Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Historical findings are found around every corner, waiting to be appreciated by the curious traveler. Many significant events of the American Revolution occurred in Boston. The Boston Tea Party, Boston Massacre, and the Battle of Bunker Hill are just some of the events in this area that shaped our nation’s history. Naturally, Boston will appeal to anyone with the desire to explore this city’s historical roots. However, with mild summer weather and public gardens centrally located, Boston is a great weekend getaway location for everyone! The city is also easily walkable, making it especially enjoyable to wander along the streets, even without a particular destination in mind. We visited Boston for a quick weekend, just the two of us and it was the perfect little trip to explore a new town together!
Things to Do
Boston Public Garden
The garden in Boston was established in 1837 and became the first public botanical garden in the U.S. There are winding pathways through the trees and flowers, in addition to a pond with ducks and swans. The garden is centrally located, making it a great place to stroll around during the afternoon. Several statues and structures are also found here. The 16-foot statue of George Washington, built in 1869, can be visited. I enjoyed seeing the Ether Monument which memorializes the first use of Ether as an anesthetic at Mass General Hospital in Boston. The “Make Way for Ducklings” bronze statues were also placed here in 1987 and are based on the children’s story.
USS Constitution
For a great hands-on excursion, be sure to visit the USS Constitution! Launched into Boston Harbor in September 1797, the USS Constitution is the oldest warship in the world that is still afloat. It is one of the original six ships built to protect American merchant vessels from Barbary pirates. The Constitution also defeated five British warships during the War of 1812 against the British. Nicknamed “Old Ironsides,” the ship was retired from active service in 1881 and became a museum ship in 1907. It was so interesting learning the history of this historical vessel! You are able to walk around the outside of the warship and climb down into the sleeping quarters as well. To see a sea vessel so well preserved was truly amazing! There is also a museum located next to the ship which was fun to check out too!
Walk the Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile walk in Boston that connects 16 historical sites that were significant during the time of the American Revolution. The walk starts at the Boston Common and ends at the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill. You can also start at the end, at Bunker Hill, and travel backwards if you prefer the opposite route. We had so much fun meandering through the streets. It feels like you are walking through history!
There are several group tours you can choose from to explore the trail, or you can complete the walk on your own. We chose to download the 3-hour audio tour from The Freedom Trail Foundation and off we went! This option was a nice way to avoid any crowds and move along at our own pace. It also allows you to tailor the walk to your specific interests.
One our favorite stops was Granary Burying Ground, where the tombstones of Samuel Adams and Paul Revere can be found. The Old North Church is another interesting site on the walk. This church is the location referenced in the quote “One if by land, two if by sea.” On the night of Paul Revere’s midnight ride lanterns were hung in this church steeple as the secret signal to warn patriots about the route the British troops chose to reach Concord. One lantern would be hung if the British were advancing by land and two lanterns would signify them coming by the water route. Another recommended stop on the trail is Paul Revere’s house which was built in 1680. You are actually able to walk inside and around this historical home!
Haunted Boston Ghost Tour
I have to admit, when I booked a ghost tour for one of our evenings in Boston, I didn’t quite know what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be such an entertaining activity! As we have mentioned, Boston is known for it’s historical significance. But, I was surprised by how much unusual factual information was packed into this 90 minute tour. The tour started during the evening and the guide led the group by lantern. How appropriate, ha! Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and shared with us the spookiest details about historical Boston sites. We began our trip in the Central Burying Ground in Boston and walked through the streets and ended near the Omni Parker Hotel, which has had some hauntingly unusual activity take place there. If you are looking for a fun evening activity, definitely check this out!
Samuel Adams Brewery
What better way to celebrate American history than at Sam Adams Brewery?! We took the easy subway ride to check out the brewery for a low-key afternoon excursion. The brewery has a tap room and beer garden. There is also a tour if you are interested in learning all the details of the operation. They have limited-release pints and some small bite plates to share.
Where to Eat
Tatte
If you are looking for a good breakfast or brunch spot while in Boston, I highly recommend Tatte. This bakery and cafe has a large variety of options on their menu. From pastries to savory breakfast sandwiches, everything at Tatte is delicious! Of course there are also splendid coffee options that pair well with whatever you choose.
Cookie Monstah
Cookies and ice cream smooshed together, enough said! On a hot day, this little truck provides the best sweet treat to savor as you walk around the city. It will no doubt make the kids and kids-at-heart smile! Cookie Monstah has a menu with over 20 ice cream sandwiches, made with fresh baked cookies and a variety of ice cream flavors. With fun names like the slim shady, green monstah, and salty dog, this stop is definitely a crowd-pleaser!
Green Dragon Tavern
You can’t leave Boston without devouring a buttery, flavorful lobster roll, so make some time to stop by Green Dragon Tavern for lunch or dinner! I still can’t decide what I enjoyed more at the Green Dragon, the history or the food. In between sips of a cold brew and people watching, we learned that this restaurant was established way back in 1654. It was also frequented by Paul Revere and John Hancock! Also, it was actually at the Green Dragon that the plans for the invasion of Lexington and Concord were overhead, leading Paul Revere’s famous ride. So amazing!
Modern Pastry
This little pastry shop is a family owned Italian bakery that was created over 90 years ago. All their pastries are hand crafted and made to order. The flaky goodness left such an impression on us that we stopped in here twice on our trip. It was nice to sit down and share a pastry while we sipped our coffee in between sightseeing activities in the afternoon!
Giacomo’s Eatery
This family owned Italian restaurant is small in size but big on flavor! All the dishes are fresh and made in-house. There is usually a line since this tiny eatery only has a few tables and the quality of their dishes is no secret. However, the line moves fairly quickly. Jon and I were lucky and able to sneak in right before closing time!
Thinking Cup
For exceptional coffee and a tasty breakfast make sure to check out Thinking Cup. This coffee shop is conveniently located right next to Boston Common, so it’s a great stop before heading out for a day of exploring! Thinking Cup prides itself on offering only the finest coffees, teas and baked pastries. If you are a coffee connoisseur, this is the place for you!
Where to Stay
InterContinental Boston Hotel
With it’s modern design and perfect location, the InterContinental Boston Hotel is a great choice when visiting the city. This luxury hotel is situated right on Boston harbor with amazing views all around. There are 424 rooms and suites with all the typical amenities. There is also an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, and several eating options in the hotel. My absolute favorite feature of this hotel was the view from our room. Gazing down at the water and watching the boats gave us another perspective of this beautiful city.
Savings Strategy
How to Stay at the InterContinental Boston Hotel for FREE
The InterContinental is luxurious and runs approximately $450 per night. Needless to say, we would usually choose a more cost effective place to stay. However, by using IHG travel points we were able to enjoy this magnificent hotel for free! Currently the sign-on bonus for the IHG Chase credit card is 150,000 points. These points are awarded to you after meeting the minimum spending requirement of only $3000 in the first three months of opening the account. There is currently no annual fee for the first year. The current “cost” of staying at the InterContinental Boston is 70,000 points per night. Therefore, you will be able to stay for two nights for free. If you are planning a longer trip and have a spouse, they can open a separate account. You then will have enough points to stay four nights for free, essentially saving $2000. Happy travels!
