There are no Free Brady t-shirts this holiday shopping season (he beat the rap!), but there are still plenty of Boston-themed gifts available for everyone on your list, be they naughty, nice, or from New York.
Here are 11, with an emphasis on experiences rather than merchandise.
New England maple leaves
This is still a thing: bonafide foliage from Boston’s home region. The five-leaf gift box above is just $44.99.
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T signs, puzzles, mugs, and more
For the transit geek in your life (maybe that’s you?), the MBTA’s online gift store offers a plethora of transport-related stuff.
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Anti-New York t-shirts
Literally wear your loathing of Gotham on your sleeve with this assortment of t-shirts. Most of them are anti-Yankees, but people will get the general drift.
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Books about (or set in) Boston
There are so many fantastic books about the city and its surrounding region, from meaty nonfiction such as J. Anthony Lukas’ Common Ground to weighty fiction from Dennis Lehane to more whimsical stuff for the kids such as Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings. Here, let Mayor Marty Walsh help you.
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Freedom Trail memorabilia
The Boston area is the birthplace of the American Revolution and nothing does a better job of taking people through the important events of that civic earthquake (and its aftershocks) quite like the Freedom Trail. Own reminders of it, including mugs, maps, and books, through the Freedom Trail Foundation’s online store.
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Freedom Trail tour
There are tons of guided tours of the trail, too, all well under $20 each.
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A Hubway membership
Got a biker in your life? Gift them a membership in the region’s legendary bike-sharing system. An annual pass is a relatively cheap $85. There are other, shorter options, too, including a 24-hour pass for $6.
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A Hubway helmet
And, if that biker in your life doesn’t wear a helmet, get him or her one right away! Cost: $24.99.
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Boston by duck boat
This is probably the quirkiest way to tour Boston: via amphibious landing vehicles nicknamed “duck boats.” Navigating the Charles River just as easily as the streets of downtown, the tours take people to more than 30 famous sites. You can easily gift someone a trip.
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Boston by trolley
Worried about your loved ones’ sea legs? Then perhaps a tour of Boston by trolley is the better bet. Old Town Trolley Tours offers a package that covers more than 100 points of interest and includes admission to select museums.
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Arnold Arboretum tours
Nature lover on your list? Or a gardener? You can arrange tours of the 281-acre, Harvard-run Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. It’s one, big living laboratory of plant and animal life.