Boston Things to Do Tips by Ewingjr98

If you are new to the city and have only a little time or just want a good intro the Freedom Trail is the place to start. This well-marked red path takes you from the Common to the Battle of Bunker Hill with 14 official stops in between (and several unofficial stops that are part of my tour!).

The primary stops on the Trail are:
1. Boston Common - Great place to relax, play catch, feed the squirrels & look at the monuments

2. Massachusetts State House -- spend some time looking inside

3. Park Street Church

4. Granary Burial Ground - Final resting place of the Franklins (except Ben) Sam Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock, Boston Massacre victims & others

* unofficial stop -- grab a beer and a sandwich at Beantown Pub

5. King's Chapel & Burying Ground - Burial place of one of the Pilgrims

6. First Public School Site - not much here except a design in the sidewalk...more impressive is the Old City Hall with its statues of Ben Franklin and the donkey (be sure to read the story of the Republican elephant vs the Democrat donkey)

7. Old Corner Bookstore - Was the Boston Globe's souvenir shop...now closed I think

* Unofficial stop - take a peek at the Irish immigration statues depicting a starving Irish family's transformation from poor and broken to proud Americans

8. Old South Meeting House - where the Son's of Liberty met before the Boston Tea Party

9. Old State House -

10. Boston Massacre Site - located about 15 yards due east of the Old State House...there is a small traffic island at the intersection of Congress Street & Devonshire Street with a circle of stones embedded in the concrete... no other sign marks this spot

* Unofficial stop - See City Hall and the JFK Federal Building on your way to Faneuil Hall

11. Faneuil Hall - See the Sam Adams monument, Larry Bird and Bill Rodger's shoes, & Red Auerbach statue. Check out the food at Quincy Market, even if you aren't hungry

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Continuing on the trail after the Faneuil Hall stop...

* Unofficial stop - Boston's Holocaust Memorial

* Unofficial stop - grab a beer at one of the many bars in the Faneuil Hall area -- may favorites are Ames Plow Company, Black Rose, the Tap, Bell in Hand and the Point

* Unofficial stop - Green Dragon bar Marshall Street -- Boston's oldest tavern, and according to legend, where the Boston Tea Party was planned

* Unofficial stop - Blackstone Street is home to the Saturday market where you can find fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables

* Unofficial stop - on you way to Paul Revere's house in the North End, you will pass over the site of the Big Dig (the $11 billion dollar mistake) and the entrance to the Sumner and Callahan Tunnels leading to the airport

* Another Unofficial stop - This area of the North End has some of the best Italian restaurants you will find outside of Italy! My favorites have always been Ristorante Villa Francesca, Pagliuca's, and Pomodoro. Mike's Pastries is a great stop for the sweet tooth, and there are several good cafes

12. Paul Revere's House -- Boston's oldest residence. Across the street is Rachel Revere Playground

* Unofficial stop -- St. Stephen's Church (where Rose Kennedy was baptised) and the Paul Revere Mall

13. Old North Church - Does "One if by land, two if by sea" ring any bells?

14. Copp's Hill Burying Ground - It's a very old cemetery... no famous people buried here

15. USS Constitution - Famed "Old Ironsides". Arrive at sunset to see them fire the cannons prior to bringing down the flags

* Unofficial stop - Shipyard park near the Constitution has one of the best Korean War Memorials I have ever visited (except the one in Seoul!). Hear recorded stories of the war direct from Korean War veterans

16. Bunker Hill Monument - At the top of the hill in Charlestown.

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Set aside as a public pasture in 1634, the Boston Common is one of the oldest public parks in the US. Used to graze cows and sheep, for military drill, and for public executions, the Common has an interesting history. It was expanded in 1837 when the public garden was established.

Today the Common offers a 75 acre oasis in the center of downtown. This is the center of the annual First Night festival, home to ice skating, a great jogging area, and an ideal spot for sports or a picnic lunch. The Common is also home to various monuments and memorials such as the Soldiers Monument for Civil War veterans, the Monument to Colonel Robert Gould Shaw's colored 54th Infantry Regiment, as well as statues of George Washington, Irish Civil War Colonel Cass, and Senator Charles Sumner (after whom the Sumner tunnel was also named). My favorite is a monument dedicated to the first medicinal use of ether...

