Bostonians love to be active as much as they enjoy watching their sporting heroes and the impact of history in Boston extends to sport, particularly to its home baseball team the Red Sox (tel: (617) 482 4SOX (4769); website: www.redsox.com; ticket cost: US$12-95). In 1903, the city hosted the first World Series and won. Until 2004, their last World Series win was in 1918, the year 'Babe' Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees. The Red Sox play in Fenway Park, the country's oldest active ballpark. Built in 1912, it was recently remodelled and more seats were added. The season is April-October, after which the play-offs for the World Series continue for several weeks. Afternoon games begin at 1305 and most night games at 1905. Standing room only tickets for sold-out games usually go on sale an hour-and-a-half before the game.

The Boston Celtics (tel: (617) 854 8000; website: www.celtics.com), based at the TD Banknorth Garden, 150 Causeway (tel: (617) 624 1000), is the city's contribution to the National Basketball Association. Tickets cost US$10-275 and the season is October-April. The last time they won the NBA Championship was 1986.

The Boston Bruins (tel: (617) 931 2222; website: www.bostonbruins.com) battle it out in the national ice hockey league, also at the TD Banknorth Garden. They last won the Stanley Cup in 1972. There are play-offs through into June and tickets cost US$10-99.

The New England Patriots (tel: (800) 543 1776; website: www.patriots.com) are in the National Football League, playing at the Gillette Stadium (tel: (508) 384 4378; website: www.gillettestadium.com). They have been Super Bowl champions in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
The season is August-January and tickets prices range from US$59-125, although they are usually sold out.

Also based at Gillette Stadium is the New England Revolution soccer team (tel: (877) 438 7387; website: www.nerevolution.com; ticket price US$16-32). The season is March to October and the team has an unwritten agreement to appear after any game for autograph signing.

Perhaps the biggest combined doing-spectating event in the city is the now world-famous Boston Marathon (tel: (617) 236 1652 or (508) 435 6905 (registration); website: www.bostonmarathon.org; entry fee US$95 for US residents, US$125 for others). It takes place on Patriot's Day, 17 April 2006, along a route from Hopkinton to Boston, with the 20,000 runners aiming to reach the finish at Copley Square.

The Union Boat Club, 144 Chestnut Street (tel: (617) 742 1520; website: www.unionboatclub.org) on the Charles River was the first rowing club in the USA. Rowing's subsequent popularity has led to the biggest event in the country, the Head of the Charles Regatta, with around 5,000 men and women competing from colleges drawn from all over the world.

The Charles River is also a popular and designated cycling route, the 29km (18-mile) Dr Paul Dudley White Bikeway. Another route is the Minuteman Bicycle Trail following 18km (11 miles) of former railway line from Cambridge's Alewife Station.

Ticketmaster (tel: (617) 931 2000; website: www.ticketmaster.com) sells tickets for all major sporting events.

Boating: Watersports are very popular from April to October. America's oldest public boating set-up is Community Boating, 21 David G Mugar Way (tel: (617) 523 1038; website: www.community-boating.org). They offer the full range of watercraft for hire, including sailboats and kayaks with instruction available. Two other good places are Charles River Recreation, 2401 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton (tel: (617) 965 5110; website: www.ski-paddle.com) and Boston Sailing Center, 54 Lewis Wharf (tel: (617) 227 4198; website: www.bostonsailingcenter.com).

Fishing: Lakes in spots such as Jamaica Pond offer freshwater fishing. The Boston Park Rangers (tel: (617) 635 7383; website: www.cityofboston.gov/parks) can provide information and licences for US$28.50 per year.

Fitness Centres: Most hotels have facilities for both residents and non-residents. The Greater Boston YMCA, 316 Huntington Avenue (tel: (617) 536 6950; website: www.ymcaboston.org; cost: US$10 for a day pass and photo ID is required) has a good range of facilities. Boston Athletic Club, 653 Summer Street (tel: (617) 269 4300; website: www.bostonathleticclub.com), allows its facilities to be used by downtown hotel residents on presentation of a room key and a fee of US$25. Women's Fitness of Boston, 27 School Street (tel: (617) 227 1221; website: www.womensfitnessofboston.com) is a secluded female-only environment.

Golf: There are around 20 different courses in the Boston area. The best contact is the Massachusetts Golf Association (tel: (800) 356 2201 or (744) 430 9100; website: www.mgalinks.org), which has details on courses throughout the state. One example is the 18-hole municipal course at Newton, 212 Kenrick Street (tel: (617) 630 1971; website: www.newtongolf.com). Green fees vary according to the time of day and begin at US$28.

Ice Skating: Naturally frozen waters are popular ice-skating venues, such as Boston Common's Frog Pond and Boston Public Garden's Lagoon. Obviously, it is necessary to enquire on the day according to the weather conditions.

Skiing: Just 16km (10 miles) south of the city in Canton is the Blue Hills Ski Area (tel: (781) 828 5070; fax: (781) 828 5071; website: www.thenewbluehills.com). There are full resort facilities and the area also has a full range of year-round nature and leisure activities. The ski resorts of Vermont and New Hampshire are only a few hours away.

Swimming: There are at least 16 public pools run by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (tel: (617) 626 1250; website: www.mass.gov/dcr/rec-act.htm) throughout the Boston area. The outdoor season is late June to early September. The Boston Athletic Club and the YMCA (see Fitness Centres above) also offer facilities.

Tennis: The Department of Conservation and Recreation (see above) run at least 25 free public courts throughout the area.