Under $100: Boston

Boston is America’s premier college town, with plenty of things to do for broke college kids. Check out these sites around Beantown and do Boston for under $100.

Besides the Red Sox and Harvard, Boston’s most well known icon might be Sam Adams beer. Their brewery located in Jamaica Plain offers tours of their facility as well as tastings on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. The tours are free, but there is a suggested donation of $2, which benefits local charities.

Having brunch at Harvard Square lets you explore the home of the esteemed Harvard University. The historic district is known for its street performers, with more than 300 registered to perform at the square. After chowing down, make sure you stop by Harvard Book Store. Although it has no affiliation with the university, the store is known for its intellectual audience, bringing in authors and academics renowned in around Boston and the world. The store regularly has free readings and events.

If Cambridge is a little too pricey, Boston has a number of free food festivals throughout the year. These festivals cover everything from taco nights to Italian feasts, and are held all over Boston. Popular sites include Harvard Square, North End and Boston Common.

Boston is home to a number of museums, and many offer free community. The Museum of Fine Art has a list of days where there is no admission charge. If your taste in art is a little unconventional, the Institute of Contemporary Art has free admission Thursdays from 5–9 p.m. The Museum of Afro-American History and the Commonwealth Museum are also free.

For an afternoon pick-me-up, head over to Coolidge Corner Wine & Spirits, which offers free tastings from 6–8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 4–7 p.m. Saturday. Once the sun has set, the Colt Observatory at Boston University offers free viewings Wednesdays after 7:30 p.m. during the fall and winter.