Names familiar to many American schoolchildren – Paul Revere, John Adams and others – resided in Boston or the nearby area.

Paul Revere statue

Paul Revere, known for his “midnight ride” to warn that the “British were coming” is immortalized in Boston, in his former home, by a statue and other monuments (and even a mall.)

To give visitors a chance to see much of the early days of struggle to independence, the “Freedom Trail” takes travelers on a walk that encompasses “burying grounds” with luminaries like Revere’s grave on view, the location of the Boston Massacre, the USS Constitution, Bunker Hill and other spots in between. Be an intrepid walker to make it the full distance, but see what you can and take public transportation to the rest.

Paul Revere's gravesite in Boston

The most commanding view and the most demanding physically to see the view is to climb the Bunker Hill Monument (294 steps – no elevator – Pant! Gasp! Choke!), with its narrow steps. At this location, which is Breed’s Hill, the first major battle of the Revolutionary War took place.

Bunker Hill Monument - yes it's very tall! with 294 steps and no elevator

Boston Harbor and "Old Ironsides" from the narrow window of Bunker Hill Monument -See "Old Ironsides" - The USS Constitution - in the lower right

“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes,” was supposedly said by the US commander, Colonel William Prescott, as the British advanced. The US forces did not win that battle, but they acquitted themselves well enough to be heartened to go on and ultimately to win a long war and the independence which has worked fairly well for over 200 years.

Boston definitely has the goods as far as authentic places to see. There’s Paul Revere’s home – he was a noted blacksmith – where he lived for 30 years. The USS Constitution – “Old Ironsides” – the only frigate never to lose a battle, is on view and can be boarded. There’s also a museum affiliated with Old Ironsides.

Old South Meeting House, where the colonists decided to oppose the tea tax and hold the “Boston Tea Party,” is part of the Freedom Trail. And, Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market are also part of the Freedom Trail. They’ll mostly (see yesterday’s blog) free you of some cash as you enjoy a meal or some serious shopping, but fun nonetheless.

You will have no trouble finding souvenirs to bring home of your foray into American freedom. (Probably no more than anywhere else that has noteworthy sites to view, but ignore all that and just get into the history.)

 
And, there is a lot of US history on view in Boston. Enjoy the settings and remind yourself that a commitment to philosophy lead to a long struggle, many battles and, finally, the country you see today.

Happy Birthday, USA!

I’m very patriotic, so I wanted to share some views of one of my favorite US cities.

 
As the old song by Dave Loggins goes, “Please come to Boston….” You’ll enjoy yourself.

See this link for National Park Service information on free tours of Boston. 

http://www.nps.gov/bost/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm

Come back tomorrow for a visit to Washington, DC!

Boston, Massachusetts conjures up images of the fight for United States independence, history and old buildings.  It’s all of that and much more.  With the 4^th of July this week, Boston seems a great place to celebrate the USA’s birth.

Quincy Market - where street performances happen often

Boston – - pronounced by those who live there – “Bahston” – is a place where you could spend weeks seeing the sights.  Much of it is walkable, which is good because parking can be a disaster.  There is the MBTA – Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority – that will provide a way in from the suburbs – and that’s what I’ve usually used to get into the core of downtown Boston.

The historical tourist sights are well-designed to evoke the time of the US’s founding– Paul Revere’s Home, the Freedom Trail, Bunker Hill Memorial and many others.  Plan to spend a day (and we will in this blog tomorrow, talking about the historical places). For those who care about US history, it is one of the best places to revisit US heritage.

However, world-class shopping, great restaurants, children’s entertainments and fabulous art museums are also there to enjoy.  Boston can be pricey, but it is an urban destination that everyone should see.   It is also a lot of fun! (And one of my favorite places to visit – and I am not paid to say that!)

Shopping

To get into the spirit of shopping, head to Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market.  (Fanueil Hall is in front of Quincy Market.)  You can easily spend a full afternoon, or even a day, seeing the various shops, eating in the restaurants, enjoying the street performers and kicking back.

Quincy Market

Some of the shopping can be quite upscale, but there are affordable treats – both for food, clothing and souvenirs. National chains are prevalent, but pushcarts are intriguing with more unique wares. Usually you’ll find a shop or a street vendor where you can pick up some fun T-Shirts or doodads to bring home with you.

http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/shopping.html

Food

From street vendors to sit down restaurants, there are many choices for food. Inside the actual market area, seating can be at a premium, but the buildings adjacent to Quincy Market and Fanueil Hall have a little more space because they were built centuries later.  There are some open areas with seating where you can grab something from a vendor and sit down – if you can find a seat.

And, not surprisingly, there are many restaurants with “Boston” as the first word in their name and seafood on their menu. We can’t recommend a particular restaurant, but let the menu, pricing and crowds be your guide.  You don’t need to eat in a national or regional chain to have a good, authentic Boston experience.  Matter of fact, we recommend not eating in a chain. 

Lobster is everywhere and “marketing pricing” on menus can wind up costing you, but try something simple.  Lobster rolls can be fabulous, succulent and extremely memorable.

http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/dining.html

Museums

Art

Now that we’ve gotten the essentials taken care of, let’s get into some culture.  My absolute favorite Boston museum is the Museum of Fine Arts.  It is the quintessential museum with the most wonderful art collection.  (I love the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, don’t get me wrong.  I just really love the Boston MFA.)

Renoir's Dance at the Bougival at the MFA

Their collection of Impressionist Art is – bar none – the best I’ve been to on the North American continent.  Monet, Renoir, Cassatt, and old and modern masters are in the collection.  There is also an Asian collection that is inspiring, as well as a musical instrument collection.  Two of the instruments recently acquired for the Museum’s collection are lameliaphones, an instrument that I own (it has prongs you twang to create the tune) and whose name I never knew.  These are just my favorites, but there’s a lot more.

http://www.mfa.org/

You could spend hours at the Boston MFA, but from the MFA, you can also walk to another small, but worthwhile, art museum nearby, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.  Several famous paintings were stolen in 1990 that have not been recovered yet, but the museum is still a charming and unique gem.

http://www.gardnermuseum.org/

Both of the above museums are in the Fenway area.  They can be reached with a walk from the MBTA, but a car can make it easier.  There is a charge for parking, which can be scarce.

Children

For children, the Boston Children’s Museum is a great hands-on museum.  Their exhibits focus on “science, culture, environmental awareness, health & fitness, and the arts.”  Exploring the museum can let children discover while letting out pent up energy they may have after standing in line at the touristy places.

The above are just touching the surface, but they are my favorites.  That’s what a blog is all about, after all! 

Come back tomorrow for the historical places of interest in Boston.  I bet you’ll leave wanting a tri-cornered hat!