PlanetEye

For an older American city, Boston has a beautifully uncluttered skyline.  And the sights from the Prudential Tower's 50th floor Skywalk Observatory, the highest public observation deck in New England, are nothing short of amazing.
 
Built in 1965, the Pru -as it is known to locals- was the tallest building in Boston until the completion of the nearby John Hancock Tower in 1976. (The John Hancock building comes in at 788 feet, the Pru is just a touch shorter at 759 feet.)

The Skywalk's dedicated elevator will whoosh you directly to the Observatory.  Here, there are exhibits on Boston's history and a multi-media movie presentation about the Boston immigrant experience. But the high point of your visit will be the 360-degree view of the Boston skyline. Admission to the Skywalk includes an audio wand that describes the city's historic sites from the perspective of a Boston "native".  Young visitors will enjoy the children's version of the tour.

From the Skywalk's floor to ceiling windows look east- you can easily see the gold dome of the Massachusetts State House, the Zakim Bridge, and across the harbor, Logan Airport. Look carefully and you can even make out the spire of Old North Church and the obelisk that is the Bunker Hill Monument. The view from the south -facing windows is totally different. Here you will see row upon row of townhouses neatly arranged around gated- park ovals. Boston's South End is the largest intact Victorian row -house neighborhood in the United States. Looking to the west, visitors have a bird's eye view of Fenway Park. It is easy to see why John Updike once referred to Fenway Park as "a little lyrical bandbox of a ballpark."  The most prominent feature from the north windows has got to be MIT's Great Dome - (the site of many infamous MIT hacks) just across the Charles River in Cambridge.
 
A visit to the Prudential Tower Skywalk Observatory during one of your first days in Boston is a great way to get an overview of the city. The Skywalk Observatory is open 7 days a week; summer hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m., but is occasionally closed for private events, so it is always best to call ahead.