Boston: A Walk through History

For history buffs, Boston should be near the top of your travel list. There is a lot to see in just the heart of the city alone. My husband, Darren, and I crammed a lot into a long weekend.

We stayed at the historic Omni Parker House just a few blocks from the famed Boston Commons. It’s the oldest continuously operating hotel in the U.S., opening in 1854. Charles Dickens stayed here for five months and read “A Christmas Carol” to The Saturday Club here. You can see your own reflection in the very mirror he practiced in front of. John Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier in the Parker Restaurant and held his bachelor party in the hotel.

We decided to dedicate a day to walking The Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile-long path through Boston that passes by 16 locations significant to the city’s history. It starts in Boston Common where you can see “The Embrace” statue, which depicts Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King in an arms-only hug. By day, it’s beautiful. By night, it’s stunning.

The trail then winds through downtown Boston, to the Old North Church in the North End and to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. Most of the sites are free or suggest donations, although the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, and the Paul Revere House charge admission. 

Along the way we stopped at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Darren got his first clam chowder fix of the trip from Boston Chowda Company. It would not be his last! We also stopped at The Green Dragon Tavern, which dates back to 1654 is the oldest historical Boston bar.

We opted to climb the 294 steps to the top of Bunker Hill and then toured the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat. The three-masted frigate was launched in 1797, one of six authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third one built. We had a delicious lunch at Pier 6 with a sweeping view of the city across Boston Harbor. On our way back, we stopped at the Sam Adams Downtown Boston Taproom for a pint and a snack. That evening we walked through the lovely Boston Commons and stopped at Cheers, at least the location featured at the start of the famed TV series.

Missy Travel Tip: If you love Dunkin’ Donuts, this will be a pilgrimage for you. You don’t ask where the nearest Dunkin’ is, you ask for the one on the north or south side of the street. It’s a cult, and the coffee is really good.

The next day we decided to go in a different direction toward Cambridge and Harvard. The walk was sunny and pleasant, but it’s about four miles, not including walking around the campus. Lunch was at the retro and trendy Veggie Galaxy. Veggie Galaxy brings the classic American diner into a plant-based universe. Every dish is made from scratch, and every dessert is 100 percent vegan. We would definitely go back (over and over). We started walking back along the Charles River but eventually grabbed an Uber so we could be back at the hotel in time for dinner. We also did some more exploring of areas near the hotel.

Our last day would find us walking to the southern waterfront and the scene of the Boston Tea Party rebellion. Boston is such a fun, walkable city! For lunch we went to The Black Rose, about as authentic an Irish pub you’ll find in the U.S. Darren also found the plaques from the Bunch of Grapes tavern location in Boston where his alma mater Ohio University was founded!

We really only explored a small part of Boston and hope to return someday. We have to see a game at Fenway, after all!