Boston Things to Do Tips by saccharinicity

2.5 centuries in 2.5 miles, The Freedom Trail covers 16 historic landmarks across Boston and Charlestown. Beginning in the Boston Common and ending at the Bunker Hill Monument, one can walk the trail and experience sites such as the New and Old State Houses, Park Street Chruch and Granary Burial Ground, the Black Heritage Trail, King's Chapel & Burial Ground, Faneuil Hall, the site of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere's house, the U.S.S. Constitution and several others, all connecting many of Boston's historic events.

The Freedom Trail Foundation (http://www.thefreedomtrail.org) offers guided tours complete with colonial-costumed tour guides throughout the year. Audio guides are also available for rent if you would rather do it alone, or just grab a map and go completely free, experiencing the trail all on your own.

The Freedom Trail has long been known as one of the most basic and "must-see" attractions in Boston. A historic and thorough overview no visitor should go without.

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Phone: 617.357.8300
Address: 147 Tremont Street, Boston Common
Directions: T stop: Park Street on the Green Line
Website: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org

On Boston's Freedom Trail, the New England Holocaust Memorial is a poignant and touching reminder of this horrific event and stands to serve as a memory of those who perished.

The memorial is extremely symbolic. Six glass towers, each 54 feet high, symbolize the six main death camps and six million Jews who died. These glass towers are also lit up at night, from top to bottom resembling a menorah of memorial candles. The granite path that allows visitors to walk through the line of towers are fitted with metal grates under each one, covering a 6 foot deep chamber of burning embers, releasing constant steam and recalling images of rising smoke from the death camps. Upon closer inspection of the glass towers, you can see six million numbers etched into the glass, symbolizing the tattooed numbers of the six million people who died under this regime.

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Phone: 617.457.8755
Address: Congress Street near Faneuil Hall
Directions: Congress Street near Faneuil Hall, on Boston's historic Freedom Trail.
T stops: Green & Orange Haymarket; Green & Blue Government Center & State on Blue and Orange lines.
Website: http://www.nehm.org/

Launched in 1797, the U.S.S. Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Earning the nickname "Old Ironsides" due to cannonballs bouncing off her sides during the War of 1812, she was also one of the six ships ordered to be constructed by none other than George Washington himself.

The U.S.S. Constitution is docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard in neighboring Charlestown and is one of the stops on Boston's historic Freedom Trail.

Hours:
April 1 to October 31
Open Tues-Sun, 10am - 5:50 pm

November 1 to March 31
Open Thurs -Sun, 10am-3:50 pm

Tours are available every 30 minutes.

*** An important part of Boston's July 4th (Independence Day) celebrations includes the U.S.S. Constitution's annual "turnaround" into the Boston Harbor to Castle Island for its cannon salute. Boats from near and far come to slowly follow Old Ironsides through the Harbor and hundreds of people line themselves along the piers to catch a glimpse of this annual event. Many local tour boat companies offer harbor cruises for this event at very reasonable prices (I recommend the Charles Riverboat Company http://charlesriverboat.com/)

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Phone: 617.242.7511
Address: 1 Constitution Rd., Charlestown, MA
Directions: T stops: North Station on the Green Line or Bunker Hill Community College on the Orange Line.

Further walking and driving directions can be found at:
http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil/Directions.htm
Website: http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil

Located along Boston’s historic Freedom Trail, Park Street Church and the adjacent Old Granary Burial Ground are a must see in Boston, especially for history buffs. Located at the corner of Park and Tremont, the Park Street Church was founded in 1809 and still to this day is an active congregational church.

The Park Street Church is built on the old granary site where grain was kept before the Revolution. It is the location of the very first Sunday school, dating back to 1818 and in 1826 the song "My Country 'Tis of Thee" was sung for the first time by the children's choir and on July 4, 1829, William Lloyd Garrison gave his first public anti-slavery speech here.

The adjacent Old Granary Burial Ground was founded in 1660, making it the 3rd oldest burial ground in Boston proper. Many notable people are buried here among the 1,600 including John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, the victims of the Boston Massacre, Benjamin Franklin’s parents and Elizabeth Vergoose, believed to be the beloved storyteller Mother Goose.

