The Freedom Trail
99 Chauncy Street, Suite 401, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 357-8300
http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/
About This Place
The Freedom Trail is one of the most historic attractions that tops visitors' agendas each year when coming to Boston, and for good reason. The 2.5-mile walk can be done at your own leisure with a map (following the red painted brick line beginning on the Boston Common), a costumed tour guide or an audio (headphones) guide to tour some of the city's most memorable landmarks from the onset of the American Revolutionary War. The walking journey will take you on a tour through cemeteries, churches and even the site of the Boston Massacre. If you are a history buff, this is an absolute must.
Parking and public transportation at The Freedom Trail
With on-street metered parking limited and public parking garages charging a premium price, your best bet is to the take the MBTA subway system (known to locals as "The T"). Fares are minimal and stop right at Park Street Station (the first stop on The Freedom Trail - Boston Common).
Best and worst time to go to on The Freedom Trail
Boston suffers some of the worst winters on record and the most humid summers in the nation so the best time of year to visit is from April to October when the weather can range from cool to warm in the morning hours. If you are thinking of going in the summer months, be sure to start your day early to avoid the high afternoon humidity.
Admission to The Freedom Trail
A costumed 2.5-hour tour of The Freedom Trail is held daily on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting from the Boston Common Visitors Center. Guided tours are under $15 while an audio tour costs under $20 and can be picked up at the Visitors Center as well (maps may also be purchased here for a self-guided tour). Most of the sites along the tour are free but some suggest donations.
Must see/do on The Freedom Trail
There are 16 stops on The Freedom Trail that start at The Boston Common and end at the USS Constitution in Charlestown. Along the way, you can step inside the gold domed Massachusetts State House, take walk through the Granary Burying Ground where three signers of the Declaration of Independence (John Hancock, Samuel Adams and Robert Treat Paine) are buried, and see the house Paul Revere lived in when he made his historic midnight ride to Lexington in 1775.
Other places to visit near The Freedom Trail
After a walk along The Freedom Trail, you are sure to be hungry so whet your appetite at Union Oyster House, the country's oldest restaurant, located next to Faneuil Hall. Head upstairs and request a seat at the "Kennedy booth" dedicated to JFK, who used to visit the restaurant every Sunday and read the newspaper over a bowl of creamy clam chowder. For dessert, head over to Parker's Restaurant at the Omni Parker House, inventor of the Boston cream pie, and request a seat at Table 40 where JFK proposed to Jackie.
Insider tip for visitors to The Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail can take up to three hours to complete on your own and dusk comes quickly in the spring and fall months. Walking through Boston Common at nighttime is not recommended so be sure to plan accordingly.
Author's bio: Kellie Speed is a freelance writer/editor who lives in the Boston area.