Freedom Trail - Boston, MA

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile walk through history that takes you from Boston Common to Bunker Hill on the other side of the Charles River. The trail is very easy to follow. A brick pattern is laid into the sidewalk, and street signs point to historical landmarks so you won't lose your way.

We did lots of research ahead of our trip and had specific areas of the trail that we wanted to focus on, so we toured the Freedom Trail at our own pace (we actually walked it twice because there was so much to see). If you would like a more structured tour though you can purchase tickets online or at some stands at Boston Common to go with a guide. Many of the guides are dressed in colonial-era costumes and speak with an old Boston dialect. We would consider doing this on a return trip to Boston.

• Granary Burying Ground - a graveyard near Boston Common where patriots like Paul Revere, James Otis, and Samuel Adams are laid to rest.
• The Old State House - the Declaration of Independence was read from its balcony and there is an interesting museum upstairs.
• Faneuil Hall - note the grasshopper weathervane which was used to test whether someone was from Boston or might be a Tory fresh off of the boat.
• Paul Revere House - it is the oldest home in Boston, originally built in the 1600's. The home has been restored to approximate what it looked like in Paul Revere's time.
• The Old North Church - make sure you do the guided tour, and ask to see the crypt and bell ringing tower. That was a fun tour!
• USS Constitution - the oldest active naval ship in the US fleet.
• Bunker Hill monument - climb to the top for a great view of the Boston cityscape. Look at the Old North Church steeple and see if you could pick out whether one or two lanterns were hung there.

Finally, while not an official stop on the Freedom Trail, I have to recommend stopping by Mike's Pastry just a few blocks away from the Paul Revere House. This is not a paid endorsement - we just liked their cannoli.

We would recommend staying somewhere just outside of Boston with an easy trip to one of the many T (Boston's mass-transit system) depots. You can catch the T for very little $ and save the hassle and cost of driving and parking in downtown Boston. Keep in mind that you'll be walking or taking a bus on the Freedom Trail, so driving will not do you much good. Take the T to Boston Common, pick up a free map of the Freedom Trail, and you are on your way.

Some advice for kids: ask lots of questions. Lots of them. Don't be shy. The tour guides know their stuff and like to talk about it to interested kids. We got to meet with one of the historians at the Paul Revere house and take a one-on-one tour of the Old North Church. Take your time, plan it out, and have fun! It was one of the greatest trips that our family has ever taken mostly because we were learning about our own history in the place where so much of it happened.