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Phone: 617-426-3115
Directions: Bound by Tremont, Beacon, Charles and Boylston Streets.
Website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/bostoncom

Perched on Beacon Hill, the State House is the home of Massachusetts' state government, and its statues, paintings, and artifacts make this building a museum dedicated to the state's history.

The building was constructed by Boston's famous architect, Charles Bulfinch, and was completed in 1798. The cornerstone was laid by none other than Sam Adams and Paul Revere. The original building, known as the Bulfinch Front, today makes up less than 10% of the existing structure after a major expansion in 1895 and a smaller expansion in 1917.

Outside of the State House, you will find statues of Daniel Webster, Civil War General Joseph Hooker, and John F. Kennedy among others.

One of my favorite areas inside the State House is the Hall of Flags. On display here are flags from the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The Senate Chamber lies directly under the golden dome.

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Directions: On the north side of Boston Common
Website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/trs/trsbok/trstour.htm

The Granary Cemetery is the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin's family (but not Mr. Franklin himself), John Hancock, Paul Revere, Sam Adams, the Boston Massacre victims, Peter Faneuil, and nursery rhyme legend "Mother" Goose.

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Address: Tremont Street

This location marks the site of America's first public school which was opened in 1635. The school is long gone, but it is marked by a bronze tablet and a sign in the sidewalk. Benjamin Franklin, Sam Adams, and John Hancock all attended the school.

Today the area is home to the Omni Hotel and the Old City Hall. In front of the Old City Hall, you will see statues of Benjamin Franklin, Josiah Quincy, and a donkey. In front of the donkey, you will see a plaque explaining the origination of the democratic donkey... when Andrew Jackson created the democratic party in 1828, his slogan was "let the people rule"... the media labeled him a jack ass...

On the ground in front of the ass are two bronze footprints labeled "Stand in opposition."

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The Irish Famine Monument was constructed in 1998 to commemorate those who died in the Irish famine and those who immigrated to the US. During and after the Irish famine, 100,000 Irish settled in Boston, and today the city is 20% Irish.

This monument depicts an Irish family suffering in Ireland, and their transformation after arriving in America.

The monument sits in a small plaza in front of Borders bookstore. The area is frequented by homeless, but seems relatively safe.

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Address: Washington and School Street
Directions: Next to the Old South Meeting Hall and Borders bookstore

Built in 1729, the old South Meeting Hall was originally a Puritan church, but later became one of the meeting places fro the Sons of Liberty prior to the American Revolution. In fact, this is where the Boston Tea Party began in December 1773, when 5,000 citizens met to debate their options.

Benjamin Franklin was also Baptized here.

Today Old South houses a museum, after local authors Luisa May Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson helped preserve the structure when it was slated for demolition.

Admission costs $3 for adults.

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Address: 310 Washington St
Directions: Near the Old State House

Built in 1742, Faneuil Hall has long been an integral part of downtown Boston. Originally built along the harbor as a marketplace, the city has slowly grown around Faneuil Hall. Today the first floor hosts many souvenir shops, a cafe, and a post office. The second floor is home to the famous meeting hall where the Sons of Liberty, including Samuel Adams, met to discuss the problems with the British government. In later years, the meeting hall was used by such notable people as Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Jefferson Davis, and John F. Kennedy. Upstairs from this remarkable meeting hall is the home of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, which was chartered in 1638 (http://www.ahacsite.org/).

National Park Service Rangers give tours of the 2nd-floor hall every 30-60 minutes throughout the day. It is well worth waiting to hear their stories.

Faneuil is pronounced "fan-yoll"

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Website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/faneuilhall.asp

Quincy Market is an area that is difficult to categorize. The area is known for its shopping, but the Quincy Market building houses dozens of small take-out restaurants.

If you are not in the mood for shopping and eating, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market are historic locations with impressive architectural significance. As the evening approaches, this area also offers various popular bars such as the Ames Plow Company, the Black Rose, and the Purple Shamrock. There is also a comedy club upstairs in the main building, as well as live music in the streets.

Want to take a romantic walk through the city? This spot also fits the bill as the trees are beautifully lit with white Christmas-style lights. Columbus park and Long Wharf are also just a short stroll away, and make for nice, peaceful evening spots. From the end of Long Wharf, you can sit and watch the airplanes takeoff and land at Logan Airport across Boston Harbor.

Sound like a local and pronounce it "quinzy mahket"!

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Directions: Located just behind Faneuil Hall, near City Hall.