We had just one day in Boston before heading out to the Cape.  We decided to spend most of the day on the Freedom Trail, a path through the city that includes many historical landmarks.  It is a 2.5 mile path but somehow when we finished my phone said we had actually gone over 7 miles, so the walking around (and/or climbing up steps) in each stop really adds up.  Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.

The Freedom Trail starts from the Boston Common, America’s oldest public park.  There are many different guided walking tour options, some led by people in period costume and character.  We chose to buy a Freedom Trail map (for $3) from the Visitor Center at Boston Common and follow the trail at our own pace.  I wanted a printed copy to follow, but you could also download a digital version or purchase an audio guide online.

The Granary Burying Ground is along the Trail, and many famous Bostonians are buried there: John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, the Boston Massacre victims, and Mary Goose (who it is thought inspired the Mother Goose stories).

The Old State House is where the American Revolution began.  The site of the Boston Massacre is below the balcony and now commemorated with a circle of cobblestones.  The declaration of Independence was first read to the people from this balcony.  There is a museum inside which we didn’t take time to visit, but we did go in the gift shop on the second floor and you can look out the balcony window from there.

One of my favorite stops along the Trail was the Paul Revere House.  The house was built around 1680 and was owned by Paul Revere from 1770-1800.  He lived there when he took his famous ride in 1775.  His great-grandson bought the house in 1902 and it was restored into a museum with period furnishings.

Not far from Paul Revere’s House is the Old North Church.  It was from this church steeple that two lanterns were held up as a signal from Paul Revere that the British were coming (“One if by land, and two if by sea”).  Inside the church you can sit in the box pews that were at one time purchased by colonials.

Both Paul Revere’s House and the Old North Church are in the North End neighborhood, often called Little Italy.  This is a great part of the Freedom Trail to stop for lunch.  Here are some suggestions from Zagat: 10 Best Dishes to Eat Along the Freedom Trail.

Crossing the Charles River, we made our way to the Bunker Hill Monument which commemorates the site of the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill.  (Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!)  We climbed the 294 steps to the top of the tower and were rewarded with great panoramic views of the city.

Our last stop along the Freedom Trail was the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”).  We were surprised to hear she is still in active duty, and occasionally returns to the water (although not often and for mostly ceremonial purposes).  You can board and wander around above and below deck.  The boat is under restoration and it was hard to get a good view of the exterior with all the scaffolding, but inside the adjacent museum there are some great photos and replicas.  The USS Constitution Museum has lots of interesting information presented in unique and appealing ways. I recommend at least a short walk through (it is free).

 

After a full day exploring the Freedom Trail, we spent our evening enjoying a classic Boston experience – a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.  We got lucky that the Yankees were in town (a long time rivalry) and we were able to pick up some great tickets on Craigslist for a reasonable price.

 

I love their tradition of singing Sweet Caroline half way through the 8th inning.  So fun.

 

The Freedom Trail, delicious lobster risotto, and a Red Sox game – even though we only had one day in Boston, it was a great day!