For many years I thought New York was my favourite US city, followed closely by San Francisco. Then along came Boston and messed up my ranking. I discovered it in late January and, despite the freezing cold, I immediately fell in love with it. It seemed that no matter how cold it got, I just couldn’t get enough of exploring it every single day.
With this post, I intend to guide you along my favourite parts of Boston, the cradle of United States of America, rich in history and amazing.
Boston Common is where I started my discovery walks. The park is situated downtown and it is the departure point of the Freedom Trail, a red brick path marked on the sidewalk that follows the footsteps of history itself.
Close to the park’s entrance, Park Street Church reigns all white and majestic since it was founded in 1809 by 26 farmers who wanted an orthodox trinitarian church.
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It is here on July 4th, 1829 that Garrison, the prominent abolitionist, delivered his famous speech, his first major public statement against slavery. And it is here that protesters to this day gather to make their voice heard for various causes.
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Inside, the church is simple, very welcoming and hosts a variety of sermons throughout the entire week.
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Right next to the church you will find one of the history treasures: Granary Burying Ground. Before you scroll past this picture, take note that this is where you will find the final resting place of many of the United States founders. Take one of the guides you will find outside of the gate to learn a bit more about people like Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. If the names don’t ring any bell, you should know they were part of the American Revolution against Britain and Hancock even co-signed the Declaration of Independence published on July 4th, 1776.
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The tomb of Paul Revere is so humble and yet he played such an important role in the American revolution. More about him later on as we progress with our tour.
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To visit the church or take a walk in the park, simply take the green subway line and get off at Park Street station, one of the oldest subway stations in Boston, built in 1897.
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Dating 1634, Boston Common is the oldest city park in the United States. In the past it was used by the puritans as a cow pasture. It was also a place used for public gatherings and even public executions of quakers who were banned from the Colony (what we now refer to as Boston martyrs).
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Nowadays it is simply a place where you can enjoy nice long walks and in wintertime have fun ice skating.
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The statue of George Washington is not the only park resident. A myriad of squirrels pop up all the time inviting you to feed them. They are so trusty that they don’t shy away from grabbing the nut right from your hand. You wouldn’t lose any money if you were to bet I was there feeding the squirrels for a very-very long time.
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Right across the street from the park, the State Capitol harbours under its real gold (!) dome the Massachusetts General Court and the offices of the Governor of Massachusetts.
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Don’t stray away too far from this area because we’re heading to one of the most famous parts of Boston: Beacon Hill, a luxurious and charming neighbourhood. Right before stepping on its cobblestone streets, a well known sign invites us to go in and take a trip down the memory lane: Cheers, where everybody knows your name!
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Millennials might not be familiar with this place but for those of us who were watching TV shows in the ’90s, Cheers was always a treat. After all, Woody Harrelson launched his career with this role! It was truly something special for me to set foot inside the place that inspired the television show that remains to this day one of America’s most beloved comedies of all time.
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Beacon Hill is one of the city’s most picturesque areas with its narrow steep streets, red brick buildings with unmistakable balconies, brick sidewalks and charming street lamps.
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In fact, one of the most photographed streets on instagram is in Beacon Hill neighbourhood. Yeap, the one below:
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Now you tell me if you don’t find this view charming:
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or this one:
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Before leaving Beacon Hill, stop at De Luca’s Market for a bite to eat. Their sandwiches are fresh, amazingly tasty and the place oozes the feeling of an old family business.
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My favourite time to stroll on Beacon Hill’s streets was at dusk, when the light turns blue then fades away and the street lamps wake up.
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Still following the Freedom Trail, our next stop is Boston Faneuil Hall and on the way, we have to say “hi” to Benjamin Franklin. He seems busy now, texting with a lady so we carry on.
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Surrounded by tall glass buildings, the Town House built in 1713 served as a merchants’ exchange on the first floor and the seat of colonial and state government on the second floor throughout the 1700s. Now, the oldest edifice in the city seems quiet but in 1770 this is where the Boston Massacre took place.
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The incident began with local boys taunting a British sentry on a cold March night. They threw a snowball and when the sentry struck one of the boys, the situation quickly escalated. A squadron of British soldiers opened fire in front of this royal building, killing five and wounding many others. By the next morning, leaders called the event a “bloody massacre.” Six years later, shots were heard again in the square. But this time it was in celebration. On July 18th, 1776, Bostonians gathered under the balcony to hear for the first time the Declaration of Independence.
Nowadays it is from this balcony that the declaration of independence is reenacted and read every 4th of July.
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We’re now heading towards the marina but not before going to Faneuil Market and Quincy Market.
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Shops and restaurants make for a great halt in our journey. Here you’ll find a Uniqlo store with quite cheap garments to help you stay comfortable and warm which is so much needed if you’re visiting Boston in wintertime.
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The place is particularly lively at Christmas time but also during summer.
