History, seafood, pubs and famous sites—Boston, MA contains all of these and more.
The names in Boston will remind you of high school U.S. history lessons as you walk along the waterfront at the Boston Harbor and discover the replica of the Boston Tea Party Ship. (Remember when the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Native Americans, sneaked onto the ship, and dumped bags of tea over the side to protest taxation without representation?) Visitors can watch a re-enactment of this event with their ship tour tickets.
The Freedom Trail is a great way to see the many historic sights that influenced our nation’s fight for independence. The Trail consists of 16 sites, many of which are accessible by walking. At the website, thefreedomtrail.org, you can buy tickets and arrange tours. The tours try to offer something for everyone, pub crawls, history tours, African American Patriot tours, Revolutionary Women tours, and many others.
The Old North Church is one of my favorite sites, made even more famous by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “One if by land, and two if by sea.” Visitors can walk where Paul Revere once rode to light lanterns for the revolutionaries to warn them that the British were coming. The church now uses online resources that provide more interesting information such as the Prince’s Prowl where Prince the Cat is the virtual tour guide. Prince’s Prowl is great for kids…and those who are kids at heart.
Faneuil Hall, the site of America’s first Town Meeting, is important for its history, but also for its fun and food. The hall has been transformed into a marketplace with stores, bars, food vendors, and restaurants. Visitors can buy Boston lobsters to eat there or ship home. It’s a great place to get a bite to eat during a day of sightseeing or to shop for some souvenirs for those at home. (Visitors may want to visit Cheers in Faneuil Hall, an exact replica of the original TV program.)
Another place that I love, especially with children, is the Boston Common, the oldest public park in the United States. It was established in 1634 when the Puritan colonists bought the land from the first European settler in the area. The Boston Public Garden is another popular stop with children who will love seeing the bronze statues of the ducks from Make Way for Ducklings, the children’s book by Robert McCloskey.
Visitors have many options when looking for places to stay. One option is to stay further outside the city and use public transportation to travel. A more expensive option is to stay close in and avoid additional travel time. We have done both through the years and been pleased with both choices. Once in the downtown area, Boston is very walk-able. Even if the weather is cold and wet, visitors can travel to the sites by walking from pub to pub to warm up their feet at a fire while enjoying a pint or appetizer.
Boston is a fun year-round trip, but, personally, I would recommend not visiting in the winter since the occasional snowstorm can catch visitors from the South unprepared!
Have you been to Boston? What was your favorite historical site and/or your favorite place to eat? Please share with us in the comment section below.
