[Note: This is not the be-all, end-all supporter’s guide to New England. Impact Media tells its story and invites supporters, especially those who have never been to Boston/Foxborough, to make that trip. This is why this story contains hints and tips that may seem obvious to seasoned travelers.]
This was the last game of the regular season, and we weren’t going to stay home. Oh no. The Impact was playing at New England Revolution, and this was bound to be a fun trip. The Impact Media team promptly jumped into its KIA to explore the path to Boston, and as we did for New York City and Toronto, we’re featuring a number of good reasons to go on the road and support the Bleu-blanc-noir.
Which route?
The two most direct routes to Boston start with a drive on Autoroute 10 East. When you reach Autoroute 35 South, you may turn onto the path that Impact Media followed: customs at Saint-Armand, I-89 South and I-93 South. If you travel via this route – the shortest one to Boston –, you will encounter the stops listed in the next section.
You can also keep driving on Autoroute 10 East and exit toward Autoroute 55 Sud, leading to customs at Stanstead. Once you’ve entered the United States, follow I-91 South and I-93 South to Boston.
Both routes take you through Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Where to stop?
Of the towns located by I-89, the main two (Burlington and Montpelier in Vermont) are under two-and-a-half hours from the Island of Montreal. While Burlington, on the banks of Lake Champlain, has every reason to charm its visitors, Impact Media headed to Montpelier.
The least-populated state capital in the United States, Montpelier is home to plenty of independent businesses that will truly make you feel that you are supporting the local economy. However, given that it is relatively close to Montreal, we recommend that you wait a little before you grab a meal.
Some 40 minutes south of Montpelier stands South Royalton and a restaurant called Worthy Burger (56 Rainbow Street). Located in an old freight house next to a railway, Worthy Burger gets crowded as soon as the doors open. And why shouldn’t it? The menu is equal parts simple and mouth-watering. Grilled over a hardwood fire, the burgers are large and affordable, made with products bought directly from farmers. The fries are cooked twice in beef tallow. The craft beer selection is generous. The service is impeccable. It may be off the beaten tracks, but Worthy Burger is worth the detour.
On your way home, however, our suggested stop is located between Montpelier and Burlington, in Waterbury. Prohibition Pig (23 South Main Street) serves beautifully smoked meats in sandwiches or burgers or on a plate, as well as a remarkable variety of beers (some brewed in-house), wines and cocktails. The menu also contains gluten-free and vegetarian options, proving once and for all that Impact Media is not simply a haven for carnivores.
Boston or Foxborough?
Let’s be brutally honest here: while Foxborough has the significant benefit of not being home to the Bruins, it is not the greatest tourist destination. Located some 45 minutes south of Boston, it is mostly known for its sports teams, the NFL’s Patriots and the Revolution.
This being said, if you’re only looking for a place to stay for a day, Foxborough definitely works and provides access to all basic amenities. A handful of hotels are located inside a one-mile radius of Gillette Stadium; one of these was built just by the stadium, and another should be open when the 2017 season kicks off. Restaurants, drugstores, shops and cafés are all within walking distance.
But Boston is Boston. While you’re there, you might as well discover the largest city in New England, and lodging options are endless. Just plan accordingly for match day – you’ll need the car.
Where to eat?
Before the game, the Impact Media team grabbed a bite at the Eagle Brook Saloon (258 Dedham Street in Norfolk), a five-minute drive from the stadium. From the outside, this looks straight out of the Far West, but this restaurant draws a family crowd and has a wide variety of meals to choose from.
Closer to Gillette Stadium, you’ll find options on Patriot Place. Enjoy traditional pub food at Bar Louie, or Mexican-inspired cuisine at Scorpion Bar.
If you’re staying in Foxborough, the Commons Neighborhood Eatery (20 Central Street) wins our bright-and-early vote. Breakfast is brilliantly American (meaning that you won’t be hungry again until mid-afternoon), and you get such a welcome that you’ll feel like a local.
What to do?
The City of Boston is a key part of American history. Delve into the past with the Freedom Trail, a four-kilometre red line that takes you through the American Revolution. A stone’s throw away from Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market is the place to go for a couple of souvenirs, a bit of window shopping and a snack in a charming décor.
Soccer journalist and New England Soccer Journal assistant editor Kyle McCarthy suggests that Montrealers take a nice walk through Boston’s North End, which he feels is underrated. “There’s great Italian food, and there’s a culture there that dates back all the way to the old country,” McCarthy says. “If you walk around, you can really feel like you’re in one of those large Italian cities.”
Once you get to Foxborough for the game, there’s really only one thing left to do, given that there’s so much parking space around Gillette Stadium: tailgate. As the 1642 Montreal group did, feel free to join Revolution supporters group The Rebellion in Lot 4.
Members of The Rebellion warmly welcomed the Impact Media team, which had to politely decline when offered a can of beer. The atmosphere, far from being hostile, was quite good-natured, with cupcakes being given around, en français s’il vous plaît. Stop by and say hi the next time you go to Gillette Stadium to support the Impact. For tickets in the away supporters section, reach out to Kyle Lindsay (kylel@revolutionsoccer.net) or book a trip with Montreal supporters groups.