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Boston Harbor is a great place to hang out in any weather but especially during whale watching season (May through October). Each summer the whales migrate to Massachusetts and back to warmer water when the weather gets cold. There is a number of tour operators who offer whale watching cruises so book your tickets on time to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures.
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Situated in Little Italy neighbourhood, Paul Revere’s house can be easily overlooked. Especially if you’re hungry and want to enjoy good authentic Italian cuisine in the numerous restaurants in the area. But who was Paul Revere? Well, perhaps you have read the poem Midnight Ride by Longfellow. If not, keep on reading.
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Paul was as an American silversmith, engraver, early industrialist, and Patriot who played a crucial role in the American Revolution. Between 1774 and 1775, Paul Revere was employed by the Boston Committee of Correspondence and the Massachusetts Committee of Safety as an express rider to carry news, messages, and copies of important documents as far away as New York and Philadelphia. On the evening of April 18th, 1775, Revere was summoned by Dr. Joseph Warren of Boston (you will see his picture later on) and given the task of riding to Lexington, Massachusetts, with the news that British troops were about to march into the countryside to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock and capture or destroy military stores (gunpowder, ammunition, and several cannons) that had been stockpiled there. In fact, the British troops had no orders to arrest anyone, Dr. Warren’s intelligence on this point was faulty. Paul contacted an unidentified friend and instructed him to show two lanterns in the tower of Christ Church as a signal in case he was unable to leave town. Two lanterns meant that the British troops planned to row “by sea”, one lantern meant they were marching “by land”.
Revere proceeded the short distance to Boston’s North End waterfront where two friends waited to row him across the river to Charlestown. Slipping past a British warship in the darkness, Revere landed safely. After informing the local Sons of Liberty about recent events in Boston and verifying that they had seen his signals in the North Church tower, Revere went on to warn other Sons of Liberty including Adams and Hancock. A short time later, a British patrol intercepted him and after he was held for some time and questioned, he was let go. Left alone on the road, Revere returned to Lexington in time to witness the latter part of the battle on Lexington Green.
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This is the Christ Church (now Old North Church) from where the lantern signal was issued to alert the Sons of Liberty.
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Founded in 1723, it is the oldest church in Boston. The interior could use some restoration but it is still charming. The church used to be beautifully adorned yet it seems puritans were so upset with the “old continent” churches and rites, they refurbished it and painted the walls white to erase any trace of resemblance with a British church.
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Revere’s family pew, still owned by Paul’s descendants.
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Continue walking past the church until you reach a chilling memorial: jingling like wind chimes, here hang nearly 7,000 blank military dog tags: one set of tags for every U.S. life lost during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
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Take your time, stand still and quiet and, when the wind blows, think about all those who lost their lives during all the wars, not only Iraq and Afghanistan ones. .png)
Also close by, you’ll find a very old cemetery: Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, dating as far as 1659. Some inscriptions are still legible.
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We cross Charles River to reach the Bunker Hill Monument, honouring those fallen during the battle of Bunker Hill. This was one of the first major battles between British and American Patriots during the revolution.
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On the way, you can see the same type of houses that Boston is so famous for.
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The museum can be visited free of charge no matter the season however climbing the monument is not possible during very cold winter days as ice is forming on its 294 stairs.
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So what was the battle about? On June 17th, 1775, New England soldiers faced the British army for the first time in a pitched battle. The bloody fighting took place throughout this hilly landscape of fenced pastures. Though the British forces claimed the field, the casualties inflicted by the Provincial solders from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire were staggering. Of the approximately 2,400 British Soldiers and Marines engaged, some 1,000 were wounded or killed. Amongst those killed was also the Patriot Joseph Warren (pictured below), the one who asked Paul Revere to alert the Sons of Liberty.
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On your way back, visit the USS Constitution, the oldest US war ship. You can read about it here. Then make a stop and go inside the Trinity Church.
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The decorations are well worth the small entrance fee.
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Another church in the area that is worth a visit is Old South Church (as old as 1669!)
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Simply strolling on the streets of Boston, looking at the architecture and people is a joyful adventure.
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The Church Of The Covenant
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From above, the city doesn’t disappoint either. Here you can see the Charles River.
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While you might be tempted to keep your eyes on the ground and not miss any of the wonders Boston has to offer, don’t forget to look up: the sunset here is amazing.
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I hope with this post I have inspired you to give Boston a chance. An extended weekend is well enough to experience it properly. I gave it 2 weeks and I still feel I have things to discover. If you’re like me and don’t mind the cold, visiting it at Christmas time is spectacular. However, springtime through autumn allow for more opportunities to casual strolling, having lunch in Boston Common park and going on a whale watching cruise.
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Whatever your option is, I am always happy to receive your messages so don’t be shy and drop me a note if you want to learn more traveling tips or simply just say “hi!”
Until next time, travel safe and stay blessed!
