US Travel

Places to Visit: Boston, Massachusetts

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Boston, the capital city of Massachusetts, is also the largest city in New England. Boston is one of the most historic cities in the United States. The city attracts more than 16 million visitors every year, making it one of the most visited cities in the country. Travelers may be somewhat overwhelmed at the sheer number of historic sites, museums and attractions that are available to visit in Boston. No matter how much time you have to spend in the city, it probably isn’t going to be enough. Here is a quick overview of some of Boston’s must-see sites that you’ll want to make sure that you don’t miss.

Boston Historic Sites:

Freedom Trail. For those who are unfamiliar, Freedom Trail is a red brick trail through downtown Boston that links 16 historical sites in Boston and cane be walked in about 2 to 3 hours. Boston Common, the oldest public park in America, is the most popular place to start the two and a half mile walk. Along the way, you’ll see sites like the Massachusetts State House, the Granary Burying Ground, the Benjamin Franklin Statue, the site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, and the USS Constitution, among others. Most of these sites cost little or nothing to visit, and walking the Freedom Trail is a great way to visit a whole lot of Boston’s historical sites in one trip. One can take a self-guided tour or one of the many tours available through the Boston Common Visitors Center at 148 Tremont Street or the Bostix Booth located at Faneuil Hall. If you prefer to ride, you can pay for one of the trolley tours, which are unofficial guided tours, but do take the rider to many of the sites along the Trail and you can get on and off wherever you’d like.
Other popular Historic Sites in Boston Boston Athenaeum – home to one of the largest and oldest private libraries in the US; Boston Common – the oldest public park in the U.S., established in 1634; Boston Light – the 2nd oldest lighthouse in the U.S.; the USS Constitution – the oldest floating commissioned naval vessel launched in 1797; Harvard Stadium built in 1903 and the Boston Public Library built in 1880.
Fenway Park. Baseball fans and history buffs alike will enjoy getting an up-close look at the home stadium of the Boston Red Sox, the oldest Major League Baseball stadium still in use today. The park holds the Major League Baseball record for most consecutive sold out home games, and celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2012. A visit to Fenway Park is definitely a must for anyone interested in the history of Boston or baseball.
Samuel Adams Brewery. If you like beer, you’ll definitely want to take a tour of the Samuel Adams Brewery. This Boston landmark offers guided tours for free, though the brewery does ask for a voluntary $2 donation. The tours start every 45 minutes, give or take, and last about an hour. Knowledgeable tour guides cover the history and the process of making Samuel Adams beer. The tour culminates with a beer tasting. You can also browse the gift shop or buy limited edition beers that are only available in New England. If you wish, you can even schedule a private tour.

Some other Boston highlights that you’re going to want to hit are the Boston Public Garden, the Museum of Science at Science Park, and Cheers Boston, the bar that became famous for being the inspiration for the popular sitcom Cheers. Even that is just a small sampling of the many attractions that Boston has to offer.

What are some of your favorite Boston sites or attractions?