Monday, March 16, 2015

Boston Offers Plenty of History for Travelers

Ever been to Boston? I haven't, but this guest post makes me want to go there!

Boston, one of the oldest cities in the United States, has plenty of historic landmarks worth visiting. Much of that history took place in the downtown area, so you can see a lot within a relatively short amount of time.
There are plenty of affordable hotels in Boston that will put you near the sites that interest you most. Find a spot you like and commit to having a great time in this resilient American city.


Walk the Freedom Trail

Photo by Karen Cunningham via Trover.com
The Boston Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile self-guided tour of downtown's most important landmarks. The tour officially includes 16 sites, but you there are plenty of unofficial places to visit, too.
You can get a free map of the trail from the National Park Service location in Faneuil Hall. Expect your walk to take at least four hours.
Some key landmarks on the Freedom Trail include:
  • King's Chapel
  • Old North Church
  • Paul Revere House
  • Bunker Hill Monument
If you want to learn more about U.S. history, you can't find a better place to start.
The Boxer offers a convenient place to stay. It's within walking distance of the trail, so you won't have to worry about getting a cab or even finding public transportation.
Some people may not want to spend several hours touring downtown Boston by foot. In that case, consider a one-hour Segway Tour of Boston. It's a faster, easier way to see many of the same sites. You won't get the same detail, but a Segway tour is still a good option.

Stroll Through Boston Common

Photo by Laurel Dubreuil via Trover.com
Boston Common is the oldest public park in the United States. The 50-acre city park offers plenty of free attractions. You could practically spend your whole vacation getting acquainted with the area. Some of the most notable landmarks at Boston Common include:

  • The Frog Pond
  • Boston Massacre Memorial
  • Oneida Football Monument

The city also holds a variety of theatrical and musical productions at Parkman Bandstand. Plan ahead if you want to see a performance.
One of the nicest, affordable places to stay in the area is Revere Hotel Boston Common. It's on Stuart St., just a couple blocks south of the park.

Watch a Game at Fenway Park

Fenway Park has served as the Boston Red Sox's home since 1912. No other MLB team has a ballpark nearly as old. That makes Fenway a great place to enjoy a baseball game with a side of history.
Fenway Park hosted the World Series during its inaugural year. It has hosted nine times since, including the 2013 championship. Depending on when you visit, you may get to see the Red Sox play at home. If you want to see a World Series game, though, you'll have to plan well ahead. As you can imagine, tickets to the event sell out very quickly.
Since Fenway Park is located a couple miles from Boston Common, the Freedom Trail, and most other historic sites, you may want to get a room at Hotel Commonwealth. It literally takes less than 10 minutes to walk from the hotel to the ballpark.

See my disclaimer.