Boston Bed & Breakfasts Welcome You To March Celebrations  

Boston turns green, complete with leprechauns, during the annual Flower and Garden Show that blooms March 13-17, 2013. Then March 17th boasts the city's famed St. Patrick's Day Parade.

 
Both events are steeped in history. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society hosted the Flower Show for 137 years before it was taken over by the Paragon Group in 2010. This year also marks the 113th anniversary of the parade in “Southie.” It only makes sense to stay in a historical inn to experience fully these vintage Bostonian events.
 
Brookline’s  Beacon Inn offers a selection of 25 guest rooms in two restored brownstones. Egyptian towels and Gilchrist and Soames bath products are among the amenities in the newly renovated guest rooms. Originally a country road, Beacon Street is now filled with unique shops and restaurants. Ask about low seasonal rates, updates and specials that are offered on the inn's Facebook and Twitter accounts. 
 
The parade has been canceled only once when in 1993 the streets were closed because of a blizzard. If St. Patrick’s Day is cold again, you'll be able to cuddle next to a gas log fireplace at The Gryphon House Bed and Breakfast. The botanically themed Garden Room certainly fits in with the rest of your trip. All suites offer a queen-size bed and you can continue your green vacation by touring nearby Fenway Park to see the “Green Monster.” 
 
Bustling Harvard Square is a short distance from The Mary Prentiss Inn in Cambridge. The 20-room Greek Revival-style inn is in the National Register of Historic Places and offers a plethora of amenities including a made-to-order breakfast. If you book the "T" package it will include subway passes and underground parking.
 
Pretend to be a local by staying at Anthony’s Town House in residential Brookline. The turn-of-the-century brownstone is across the street from the Hawes Street stop on the Green Line and you can explore all of Boston on the “T” or walk to a variety of international restaurants nearby. The inn is three miles from the Wang Theatre where Celtic Women will be performing on March 16. 
 
It’s easy to celebrate the holiday at a hip Davis Square Irish pub when you stay at the Morrison House Bed and Breakfast. The updated 1870 historic home in Somerville is near restaurants, shops, entertainment, and a subway stop and many have found this to be more convenient than staying in Boston or Cambridge. 
 
According to the 2000 US Census, one-quarter of Boston residents claim to have some form of Irish ancestry so it should come as no surprise that there is a three-mile, self-guided tour of Irish statues and monuments. The best way to explore the Irish Heritage Trail is to stay in Boston proper at the Bunker Hill Bed and Breakfast, also near Boston’s Freedom Trail,  which passes 16 historically significant sites. This inn is also pet friendly.
 
You will be full of gardening ideas after attending a lecture or demo at the Flower Show. Test your new skills when you stay in the Garden Room of A Lady Winette Cottage where you can look out over the secret garden and imagine how you would fill the space. Marblehead is a peaceful beach town with a historic harbor and the soothing sound of waves will help you sleep after your fun-filled day.
 
Marblehead is also home to the Marblehead Inn. Originally a private residence, it became a guesthouse in 1923. The grand Victorian mansion has tall ceilings, detailed moldings, and an elegant charm. Be sure to ask the innkeepers about famous past guests. Bring your camera when you visit the unique, spindly, metallic brown lighthouse nearby. You'll receive two passes to the Peabody Essex Museum and your second night half-off with the inn's Winter Special. 
 
Walk into “Old Town” Marblehead from the Jersey Hill Bed and Breakfast, a19th-century Victorian house. The innkeepers are proud of the town’s beautiful harbor and architecture dating to the 1600s, and will be happy to point you to the most historic areas. Continental breakfasts are offered under the sparkling chandelier in the formal dining room.
 
“Seeds of Change” is the theme for this year’s Flower Show. Follow the theme by getting a change of scenery at the Lantana House in the historic seaside town of Rockport. It's an hour away by car or train, and you can arrive in town early and show your Irish spirit by participating in the Gloucester Irish Sweepstakes. The year-round inn is within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Low winter rates are available until April.