Walkabout Boston - Your Morning Quickie!

Freedom Trail

A Morning Walk Through Boston

Good morning Boston!

If you're following my '23 hour' stopover, I realise we have a limited time. So I thought we’d do a ‘quickie’ to some of the more interesting sights. Boston has so much to offer, but I also realise that at certain times of year it can be colder than Prince Charles!

Ask your Concierge at the hotel for a walking map of Boston. Even the most basic hotels have complimentary copies. By the way, if you want to amuse yourself a bit – hang around and listen to some of the guests try to pronounce the word ‘Concierge.’ (ok, so I have a cruel streak.) Alternatively, here's a free map of the Freedom Trail you may download.

Ask someone to point you towards Tremont Street. The Freedom Trail tour actually begins at State Street, but I’m going to make this the ‘quickie’ version.

On Tremont you'll find two red bricks imbedded in the pavement. This will be your guide. As long as you head 'slightly uphill, with the park on your left, you'll be headed in the right direction to get to Haymarket.

You’ll see ahead the white spires of the Park Street Church. This church stands on ‘Brimstone Corner,’ named in reference to the animated and heated sermons that were preached here and due to the gunpowder that was stored in the Church’s basement during the war of 1812. It’s referred to as the Westminster Abbey of Boston. Park Street was built in 1809 as a Congregational church, as a response to Unitarians who were gaining control over many of the Puritan (Puritan Quaker) churches.

Adjacent to the church is the Granary Cemetery. This cemetery is among the most notable in America. At rest are John Hancock, whose signature is on America’s Declaration of Independence, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and entire families who were victims of the Boston Massacre and fire and plague. Also, look for the grave of Elizabeth Vergoose- buried in 1690, believed to be the prolific storyteller later immortalised as ‘Mother Goose.’

In 1760, no one could ever have imagined New England breaking away from Great Britain. However unrest mounted and moved to war as Britain imposed more and more taxes and restrictions on the New World.

As you step out of the cemetery, turn left and immediately cross the road. You’re at the famous Parker House Hotel. This was America’s first hostelry. I recommend rather than turning the corner there at School Street, that you enter the hotel on the Tremont side, cross through the hotel (in a reversed ‘L’ shape) and exit the hotel on School Street. This is also an excellent opportunity for you to ‘rest’ for a moment.

Remember, American’s don’t have bladders or bowels. They just become tired and need to rest. The ‘Restrooms’ are downstairs, just before you turn to exit onto School Street; you’ll find the steps leading downstairs just to your right before you exit the door to School Street. Happy resting!

Head down the street (School) and turn left at the bottom of the road. Turn right on Court Street and then (2 blocks) left on Congress Street. If you continue on down, half a block, you will come upon Haymarket Square, Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. Breakfast! You’ll find a range of small shops selling anything from croissant and tea to pizza.

Now, if you've started your day early I highly recommend a visit to the New England Aquarium. It's located next to the Marriott Harbour Wharf and is skipping distance from Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market. The aquarium opens at 0900.

Quincy Market is a wonderful place to explore on your own and perhaps try some of the local food items on offer.

Now, a quick Return option:

Go back to the Parker House, but instead of turning left from School Street onto Tremont, continue on up School, which becomes Beacon Street. This is the beginning of Beacon Hill. You’ll bear to the left and follow Beacon Street down hill. (The park will be on your left).

Just past Charles Street you will come upon the Cheers (yawn) pub. Do the tourist thing and have someone take your photo from outside. Don’t even bother going in. There is nothing inside that looks like the set on the show and the prices are outrageous. Yet it's still a draw for baby boomers who still haven’t been able to move on from that era in the late 70’s.

Continue down Beacon to Arlington, which is the corner of the park. Turn left, proceed along Arlington. About 500 meters along you will see another entrance to the Boston Common. If you enter there, you may cut straight across the park which will take you back to Tremont Street. If you continue to slightly bear to the right as you go through the park, you’ll more or less end up at Boylston Street. By taking this route you will be able to see the famous Swan Boats and the Puddle Ducks from Beatrix Potter.

I promise not to judge you if you fail to dine at Legal Seafood. But I will tell you, if you have to find an option for eating, the other place I would insist upon is Durgin Park at Haymarket. OH NO! Here he comes with the food nonsense again!

I have two words to say to you: Prime Rib! It doesn’t really matter where you are in America, I beg you to at least once order a Prime Rib dinner! But if you’re at Durgin Park, then you also have to order onion rings, baked beans, and a Yankee pot roast! This is one of my son's favourite restaurants. He loves the poem printed on the menu ‘About a Boy.’ It reminds him of himself, he says.

If you’re ‘thinking’ about eating an early lunch, the place to go is Durgin Park. It’s upstairs on the second floor. (first floor to us). You’ll be seated with everyone else and that’s part of the enjoyment. Typical drink is iced tea….so get used to it!

Climb up the stairs and let one of the staff seat you. Please, please keep in mind that the young girls who work there rely upon gratuities for their income. In other words, if you don't tip - then they don't eat! (and you can't be British here -15% is the minimum!

Begin your tour of the Freedom Trail at Boston Common; land purchased in 1634 as a militia "training field" and for the "feeding of Cattle." During the battle of Bunker Hill the British embarked for Charlestown from the Common. Artist Gilbert Stuart is buried in the Central Burying Ground.

From The Common:

Faneuil Hall

This old market building, first built in 1742, sits at the site of the old town dock. Town meetings, held here between 1764 and 1774, heard Samuel Adams and others lead cries of protest against the imposition of taxes on the colonies. The building was enlarged in 1806. Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and Lucy Stone brought their struggles for freedom here in the 19th century. Market stalls on the first floor service shoppers much as they did in Paul Revere's day.