Discovering History: A Guide to Boston

Boston had been high on my travel list for years before I had the opportunity to explore it. My then-boyfriend (now husband) and I decided to take an extended weekend and make the most of exploring Boston. We packed a lot into these 3 days, so I’ll break it down into 3 Main Categories: The Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, and Food/Drink.

The Freedom Trail

Eric and I both love a good history lesson, so we jumped at the chance to spend an entire day walking the Freedom Trail. Starting near the Boston Common, we explored the Massachusetts State House (and ran into one of the Representatives!), Park Street Church, King’s Chapel, Granary Burying Ground (check out the memorial to John Hancock and Paul Revere!), Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House, and the Old State House. Before pausing at the site of the Boston Massacre, we wandered through the museum that is a part of the Old State House and expanded our knowledge of the beginning of the Revolutionary War. We made a pit stop at Faneuil Hall and indulged in a few drinks at the Cheers Restaurant (RIP) located outside of the hall.

The next day, we continued along the Freedom Trail, starting much further up at The Paul Revere House. We worked our way through Copp’s Hill Burying Ground and the Old North Church – I highly recommend paying extra for the bell tower tour!

On our final day, we made our way to the Bunker Hill Monument. We spent some time exploring the museum and learned so much about the Battle of Bunker Hill! Afterwards, we climbed the monument and soaked in the views of the entire city of Boston. To complete our trek along the Freedom Trail, we made it to the U.S.S. Constitution, where we toured not only the ship but the museum as well!

Fenway Park

One of the nights we were in Boston, Eric persuaded me to attend a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. I was so glad we did this! We spent some time exploring the bars and restaurants around Fenway and stopped for a drink at Bleacher Bar, which overlooks the outfield (Eric thought he died and went to heaven here). We made our way inside and realized that, while our tickets were for standing room only, there were plenty of open seats directly behind home plate. We made our way down and enjoyed a few Harpoon Brewery beers and I learned that Red Sox fans take their baseball very seriously! (Miller Park definitely works hard to keep fans entertained – at Fenway, it’s allllll about the game.)

Food & Drink

We adored all of the cozy and delicious spots Boston had to offer. We enjoyed labstah rolls at James Hook & Co., tacos and margaritas at Lolita on Newbury, and Samuel Adams beer at Cheers.

Speaking of Newbury Street – what an awesome place to hang out! High-end shopping lines this street, interspersed with delicious eateries! At the end of the street is the Boston Public Garden (which I actually enjoyed more than Boston Common). Quaint, serene, and overflowing with beautiful flowers, it boasts views of the city that are unmatched!

For brunch Sunday morning, we made our way to The Beehive, where we enjoyed southern style fair while listening to live jazz musicians. One of our favorite areas in the city was Little Italy – Italian fare for days! We hit up Florentine Cafe and indulged in their delicious lobster ravioli (seriously, it was to die for). And while we strolled through Little Italy, we HAD to stop for cannoli at Mike’s Pastry - the wait was worth it!