Bostonians get to enjoy their favorite boating activities (and take in the famous Boston skyline) all summer long. But there’s just so much more to do when you live in (or visit) Beantown, apart from sailing or taking the canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard up and down Charles River, Quincy Bay, Hingham Bay, or the Massachusetts Bay.
Boston Is Rich in History
Officially founded in 1630 by English Puritans, every street in Boston is steeped with our nation’s history, and nowhere is it more evident than on the Freedom Trail. On this 2.5-mile walking route, you get to learn something new about the nation’s founding at every turn (more on that later).
The USS Constitution
Launched in Boston in 1797, the USS constitution is found in Boston National Historical Park, part of the Charlestown Navy Yard in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Undefeated in 33 naval battles, Old Ironsides is the oldest US Navy warship that’s still afloat in the world and is visited by over half a million visitors every year. Public tours are allowed from Wednesdays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and you can take a virtual tour on Mondays as well.
The North End & Italian Dining
If you continue along the Freedom Trail, you get to The North End, a one-square-mile waterfront community also known as Boston’s Little Italy. The neighborhood is the oldest residential community in the city, dating back to the 1600s. Today, it’s home to some of the best Italian restaurants in the country – from roadside eateries to fine dining options, such as Giacomo’s Boston North End and La Famiglia Giorgio’s Restaurant, Strega, and a host of others, where you can whet your appetite for the finest Italian cuisine.
Nathaniel Hall
About ten minutes’ walk from the North End is Faneuil Hall, a marketplace and meeting hall that’s located near the waterfront and the Government Center in Massachusetts. Faneuil Hall is still a bustling and lively place, just as you would find it in the year 1742 when the founding fathers called it “The Cradle of Liberty.” This makes it a must-visit if you’re a history buff.
Paul Revere House
The historic buildings in Boston provide a bridge between the city’s Revolutionary story and the city’s immigrant story of the early 19th century. No landmark embodies the city’s rich cultural heritage more than the iconic Paul Revere’s house. The 341-year-old house is accessible on the first floor via the courtyard ramps, but you can also go to the second floor via an elevator that’s accessible from the visitor center.
If you can’t get enough of the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem on Revere’s famous midnight ride, then make a stop in the Granary Burying Ground located on Tremont Street to see Paul Revere’s tombstone and pay your respects to one of the few living witnesses to hear the first shots of the American Revolutionary War.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Steward Gardner Museum is where you will find a rich collection of Asian, European, and American art. The art museum is also famous for one of the most daring art heists ever: in 1990, 13 of the museum’s paintings were robbed and have never been found. Since the FBI’s only suspect died in September 2021, it is unlikely that the artwork – valued at an estimated $500 million – may ever be recovered.
But on a positive note, visitors will still get to visit a collection of masterworks by Titian, which has not been seen for over 400 years, easily making it the art show of the year.
Fenway Park
Tourists from around the world visit “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.” Fenway Park is not only home to the Red Sox but built in 1912, it is also the oldest stadium in Major League Baseball. Visit Pesky’s Pole and sit on top of the Green Monster that’s 37 feet 2 inches above deep leftfield. And don’t forget to visit the Red Sox Team store located at 19 Jersey Street. Just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Fenway Park is the House of Blues Boston, one of the most popular music clubs in the city, and the Cask’ n Flagon if you’re looking for a snack (just leave your team jersey at home).
Boston is a great place to live and visit, having many titles under its belt that make other cities blush. For instance, the very first chocolate factory in the US was built in the Lower Mills section in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. Little Brewster Island is home to the first American lighthouse built in 1716.
The city is also home to Boston Common, the oldest public park in the US, and the Tremont Street Subway, which is the country’s first subway system built in 1897. And if you want to sail under a train, go under a vehicle, driving under an airplane, then the Boston University Bridge is the only place in the world where that’s possible. Just another reason to go boating in Boston!