Free admission

Hours: Daily 9am-5pm (until 3pm in winter)

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Address: Corner of Park and Tremont Streets
Directions: T Stop: Park Street on the Green Line
Website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/parkstreet.asp

That quote has been the first thing I think of when I think of the New England Aquarium for as long as I can remember; it comes from a commercial that was played on TV non-stop throughout my childhood living in New England.

I attended many elementary schools growing up in New Hampshire, and it seemed that every time there was a field trip, it was to Boston, to visit the New England Aquarium.

A very educational experience, the New England Aquarium has it all for young and old alike. From the entrance, where the sea lions outside welcome you with clapping fins, to the penguin park, dolphin shows and 4-story tall tank, the Aquarium is filled with enough to keep you busy for hours and keep your whole family intruiged.

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Phone: 617-973-5200
Address: Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
Directions: On the waterfront, a quick walk from Fanueil Hall.
Website: http://www.neaq.org

Attending the Boston Marathon is one of the most inspirational things you can do when you come to this city.

Every year thousands of people from around the world participate in this 26 mile event. The racers start early in the morning in Hopkinton, MA, making their way towards the finish line in Copley Square in Boston.

The spectators, all 500,00 however, also start securing their spots along the course just as early, so it is best to head down and grab an area for yourself early, especially if you are towards the finish line.

People young and old, handicapped and not, come together to accomplish something that they worked so hard for, and even at the end of the night when most of the runners have finished and left to recover, those last runners who took "a bit" longer to reach the end, still have people cheering for them as the stars come out.

NOTE: Suffolk County, which Boston is in, celebrates Patriot's Day. The Marathon is ran on this day (the third Monday in April) and most business are shut down for this holiday.

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Address: Hopkinton to Boston, MA. Finish line: Boylston St
Website: http://www.bostonmarathon.org/

The Prudential Center was Boston's tallest building from the time it was built until the Hancock Tower went up in 1976. The Prudential Center (or the "Pru" as locals call it) houses hundreds of offices, shops and restaurants.

The Skywalk Observatory at the top of the Pru is the highest observation deck in New England open to the public and offers a wide 360 degree view of the city and surrounding areas. Get a bird's eye view of most of Boston's major attractions. An personal audio tour is included in the ticket price ($10.50 per adult, $7 children under 12) as well as some (oddly entertaining) multimedia presentations.

If you fancy a fancy bite to eat, check out the Top of the Hub restaurant one more floor up.

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Phone: 617.859.0648
Address: 800 Boylston Street, Boston
Directions: Top of the Prudential Center, Boston

T stops:
Prudential Station on the Green Line (E train only)
Copley Station or Hynes/ICA Station on the Green Line (any train)
Back Bay Station on the Orange Line
Website: http://www.prudentialcenter.com/play/skywalk.html

Cruising Boston Harbor is one of the many great things to do in this city and many companies offer many different types of cruises, most of which will cost you - unless you take advantage of the city's transportation system - the MBTA!

My curious companion and I were sitting along the harbor, watching boats coming in and leaving, and he kept pointing at the MBTA Water Taxi that was on a mission, charging across the harbor and disappearing out of sight. We had been playing with the idea of perhaps taking a sunset harbor cruise for $20, but I am glad he insisted on trying to investigate where this water taxi was going. What a great find it was!

The Harbor Express leaves Boston's waterfront, cruises through the harbor, making a stop in Hull before ending the trip in Quincy. For $6 we were able to take the "Go for a Ride" or "Stay on the Boat" option and at the end of the ride in Quincy, we waited as the boat turned around and rode it all the way back to Boston. Spectacular views of the Harbor Islands, beach houses, lighthouses and boats!

While normally a commuter option, the $6 roundtrip ride was flat out the best deal we could have asked for in taking a mini-cruise out into the water. Approximately 1.25 hours long with upper-deck and inside lower-deck seating, the boat offers an array of drinks and snacks and views of the Boston Harbor Islands. If you are a airport junky like me, the icing on top was when we drove right by the edge of Logan Airport's runway as the jets came in to land right over our head :)

For $6 we couldn't have asked for a better time out in the Harbor.
Take advantage of this little secret!

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE BARGAIN!!!!!

(The MBTA offers many other cruise options, including a hop-off Islands tour and even a dinner cruise option. Visit their website for more details and schedule times.)

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Phone: (617) 222-6999
Directions: Behind Marriott Long Wharf in Christopher Columbus Park
Website: http://www.harborexpress.com/commuters/