Following the Freedom Trail

A long post awaits you. I recommend brewing some coffee, tea, or grabbing a snack while reading through my historical trip.

The Sam Adams Brewery was only the beginning of the first whole day exploring Boston. My cousins and I drove into the city where I followed them like a well-trained puppy through the streets and into Downtown Boston. 

Avery finally realized I had a camera and struck a quick pose.

Her chubby cheeks are overwhelming! When she knows a camera is nearby, she attempts a (minimally) toothy grin.

They decided to give me a quick 1-Day, drive-by, run-through of Boston. We walked around the city viewing the Bay:

In my opinion, no scent is better than salty sea air. If I could live by the sea, somewhere preferably in the north, I would move in a heartbeat. Just set me up in a cottage with a paycheck.

The bridge over the bay provided the perfect view of the incoming city skyline was beautiful and showed both the economic and historical sides of Boston.

The clock tower in the above and below pictures has a funny story; I heard it a day later when I took a trolley tour through the city. Apparently, each face of the clock tells a different time. No face matches the other, so some people call it “The Four Lying Faces.”

You can see here – each face is 10 minutes apart. We were warned not to use that tower to determine time or we would be very late. At the time of construction, technology could not match building size and the tiny motor failed to operate the giant 22-ft diameter clock and clock failed to work into the 20^th century.

The easiest way to see all of the historical sites in Boston is to follow the Freedom Trail. A red brick trail snakes along the city, through Downtown, the North End, and around the Public Gardens. If you’re curious what this trail looks like, look no further. 

This path is usually met with these golden plaques. If you’re visiting Boston anytime soon, I recommend following this path, even if you don’t explore the various buildings.

We passed these gorgeous government buildings. I was so happy to see the majority of government buildings were not built in the 60s and have beautiful architecture. 

I know the Traffic and Tunnel Administration Building isn’t very exciting, but the architecture is really gorgeous. 

We also saw the Old State House, the location of the Boston Massacre. For those of you who don’t know your history, 5 American colonists were shot and killed by British infantrymen and 6 were injured.

Many believe the massacre to be a major influence on the American Revolution.

There was a tour going on, but this cobblestone circle is the location of the massacre. 

We also passed the Paul Revere House on the way to my 2^nd favorite stop for the day: the North End.

Hanover Street is the prime location of Boston’s North End. I almost felt at home seeing streets covered in restaurants, bakeries, and cigar bars. My mom and I used to visit New York’s Little Italy a couple of times a year, and it never got old.

That pesky clock tower stayed in view through Boston.

But the main mission was a search for a delicious cannoli: Mike’s; known to be the best bakery in the North End, tourists and locals frequent the tiny shop for delicious goodies. We ordered a whole box of Italian cookies, and cannolis for the road.

The only way to get food was to get the attention of someone behind the counter. Lines are not necessary for this kind of store.

After bakery treats, it’s only important to find a beverage to wash down the deliciousness. One of my super good friends, Maria, suggested I visit The Bell in Hand Tavern. 

The atmosphere was perfect. The wood paneling accented the bar tops and old portraits on the walls. 

The best thing to order in a bar like this would definitely be a cold beer. I honestly can’t remember what I ordered, but I know it was delicious. 

Our waitress made sure to offer Avery a drink, but she was set. It was baby’s first bar! 

Our last stop before finding dinner was the historical cemeteries. On our way we ran into Old City Hall. A gorgeous building that now is home to a Ruth’s Chris in the basement. 

Trees provide the perfect amount of shade to the admirable Ben Franklin in the courtyard.

Sitting comfortably next to a cemetery in the center of the city is King’s Chapel. Founded in 1686, it was the first Anglican Church in New England during James IIs reign. The original chapel was wooden, but was converted to stone in the 18^th century. This chapel has witnessed the city’s history and still stands today. 

I think the best part of the cemetery tour was the artwork on the 400+ year old stones. 

Many famous names are buried in Boston, including men who signed the Declaration, fought to be released from England, and led our country when it was still young.

The Granary bar is across the way. Here you can have a Sam Adams beer while toasting the man’s grave. His grave sits near the sidewalk, making him visible from across the street.

Franklin’s family grave is in the same cemetery, but Benjamin Franklin is not buried here. He’s south, in Philadelphia, where he lived the majority of his life.

It’s interesting to see how close this cemetery is to surrounding apartments and downtown. The small cemetery is in the middle of the city and offers tiny insight into the importance of some of the first families to reside in Boston.   

A cemetery built in the 1600s is now surrounded by office buildings, tourism, and apartment complexes; showing how the city has grown in that time.

Tomorrow is an adventure to Fenway . . .