hall Plaza, so you can see this season’s edition featuring performances by everyone from Beck to The Pixies.

Family Friendly
Having kids in tow doesn’t mean you’re destined for a miserable staycation of Happy Meals. Exhaust the little ones with a ride on the historic Rose Kennedy Greenway Carousel, followed by treats from the area food trucks like Stoked Pizza and Cookie Monstah. (Those will be a hit with both parents and child.)

Next, make a visit to the Old State House Museum (206 Washington St.) where the kiddos can dress up in traditional revolutionary garb. At the Hyatt Regency Boston (1 Avenue de Lafayette), the whole family can take a dip at the indoor pool before crashing into bed. The hotel also offers on-call babysitting, in case you’re eager to sneak away for a bit. And if the kids get hungry but you don’t feel like wrangling them up, Salvatore’s (545 Washington St.) delivers pizza straight to your room, and Legal Crossing (558 Washington St.) will send over lobster rolls.

Creative Types
If the theater is your game, there’s no better pre-show location than Abby Lane (255 Tremont St.) Feast on their signature boneless buttermilk fried chicken before heading to see upcoming shows like Boston Lyric Opera’s “Don Giovanni” at the Shubert Theatre (265 Tremont St.) from May 1-10, or if classic American tunes are more of your jam, check out “In the Mood” from May 12-24 at the Emerson Colonial Theatre (106 Boylston St.)

Snag post-show drinks in the bar at the W Hotel (100 Stuart St.) and if you’re still hungry, Chinatown is waiting with a late-night plate of lo mein at Chow Chau City (83 Essex St.) which keeps its doors open until 3 a.m.

Luxe Life
Want to feel like a movie star for the weekend? Then you might want to go for the full Boston luxury treatment. At the delectable TRADE (540 Atlantic Ave.) overlooking the Greenway, grab a table and a wine list, which you can peruse by variety rather than region. Choose from a bejeweled page of exclusive rosé to a portfolio of high end Bordeaux. For dessert, order the ultimate indulgence: the off-menu, weekend-only coconut cake that’s covered in coconut buttercream frosting, served with candied kumquats and a rich and tangy passion fruit sauce with fresh passion fruit pulp.

When it’s time to kick off your heels for the night, head to the Presidential Suite at the Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common (10 Avery St.) Starting at $6000 a night, you’ll enjoy indulgences like the 12th-floor views of Fenway Park and a chandelier made of bifocal lenses in a nod to the suite’s inspiration, Benjamin Franklin.

Get pampered in the Theater District as the newly-revamped Bliss Spa at the W Hotel (100 Stuart St.) which has manicure stations with individual iPads and Beats by Dre headphones, before taking a dive onto the massage table for the “Blissage 75,” a full-body massage with a sole-soothing warm wax foot wrap. Cap off your trip with a romantic gondola cruise for two at the Gondola di Venezia- Boston Gondola Tours (Beacon & Arlington St.)