Out-of-towners

What do they look for when they browse Boston, taste its cuisine, see its history, shop, ask directions …

July 03, 2011|By Nicole Cammorata, Meredith Goldstein, Courtney Hollands, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent

We Bostonians usually flee the urban jungle for mountaintops and beaches on summer weekends or days off. (We can have the Hub anytime we want.) On those same weekends, there’s a reverse migration of tourists who leave from Australia, Japan, Oklahoma City, Seattle, and all over the globe to shuffle along the Freedom Trail and raise a glass at Cheers.

Boston means different things to different people: History. Chowder. Baked beans. Sports. Museums. A stopover on the way to New York.

We chatted with camera-and-map-wielding visitors at Quincy Market, in the North End, and near the Park Street MBTA stop in the Boston Common to learn what out-of-towners think of our fair city.

Mike Fein, New Orleans

What did you think Boston was going to be like?

A lot of Red Sox fans. It’s more open-minded than I thought. My wife made me leave my Yankee gear at home. We are going to a Sox game, just to enjoy the ambience of a great tradition in sports - not just baseball. I’m going to respect the history of Fenway Park.

How’s the food been during your trip?

We’ve had absolutely marvelous food. This is coming from a person who writes reviews for Zagat in New Orleans. We had a spectacular meal at Meritage. And as I told the maitre d’, this is what fine dining is supposed to be.

Where else have you eaten in town?

Last night we went to Legal Sea Foods. We went to Oceanaire a couple of nights before, which was also extremely good. I’d say on my scale, Meritage is five stars, Oceanaire would be four stars, Legal Sea Foods three stars. We also had an unexpected wonderful meal at Scollay Square.

Tips for someone visiting New Orleans?

There’s always a festival somewhere in the area. Whether it’s a church fair that calls itself a gumbo festival or a catfish festival, a lot of the nice festivals there have grown up from church fairs and fund-raisers. You can either go the traditional second weekend of Mardi Gras, which you better start planning your hotel room pretty soon, or you can go to the locals’ weekend, which is the first weekend. Less crowded, not quite as bawdy. (NC)

Tamura Norikazu, Kobe, Japan

What did you know about Boston before you visited?

It’s better than New York. That’s what you want to hear, right?

Where have you eaten so far?

We’ve had very good seafood.

What museums have you seen?

The Museum of Fine Arts. Every time when I’m here, I visit the museum.

Any tips for people visiting Boston?

It is not a big city like Tokyo. It’s easy to walk around here. I tell my friends that it’s easier to visit here than New York. And it’s more academic than New York. We went to Harvard the day before yesterday.

What should I do in your hometown?

Kobe is also near the harbor, like Boston. You can enjoy seafood.

And Kobe beef?