Last updated: June 27, 2026
ExploreBoston.com (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is a Boston, Massachusetts travel and tourism guide built to help you explore Boston like a local. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit our website, how we use, share, and protect it, the choices and rights you have, and how to reach us. By using ExploreBoston.com, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
Information We Collect
Information You Provide to Us
We collect personal information that you choose to provide directly, including:
- Contact form submissions. When you use our contact form, we collect your name, email address, phone number, and the contents of your message.
- Event submissions. When you submit an event for our local events listings, we collect the submitter’s contact details, the information you provide about the event, and any image you upload. Event submissions are reviewed before they may be published on the site.
- Comments. When you comment on a blog post or page, we collect your name and email address along with the content of your comment. Your name and comment may be displayed publicly on the site; your email address is not published.
Information We Collect Automatically
When you visit our site, certain information is collected automatically through standard web technologies, including:
- IP address and approximate location derived from it.
- Browser and device information, such as browser type, operating system, and device identifiers.
- Usage and log data, including pages viewed, referring URLs, timestamps, and standard server logs.
- Cookies and similar technologies used to operate and improve the site.
- Security logs generated by our security software (Wordfence) to detect and prevent malicious activity.
- Caching and content delivery network (CDN) data processed by our hosting, caching, and delivery providers (including GoDaddy, LiteSpeed, and Cloudflare) to serve pages quickly, securely, and reliably.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Respond to your inquiries and messages submitted through our contact form.
- Review, moderate, and publish event submissions and comments.
- Operate, maintain, and improve the website and its content.
- Analyze usage trends to understand how visitors interact with our guides.
- Protect the site against fraud, abuse, security threats, and technical issues.
- Comply with applicable legal obligations and enforce our terms.
Legal Bases for Processing (EU, EEA, and UK Visitors)
If you are located in the European Union, European Economic Area, or United Kingdom, we process your personal information only where we have a valid legal basis to do so. Depending on the situation, this includes: your consent (for example, when you submit a comment, an event, or non-essential cookies); the performance of a request you make of us, such as responding to your contact message; our legitimate interests in operating, securing, analyzing, and improving the site, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights; and compliance with legal obligations. Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to remember your preferences, keep the site secure, enable core functionality, and measure site performance. Some cookies are essential to the operation of the website, while others help us understand and improve the visitor experience. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings; however, disabling certain cookies may affect how the site functions. Because there is no industry-standard response to browser “Do Not Track” signals, our site does not currently respond to them.
How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. We share information only in the following limited circumstances:
- Service providers. We share information with trusted vendors who help us operate the site, including hosting, content delivery, caching, email delivery, form processing, and security providers. These providers may process your information only to perform services on our behalf.
- Published content. Information you choose to make public, such as your name and the content of a comment or an approved event listing, is visible to other visitors of the site.
- Legal requirements. We may disclose information when required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of ExploreBoston.com, our visitors, or others.
- Business transfers. If ExploreBoston.com is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to this policy.
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Contact messages, event submissions, and comments are kept for as long as reasonably needed for their purpose, after which they are deleted or anonymized. Automatically collected log and security data are retained for a limited period consistent with operational and security needs.
Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include web application security software, access controls, and encrypted (HTTPS) connections. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, or delete your data, and to opt out of certain processing. To exercise any of these rights, please reach out to us through our Contact page. We will respond consistent with applicable law and may need to verify your identity before acting on your request. You may also authorize an agent to make a request on your behalf where the law permits.
EU, EEA, and UK Visitors (GDPR)
If you are located in the European Union, European Economic Area, or United Kingdom, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and objection to processing. Where we rely on your consent, you have the right to withdraw it at any time. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA), including the right to know what personal information we collect and how we use and disclose it, the right to request deletion or correction, and the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. As noted above, we do not sell or share your personal information. We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your privacy rights.
Children’s Privacy
ExploreBoston.com is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, attractions, events, and resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please reach out to us through our Contact page. This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA.