Sometimes you just need a city fix.
When that feeling hits, Boston is one of my favorite escapes from Vermont, and more often than not, I find myself heading straight for Back Bay. Historic brownstones, tree-lined streets, some of the city’s best shopping and restaurants, and so much within walking distance make it an easy neighborhood to settle into for a weekend.
On my latest visit, I checked into somewhere with a little more history than your average Boston hotel room: the Judy Garland Suite at The Lenox Hotel.
Yes, that Judy Garland.
The legendary actress and singer had a long history with The Lenox, first staying at the hotel in 1939 while on a promotional tour for MGM and returning numerous times throughout her life. In 1965, she lived in the suite for more than three months. Today, The Lenox has transformed the space into a tribute to Garland and the old Hollywood glamour associated with her era.
For a weekend in Boston, it makes an already great Back Bay location considerably more memorable.
Inside the Judy Garland Suite at The Lenox Hotel
The Judy Garland Suite isn’t simply a hotel room named after a famous former guest. You’re actually staying in the room where Garland lived for a period of time.
The apartment-style suite spans approximately 650 square feet and feels much more like a glamorous city residence than a standard hotel room. Rich fabrics and colors, an oversized sitting area, vintage crystal chandelier and elegant furnishings give the space its old Hollywood personality.
One of my favorite details is the wood-burning fireplace, which The Lenox operates seasonally from Labor Day through Memorial Day. The suite also has an Italian marble bathroom, a king bed and views over Back Bay.
It’s sophisticated without feeling like you’ve walked into a museum dedicated to Judy Garland. Instead, the connection to her becomes another layer of the experience.
Judy Garland’s History at The Lenox
The hotel’s relationship with Garland stretches across decades.
After her first stay in 1939, Garland repeatedly returned to The Lenox while visiting Boston. She stayed there around her 1961 sold-out appearance at Boston Garden and made the hotel her home for several months in 1965.
Her connection to Boston itself was significant, too. In 1967, Garland performed a famous concert on Boston Common that drew a crowd reportedly exceeding 100,000 people.
The Lenox eventually created the Judy Garland Suite in room 423, incorporating the room’s original fireplace and mirror while designing the rest of the space as a nod to the glamour of her Hollywood years.
Even if you aren’t a devoted Judy Garland fan, knowing that you’re staying in a room connected to that history makes the experience much more interesting.
The Lenox: A Historic Hotel in Boston’s Back Bay
The history extends well beyond one famous guest.
The Lenox opened in October 1900, when Back Bay was emerging as one of Boston’s most important cultural and residential neighborhoods. At 11 stories, the hotel was considered one of the city’s early high-rise hotels and was impressively modern for its era, with elevators, electric lights, telephones and private bathrooms among its features.
More than 125 years later, that history is still part of the appeal.
You’re staying in a historic Boston hotel, but you’re also in one of the best locations for actually getting out and experiencing the city.
Why I Love Staying in Back Bay
For me, one of the biggest reasons to choose Back Bay is how much you can do without constantly getting back in the car.
Start with a walk along Commonwealth Avenue Mall, where rows of mature trees and historic brownstones create one of my favorite streetscapes in Boston. From there, wander Newbury Street for shopping, continue toward the Boston Public Garden or simply spend some time exploring the residential streets.
Back Bay gives you the city experience I want when I’m escaping Vermont for a few days: restaurants, shopping, architecture, people and plenty happening around you, but it’s still incredibly walkable.
And after a full day exploring, there’s something especially nice about coming back to a hotel room with a wood-burning fireplace.
Where to Eat During a Back Bay Weekend
A Boston weekend requires a good restaurant list, and staying in Back Bay puts plenty of options within walking distance or a short ride.
For coffee and pastries, Tatte Bakery & Cafe is an easy morning stop. If you’re looking for an occasion-worthy dinner, make a reservation at Contessa, the rooftop restaurant atop The Newbury Boston overlooking the Public Garden.
Oak Long Bar + Kitchen at the Fairmont Copley Plaza is another favorite for cocktails in a beautiful historic setting.
And if you’re willing to venture beyond Back Bay for dinner, head into the North End for classic Italian food. Mamma Maria is a longtime favorite for a more polished dinner in one of Boston’s most atmospheric neighborhoods.
Part of the fun of a Boston weekend is leaving yourself enough time to walk between stops. Have the cocktail. Make the dinner reservation. Wander back through the city afterward.
An Easy Boston Getaway From Vermont
Boston is one of those destinations I sometimes forget is so accessible from Vermont.
You can leave the mountains behind for a few days, get your fill of restaurants, shopping, museums, shows and city streets, and be back home without turning the trip into a major production.
Back Bay makes an especially good home base for a girls’ weekend, birthday trip, anniversary, theater weekend or spontaneous change of scenery. And if you’re going to make the trip, staying somewhere with a story makes it that much better.
The Judy Garland Suite at The Lenox delivers exactly that: a historic Boston hotel, a room once inhabited by one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars and one of my favorite Boston neighborhoods waiting right outside the door.
Sometimes a city fix is exactly what you need.
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