Day trip to Boston II - The Freedom Trail

This is part 2 in what is quickly becoming a "Day Trip to Boston" series.  Using Salem as your hub for vacation is a great idea - from Salem you can easily explore Boston, Gloucester, Rockport, Ipswich, and Newburyport via public transportation. 

Day Trip to Boston I focused on sports and shopping.  This day trip is all about the Freedom Trail, so get ready to brush up on your Revolutionary War History.

So, you've taken the Salem Ferry or MBTA Commuter Rail from Salem to Boston, and you have found your way to Faneuil Hall  (Via green line from North Station, via foot from the Ferry).  Faneuil Hall is adjacent to Quincy Market, so you have a perfect balance of shopping, buskers (seasonal), and the National Park Service.

The Boston National Historical Park interprets the Revolutionary War, and there are worthy stops at Old North Church, the Constitution in Charlestown, and the Old State House.  The Freedown Trail, which is a 2.5 mile brick trail to some of Boston's most significant historical sites, is a great walking tour that can be self-guided or professionally-guided.  There are an ample selection of brochures and walking maps at the Boston Visitor Center should you decide to go it alone.

I recommended a trolley tour to get your bearings in the first Day Trip to Boston post.  Feel free to insert that recommendation again here. 

There are several places to eat in this historic district, but you may want to hold your appetite until the Freedom Trail takes you into the North End toward Paul Revere's House.  Fabulous pizza, pasta and pastries abound in Boston's North End.  Eat well, you'll need the energy if you're going to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument.

Finally, take in a tour of Old Ironsides, the USS Constitution in Charlsetown.  "The world's oldest commissioned warship afloat,"  a tour of the Constitution is interesting for all ages. 

Back at Faneuil Hall, and at the adjacent Quincy Market, there is ample shopping for all, and a plethora of restaurant options for the snack or meal you will need after walking the Freedom Trail.

I haven't gotten into Boston's museums yet, which means there's a Day Trip to Boston III still to come.


One last note: If you are taking the Salem Ferry back to Salem after exploring Boston, I will happily remind you that there is a galley on board with plenty of snacks and beverages to help you relax, unwind, and recount your day's adventure. 

Day trip to Boston I

I ran into a family this weekend who were doing two days (maybe three) in Salem, and wanted to add a day into Boston.  This was their first trip to our neck of the woods, and in talking with them I realized I had a blog post topic on my hands. 

This was a family of four: mom, dad, teenage son and (younger) teenage daughter. 

Transportation

First, they had to get from Salem to Boston.  It was the weekend, so I recommended the Salem Ferry (SalemFerry.com), which departs Salem on the odd hours and takes 55 minutes to get into Boston.  The Ferry runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (Columbus Day and Halloween Mondays) through October. Were it mid-week, I would recommend the MBTA Commuter Rail from Salem to Boston's North Station (mbta.com). 

A Back Bay Day
Mom wanted to check out Boston University, which is easily reached via the MBTA Green Line from North Station or Government Center (which is near the Salem Ferry dock at Long Wharf North).

They guys were interested in sports, so a tour of Fenway Park might me in order.  Fenway is near Boston University, so even if you don't do the tour, a stop at the store on Yawkey Way could take care of some holiday gifts.  You may also want to visit the Sports Museum at the TD Garden, which is above North Station.

Not to be overly stereotypical, but the girls wanted to shop.  And why wouldn't they? Boston has great shopping.  Since they're heading to the Back Bay to see BU, the boutiques of Newbury Street and the shops in the Prudential Center are all a fairly short walk (when the weather is beautiful, walking Boston is wonderful). 

And they wanted to check out Cheers, which is another short walk from Newbury Street (or a couple of stops on the T from the Prudential Center).  Cheers is adjacent to the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common.  Families with younger kids should check out the Make Way for Ducklings statues in the Public Garden. It's a most popular photo opp.  Teenagers, however, would look funny sitting on the little brass ducks.

Be a Tourist - Take a Tour
Whether you are visiting Salem or Boston for the first time, I always recommend a good overview tour.  Most trolley tours are perfect for getting you around, pointing out the sites, sharing the cities' history, and allowing you to hop on and off.  Boston also offers Duck tours, so you get that water/land combination. In Boston, Supertours, Old Town Trolley, and Boston Duck Tours would love to show you the sites. In Salem, you'll want to hop aboard the Salem Trolley, which meets most incoming Ferries.

Transportation, a trolley tour, brushing up on Boston Sports history and shopping is a full day.  It's not your only option in Boston, however.  Stay tuned for Day Trip to Boston Part II, which will list a few options closer to the harbor.