Don and I took a special trip to Boston after a work conference I was attending. Don was super excited with his guidebook and map! Here’s a quick intro to some of the sites you don’t want to miss. Stay tuned for Don’s next blog where he continues on his Boston adventure!
We decided to stay at the Omni Parker House Hotel, located at 60 School Street. It was pricey, but historically worth it, as Omni Parker House is the longest-running hotel in the United States. It is also famous for the Boston Cream Pie, which was first created at this hotel. The hotel opened in 1855, and has undergone numerous changes and architectural evolutions. The hotel is fun to explore – be sure to check out Parker’s Bar and the Last Hurrah.
Any morning in Boston is best started-out with a trip to the Boston Public Market located at 100 Hanover Street. The market is indoors, so don’t worry if the weather is chilly or it’s raining. They feature roughly forty different vendors, ranging from local produce to small restaurants, and flower shops. If you go early in the morning, you’ll have a better selection to choose from and get more interaction with the vendors. In the summer, it is open every day from 8am to 8pm. During the winter it is open only Wednesday through Sunday from 8am to 8pm.
Near the Boston Public Market is the New England Holocaust Memorial. It’s a quick tour, but certainly worth it. The memorial is made up of six glass towers that you walk through. As you walk through them you can read quotes from survivors of the different concentration camps. Each tower represents a different concentration camp with etched numbers on the sides representing the millions of Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust.
Take a stroll to the Paul Revere Mall, located on Hanover Street. Paul Revere Mall is a brick-paved plaza with a stunning equestrian statue of Paul Revere, originally laid out in 1885. It’s a beautiful plaza to simply walk around in, enjoy lunch, or just people watch.
The Paul Revere House was one of my favorite stops during our trip to Boston. It’s small, but well furnished with historical artifacts and pieces from Paul Revere’s life. Each section of the house also includes a guide who can answer any questions you have about Paul Revere, his house, or the pivotal historical role he played during the American Revolution. The Paul Revere house is located at 19 North Square; it is open April-October from 9:30am to 5:15 pm every day, November-mid April from 9:30am to 4:15pm every day, and closed January-March.
The Paul Revere house remains an iconic and important part of American history. It was this house where Paul Revere started his famous “midnight ride” to warn citizens that the “regulars” were coming. What’s more humbling, however, is watching Paul Revere’s somewhat quiet life unfold into his surprising place in American history. Paul Revere was a silversmith, copper engraver, and somewhat of a quasi-dentist (he made false teeth). He and his wife, Rachel, had sixteen children and led a typical colonial lifestyle until his somewhat gradual involvement in politics and the revolution towards the end of the 1700s.
After exploring the Paul Revere Mall, be sure to get a ticket to tour the Old North Church, right beyond the Paul Revere Mall at 193 Salem Street. Technically the “Christ Episcopal Church,” Old North Church is famous for Paul Revere’s April 18, 1775 ride where he signaled to Sexton Robert Newman to hang a pair of signal lanterns in the belfry. The church is notable in its own right, too, as it is the oldest surviving religious building in Boston and boasts the first set of church bells in North America. The inside is fun to explore – the numerous pews have historical facts on them and artfully retell the “midnight ride.” Open January and February from 10am to 4pm Tuesday through Sunday; March to May from 9am to 5pm daily; June to October 9am to 6pm daily; and November though March from 10am to 5pm daily.
Be sure not to miss King’s Chapel and Burying Grounds at 58 Tremont Street. The church inside is beautiful and worth a quick tour – take some time as well exploring the oldest buying grounds in Boston, to the left of the entrance.
Take some time to leisurely walk around Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden. As you make your way up to Beacon Hill, head up Park Street and check out the Massachusetts State House. Completed on January 11, 1798, the Massachusetts State House was the first to feature that iconic dome shape, and paved the way for the major design you see today in many State Houses. The dome is made of copper and gold – look for it if you get lost, as it serves as the zero mile marker for Massachusetts. If you have time, step inside and take a tour (reservations recommended). The State House is open 10am to 3:30pm Monday through Friday.
While chilling up on Beacon Hill, stop by the iconic Cheers restaurant, located at 84 Beacon Street. Known, of course, for the beloved show, Cheers, the restaurant serves an array of pub food and beers. Be prepared to wait for a table, however, and don’t expect it to be quiet. While you’re there, pick up a world famous Cheers glass, t-shirt, mug, or “Normism’s Sign.”
Be sure to check in with our next blog post which will highlight Don’s two MUST DO activities in Boston – the Freedom Trail Walking Tour and the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum.