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Facilities include the Conley Container Terminal, the center of container handling; Boston Autoport, processing nearly 100,000 cars a year and many others. 15 cruise lines, such as Norwegian and Cunard, stop in Boston.

A network of highways run through and around the city, large commercial trucking fleets, railroads, and delivery services all are active in the shipping industry of Boston.

Among the largest employers in Boston are these institutions and companies.
Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital together account for employing 20,000 people! Fidelity Investments (FMR Corp.) employs approximately 8,000 people with Boston University close following close behind at approximately 7,400. Other Boston employers with more than 5,000 employees include the Beth Israel Co., BankBoston, and the New England Medical Center.

Looking beyond medicine, education, banking, finance, and insurance, these well know consumer product companies have their headquarters in Boston:

- The Gillette Company, now owned by Procter & Gamble (headquarters)
- Houghton Mifflin (headquarters)
- New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. (headquarters)

Since the historical and cultural attractions of Boston make tourism an important part of the economy, here are some excellent family activities in Boston:

1. Swan Boats
Your family's visit to Boston is not complete without an outing to the Swan Boats in the Public Garden. This is a delightful tradition, with generations of children remembering their visit to the park.
This attraction with a tradition that has continued since the 1800s, is the basis of Robert McCloskey's classic children's book: Make Way for Ducklings. Parents and children, alike, will feel the excitement and recognize the charming setting for this marvelously illustrated classic.

Take the relaxing 15-minute ride around the Public Garden lagoon. The Swan Boats are open from mid-April to mid-September, seven days a week (weather permitting). For an extended visit, bring a picnic lunch and then walk over to the Frog Pond and playground in the Boston Common.

2. Old Town Trolley Tours is a very smart way to see the New England Aquarium, the North End, the U.S.S. Constitution, Boston Common, the State House, Government Center, Beacon Hill, the Convention Center, Hard Rock Cafe, the Boston Tea Party Ship, the Beacon Street Bull & Finch, Bunker Hill, MIT, Newbury Street, Chinatown, and others.

3.MIT Museum Main Exhibition Center

The entire family will enjoy this visit, especially if they are into computers and technology. This is the place for hands-on and interactive exhibits at a great price.

Just thinking about a family trip to Boston inspires excitement and curiosity. The economy, stimulated by Boston's industry and commerce, provides the setting for a family visit to this historic, yet dynamically contemporary American city.

Learn more about this author, E.M.Robinson.
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